Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

#NewtonTogether has launched!

Let’s stay connected as a community in the face of COVID-19! On April 20th, Patriots’ Day/Marathon Monday, we invite all Newtonians to make handmade #NewtonTogether signs and display them in your windows. Get creative–make paper signs, use sidewalk chalk, whatever inspires you–and share the incredible joy, strength, and resiliency of Newton. Just because we can’t gather for the Marathon this year, doesn’t mean we can’t connect! Tag your creations in the Facebook event or on social media with #NewtonTogether. For more information, click HERE.

Some Newton villages are also choosing to stand outside at noon on April 20th to clap/bang pots in recognition and gratitude for all the hometown heroes (medical personnel, pharmacists, grocery workers, teachers, etc.) who are working the front lines to keep us all safe. Feel free to recognize your favorite hometown hero in your #NewtonTogether social media posts.

The idea came to the Mayor’s Office from Newton resident Rakashi Chand:

Let us bring our community together in a shared message of perseverance and pride. Let us inspire one another as we are and always have been an unwavering city, that has stood tall and united in the face of adversity and overcome again and again, every challenge, hardship, tragedy and crisis. We will persevere, we will fight in every way we can, we will unite and we will see the dawning of a brave new day. This epidemic will make each day harder than the last, but we will persevere, we will face the challenges that present themselves, because we are strong.

Let’s find a way to inspire our citizens, and remind them that we, like our forefathers and foremothers, will overcome this, and find ways to raise each other up with hope.

In addition, for those of you who are big fans of the Boston Marathon, the Newton, Wellesley and Natick Historical Societies will be showing vintage photos of the Boston Marathon on their websites on April 20th. You are welcome to share your marathon thoughts, memories, and photos of your favorite site on the route using #VirtualMarathon.

Thanks so much for being a part of #NewtonTogether on April 20th! Click here for the flyer with information.

Newton Community Ed offers enrichment online

 

Here at NCE Kids, we’re working to bring you enrichment classes online. We’ve converted most of our ongoing winter Kids classes to Zoom, and will be offering new classes throughout this spring. See below for our current online offerings and check here regularly for updates. If you have questions, contact us at staff@newtoncommunityed.org.
Grades 4-5: 7 Tuesdays, April 21 – June 2, 3-4pm
Grades 6-8: 7 Thursdays, April 23-June 4, 3-4pm
Make big money fast (virtually, that is). Play The Stock Market GameTM and you’ll learn about the real world of investing, which incorporates academic concepts that relate to what you learn at school. In this fun and high-spirited setting, you’ll try to grow a virtual $100,000 cash account into a top-performing portfolio, and learn how daily events that shape our world affect our finances. Working individually and in teams, you’ll compete against your classmates and other schools across the state, applying your leadership, negotiation, and cooperation skills.

 
Grades 3-5
Thursday, May 7, 3:15-4:30pm
Take the first steps towards independence. Learn about Internet safety, phone and door-answering techniques, accident and fire protection, and first aid. We’ll watch an instructional video, discuss how to manage your time when you’re home alone for short periods, and explore scenarios through role-playing.
Grades 3-5
8 classes, Mondays & Thursdays,
April 27-May 21, 2:45-3:30 pm
Flex your math muscles and have some fun while you’re at it. Join us to explore a variety of different games, puzzles, and creative problem-solving activities. We’ll investigate the world of numbers in new and exciting ways that will make math feel cooler than you ever thought it could be. Learn to break big problems into small ones, find patterns, create step-by-step plans, and think outside the box. Complete this class and you’ll be well prepared to apply your new math skills to the ever-changing world around you.
Grades 2-5: 6 Wednesdays, April 22 – May 27, 2:30-4pm
Grades 2-5: 6 Thursdays, April 23 – May 28, 2:30-4pm
Create a city within a virtual Minecraft world. Learn all about what it takes to make a great city and answer important questions such as: What will you name your city? How many structures can you afford to build? Will you allow gas-powered cars, electric cars—no cars? Use Minecraft to design and build your buildings, use Powerpoint to create a compelling presentation to sell your city, and apply your math skills to make sure you come in on budget! Join us to test the limits of your Minecraft skills.

Safe Routes to School yard sign contest – deadline extended!

Massachusetts Safe Routes to School has extended their deadline to May 1st for their annual yard sign design contest. This year’s theme is eliminating distracted driving, especially in and around school zones. The contest is a way for students to use their creativity to help promote safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians in their communities. Winning entries will be made into yard signs – signs from prior years are on display around Newton.

Signs may be hand drawn or created digitally. Either way, please submit them digitally; also, a school signature is no longer needed unless your student’s design is selected as a winner.

The contest is open to students in grades 2-8. Guidelines and more details here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/yard-sign-design-contest-signups-and-guidelines-2020/download. Direct questions to NewtonSafeRoutes@gmail.com.

Newton South Faculty and Staff Variety Show on Zoom!

Announcing the Faculty and Staff Variety Show on Zoom! Saturday, April 18th, at 7:00 pm.

See Newton South faculty and staff members sing and dance (mostly sing) for an evening of joy and humor to celebrate our community, even at a distance.

Click Here on Saturday night for the show–from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

Your enthusiastic hosts,
Rachel Becker, Tori Parker, and Alan Reinstein

Newton Schools Foundation grants $85,500 to NPS for student access to online learning

Newton Schools Foundation this week approved a grant of up to $85,500 for the Newton Public Schools to purchase 300 Chromebooks for students who need access to online learning during school closures. NSF is committed to closing gaps in achievement and opportunity as part of its mission to advance educational excellence and equity in the Newton Public Schools. When the schools closed unexpectedly, NSF committed to working with school administrators to make available the balance of unrestricted NSF grant funds for this year for emerging system needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The district has already distributed more than 400 Chromebooks to families. As additional requests for Chromebooks continue to come in, this NSF grant will help the Newton Public Schools fulfill the need to support remote learning for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to educational opportunities online. For more information or to donate click www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org.

Student Volunteer Group for COVID-19

Learn about the Greater Boston hub of Students Against Corona, a worldwide student volunteer organization. This organization works to connect low-risk volunteers to at-risk people to help them with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, walking the dog, etc.

Recently, the worldwide organization has been getting media attention such as the Oxford branch appearing on a BBC News article. Let’s help to spread awareness to better help our community during this crisis. Please click here to see the flyer with additional information.

Feedthefight

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Newton, FeedthefightBoston was founded to support local restaurants by feeding healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. Within the first week of operation, FeedthefightBoston raised enough to feed more than 1,000 healthcare workers in 4 major hospitals with healthy meals purchased from local Newton restaurants.

Donations of $500.00 or greater allow donors to select a favorite restaurant for a meal delivery donation.

Please visit www.feedthefightbos.com  or Facebook at FeedthefightBoston or Instagram at FeedthefightBoston

Virtual Guitar Teacher for Beginners

Check out a great opportunity for kids/parents sheltering at home. You just need a guitar and desire to have fun and learn some chords and songs. Half hour lessons. Max Greenberg can get you started and advance your level.

It’s lots of fun. Mandolin beginners too. Please contact him at Max_Greenberg@yahoo.com for more information.

Free SAT/ACT Prep Test & Review Program

Kyoko Horowitz, Artistic Director of the Boston Music Institute (BMI), announces a wonderful academic program being provided by former BMI students under their academic firm CPC Boston. Please click below for information about Free SAT/ACT Prep and Review Programs that they will be holding for two weeks from April 13th to the 26th.

SAT/ACT Prep and Review Programs