Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

June/July Events with Historic Newton & Jackson Homestead

Summer offerings by Historic Newton include:

Thursday, June 27, 7:30 PM
HISTORY BOOK CLUB

In this month’s book selection, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, noted historian Gordon Wood debunks the mythology of Franklin as the quintessential American. In his marvelous and readable book, Wood shows how complex and contradictory Franklin’s life was: his preoccupation with becoming a gentleman; his longtime loyalty to the Crown; the personal character of his conversion to revolutionary; and his controversies with John and Sam Adams and with Congress. The book is a magnificent fresh version of Franklin’s life and reputation, filled with insights into the Revolution and into the emergence of America’s idea of itself. The book club is free and open to all, new members are welcome.

Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7, noon-5:00 PM
NEWTON COMMUNITY WEEKEND
Newton residents are invited to enjoy free admission to the museum. Celebrate the birth of our nation by re-visiting Newton’s revolutionary past in our “Newton History Gallery” and “Mapping a New Town” exhibitions.

Sunday, July 14, 2:00 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON WALKS
Crystal Lake: Resource to Recreation
From skating in winter to swimming in summer, Crystal Lake has been an important community resource for outdoor recreation. Did you know that it also provided much of the ice that kept local resident’s food cold before the refrigerator? Join local resident Lucy Caldwell Stair to hear some of the stories behind this beloved community resource, and add your own. Meet in grassy lot adjacent to the Crystal Lake bathhouse parking lot on Rogers Street. Free.

Sunday, July 28, 2:00 PM
HISTORIC NEWTON WALKS
Voices of Newtonville: A Village History
Explore the history of Newtonville from its rural beginnings, through its suburban development as a railroad stop, to the changes brought by the construction of the Mass Pike. Join Harvard graduate student and Historic Newton intern Tracy Lindboe as she leads us through the development of Newtonville using historic perspectives and narratives from past Newtonville residents. Meet at the Newton North High School Parking Lot at Elm Road and Walnut Street. Free.

In addition, current exhibitions include:

Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Antislavery in the North: a three-dimensional learning center with hands-on activities and information about colonial slavery, the Underground Railroad, and local abolitionists.

An Architect Ahead of Her Time: Annie Cobb (1830-1911): Arguably the first woman architect in America, Cobb succeeded in fashioning a career for herself in the male world of building in a time when women’s work was mainly limited to the home.

Newton and the Civil War: showcasing Newton residents in the Civil War. Also be sure to visit our new Women’s Fashions of the Civil War Era exhibit.

 

Volunteer with Newton’s Child Assault Prevention team

Help keep Newton children SAFE, STRONG & FREE by volunteering with the Child Assault Prevention (CAP) program. Training for Volunteer Prevention Specialists for the 2013-2014 school year begins the week of October 20 — mark your calendar now.

The CAP Program relies on trained volunteers to teach elementary students simple strategies to reduce their vulnerability to verbal, physical and sexual assault. Volunteers work in teams, led by an experienced team captain. Training is provided. This year’s training begins the week of October 20. Volunteer commitment is 4-6 hours per month, for one school year. 16 Continuing Education Credits available for MSW.

For more information and to set up a screening interview please contact Gail Sommer, Director, by phone (617.969.5906 x 143) or by email. Visit the CAP website for more information.

 

Understanding the College Admission Process, June 17

Parents and teens are invited to “Understanding the College Admission Process,” given by Lanita Foley, a certified educational planner and independent educational consultant with 15 years of experience in college admission and counseling at Stanford University and Phillips Academy.

Monday, June 17, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Newton Free Library in the Druker Auditorium

This FREE session will focus on the details and timeline of the application process, how to navigate financial aid requirements, and how parents and teens can collaborate on getting into the best school possible.  Parents and teens are welcome.

 

Not Your Average After School Program

Christine MacInally, founder of The Performance Factory and graduate of The Boston Conservatory, is offering a new and exciting program, “Broadway After School.”  This high energy class will focus on musical theater and acting technique.  Students will learn basic acting vocabulary while executing through skits, songs, improvisation and choreography.  Students will have the opportunity to perform in a professional show at the end of the year.

SESSION 1:  September 10 to December 17
SESSION 2:  January 7 to April 22
TIME: Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m.  – 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION:  Jackson Rd. (old Rashi school, right beside the Jackson School)
FEE (per session)  $550.00 (Includes registration fee)

For more information, please go to http://www.performancef.com/ or contact Christine at 617.470.2937.

