See Alastair Moock and help a Nursery School

Weekday Nursery School in Newton Highlands invites you to be part of their spring fundraising event featuring 2014 Grammy Nominee, Alastair Moock! This event will take place from 3:00 – 4:00 pm on March 30th in the Auditorium of the Newton Highlands Congregational Church located at 54 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands.

The Boston Herald says “Singer Alastair Moock’s live show is half Appalachian hootenanny, half honky-tonk jam session. It’s totally kid-friendly…[with] an indie sensibility hip parents dig.” Alastair Moock and Friends’ live shows are rowdy, rootsy, singin’ and dancin’ fun for the whole family!

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $30 per family or in advance online for $25 per family via the Eventbrite page: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/alastair-moock-tickets-10818964815. All proceeds from the event benefit the Weekday Nursery School Tuition Assistance Fund.

Mason-Rice Elementary PTO Online Auction

Mason-Rice Elementary School PTO’s annual online fundraising auction is open now through March 18th at 10:00 pm. Generous local and national merchants, area camps, Boston pro sports teams, museums and service providers–along with a host of talented and creative parents–have donated over 150 items, many of them one-of-a-kind. You could bid on and win something from a store or an institution that you normally patronize at well below (or at) market value while helping support learning and community at Mason-Rice. Thanks for checking it out at www.biddingforgood.com/masonrice.

Get “Unplugged and Connected” in March

If sometimes you and your family just feel too “plugged in,” Newton offers a month-long remedy in March. In its 11th year, “Unplugged and Connected” hopes to promote, invigorate, and strengthen personal relationships by minimizing the use of computers, televisions, and telephones.

Check out this colorful calendar of suggested activities for each of the 31 days of March, Newton Unplugged encourages people to approach the month differently than the other harried, electronically-charged times of the year.

Highlights include: “No Homework Night” on March 12th; “Newton Has Talent” competition on March 30th; special events at Musuem of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, and JFK Library; a special edition Funtastic Friday for 4th graders on March 14, and more!

Newton “Unplugged and Connected” is a proud collaboration of Newton Community Service Center through its Child Assault Prevention program, Newton City Hall, and the Newton School Department.

Basic Rights in Special Education

Please join the next meeting of the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education (NewtonPAC), for a presentation on Basic Rights in Special Education, presented by Clare Vann of the Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN).

This workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts Special Education Law and No Child Left Behind (NCLB). It is designed to help parents learn how to be effective partners with their child’s school to decide the child’s eligibility for special education, and to plan, make decisions and monitor their child’s progress in school.

The workshop will take place on March 11th at 7:30 pm, with light refreshments and networking beginning at 7:15 pm. The location is Room 210 at the Education Center, 100 Walnut Street. Any questions, please email Eileen Sandberg@easandberg@aol.com

Calling all JAMs Preschool Alumni

Do you have a child who attended JAMs preschool, run by Jane Safar? After 26 years in business,  Jane is retiring and closing JAMs. If you had a child who went to JAMs and had the opportunity to meet Jane, you know how passionate she is about children!  Sally DiLoreto is creating a book of memories for Jane and would love for anyone who has a child who attended JAMs to help. If you have a picture of your child when he/she was at JAMS, a picture of your child now, and possibly a couple of sentences about you and your child’s experience at JAMs, please forward it to her at sallydiloreto@me.com. Feel free to call if you have questions, need a picture scanned, etc… 617-763-0653. Please help her let Jane know how much she is appreciated.

PTO meeting this Tuesday 7pm – Parent Workshop

Please join us for our PTO meeting on March 11, 7pm in the Bigelow school library.  Newton Youth Services, in conjunction with the Bigelow PTO, is proud to present:

Creating Successful Students: Understanding Executive Function and Tips for Strengthening These Vital Skills at Home
In a workshop designed specifically for parents, Dan Levine and Laura Moy of Engaging Minds will:
1.   Demystify the term “executive function” and explain which skills it encompasses
2.   Explain why executive function skills are such an increasingly important aspect of every child’s education, especially in today’s ever-changing world
3.   Offer tips and strategies that parents can begin to employ at home to better support their children in strengthening these vital skills

 

Reminder Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – Thurs Mar 13

A reminder that the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is this Thursday March 13.

Please click here to donate and / or volunteer or to see what you have already signed up to bring / do.

  • Cold / Room temperature items may be dropped off the morning of the luncheon in the teacher’s lunchroom or put in the refrigerator there no later than 10:30am.  
  • You may also drop off items the evening of March 12th at Stacy Schwartz’s house at 15 Park Ave.  
  • Hot items can be dropped off around 11 the day of.

It is most helpful if items are brought in a recyclable container. Please send in your favorite lunch food!  Salads, sandwiches, entrees; whatever you think our wonderful teachers and staff will enjoy.

Thank you in advance for helping us show our appreciation for our teachers and staff.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Appreciation Chairs, Maria Sullivan at mariasullivan47@gmail.com or Stacy Schwartz at staschwartz@gmail.com .

Youth Social Anxiety Study

Researchers at Harvard University are seeking socially anxious youth ages 8-14 and their parents to participate in a single-session study. The primary goals of their study are to further research on best practices for alleviating child anxiety symptoms, and promote child emotional and behavioral health outcomes. During their visit to the lab in Cambridge, child participants will also have the opportunity to learn emotion and coping skills.

Together, eligible parents and children will receive up to $80 for their participation. Parents who are interested can reach the researchers by phone at 617- 520-4608 or email at childstudy.harvard@gmail.com.