Tag Archives: high

Youth pro Musica enrollment now open

Choir sign-ups now open for grades 2-12! Does your child love to sing? Youth pro Musica offers 3 levels of children’s choirs providing high quality instruction in classical style choral music, 3-5 concerts a year, and an end of season performance trip to New York City.

Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays in West Newton: grades 2-5, 4:30 – 5:30 pm; grades 5-8, 6:00 – 7:30 pm; grades 9-12, 7:45 – 9:15 pm.

Grades 2-5 are invited to an open rehearsal on September 18th to try it out. Grades 6-12, please contact auditions@youthpromusica.org to schedule an informal audition. Visit  youthpromusica.org.

Fun, Confidence-Building & Inspired Singing Lessons For All Ages

Would your child like to feel more confident while singing? Whether they are a first-time singer or experienced, Kendra Fogg focuses on creating an inspiring, fun, low pressure and comfortable environment where they get to discover and develop their own voice. Her approach to voice lessons gives students an opportunity to be inspired, grow, laugh and develop their own expressive singing voice.

For more information, contact Kendra  at 508-361-1904 or visit  www.KendraFoggVoiceStudio.com.

Piano lessons

A Bachelor of Music in Composition from Berklee College of Music and Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory with 30+ years teaching experience is available for lessons.

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. Contact Gloria Jasinski at 617-566-9704 or piano566@comcast.net.

Guitar Lessons In Your Home

Maldi Kellici, a Berklee College of Music graduate with 12 plus years of teaching experience, is seeking a limited number of students for private/group guitar lessons. Lessons are offered in your home. All levels are welcome, including beginners. Through a comprehensive approach that combines technique, ear training and fretboard harmony, he will help your son or daughter develop music skills applicable to all styles of guitar playing.

S/he will learn to play and analyze songs and solos from a broad range of musical genres, and sharpen their overall musical skills.  Maldi also helps students interested in song-writing & composition. For references, video and audio samples, please contact via email maldi.k@gmail.com, cell 617-792-2244 or via the contact form at maldikellici.com.

Newton Destination Imagination Registration OPEN

The 2018 – 2019 Season for Newton Destination Imagination (DI) is open!  Click HERE to register. Newton DI is an inclusive STEAM- based creative problem solving competition for students in grades K-12.

Teams of up to 7 kids will choose to work on one of six challenges that will test their teamwork, project management and creativity skills. To learn more about the program, please visit the website for FAQs and a short intro video.

For questions, please email matthew@newtondi.org.

Welcome Back from the Superintendent

August 29, 2018

Dear Families,

I hope you have enjoyed the summer. It is a great pleasure to welcome both our returning families and those new to our schools.

The start of a school year is a wonderful time for anyone involved in education because it allows us to develop new goals, build new relationships and embark upon new challenges. At the same time, I recognize that these transitions bring about mixed emotions for both students and families. One of my children reminded me of this several years ago at this time when he asked me “why can’t summer go on forever?”

Summer is an important time for adult learning in Newton and the conference we hosted for our educators this summer was one that made me proud. The conference featured Newton faculty and administrators facilitating training sessions for their colleagues on a range of important topics related to both the academic and social and emotional aspects of race and student achievement. The conference was one example of the professional learning that occurs over the summer and I am proud that we have the expertise amongst our own staff to take on these important goals, which also include updating and improving our curriculum based on new standards and student learning styles.

While we recognize that a skilled and dedicated teacher is the most important ingredient to high quality student learning, we also know that effective use of technology has the potential to support the work of students and teachers. In that spirit, we will expand the one-to-one technology pilot from last year and provide a Chromebook to all 10th grade students this year. We are hopeful that this initiative will provide our faculty with greater opportunities to use technology to enhance learning in class and to ensure that all students have access to technology at home. After this year, we hope to extend this initiative to all high school grade levels.

It is essential that we work with families to create school communities that are inclusive, supportive, and healthy environments for our students to learn and grow. As a school district, it is our job to educate your child, but also to provide you with resources to help you and your student navigate complex issues. Last year, we held a very successful parent workshop on “Living in a Smartphone World.” It was clear to us that this was a topic of significant interest to families that warrants further exploration by our district. Again, this year, we will hold a community forum and we will be looking for your input on issues that are most relevant to you and your family.

One of the most important parts of my job is to be in our schools on a regular basis working with staff and students. Together with School Committee members, and working closely with our PTOs, I will again visit each of our 22 schools to speak with you about district initiatives and listen to your ideas, questions, and concerns. Using social media, it is our hope to expand the dialogue and conversation this year to share more about all the good work happening in our district and to hear from you about the information and resources that are important to you. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You may also sign up for regular updates from our School Committee here.

Our partnership with you and the larger Newton community is critical to our success. Please accept my best wishes for a wonderful school year.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman
Superintendent
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You may also view a video welcome from the superintendent.

Important information for voters

Here is some important information for voters from the League of Women Voters of Newton:

• The State Primary Election is on Tuesday, September 4th, which is the day after Labor Day

• If you need an absentee ballot (because there is no early voting in this September election), the deadline to file an application is on Friday, August 31st. This is the Friday before Labor Day.

• The League of Women Voters has worked with partner organizations to create several Candidates’ Forums for voters to learn more about the candidates and their positions:
o 4th Congressional District: Kennedy and Rucinski
o District 3 Governor’s Council (Carter-Devaney) and Middlesex County DA (Patalano-Ryan)

• Click here for the Online Voters’ Guide from the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts to read the responses from candidates for statewide office or go to www.informedvoterma.org

For other questions you might have, go to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ or to the Elections Office for the City of Newton at http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/elections/default.asp.​

Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ)

Dear Newton Public School Families,

As part of our district’s commitment to creating welcoming, supportive, and safe communities for all, we have worked together over the past year with Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ), a parent-led group in Newton. It is our hope to provide interested families with opportunities, information, and resources to become better equipped to address issues of race, culture, and identity with their children. Last year, the work was focused in our elementary schools and this year will expand to our middle and high schools.

To facilitate this effort, we are working with Amy Behrens, a FORJ Leader, diversity educator, and parent coach and Gloria Pascual, a seasoned community leader in Boston and Framingham, who will be the FORJ Co-Coordinators for 2018-2019. They, and a diverse set of parent leaders, will continue supporting parent volunteers from all Newton schools to help them:

  • Identify needs and action plans specific to their schools
  • Create opportunities, through events and activities, for face-to-face conversations and dialogue
  • Provide families with valuable information, tools, and resources

Amy and Gloria will work in concert with PTOs and existing school groups to develop personalized programs for each school community. The work will rely on volunteers interested in engaging their schools on issues of race, culture, and identity. Please sign up here https://goo.gl/forms/ZBa8uQTcKkUeLXHC2 OR email Amy at amy@amybehrens.com to be placed on the mailing list for information about upcoming meetings.

The first FORJ meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, October 2nd 7:30-9pm at the Angier Elementary School, 1697 Beacon St, Waban, MA 02468, accessible by the Waban T stop on the Green D Line.

We are eager to continue expanding this partnership with families this school year. I hope that you will consider getting involved.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman
Superintendent