Best-selling author Andrew Solomon in Newton

The Newton Partnership and Understanding Our Differences are honored to be hosting best-selling author Andrew Solomon in Newton on June 17th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Newton North High School.

Solomon’s book Far From the Tree is a magnificent work about extraordinary families of individuals affected by cognitive, physical or psychological differences.  Its focus is on parents who not only learn to cope with their exceptional children, but also find profound meaning in doing so. This thought-provoking book affirms the values of empathy and acceptance and is relevant for all kinds of parents and families.  Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the event.

Registration is required at  http://understandingourdifferences.org/far-from-the-tree/.
Suggested donation is $5 at the door.  For a preview, view this YouTube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bWH0DD800I.

Summer Speech and Language Program at Emerson College

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Emerson College is offering a six-week speech and language therapy program to children and students, ages 3 – 12, in the City of Newton with documented need for services.

Supervised graduate students in speech-language pathology will provide individualized one-on-one therapy, twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning July 8th and ending August 14th for a total of 12 sessions.

All sessions meet at the Newton Educational Center on 100 Walnut Street on the 3rd floor. The fee is $375.00 for 12 one-hour sessions. Spaces are limited but applications will be accepted until the program is filled.

Applications are available from school speech-language pathologists or by contacting Laura Glufling-Tham, MS, CCC/SLP at Emerson College via email or by phone at 617-824-8318.

Boston Tutoring Services, in-home instruction

Boston Tutoring Services, LLC offers one-on-one in-home instruction for K-12 students throughout Massachusetts.

Services include Private School Admission Test Preparation (ISEE/SSAT), SAT Test Prep, and Academic Subject Tutoring for students in grades K-12. Experienced tutors are largely Massachusetts Certified Teachers with Master’s Degrees or higher. Tutors have been trained to deliver instruction  customized to each student’s needs.

More information is available online or by calling (781) 248-4558

Summer Camp: The Engineering of Energy

Students from Olin College of Engineering are holding two summer camps, for grades 2-6, on “The Engineering of Energy” this summer.

Campers will learn about engineering of energy systems, building a sustainable city with solar panels, wind turbines, Legos, and more!

The one-week sessions are held at MIT on July 29-Aug. 2 and Aug. 12-Aug 16.
Cost: $750 per camper; scholarships are available

For more information about the camp, contact Dr. Abigail Mechtenberg by email. To learn more about the Engineering of Energy project, visit its website.

The majority of the program fee serves to support a development work trip to Uganda by Olin students.

 

Honor a Teacher with donation to Newton Schools Foundation

Every day, your child benefits from the exceptional Newton teachers and staff who motivate, educate, and inspire them to be the best they can be. Please support their efforts and honor their dedication to our children by donating to the 16th Annual “Honor Thy Teacher” Campaign of the Newton Schools Foundation. The Newton Schools Foundation supports teaching, learning and innovation in the Newton Public Schools.

The suggested donation is $25 per teacher or staff member. Donations are tax-deductible. There are several ways to donate:

· By check – Made out to “Newton Schools Foundation” and mailed, along with a note containing the name and school of the teacher(s) to be honored, to: 
Newton Schools Foundation, 100 Walnut Street, Newton, MA 02460

· By credit card – Phone the NSF office at 617-559-6120

· Online – Go to the NSF website, click the “Honor Thy Teacher” button and follow the instructions

We will notify staff and teachers of donations in their honor and publish their names in the Newton Tab in the fall. Donating to Honor Thy Teacher is the perfect way recognize Newton’s wonderful educators while supporting our schools.

 

Newton Beijing Jingshan School exchange seeks host families

If you and your family have ever wanted to know more about China, this is an extraordinary opportunity for you! The Newton Beijing Jingshan School Exchange Program is seeking families to host students and teachers during the fall semester of the 2013-2014 school year.  This is a great chance to learn about Chinese culture while sharing your own family’s culture and traditions.   Participants all speak English and are eager to learn about and take part in American family life.  Beijing Jingshan exchange students and teachers arrive mid-September and depart mid-January.  Students attend regular classes at the high schools. Teachers teach in our schools.

To explore this unique opportunity, please check out the website http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/jingshanexchange/hosting or contact: Mi************@***********ma.us .