Author Archives: caroline-w

Paid part-time opportunity at Centre Street Food Pantry!

Part-time paid Volunteer Manager position at the Centre Street Food Pantry in Newton Centre (12 -15 hours per week including working at the busy pantry every Tuesday 4:00 – 8:00 pm and possibly Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm). When not on site, the job requires working remotely and timely communication with a diverse population. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic, good planners, kind, calm under pressure and have experience in volunteer management or training. The person should be able to comfortably carry bags of groceries or boxes of food. Send resume to info@centrestfoodpantry.org.

Spring Programs at Newton Community Farm

Kid focused:
Farm Tuesdays for ages 7-11. Meets Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, March 31st – May 26th (no class April 21st). An after school program on NPS early release days: meet the new chicks, get the learning garden started, play games and make snacks.

Budding Chefs for ages 7-13. April vacation week, Tuesday – Thursday, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, April 21st – 23rd. Cook up delicious treats in the historic barn and spend time outdoors in the learning garden and with new flock of chicks!

Farm Sprouts for ages 2.5 – 5 with an adult and Farm Babies for ages under 2.5 with an adult.  Sing songs, read books and learn about the farm in spring. Meet the new chicks and search for signs of spring as the farm comes to life!

For adults and families:
Master Your Gut, Sunday, March 15th, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. Meet Jay Vilar, a Nutritional Therapist Practitioner, and learn about the importance of your gut health in this brand new workshop. Enjoy samples of probiotic, prebiotic, and fermented foods and drink while you learn.

Spring Has Sprung Cookbook Potluck Dinner, April 1st, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Join members of the farm community to celebrate food and farming. Spring’s potluck dinner will feature Alison Roman, author of Dining In and Nothing Fancy. In addition to these two fabulous cookbooks, many of her fresh recipes can be found in full on her website.

Family Baking,  April 5th, 10:30 am -12:00 pm. Get ready for spring holidays with this fun day of baking in our historic barn. Use spring ingredients like rhubarb and chamomile to make baked goods the whole family will enjoy.

Seasonal Pasta Making, April 30th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Make fresh pasta with farm ingredients to enjoy with others in this adult cooking workshop.

Farm Photography,  May 30th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Join award-winning photographer, Karyn Novakowski, to tell the story of your food from seed to plate and beyond through photographs.

For more information on any of these programs, email education@newtoncommunityfarm.org or call the office at 617-916 9655.

Civics Challenge

Join the LWVN Civics Challenge! This is meant to be a true community builder for anyone in Grade 8 or older. There will be snacks and prizes, including a MA State House tour for the winning team.

Anyone who registers as an individual will be placed on a team OR groups of 3 or 4 may register as a team. The registration deadline is February 28th.

For more information visit https://lwvnewton.org/civics-challenge/

Registration at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcwgcU6SArR79FLjjlPyqPCG1fUcVSaQEJD02tbnBd-BtgQA/viewform

See a flyer at https://lwvnewton.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-Civics-Challenge-flyer.pdf

March 1st,  3:30 – 5:30 pm
Cabot School

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall

Artemis Girls Stand Strong, Stand Tall is for girls ages 10 – 13. The six week series starts soon. This wonderful, girls’ empowerment program is just right for when girls need a safe, welcoming, judgement free zone! Program includes yoga, mindfulness, breath work, creative expression and self-reflection and it generally sells out, so sign up if interested. Class is led by Tracy Affonso and Amy Hrobak, both experienced, adolescent educators, mindfulness and yoga instructors as well as Amy is a licensed social worker with a specialty in teens. Please reach out to liz@artemisyoga.com or call 617-393-3590 if you have any questions

Fridays, March 6th – April 10th,  4:00 – 5:30 pm
Registration fee: $150 for six week series, not a drop-in program
Register or learn more at https://www.artemisyoga.com/classes/kids-teen-classes/
Artemis Yoga, 639 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown

Here’s what some recent girls said: “I liked being able to be myself and talking about things without worrying what others would think.”, “I really learned some new ways to be kind to myself in the self-care day.”, “Amy and Tracy made it fun to come to class and I was able to meet some nice, new people.”, “I liked the vision board project!”

