From the West Suburban YMCA

February Vacation Camp at the West Suburban YMCA

Working over February school vacation or just looking for something fun for your kids to do during school break? Send them to the Y! The West Suburban YMCA is offering full-day child care options for boys and girls ages 3-12.

www.westsuburbanymca.org/youth-services/school-vacations-holidays

Spring Program Registration at the West Suburban YMCA

Registration for the West Suburban YMCA’s early and late spring session begins Mon, 2/3. The Y’s swim lessons, fitness classes, sports leagues, creative arts and all the programs offered embrace the Y’s core beliefs in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

www.westsuburbanymca.org/programs

Fun, free EXPO at Newton North High School!

Teens (including Middle School students) and parents/guardians are invited to the Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices expo for participative, informative exhibits; student performances; and fun.

Meet 30+ community exhibitors who help teens stay safe and healthy. Get information about everything from driving and pedestrian safety to healthy eating and positive body image to stress reduction and mental health support. Refreshments will be served, and special treat bags will be distributed to the first 50 students who come with their parent/guardian!

February 4th,  5:00 – 7:30 pm
Newton North

Last Call for Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Donations

Our annual teacher appreciation luncheon is this Wednesday, February 5th.  We need parents to provide a luncheon item, dessert or drinks. We also need volunteers to help clean up at 3:15.

Please sign up here to donate and / or volunteer.  (We are especially in need of additional donations of drinks and desserts.)

  • 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 Feb 4th 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 .

Bigelow’s Big Night at the Big Easy

It’s not too late to get involved with the biggest PTO event of the year!  We need you to help!  Come join us Thursday evening (February 6) for our active planning meeting, 7:30 at 35 Hunnewell Ave, Newton.  We have lots of fun tasks to tackle!  RSVP with questions or to join to Liz Haas at haas.joffe@gmail.com , or just show up.

If you can not join in with the planning but would like to help out in another way, we are looking for donations for our silent auction.  Tickets to sporting events, gift cards for services,  restaurant gift certificates, vacation get aways,  jewelry, artwork, a dinner or cocktail party, memberships etc are all appreciated.  Click here  to donate to the auction on line.

You can also help by soliciting a local business for a auction donation.  Click here for a printable business solicitation letter and donation form.

Thanks so much!  Liz Haas and Laurie Halloran, Big Night co-chairs

GELF Celebrates 5 Years!

The Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF) is five years old. Join 150 members of our community for chef’s favorites, wine, and live entertainment to benefit lower income Newton students aspiring to participate in international educational programs. The dinner is on Saturday, March 8th, 6:30-10:30 pm at Newton North High School.

This year alone GELF has funded:

· $33,000 in grants to
· 28 students for
· 10 different international trips

You may pay online or send a $150/person check (made payable to Newton Schools Foundation) to Newton Schools Foundation, 246 Dudley Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459. If you plan on sending in a check, please click here and register. Please write GELF on the memo line of your check and include guest names and your email address.

Whether you are coming or not, please consider donating to Support a Teacher to attend the event ($100/person) or just mail a check to the address above.

Youth Summit III is rescheduled

Youth Summit III is rescheduled for March 26th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm due to unforeseen events with featured speaker Kevin Breel. Thank you to everyone who was planning to attend on February 5th and we hope you will be able to reschedule and join the summit in March. Looking forward to making the event even bigger and better!

Plugged In Teen Band Program

Plugged In Teen Band Program is a nonprofit organization dedicated to showing young musicians, ages 8-18, how to make positive social change with their music. Plugged In provides students with music instruction, songwriting workshops, and access to dozens of community performances all with a focus on social responsibility. Additionally, more than 350 students participate in the production of 3 annual benefit concerts at which Plugged In musicians perform to raise awareness and support for charitable organizations chosen by the students. Plugged In provides a community for young artists looking for a sense of belonging, a safe place to express themselves and an ego free, competition free environment in which they can use their creative talents to help others.

The diverse community of Plugged In includes students from every background, economic, academic, racial and religious, those with disabilities and differences. All are welcomed at Plugged In. Plugged In Teen Band Program is a registered 501(c)3 and no student, regardless of their ability to pay is ever turned away.

For additional information about Plugged In please visit www.pluggedinband.org   You can learn what the youth who participate in Plugged In think about the program or listen to some rock and roll by visiting our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/PluggedInBandProgram

Choosing a Camp of Summer Program for Children with Food Allergies and Asthma

A forum on how to select a day camp or overnight camp to meet the needs of children with food allergies and asthma. The discussion will focus on the accommodations made to address the health needs of individual children and the process parents should use to learn about day camp and sleep-away programs and arrange for a safe experience for their child. There will be time for questions and discussion. Free admission.

For information, call Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter, 781-444-7778.

February 11th,7:00 pm
Newton-Wellesley Hospital

Experts to Discuss Grit – The Secret Ingredient to Success

Science suggests that giving trophies to every kid does not inspire long-term success. But what does?

A panel of experts will discuss the latest research on what drives achievement at a discussion series event moderated by National Public Radio correspondent Tovia Smith. The conversation will focus on ‘grit’- the kind of resilience that drives achievement at school, at sports and at work. Adding their perspective will be panelists Ashley Merryman, co-author of New York Times bestsellers NurtureShock and Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing; Brent Roberts, PhD, a psychology professor at University of Illinois; Thomas Hoerr, PhD, author of Fostering Grit: How do I prepare my students for the real world? and head of New City School in St. Louis; and Josh Waitzkin (via Skype), author of The Art of Learning, national chess champion, subject of the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer, and world martial arts champion.

The event is part of the Jonathan Samen Hot Buttons, Cool Conversations Discussion Series at the JCC. Cost is $18.00. Students and seniors: $15.00. For tickets, contact 617-965-5226, boxoffice@jccgb.org or visit www.bostonjcc.org/artsevents.

Thursday, February 27th, 7:30 pm
Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center
333 Nahanton Street, Newton