Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Upcoming Teen Programs

Books and Brownies, December 15th, 7:00 pm, 2nd floor Teen Area:
The group will discuss Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, which received the 2014 Stonewall Award from the American Library Association. It’s an award given to books of “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.” BMUC tells the story of Gabe, a high school senior with a serious love of music, who is learning to leave Liz behind – the person everyone has known him as until now. Please join for a great discussion and of course, brownies!

Create Your Own Light-Up Card, December 16th, 3:30 pm, 2nd floor Teen Area:
Learn some elementary electronics, and how to create fun and flexible circuits on paper. You’ll be able to make holiday cards or pictures that light up.

New NNHS Book Club! December 18th,  2:30 pm (during X Block):
This new Newton North book club will be meeting every other month for a book discussion in the NNHS Library. Come to the first discussion (and brownies!) to talk about Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes.  For any questions, email Ms. Dalbec at: er*********@***********ma.us or Liz at: te***@***************ry.net.

Family Game Night, December 30th, 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium:
Staying around town for the holiday season? Keep warm at the library where we will be hanging out, eating pizza and playing board games. Open to all ages.

NewPAC presentation

The Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education (NewtonPAC) is sponsoring a presentation by attorney, teacher and former head of the Board of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) Dan Ahearn. The topic will be Basic Rights in Special Education, and the meeting will be held on December 10th at 7:30 pm in room 201 of the Education Center at 100 Walnut Street in Newton.

Networking and cookie-eating will begin at 7:15.

Introductory Training in Think: Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Approach

Do you ever feel frustrated with your child? 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? Then this training is for you.

Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving parenting model is a revolutionary, evidence-based approach created by MGH’s Dept. of Psychiatry that provides parents with concrete tools to better understand and help children (ages 3-18) with challenging behavior. 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. For more information and to register for an upcoming training, please visit: http://www.betheparentyouwanttobe.weebly.com

Next Level Up Tutoring

Build Fundamentals, Encourage Positive Study Habits, Provide Academic Perspective

We have almost reached the midpoint of this school year. Have you addressed your child’s academic needs or concerns? Contact Next Level Up Tutoring for a free in-home consultation. Call 781-540-1123 or email in**@*****************ng.com.  Visit the website to learn about their approach and philosophy.

Next Level Up – Helping all students reach their PEAK potential.

Call Y3K Tutor today when schoolwork goes the wrong way!

Their many years of experience in teaching and educational consulting have developed the right way to motivate, the right way to teach, be understood, and be remembered.  They tutor special ed. such as ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, Executive Function, and gifted as well as regular ed. and test preparation.  In addition to academic subjects, they teach children organizational skills, homework coaching, study skills, and time management. All subjects and ages are taught.  Parents can now receive 25% off the first lesson.  Call 781-492-8700 or log on to http://www.Y3KTutorInYourHome.com.

Shoes for Haiti

Please bring ANY pair of shoes that would hold a foot on dirt roads in a tropical climate to donate to this effort. Shoes will be provided to kids in Haiti whose feet need protection from parasites and help them feel like they BELONG with their classmates at school. Many poor parents do not send their kids to school, embarrassed that they lack shoes. Every. Little. Bit. Counts. Thanks!

There is a box in the lobby of Brown Middle School for shoes. You can also drop shoes on the porch of 135 Lincoln St. in Newton Highlands. Please bring donations! If you have any questions, please call or email Skye Tausig at 617-243-0363 or ht*****@*ol.com.

The Growth Mindset

Come to a Parent/Guardian workshop on getting up to speed on the growth mindset.

Have you heard that Newton Public Schools is asking teachers and staff to explore how
encouraging a “growth mindset” can motivate students to learn? Do you know that the research-based growth mindset is useful for all ages and in all settings—school, home, work, athletics?

Newton North School Council and PTSO invite ALL parents/guardians to a fun and engaging evening exploring the growth mindset. As Principal Jen Price shows you how Newton Public Schools faculty are being trained in the use of the growth mindset, you’ll learn:

 Effective ways to give praise

 Useful methods for encouraging children and teens to try new things and accept

challenges

 Constructive ways to respond to failure

 Successful strategies for creating a parent-teacher dialogue about students’ development

You will also have a chance to apply the growth mindset during an interactive challenge.
To learn more about the growth mindset, read **********************@***************************************th.aspx” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>The Significance of Grit . or view this Ted Talk by Angela Duckworth.

December 3rd, 7:00-8:30 pm
Newton North High School cafeteria

Teen Programs

Teen Crafternoons,  December 2nd, 3:30 pm, second floor Teen Area: Get creative making wrapping paper, gift tags, carving stamps, and eating snacks.

Get Hooked: Knitting and Crochet Club, December 4th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area: Join the ongoing Knitting and Crochet Club. They have crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarn and the know-how to teach the basics of crocheting. Or, bring your own project. Refreshments will be served. Open to ages 10 and up.

Girls Who Code Club, December 5th, 12th and 19th, 4:00 pm, second floor Computer Center: Want to learn how to build an app, design a video game and change the world through code? Join the Girls Who Code (GWC) Club! GWC is a national non-profit organization leading the movement to inspire, educate and equip girls with the computing skills they need to pursue 21st century opportunities. Join them every Friday throughout the school year to learn about artificial intelligence, graphics, game design, cryptography, mobile development and so much more! Open to grades 6-12. For more information: www.newtongwc.com

Create Your Own Light-Up Card, December 16th, 3:30 pm, second floor Teen Area: Learn some elementary electronics, and how to create fun and flexible circuits on paper. You can make holiday cards or pictures that light up.

“Beautiful Music for Ugly Children,” Dec. 15

Please join a special meeting of Books & Brownies, the Newton Free Library’s parent/guardian and teen book club in the second floor Teen Area!

The group will discuss Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, which received the 2014 Stonewall Award from the American Library Association, given to a book of “exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.”

Monday, December 15th, 7:00 pm
Newton Free Library

BMUC tells the story of Gabe, a high school senior with a serious love of music, who is learning to leave Liz behind – the person everyone has known him as until now. We hope you’ll join for a great discussion and of course, brownies!

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

For information about Newton PAC, please go to the Newton PAC website: www.newtonpac.org . If you have questions for the Newton PAC Board, please email in**@*******ac.org

Topics to be presented in 2014-2015:

  • Panel discussion on mental health, with emphasis on depression in children and adolescents
  • Assistive Technologies workshop with Kayla McAllister, NPS staff
  • Screen time for children with disabilities: What is recommended? What is too much?
  • Telling your child about their disabilities / diagnoses
  • IEP in a fishbowl
  • Understanding Neuropsychological Testing and Evaluations

Future Newton PAC meeting dates:

December 10th
January 8th
February 5th
March 4th
April 15th
May 14th
June 2015 – Sixth Annual Special Educators Awards Ceremony, Date TBA