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The City of Newton is trying to learn about Newton community members’ experiences of and visions for their village centers to inform zoning proposals! Engagement will include a Vision Kit to explore your village center(s), an interactive survey, and Focus Groups for equitable participation.

Sign up for a Community Engagement Information Session on May 20th, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, here and fill out this Focus Group Interest Form if you identify as a renter, younger person (age 15-35), BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), someone with a disability, LGBTQ+, of the creative community, and older adults (65+).

Learn more at newtonma.gov/zoningredesign.

2021 Newton SEPAC Special Educator Virtual Awards!

Nominations are now OPEN for the 2021 Newton SEPAC Special Educator Virtual Awards! Please go to https://forms.gle/M9uHkvhHx1NvvnJ2A to submit your nominations by May 17th.

Here’s how the 2021 “Virtual” Awards will work:

  • Families will submit nominations using the Google Form
  • Each nominee will receive the text of the nomination in an email
  • The email to each nominee will also include messages of thanks from Mayor Fuller, the School Committee, Superintendent Fleishman, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Beth Fitzmaurice, and the SEPAC Board
  • Each nominee will receive a printed award that will be dropped off at their school or location in early June
  • Each Principal will be sent a list of the nominees from their schools

For those new to Newton SEPAC, the annual Special Educator Awards are a way to honor NPS and OOD staff who have gone the extra mile to support our special education students. Nominees span a wide range of staff, including teachers, aides, BTs, therapists, bus drivers, crossing guards, administrators, other support staff, etc. All nominees receive an award. The Awards are usually held in person but will be virtual in 2021 for the second year running. (Fingers crossed for an in-person gathering in 2022!)

Feel free to pass on the nomination link to SEPAC families.

Newton Food Pantry BIPOC Volunteer Opportunities

Are you a member of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community? Your help is needed at the Newton Food Pantry!

Do you want to be a part of a local nonprofit that helps countless residents every week to provide healthy food options for them? Bring your own background and experience to benefit the clients of the Newton Food Pantry! The Pantry needs new volunteers with linguistic skills, BIPOC volunteers, and volunteers from diverse backgrounds to support and represent the diverse client community.

They’re still looking for BIPOC volunteers and people who can speak Spanish, Russian and Chinese to work the Wednesday afternoon client distribution shifts, 12:30 – 2:30 pm, 2:30 – 4:30 pm, and 4:30 – 6:00 pm. There are also a variety of other volunteer opportunities. Want to know more? Email president@newtonfoodpantry.org today.

Newton Food Pantry is an entirely volunteer-run, local nonprofit, working hard to bring nutrition and food justice to all of our neighbors.

Parents of Special Education Students Transitioning to Brown Middle School

Please join a parent Zoom meeting. This is an opportunity for parents whose children are receiving special education services (IEP/504 Plan) to ask questions about what student life is like at Brown Middle School – programs, activities, accommodations, communication with staff, ways to get involved etc.

Whether you can attend the zoom oornot, you can also contact Kim Gallaugher anytime at momofiggy@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns about transitioning to Brown.

May 27th, 7:30 pm via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7967420402
Meeting ID: 796 742 0402

Yoga for Gardeners – Waltham Fields Community Farm

Calling all green thumbs! Are you looking forward to the summer’s bounty? Is your body ready for it? This class is open to all gardeners, and no yoga experience is necessary. Join Cathleen O’Connell of Artemis Yoga for a gentle yoga practice that will focus on the areas of the body that get a “workout” while gardening. The class will be held outside in a beautiful spot on the farm. Please register at the farm website event link below:

REGISTER HERE

May 22nd, 8:30 – 9:30 am – $25 per participant
Waltham Fields Community Farm, 240 Beaver St, Waltham

Artemis Yoga is thrilled to partner with Waltham Fields Community Farm this summer and this first program, Yoga for Gardeners, kicks off a monthly partnership of Yoga on the Farm programs. Other events include:

  • Mindfulness on the Farm – A Handful of Quiet,  May 22nd, 3:00 – 4:30 pm – for children
  • Outdoor Yoga at the Farm,  June 12th, July 10th, and September 11th, 8:30 – 9:30 am
  • Family Yoga at the Farm, August 14th,  9:30 – 10:30 am

Click here to learn more Community Farm events

Discovery Club: An After School Experience

Registration is now open for Discovery Club! One-stop shop for educational, high-energy expert-led enrichment activities including swim, art, dance, sports, STEM as well as Jewish celebrations, values and fun for grades K-5! Transportation available from select schools.

To learn more and register for the 2021-22 school year, visit bostonjcc.org/discoveryclub or email discoveryclub@jccgb.org.

Interested in summer softball?

The MiddleEssex league is seeking Softball Players in Birth Years 2002 to 2013 (ages 8 to 18) for a summer weeknight league.

This is a great primary playing opportunity for players who are not on a tournament team, as well as a great opportunity for players who are on a tournament team to get more game action . . . maybe more innings that you’re able to get in tournament games, maybe time at a preferred position that you don’t get in tournament games . . . or maybe you just want to play as much softball as you can!
Season runs from June 21st through August 5th, Mondays through Thursdays
14-game schedule (7 home and 7 away)
Away games are typically north and west of Boston (e.g. Concord, Sudbury, Reading, etc.)
Games start no earlier than 6:15 p.m., with some lighted games at 8 p.m.

Great opportunity to continue skill development in competitive game situations.
Contact Bill Hartranft at bhartranft1@gmail.com by May 21st to express interest or get more information. Once they know the interested player pool, they will assess how best to form teams at different age divisions given player counts and age constraints.

Hello Mustang Nation!!!

Registration for the Fall 2021 Football and Cheer Season is now open!! If your child is in grades 2-8 this Fall, you can now sign up and get registered. There are special discounts for Early Registration as well as for New to the Program Mustangs!!

For questions and more info or to get involved and volunteer, please email  newtonmustangsyfc@gmail.com.

Registration is live at  www.newtonmustangs.org. There is no payment required at this time, just get registered.

$250 registration fee for the 2021 Season. Use “NewMustang” promo code to take advantage of these special offers:

  • $50 off for returning players early registration by June 1st.
  • 50% ($125) off New Player Registration by June 1st.

Weekend & Holiday camping

Weekend & Holiday camping is now available at Rocky Woods Reservation in Medfield. Rocky Woods has 15 ‘walk-in’ campsites designed for the entire family, with boating, fishing, and miles of trails to explore. If you’re looking to get the kids outdoors without having to venture far from home, this is the spot!

Visit https://thetrustees.org/program/rocky-woods-campground/