Tag Archives: mid

Volunteer Registration is Now Open

NewtonSERVES Announces Volunteer Registration is Now Open for Day of Community Service on May 1st.

Now is the time to register to volunteer at NewtonSERVES, to be held on Sunday, May 1st throughout the city. Pre-registered participants receive T-shirts and refreshments, and celebrate the end of the day with a free ice cream sundae at Newton City Hall, courtesy of Cabot’s Ice Cream. Choose from morning, afternoon or all day projects, which can be cleaning up parks, planting gardens, building and painting school bookshelves, spring cleaning at non-profit organizations and helping senior citizens. It is easy to register at http://www.newtoncommunitypride.org/NewtonSERVES.html

Donations of food to Newton’s four food pantries will be an important component of NewtonSERVES. “Helping Newton people experiencing food insecurity is something every Newton resident can do”, said Chair Janet Razulis. “Volunteers can bring Meals in a Can (e.g. stew, chilli, ravioli) canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly/jam, vegetable oil, toothpaste, bar soap, shampoo and toilet paper to their volunteer sites or directly to Newton City Hall if they choose.  Call 617-796-1540 for more information.

Upcoming Teen Programs Vacation Week and beyond

Teen Crafterhours: Meet on the third Tuesday of every month to make crafts and eat snacks. This month make steampunk magnets. Grades 6-12.  April 19th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

Trivia Nite @ the Library: Are you a genius at Jeopardy!? A consumer of crossword puzzles? Back by popular demand, come join the fun and test your mastery of useful (and useless) information! Some of your favorite library staff will challenge players with 4 rounds of questions from a variety of categories. Stretch your brain and win great prizes! Come alone or with friends. Teams can be up to 6 people, and they can match you with fellow devotees. Pizza will be provided. Teens and families welcome. Register online. April 21st, 6:30 pm, Druker Auditorium.

Books & Brownies: Join the monthly parent/guardian and teen book club and enjoy brownies! This month’s reading is The Marvels by Brian Selznick. For ages 11-16 and their adult. April 26th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

Typewriter Poetry by Teens and Tweens: Celebrate National Poetry Month! Come to the teen area and have someone write a poem just for you, free, and on the spot! Poems will actually be typed on typewriters. April 30th, 1:00-3:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

Help build the playground at Auburndale Cove

During the weekend of April 30th and May 1st, residents of Auburndale and villages throughout Newton will participate in a “community build” to construct the playground equipment at the Auburndale Cove.

“Community builds” have been used to construct many new playgrounds throughout the City of Newton (such as the new playground at Burr in 2014). It’s a great opportunity to work side-by-side with fellow parents and neighbors to build a playground that will be enjoyed by many future generations of kids!!

Please sign up to volunteer at this event!! Sign up for 4-hour shifts on Saturday or Sunday (8:00 am – noon or noon – 4:00 pm). They need as many volunteers as possible to construct this exciting new playground structure. A playground engineer and other professionals will be on site to supervise the work of volunteers. Come dressed in work clothes. Tools and equipment will be supplied at the event.

You can sign up at this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a44aea823abfd0-auburndale . If you have any questions about this event, please contact Stephanie Lapham of the Newton Parks & Recreation Department at slapham@newtonma.gov. See you at the Cove on April 30th!

Pick Newton Schools Foundation for Globe GRANT Program

It’s free and easy! If you’re a Boston Globe digital or print subscriber, please designate Newton Schools Foundation as your non-profit of choice to receive free advertising through the Globe’s GRANT program. All Globe subscribers receive a voucher worth up to $100 dollars that you can designate to a non-profit of your choice. The organizations that receive the most GRANT “dollars” get a free ad in the Globe.

The NSF would use this ad space to promote our mission of supporting the Newton Public Schools. Go to http://manage.bostonglobe.com/grant/Default.aspx and follow the simple instructions before the April 30th deadline. Thank you!

Youth Songwriting Workshop for Social Change

Musical experience is not required for songwriting workshop for ages 8-19.

During the workshop students learn songwriting techniques from professional songwriters and how to write, perform and record an original song for a CD. Participants will also learn about Tunefoolery, the organization being honored at the Plugged In spring session benefit concert. Tunefoolery is a non-profit organization for musicians in mental health recovery.

On the first day of the workshop, a representative from Tunefoolery will talk with the students about their work. They hope that by acquiring a deeper understanding of the cause, the experience of performing in the concert becomes more meaningful for the students. Later in the day, students break into groups, led by professional songwriters, and write songs based on their reactions to what they have learned (and/or on any subject of their choice).

On the second day, they will record the students performing their original songs and create a CD of these performances. The CD will then be sold at the show to raise additional funds for Tunefoolery. Students also perform their original songs at the concert.

The first day of the workshop will be April 23rd from 1:00 – 6:00 pm. On the second day, April 24, each group will come in for 2 hours between 11:00 am – 8:00 pm to do their recording. The fee for the workshop is $175.00. The workshop will take place at Plugged In at 40 Freeman Place in Needham.

For more information and/or to register online, please visit www.pluggedinband.org.

Seek House to Rent

Family seeks 3+ bedrooms and 1.5+ bathrooms in a well-maintained house or townhouse on a quiet non- commercial street, with a yard, storage, 3 parking spots or driveway and garage. Prefer Waban, West Newton, Newton Centre and Highlands, and Auburndale but will consider other areas. Top price is $4,000/ month. Please email or call Lynn Thomas: lynnthomas@21stcenturymgmt.com or 617-795-2757.

Newton South Preschool Program

has openings for 3-5 year olds.

Newton South Preschool Program, a high-quality Early Education program located at Newton South High School, is currently accepting applications for September 2017 for children aged 2.9-5 years old. There are two classrooms staffed by three fully certified teachers. The preschool is also a child development lab school and serves as an internship site for high school students who are taking early childhood courses. The program is open from 7:00 am-4:00 pm with full day and half day options available. This program is accredited by NAEYC.

Please contact Lauren Atkinson or Loretta Wieczner if you are interested in enrolling your child or would like a tour. Contact info: nsppinfo@gmail.com or call 617 559-6533.

High School Start Time Working Group update

Some new items have been posted on the High School Start Time Working Group web page. Please visit and review the latest information, including:

1) April 22nd School Committee presentation about the revised timeline
2) Additional data from the student survey
3) Timeline for the rest of the year, including a Community Status Update on May 23rd at 6:00 pm.
4) Some additional links to health and wellness information

Please visit the web page for more information www.newton.k12.ma.us/laterstarttime

Newton Serves Day opportunity for community service:

Enlisting the aid of community members and families to help mulch the beds in Waban Square for Newton Serves Day – on May 1st, from 12:00 – 2:30 pm. You’ll meet on Wyman St near the post office, or in front of Starbucks. The city provides the mulch and volunteers help to spread it.

It’s very simple and family-friendly (including young children and people with disabilities). All tools, buckets, etc. provided. Bring water, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Snacks and T shirts provided – and free ice cream at City Hall afterwards!

If you are interested, please sign up at the NewtonServes website and call or email Gail Wintersteiner, the WIS gardener and coordinator of this project, at 617-965-1038, g.winterst@verizon.net for more information.