Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Student Assignment notice from NPS

As many of you are aware, this is an exciting time of elementary school facilities renovation and expansion in the Newton Public Schools. Because the new schools will have expanded capacity to address our enrollment growth, and we currently have elementary schools that are overcrowded, we have formed a Student Assignment Working Group that is examining elementary school boundary lines.

Over the past few months, the Student Assignment Working Group has developed a process to evaluate various student assignment scenarios. At the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 beginning at 7:00PM and held in the Education Center (room 210), the Student Assignment Working Group will present its latest scenarios and thinking as work continues. Additionally, there will be a Public Forum on May 11, 2015 beginning at 5:45PM and held in the Education Center (room 210), for community members to ask questions and offer comments.

The public is invited to attend both meetings as we are committed to engaging the community on this important decision. We will continue to keep you informed as the Student Assignment Working Group proceeds with its work. Please visit our Student Assignment webpage at http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/ district-initiatives/expandingcapacity/studentassignment.

Child Care Scholarship Applications are now open for next year!

The Newton Partnership, Inc. awards financial assistance for child care to income-eligible families residing in Newton or for children who are currently enrolled in Newton Public Schools. To qualify, the child care provider must be licensed and recipients will be determined by lottery.

Applications and more details for the 2015-16 year are available on the website.
Please find the application here: Scholarship Application 2015-2016. Applications are due by May 15th.

Healthy Kids Day

To kick-start physical activity and learning now and throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids – the West Suburban YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event for kids and families. Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, features:

  • healthy activities and games
  • arts & crafts
  • curious creatures petting zoo
  • concert by food allergy musician, Kyle Dine
  • bike helmet fitting and giveaway from Farina’s Bicycle Center
  •  visit from Elroy the Elk
  • Kid’s ID
  • skate park demonstration
  • free and open to the community

Saturday, May 2nd, 12 noon – 2:00 pm
The West Suburban YMCA’s gymnasium, 276 Church Street, Newton

In celebration of YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, the Y offers the following tips to help families develop healthy habits:

· Try, try, repeat – There are many great tasting fruits and vegetables that many kids have never heard of, let alone tried. Grab a new fruit or vegetable and encourage
everyone in the family to try at least a bite.
· Play around town – Challenge the family to play on a different playground every week. Identify playgrounds at a variety of parks; expand definitions of playgrounds to
include nature trails, a nearby stream, and a bike path.
· Families at play for an hour a day – From walking to gardening, swimming to shooting hoops, make playful movement a part of your family’s day. To get 60 minutes of
moderate activity throughout your day just add 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there.
· Foster a passion for reading – Read to and with your kids. Help children read at every age and every stage of their development.
· Make sleep a priority – Doctors recommend 10-12 hours of sleep a day for children ages 5-12 and 7-8 hours per night for adults. Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining
our healthy immune system, metabolism, mood, memory, learning, and other vital functions.

The Sunday School for Jewish Studies Open Enrollment

Once a Week Hebrew School for Grades 1 – 7
Once a Month Pre-K / Kindergarten Class and Free Family Toddler program

The Sunday School for Jewish Studies is now accepting registrations for the 2015-16 school year. They are an independent school offering a once-a-week program for children
in the greater Boston area for over 40 years. Located at the Oak Hill Middle School in Newton, they provide a Jewish education for children and families with diverse traditions
of Jewish observance. Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation is available but not required, and students may enter in any grade. Interfaith and nontraditional families are welcome. For
additional information, please visit www.SundaySchoolforJewishStudies.org or call 617-264-8855.

Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation Fundraiser

Calvin Chin’s Martial Arts Academy (CCMAA) will be putting on a performance to benefit the Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity. Helen Gee Chin was the administrator at CCMAA for 15 years and a proponent of preserving the history and promoting the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts. Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded nearly $40,000 in college scholarships. The event showcases the talent of Academy students and instructors and includes lion and dragon dances, Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Please see a trailer from the fundraiser DVD: https://vimeo.com/113768366 for a snippet of last year’s event.

Tickets are $25. Please go to www.hgcscholarshipfoundation.org for more information or to purchase tickets. Wheelchair seating is available by emailing hg*@********in.com or at least 72 hours in advance.unday, May 31, 2015, 2:30-4:30pm

Newton North High School (NNHS) Lasker Auditorium

Scholarships available

Newton High School seniors heading to college next September….need some financial support?

For the second year, Newton Girls Softball is happy to be able to offer two $1,000.00 scholarships in honor of Doug Clott and Melinda Roman. The deadline is coming, apply soon!

Eligibility requirements:
Graduating senior who lives in Newton or attends a Newton Public School, who has (1) been accepted to and is attending an institution of higher learning in the Fall of 2015, has (2) played in Newton Girls Softball recreational or Panther programs for at least three seasons, and who (3) exemplifies the values of Newton Girls Softball.

For additional information, please click here: Scholarship information
For the application, please click here: Scholarship application

Newton parent will run the Marathon for Understanding Our Difference

Matt Stafford, Newton parent, is running the Boston Marathon to benefit Understanding Our Differences. Understanding Our Differences (UOD) is a model, interactive disability awareness curriculum that teaches children to “see the person and not the disability.” Since 1978, the program has been successfully disseminated to more than 200 schools nationwide.

The curriculum covers Blindness and Low Vision, Deafness and Hard of Hearing, Autism, Physical Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and Chronic Medical Conditions such as Allergic Conditions, Asthma, Diabetes, and Epilepsy.

Donate at https://www.crowdrise.com/matthewstafford.

Also, there will be a charity auction event for UOD complete with wine, food and live music by Waban’s own Waiting for Neil, March 20th, 7:00 pm at Gregorian Rugs in Lower Falls. RSVP to ma***********@***il.com .

Newton Teacher will run the Marathon for Newton Schools Foundation

Lily Eng Shine, History teacher at Newton South High School, will raise funds for Newton Schools Foundation (NSF) by running in the 2015 Boston Marathon. Her goal is to raise $5,000 for NSF to support innovative educational programs across the Newton Public Schools. To donate to Lily’s Marathon Run visit www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org

Marathon running is a passion for Lily. She Continue reading →

After-School Program for Middle-schoolers

The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children, is hosting an Open Houses for interested families. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of middle school kids (or current 5th graders) to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year.

Please join the staff and see the wonderful space that is the home base. For more information, visit the Highlands After School Program website or contact: Director Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or hi******************@***il.com.

April 30th, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Brigham House
20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands

Bikes not bombs

Do you have an old or unused bike? Donate it to Bikes Not Bombs, a local non-profit that ships bikes overseas to support economic development. Bikes of any size and condition are welcome and can be dropped off on May 17th between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm along with a $10 donation per bike used to defray shipping costs. For more information see http://bikesnotbombs.org/bike-drive/925.

May 17th
First Unitarian Church
1326 Washington Street, West Newton