Author Archives: lisa-m

Soccer Clinics with BC Lady Eagles, Dec. 27 – 30

We are glad to announce the return of our Boston College Lady Eagles Soccer Clinics, starting with our Winter Session. The camp will be held from December 27 – December 30, from 12pm – 5pm at Boston College Alumni Stadium.

Our program is designed to develop the players in a fun environment. Players, aged 6 – 14 years, are grouped by age and ability and the program is catered to both the beginner and elite club level player.

Our goal is to challenge each camper to leave our clinics with an increased enthusiasm for the game and ideas to further develop them as individual players. The cost for the camp is $295 and registration is available online.

 

Community Celebration of “Luke’s Light,” Dec. 21

Please come to a family dinner and great live music (Loose Change and others) at the Congregational Church, 54 Lincoln Street, in Newton Highlands on December 21, 6PM-12AM.

Luke’s Lights was was born of a wish by Luke Voss-Kernan’s friends and family to spread his light far and wide by buying solar lights for communities in the developing world who live off the electrical grid. Our fundraiser on December 21 will be a celebration of Luke’s shimmer and his lightness of being. All proceeds will go towards a project of Unite-to-Light to bring lights to communities around the globe that otherwise live in darkness.

Tickets $20 are available online

For your $20 ticket fee, two lights will be sent to someone who cannot yet imagine how his/her life will change. We will also be selling the actual LED lights there for $20 each. You get to keep one; and another one gets sent to someone in need.

Backpacks needed for Hurricane Sandy victims

When you’re shopping this week, please consider buying a a backpack and supplies (notebook, pens, pencils, markers, etc.) for a child whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

When children in New York’s Rockaways neighborhood lost their homes and belongings, they lost their school supplies.  Backpacks, school supplies, and warm socks, mittens, and winter hats are needed.

If you order from Amazon.com, please send the backpack & supplies to:
Church of St Luke & St Matthew
520 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238.

Or buy local and deliver the backpack and supplies in the box in the foyer at First Unitarian Society, 1326 Washington St, across from the Newton police station.

If you send a backpack via Amazon.com, please send an email to Margaret Z., volunteer coordinator, so she keep track of how many backpacks are sent and tell OccupySandy how many backpacks are coming!

December Recess Sewing Camp, Dec 26-31

Don’t get stuck scrambling to find activities for your children during the December Break.

Send the kids to sewing camp at the Newton Sewing Studio  and let the fun and creativity begin! Beginners and seasoned stitchers will appreciate our mix of fun and useful projects.

Dec 26th through Jan 1st – Half or Full days (9am-1pm; 1pm-5pm)

We welcome kids as young as five and parents are more than welcome to stay and sew with us.

Toddler/Preschool Enrichment Program has Openings

Miss Megan’s Place is a licensed, home-based toddler/preschool enrichment program for children ages 18 to 36 months, located in Newto.

At Miss Megan’s Place, children discover their special qualities through a combination of play and structured activities in a safe, happy, clean and stress-free environment. It is my goal to provide a place where your child will grow socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically at his or her own pace, in a home away from home.

Curriculum includes yoga, music, baking, arts and crafts, outdoor time and supervised free play. I hold a Master degree and certifications in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Special Education. I have also been trained in children’s yoga.

Miss Megan’s Place meets Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9-12, September-June and follows the Newton Public Schools calendar. For more information, visit the website or contact Megan Tager by email.

Resource Fair for Families of English Language Learners, Jan. 24

There will be a Resource Fair for families of English Language Learners or former ELLs on Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 6:00-8:00pm in the Newton North cafeteria (457 Walnut St.).

Families are invited to learn about some of the different school and community resources in Newton, including:

• summer camp and after school programs
• pre-school programs
• adult English classes
• supporting your child in school, understanding the schools – conferences, report cards, testing etc.
• Newton Public Library
• high school guidance counselors and college and career counselors
• Boys and Girls Club

The City Social Worker will answer questions and free flu shots from the Health Department will be available.

Childcare (for kids over 5 yrs. old), dinner, and interpreters will be provided in Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Korean. Transportation available upon request. Please RSVP to your child’s ELL teacher or to Dianna Kobayashi by phone 617-559-6045 or email.

Middle School Students Headed to Robotics State Championship this Month

On November 17, 2012, 33 teams from the Greater Boston area competed at the FIRST Lego League robotics regional qualifier event hosted at Newton North.

Two Newton teams, the Ligercubs and Pause4Effect, are made up of students from Day Middle School, while a third team, the CaBOTs, has members from both Bigelow and Day Middle Schools. All three teams won major awards at the competition, and all three qualified for the State Championship that will be held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on December 15, 2012.

“The kids were simply amazing,” said coach Tim Strayer, and explained

that through the FIRST program, student teams must complete a full research project and demonstrate core values of good collaboration and innovation. “These kids have really done science,” Strayer added. “They have been exposed through immersion to the skills of defining a problem, setting requirements, researching solutions, differentiating their solution, and assessing its practicality.” Students also devote on average 8-10 extra hours per week for over two months designing, constructing, and evaluating their robotics project.

Stay tuned for updates on the State Championship!

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Is your child on an IEP? or a 504?

If so, this workshop is for you!

The Basic Rights workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities under: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts Special Education Law and No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

The Federation for Children with Special Needs has designed this workshop to help parents learn to be effective partners with their child’s school to decide their child’s eligibility for special education, and to plan, make decisions and monitor their child’s progress in school. More information www.newtonpac.org or email info@newtonpac.org.

BASIC RIGHTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Thursday, December 13th at 9:00 am (Networking and light refreshments at 8:45 am)

Education Center, 100 Walnut St, Room 304

All Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education meetings are free and open to the public.

New Year’s Open House in Newton

Times Square isn’t the only fun place to spend New Year’s Eve…the New Year’s Open House at Newton City Hall has free live entertainment, face painting,  refreshments and balloon animals! From 1:30 to 3:30 pm on December 31st, there are four different continuous live performances:

  • the delightful Joanne Langione Dance Studio dancers in the War Memorial  Auditorium
  •  the ever-popular Newton Family Singers in the Aldermanic Chambers
  •  the hilarious Big Joe the Storyteller in the Cafeteria
  •  puppets and songs with Diana Kane in Room 209.

Kids can get their faces painted and get a balloon animal to take home. Admission is a   non-perishable food item for the Newton Food Pantries, or a child’s book or winter clothing item for Cradles to Crayons. Visit www.newtoncommunitypride for more information, or call 617-527-8283.

Shabbat Pajama Party

As vacation week draws to a close and you’re itching for something to do, here’s a chance for the entire family to dance, sing & celebrate Shabbat together with a short, musical service.  Wear your Pajamas, Bring Your Snugglie and Catch up with Friends … then head straight home for bedtime! A light Oneg with favorite bedtime snacks will follow. Designed for Children ages 18 months to 5 years with Siblings Welcome.  Open to the Community!

Friday, December 28th at 5:45 pm
Rothman Chapel, Temple Shalom of Newton

Temple Shalom is a diverse and inclusive Reform congregation whose core values inlcude Building Community, Lifelong Learning, Meaningful Worship and Caring About the World. Learn more at www.templeshalom.org .