Newton Theatre Company production of Pinocchio

This winter, Newton Theatre Company is thrilled to partner with Pazzi Lazzi Troupe, a local performance group, to create a lively adaptation of the classic Pinocchio. In his quest to become a real boy, the wooden puppet Pinocchio must overcome temptation and danger with the help of his loved ones. Told in the style of commedia dell’arte, a classical Italian style of physical comedy, this energetic production is sure to be fun for the whole family!

Appropriate for all ages! Tickets available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pinocchio-a-commedia-adventure-tickets-90251702271?ref=weblink

Pinocchio: A Commedia Adventure, created with Pazzi Lazzi Troupe
February 29th, 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and March 1st,  3:00 pm
The Union Church in Waban

When Strep Causes OCD, Anxiety and More

The Dearborn Academy Speaker Series is hosting a panel discussion on the little-known but disabling PANS/PANDAS syndromes.  The diseases can occur when strep, other infections or environmental factors cause a misdirected immune response resulting in inflammation on a child’s brain. This response, in turn, can trigger the sudden onset of ADHD, OCD, disabling anxiety, a decline in math and reading skills, and more.

While researchers are only beginning to study and understand the PANS/PANDAS syndromes, the panel will provide the latest information on causes and treatment.

Register: bit.ly/DA-PANS-PANDAS

March 12th, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
575 Washington Street, Newton

School Committee Update

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 2/10/2020 Newton School Committee meeting:

Superintendent Update

  • School teams used the early release on Thursday, February 6th for Professional Development in the following areas:
    • Elementary worked on Social Emotional Learning and Culturally Responsive Classrooms.
    • Middle worked on departmental frameworks and content.
    • Newton North worked on Race and Achievement.
    • Newton South worked on Social Emotional Learning.
  • On Wednesday, February 12th at 7 PM the NNHS Chinese Program and the Jingshan Exchange Program will co-host a fundraiser to benefit Jingshan School and to buy medical supplies for Wuhan University Hospital to help battle against the outbreak of Coronavirus.  Newton North alum, comedian Jesse Appell, will perform a comedy show followed by a NNHS student performance. Purchase tickets and make donations here: http://bit.ly/2vSkeFL.

Discussions/Updates

  • Information Technology and Library Department Goals – Director of IT, Steven Rittendi, presented an update that included information on the 1:1 Chromebook Initiative, Data Analytics planning and Infrastructure.
  • Mid-Year Superintendent Goals and Systemwide Goals Update – This update included a look at three specific areas of work:
    • Administrative Council: working towards projects aligned with existing district goals.
    • District Data Team: Using data to improve instruction.
    • Middle School Content Teams: Teams within all 5 major content areas working on professional development and data-driven student learning and performance focused inquiry cycles.
  • Fiscal/Operations – Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, presented our second Fiscal and Operations Update of the school year. The district has spent 50% of the annual budget and our financial outlook was described as a “good news story” at this time.
  • Facilities Report – Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, reviewed several projects currently underway including:
    • Cabot – Completed and will be coming off Facilities report.
    • Lincoln-Eliot/NECP – School Building Project – Bidding to start in May and estimated to be completed by 9/2021.
    • Horace Mann – Improvements including modular classrooms and a new playground.
    • Phase 3 Solar Panel Updates.
    • Oak Hill – construction of 3 additional permanent classrooms.
  • Discussion: Policy Update FA (Facilities Goals) and Policy Update ADF (Wellness) – Added language that reflects our transportation and sustainability initiatives.

Continue reading →

Tech time impacts development

Come to a viewing of the documentary “Screenagers” followed by a discussion on technology and our children.

Learn more at www.screenagersmovie.com. From the website, “Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, SCREENAGERS reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.”

February 11th, 7:00 pm
Newton North High School Auditorium

Sponsored by the Newton PTO Council. Hosted by Horace Mann, Franklin, Lincoln-Eliot and Peirce elementary schools

Provide your input on the Open Space & Recreation Plan

Newton is required to update its Open Space & Recreation Plan every five years. The City is in the midst of updating it now. To learn more about the Open Space Plan visit http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/conserv/area/default.asp

The on-line community survey will allow everyone an opportunity to provide insights and personal priorities regarding open space and recreation. You can access the survey using this link: https://forms.gle/YDChrou3ZJUp8M4g8 until February 13th.

The second public meeting (date TBD) will serve as an opportunity for residents to provide feedback and comments on a full draft of the OSRP. Please check the website link listed above in the Survey section, to check for announcements regarding the date, time, and location.