Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

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 sl*****@******ma.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 Continue reading →

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: ns******@***il.com or call 617 559-6533.

SAT 2 Subject Test Prep

Newton Community Education can help you prepare for the June SAT 2 subject tests in Chemistry or Biology.

The SAT 2 Chemistry review class will run four Tuesdays, May 3rd – 24th,  7:00 – 9:00 pm at Newton North. It will be taught by NNHS teacher Tatyana Osipenko.

The SAT 2 Biology review class will run four Tuesdays, May 10th – 31st, 7:00 -9:00 pm at Newton South. The class will be taught by NSHS teacher Jordan Kraus.

Sign up today at newtoncommunityed.org or call 617-559-6999.

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

Be the Parent you want to be

A New Way of Understanding and Parenting Kids. Do you ever feel frustrated with your child/teenager? Find yourself shouting often and imposing punishments or rewards in reaction to challenging behavior? Do you wish you had a more effective parenting approach that also helps to build a better relationship between you and your child/teen?

Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach, based in MGH’s Department of Psychiatry, provides parents with concrete tools to better understand and parent their kids (ages 3-18) in the face of day-to-day challenges – e.g., getting to school, homework, screen time, bedtime – and more serious challenges. It’s based on the understanding that many kids lack the skill, not the will, to behave well – specifically skills related to problem-solving, flexibility and frustration tolerance.

The Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Approach helps parents to:

  • Shift their thinking and approach to foster positive relationships with their child/teenager
  • Reduce their child/teen’s challenging behavior
  • Solve problems collaboratively and proactively
  • Build their child/teen’s skills in self-regulation, communication and problem-solving

For more information and to register for the April/May 4-week CPS group in Newton or the 1-day CPS training on May 21st in Brookline, please visit: http://www.betheparentyouwanttobe.weebly.com.

Flute Artistry at Amadeus Music School

•Specialized flute lessons in preparation for District Competition, All-State, NEC
Preparatory Ensemble auditions
•Expert music instruction and development of practice techniques for steady progress;
beginners through advanced levels welcome
•Convenient lessons at your home, or at studio near Lexington Center
•Flute lessons structured to build a strong musical foundation and centered around a
student’s specific needs and goals

Call 781­-354­-5693 for your complimentary trial lesson today! Visit
www.amadeusmusicschool.net for more information.

Newton Has Talent auditions open until April 15th

Newton Has Talent is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Newton. Funds go to programs such as annual scholarships to graduating seniors, grants to local organizations, recognizing a “Student of the Month” each month, collection of food and toiletries for our food pantries, camperships for kids who need some help with their summer plans, and a variety of hands-on service projects that help the Newton community.

Please check out the Flyer or their website http://www.rotarynewton.org/.

Auditions are open until April 15th.