Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Newton Schools Foundation Hosts Evening of Ideas and Community

Some of 
Newton’s most talented, captivating, and forward-thinking individuals will converge on Newton North High School on November 19 for the third annual Newton Inspires—An Evening of Ideas and Community, sponsored by the Newton Schools Foundation (NSF).

Newtonites representing an array of fields and interest areas will address topics ranging from business, education, science, health and medicine, to journalism, architecture, arts, entertainment and culture. Attendees select three 30-minute speaker sessions from among 19 choices. At the end of the evening, participants and speakers will gather to debrief and reconnect over coffee and dessert.

The event is free and open to Newton residents, but speaker sessions fill up quickly, so register early! Donations to cover costs are accepted on the website.  For a list of speakers, to register and for more information, go to www.NewtonSchoolsFoundation.org.

The free community event will take place Tuesday November 19, 7:00 – 9:30 pm at Newton North High School.

It’s not too late!

It’s not too late to join a class at Top Banana! If you want your child to attend a program that builds their confidence, allows them to have fun and meet new friends, all while learning- this is the program for you! They are offering classes that include: Computer Science, Math, SSAT/ISEE Test Preparation, Math Kangaroo Preparation/Competitive Math Club and English!

Visit the  website www.topbananaeducation.org or call 617- 795-1557 for more information.

Learning Programs for Elementary Students

This winter, The Chyten Center in Newton is offering a wide variety of experiential learning programs on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In the Saturday morning “Imagination Authors” program, Chyten students design a fantasy world with imaginative characters, plot, settings, conflict and resolution. Working together, they then actually write and publish their own book!

Also on Saturdays, students in the “Career Time” class play the role of doctor, lawyer, architect, journalist, scientist and mayor.

On Sundays, students are young entrepreneurs as they start with the germ of an idea for a business and take it through the entire entrepreneurial process in the Shark Tank Jr. program. On Sunday afternoon, students create and manage their own fictional baseball team. In doing so, they learn invaluable math lessons that include fractions, decimals, operations, pre-algebra, geometry and more!

For more information, go to TheChytenCenter.com/ESTEEM or call 617-559-9931 and ask for Education Director Matt Bowling.

Just for Teens at Newton Free Library: Cupcakes & Gallery Opening

Monster & Mummy Cupcakes: Tuesday, October 15, 4:00 pm Get creative on Tuesday, October 15 at 4:00 pm in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library where we’ll be decorating monster and mummy cupcakes for Halloween.

Teen Art Gallery opening Wednesday, October 16, 4-5 pm
Please join us for the opening reception for Photographs and Ceramics, a show featuring works by Newton North students, in the second floor teen area. The show will be on view until spring 2014. Entertainment will be provided by a chamber ensemble from the school.

Refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market. Framing courtesy of Abraxis Framing Company in Auburndale.

BULLY: Community Screening and Dialogue

First Unitarian Society in Newton is sponsoring a community screening of the documentary film BULLY. The event is free. Pre-registration is strongly recommended (space is limited). A facilitated discussion about the film will directly follow the screening.

This year, over 13 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience. BULLY, a documentary film directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker Lee Hirsch, shows the human side to this startling statistic, offering an intimate, unflinching look at how bullying has touched five kids and their families. Filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year, BULLY opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. Join us to view the film and to discuss the vital role we can all play in addressing this crisis.

NOTE:  Children are welcome, but please note that the film is rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, disturbing content and some strong language.
 Childcare is available for children whose parents want to view the film, but requires an email by October 25th to rv******@**********rd.edu specifying the names and ages of the children.

Please RSVP using the following link:
http://www.thebullyproject.com/rviscomi/bully_community_screening_and_dialogue

Friday, November 1st, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
First Unitarian Society in Newton
1326 Washington Street, Newton

A Conversation about the Boston Busing and Desegregation Era

The Busing and desegregation era in Boston was a watershed moment in our city’s history. The violence that met desegregation here was a shock to the nation as it clashed with Boston’s image and identity as a liberal-minded city.

Can We Talk? is a film by media producer Scott Mercer. The film was commissioned by Union of Minority Neighborhoods (UMN) to capture some on the voices that motivated UMN to begin the Boston Busing and Desegregation Project which looks at the impact that the Brown vs. the Board of education ruling had on the state of public education today.

The film offers powerful stories of the 1970’s busing/desegregation crisis that changed Boston forever. Most of those in the film have never publicly shared their stories. It aspires to prompt a long-overdue honest conversation about public education and racism, classism, and social injustices that have plagued not only the Boston public schools, but the city of Boston as a community.

Come meet UMN’s Donna Bivens and Executive Director Horace Small and hear their reflections on this project and watch a 20 minute clip of this powerful film.  What was your experience of the busing and desegregation era in Boston?  Please join us.

Thursday, October 10th, 7:30-9:00 pm
First Unitarian Society of Newton

When kids push our buttons

Join Cindy Kaplan, MA, Parent Coach, and Newton parent in a four-week workshop to explore what pushes your buttons and why they are pushed, as well as to gain skills that will help defuse them. Learn to set limits and maintain authorty through connecting with your child and end the power struggles so that you can parent the way you intended and your child can thrive.

Wednesday evenings Oct 16, 23, 30 and Nov 6 from 7:15-9:15 pm in Newtonville.  Pre-registration is required. For more information, e-mail Cindy at ci***@************ng.com or call 617-869-3305 or click here.

Classical Art & Science Academy

Classical Art & Science Academy (CASA) is an innovative enrichment program located in Brighton which provides inquisitive children between the ages of 4.5 and 12 with an educational experience that covers a great variety of exciting subjects. Class offerings include: Art, Astronomy, Chess, Cello, Flute, French, Geography, History, Homework Assistance, Literature, Logic, Math, Music History and Literature, Music Theory, Piano, Reading, Russian, SAMBO (Russian Martial Art), Science, Technology, Test preparation, Theater, Violin, and Writing.

They are open 5 days a week, during school vacation, and on most holidays. Regular field trips to educational and entertainment venues in the greater Boston area are available throughout the year.

For more general or registration information, please call 617-935-4444 or by email at ca**********@***il.com.

Wellesley Theatre Project Now Enrolling For Fall

From Page to Stage!, Pre-K (5 Weeks)
Begins October 3
Thursdays, 1-2:30pm
Every week a new story comes to life through creative drama, movement activities, and arts and crafts. Students will engage in an interactive exploration of beginning theatre, classic and current children’s literature, and nursery rhymes. The final day of class will feature a “Shareformance”.

4 Week Workshops:
If you can’t make one of our semester classes, or if you want to expand your knowledge in a specific area, this may be the class for you!

Musical Theatre, 2nd-8th Grade
Begins October 12
Saturday, 9am-Noon
“Sing Out, Louise!” Learn solo and ensemble numbers from some hit Broadway shows of the past and present! Students will work on becoming true theatrical “triple threats” during this intensive. Singing, Dancing, and Acting their way through some of Musical Theatre’s most beloved songs. Includes one on one and group coaching with Musical Director. The final day of class will feature a “Shareformance”.

Details and registration information is available on the Wellesley Theatre Project website.