Author Archives: caroline-w

Calling all teens!

Come learn about JCC Maccabi Campus Games where you can aim for gold! Each summer, Jewish teens, agee 13-16 gather for a six-day, Olympics®-style competition.

Teams participate in boys baseball, boys, ice hockey, girls volleyball, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys soccer, chess, dance, e-sports, swimming, table tennis, and tennis. It’s the summer experience of a lifetime, and JCC Greater Boston is proud to send its own delegation to the games!

Learn more at bostonjcc.org/maccabigames. For more information, contact 781-249-9567 or maccabigames@jccgb.org.

Female Zionist Series

Please join Hadassah Boston for the Female Zionist Series featuring Professor Tamar Frankel in conversation with Professor Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute  Please complete the information below to register.

A donation of $18 or more to support Hadassah Medical Organization is greatly appreciated. Register at
https://secure2.convio.net/wzoa/site/Ticketing?view=Tickets&id=104481

April 30th, 7:30 pm
Brandeis University, Waltham

Newton Girls Soccer Team for Girls in Grades 9 -12

Are you ready to dust off your cleats for spring soccer? Newton Girls Soccer is looking for girls in grades 9 – 12 who want to join a competitive high school-aged team this spring.

The team would play a 7-week season in the BAYS Travel Soccer League.
Season Dates:  April 26th – June 14th. Games once per week on Sundays. Times vary. There are no games scheduled May 24th. Teams will practice once per week, date and time TBD. Fee: $140.00

Depending on numbers and player experience, there will be the option to form a Division 1 11 v 11 team, a Division 2 11v11 team, and/or a Division 3 7v7 team.

To express interest, please provide your contact information at https://forms.gle/R1dWNsDyP9sS8F1S8 before March 6th. Responses are requested to determine if there are enough interested players to field a team.

Questions can be directed to Coach Matt Goldstein at mattabgoldstein@gmail.com or Marysol Masse-Makimura at registrar@newtongirlssoccer.org.

Camp Fair in Dedham

This camp fair is hosted by the Avery School PTO and gives families from all over the region the opportunity to connect with representatives from 60+ overnight camps, day camps, and other summer programs for children and teens. Many of the participating day camps/activities are held in locations convenient to Newton, and the attending overnight camps come from all over New England.

There are options for children aged 3-17. All are welcome to attend the Discover Summer! Camps & Activities Fair.

March 7th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
336 High Street, Dedham

Kindergarten Soccer

Pre-K Division for children in preschool who will enter Kindergarten for the 2020-2021
school year. Kindergarten Division for children currently enrolled in Kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year.

Game times are based on school assignment, please visit the Kindergarten Soccer
website for your child’s game time and other information. All games will be played at Oak Hill Middle School beginning Saturday April 18th and will run for 7 weeks (with no game May 2nd and May 23rd)

Kindergarten Soccer is run entirely by parent volunteers, please sign up to coach if you
can! No previous knowledge of soccer is needed. Kindergarten Soccer is not a drop-off program, children must be accompanied by an adult.The cost of the program is $80.00 before April 5th. Financial assistance available, please contact newtonkindergartensoccer@gmail.com.

Attention 5th Grade Parents – Open Houses for afterschool program

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open House events for interested families. This is a great opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join  and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit highlandsafter-schoolprogram.org

Open Houses:

March 1st, March 9th, and  March 24th, 5:30-6:30 pm
Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands

Families for Depression Awareness is presenting a free webinar

Families for Depression Awareness is presenting a free Teen Self-Injury: Working Toward Healthy Coping Skills webinar. In this webinar, Jason Washburn, PhD, ABPP, will discuss the connection between self-injury and depression, how caring adults can identify signs of self-injury, and respond in an effective manner.

This program is designed for parents, guardians, caregivers, youth workers, and any adults interested in teen mental health. Register to join for a live webinar discussion or watch on demand after it airs.

If you are new to the topic of teen depression or in need of a refresher, please watch  Understanding Teen Depression as a foundation to this upcoming webinar.

After the webinar, complete the online evaluation and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a free copy of the book Self-Injury: Simple Answers to Complex Questions. Can’t attend the live webinar? Register today to submit your questions and watch the recorded webinar after it airs.

March 24th, 7:00 – 8:15 pm

Click here to see the Teen Depression Webinar Flyer 
Click here to see the Teen Depression Fact Sheet in English or Spanish

Literacy Specialist/ESL Teacher

Literacy Specialist/ESL teacher available for private Summer tutoring and systems navigation. Newton mom and former Newton literacy specialist with 20 years experience in public education and proud parent of two kids with complex learning and social-emotional needs.

Lani Verges-Radack has experience in a variety of methods and she can assess your child to design the best plan for progress. She works on ALL areas of literacy – decoding, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, writing, oral language and phonics/spelling – depending upon the needs of your child.

  • State certified in ESL, Reading, Early Childhood, English. Completing requirements for Moderate Special Needs certification by summer.
  • Experienced with all ages, with specialties in early childhood and elementary.
  • She can help you navigate state, private, and local systems of care, especially for foster/adopted kids as well as kids with complex social-emotional profiles.
  • Rates available upon request.

Please email for additional information Lradack@gmail.com

Join Summer Living in the LabTM!

Does your child want to be a scientist? An engineer? Ti2’s Living in the LabTM offers immersion in today’s research mindset, techniques and tools. Young people, ages 6-17, experiment and design alongside scientists and engineers to experience life in the lab!

Enroll Now!

One week sessions, Mondays – Fridays,  9:00  – 12:00 noon (with early arrival options)
June 22nd – August 26th

Newton FORJ Book Group (Families Organizing for Racial Justice)

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
February 25th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Newton Free Public Library, Room B
Adult discussion

White Fragility
by Robin Diangelo
April 29th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Newton Free Public Library, Room B
Adult discussion

There is no childcare at these events.
Contact Jennifer Dirga at jenniferdirga@gmail.com with any questions