Bachelor of Music in Composition from Berklee College of Music, Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory. 30+ years teaching experience. Learn Jazz/Blues/Classical, theory, sightreading. Build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring instructor. Beginners especially welcome. Have a positive and successful learning experience. Phone Gloria Jasinski at 617-566-9704 or email piano566@comcast.net.
Bigelow’s Geography Bee – New Date
The new date for the School-wide Geography Bee Championship is Wednesday Feb 4, 2015.
Talking To Your Child About Their Diagnoses/Disabilities
On January 8th, the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education will host an evening meeting on the topic of Talking To Your Child About Their Diagnoses/Disabilities. Special guests will include Dot Lucci, M.Ed., C.A.G.S. Director of Consultation, MGH/YouthCare, Alison Mountford, Coordinator of Therapeutic Services, Andrew Aspel, School Psychologist, NSHS; Lynn Chachkes, School Psychologist, Countryside School; Victoria Vendola, Assistant Principal for Student Services, Day Middle School; and Dan Almeida, Supervisor of ABA Services
The decision about when and how to talk to a child about their differences can be a challenging one for parents and guardians. Please join us for a panel discussion on the subject, beginning at 7:30 pm with a discussion for parents of younger children who may be preparing to have their first conversations about disabilities or diagnoses. The second half of the program, starting about 8:15 pm, will be about having these conversations with older children, and about how, when and to whom they might want to disclose information about their disabilities. We encourage parents of kids of all ages to come at 7:30 if they can, to share their perspectives and experience with other families. There will be plenty of time for questions to the panel for both parts of the program.
The meeting will take place in Room 210 of the Education Center. Refreshments and networking begin at 7:15 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 7:30 pm. Thanks!
IRobot Company Presentation at the Waban Library Center
The WLC invites kids ages 6 – 11 to a presentation on January 10th from 1:30 -2:30 pm at the Waban Library Center. iRobot experts will explain how robots work and help people in real life. Come see the cool robots and learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Admission is free, donations gladly accepted. For information about the WLC, please visit http://www.wabanlibrarycenter.org/
Waban Library Center
1608 Beacon Street, Waban
Second Annual Citywide Food Drive
The Second Annual Citywide Food Drive is well underway and, this year, we are expanding our efforts to help fight food insecurity in the City of Lawrence as well as Newton. Through December 30th, you can donate the following items at more than 40 drop-off locations throughout Newton: canned fruit and vegetables, jarred pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly/jam, ground coffee, tea, cake and pie crust mixes, baby food, juice boxes and bottles, vegetable oil, bar soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, and children and adult diapers. At each location, there will be two boxes – one for Newton and one for Lawrence.
Last year, the food drive collected more than 200 boxes of donated food and needed items for Newton’s food pantries, which serve more than 1,200 residents a month. This year, we are hoping to surpass that number and support families in need – here in Newton as well as in Lawrence. For more information and a list of drop-off locations, please visit www.newtonma.gov.
Thank you in advance for helping with this important initiative.
Suicide Prevention Trainings (QPR)
Our community has been affected by suicide. Newton Cares: Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health is working diligently to train as many people as possible in the suicide prevention technique called QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer.
The more people who know how to act, the more lives may be saved. Please consider being trained. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) teaches ordinary citizens how to recognize a mental health emergency and how to get a person at risk the help they need. Participants will learn how to: Recognize the warning signs of suicide, offer hope, and get help & refer.
Upcoming Trainings:
January 6th 4:00 – 6:00 pm for Teens Only
January 15th 6:00 – 8:00 pm for Adults Only
Space is limited. Registration is required. Training is FREE. Please register in advance at: www.newtonma.gov/newtoncares.
Train the brain
Neuroscience opens up powerful new possibilities to enable every student to become a more effective learner. Brain Excel offers programs designed to train and strengthen core cognitive skills like memory, attention, processing speed, logic and reasoning. Face-to-face and online one-on-one training sessions are fun, structured, challenging and interactive.
Brain Excel’s unparalleled, personalized and innovative training targets specific cognitive areas to empower each student to excel. For further information, please contact Patricia at Brain Excel by email: matt@brnxl.com or cell: 603-770-2186.
Register Now for Newton Girls Softball
Newton Girls Softball, for girls in grades K – 7, is committed to providing an experience that fosters positive self-esteem, team spirit, and individual growth through personal achievement and as a team member. Players of all skill levels will have a fun and rewarding experience.
2015 Registration Dates:
1/31/15 Deadline to register without paying a late fee.
2/28/15 Deadline to register with guaranteed placement, pair-me-with rights, and a $15 late fee.
In addition to three age group divisions for players in Grade 1 – 7, the league announces the inaugural year of KINDERGARTEN T – BALL. New for 2015 and open to all girls in Grade K who live in Newton or attend a Newton Public School, this program is going to be a fun introduction to softball. The sessions will consist of 30 minutes of skill development rolling into a short 45 minute game on six Saturday afternoons in May and June. Will your kindergartner join her friends in the excitement of learning softball?
Registration is open on our web site at: WWW.NEWTONGIRLSSOFTBALL.ORG
Actors needed for Watertown Children’s Theatre
Watertown Children’s Theatre is looking for actors for the world premiere of Reigning Cats and Dogs by local teacher and composer Steve Bergman.
The production is open to third through sixth graders and though orientation has already passed, we are still accepting registrations through January 2nd.
If cost is a deterrent, the WCT tuition assistance fund has been established and recently re-funded to help children to participate in arts programming who may not otherwise have the ability to pay. This fund could help families in full or partial tuition assistance.
Please pass this on to friends or colleagues who may also know of interested actors, so as many children can participate in this world premiere as possible.
To register and for more information please visit the WCT website.
S.M.ART School Private Tutoring, Classes
Since 2002, S.M.ART School has been offering a broad range of classes and private tutoring, from basic math and SAT I & II preparation to the advanced areas of mathematics that help develop analytical skills and important work habits.
S.M.ART offers a deep conceptual approach to math that leads to self-confidence and efficiency in solving problems. The program specializes in small class sizes (up to 4 students) and one-on-one tutoring, focusing on each child’s individual needs and talents while making room for peer learning and communication.
Classes include:
* Math for all ages and levels, including preparation for the SAT I & II, MCAS, SSAT, GMAT, GRE and other major standardized tests
* English: Reading and Writing skills, SAT prep
* Physics, Chemistry – help with schoolwork, SAT prep
* Chess (Branch of Gulko Chess Academy); “Chess and Math Together” Program
Contact Info: S.M.ART School; 1320 Centre Street, #201A, Newton Center, MA 02459
Website: www.smart-school.com