Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Earth Day Event

The Newton Library presents Save the Planet and Your Health with a Plant-based Diet. Learn about the environmental impacts of the meat, dairy, egg, and fishing industries at a special Earth Day Green Newton series program with Sara Sezun, Chair of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter Plant-based Planet Team. Find out how eating a plant-based diet can improve your health and help remedy environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, habitat loss for endangered species, and zoonotic disease transfer.

Register here to Save the Planet.

April 22nd,  7:00 pm via zoom

Learn to create Home Harmony in this three-week course

Join certified Professional Organizer (CPO®) Erika Salloux of Living Harmony to learn how to Create Home Harmony. Registration required. Sign up here Harmony

In this three-part series you can learn proven strategies with steps for getting and staying organized. Bring an organizing project you’ve been avoiding and get it done by the end of the series. Please note, when you sign up, you are signing up for all three sessions.

April 20th, 27th and May 4th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm

Sponsored by ShelfGenie and co-sponsored by the City of Newton Department of Senior Services.

Mental Health: Continuing the Conversation

Join Mayor Fuller, Samaritans Inc., and Families for Depression Awareness to learn more about suicide prevention, recognizing depression and bipolar disorder, and the important work being done to reduce the stigma of mental health issues in our community.

Register online at www.newtonma.gov/mentalhealth

May 6th, 6:30 pm

Green Newton Covid-19 Memorial Trees 4C Project: Plant Trees to Honor Those Who Lost Their Lives

The goals of the 4C Tree Project (Capture Carbon Commemorate Covid) are to provide a beautiful living memorial to neighbors lost to Covid-19, remind us of our need to care for each other, and help mitigate the negative impacts of climate change by planting trees.

The city forester has purchased 170 trees to go in parks, schools, and streets across Newton this Spring. We hope that the Newton community will come together to help fund these trees and show that we care. Please donate at www.greennewton.org/trees. You can add a note to the donor scroll and mention your school, club or membership affiliation. Also follow the progress of this memorial on instagram @4ctreeproject.

Newton Bike Rodeo for Grades K-6

Newton is having its first bike rodeo where MA Safe Routes to Schools instructors will teach and review bike riding skills. Volunteers will also help teach fun stations including knowing signs and hand signals, how to care for your bike, and more.

Registration opens on April 15th and the program will fill quickly as space is limited. See more here:
https://newtonma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30165

This program is geared towards students in Kindergarten through 6th grade at Newton Schools that are comfortable riding a bike independently. Students will be divided into smaller groups to practice and learn different skills and will receive a certificate at the end of the program.

In order to participate:

  • Each child needs to bring their own bike. Please make sure the bike fits the child and is in usable condition (chain is intact, brakes work, tires are not flat, etc).
  • Each child needs to bring and wear a properly fitting helmet.
  • Each child must have a parent or adult present for the duration of the program.
  • Parents/adults will have an opportunity to meet with volunteers from Bike Newton and Newton Safe Routes to Schools to learn more about biking opportunities in Newton.
  • Social distancing and face coverings are required throughout the event.

April 25th, with sessions at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm (May 2nd will be a makeup date in case of postponement due to bad weather).

Summer dance class or camp

Register for summer dance classes and weekly themed camps at All That Jazz Dance Studio! Keep the dance party going all summer long at one of the weekly classes, ranging from street jazz to contemporary to hip hop to lyrical and so much more. Or, join one of the amazing themed camps- Fairytale Adventures, Pure Imagination, Tik Tok & Pop Stars, Summer Dance Jam and Dance Mania!

Classes and camps start at age 2. Join the All That Jazz dance family this summer! For details, please see https://www.allthatjazznewton.com/event/summer-2021-class-schedule/

330 Watertown St, Newton

Check out a variety of Teen Summer Programs

For guidance on finding the right summer program for your middle or high school student, go to TeenSummerExpos.com

There you’ll find a curated group of the best summer opportunities listed by the child’s interests as well as virtual programs that kids can do during the school year. You can also get free personal guidance by phone to help you choose.

String Ensemble & Chamber Music

In-person Boston Music Institute is excited to announce their in-person summer program, open to string players aged 10-17 throughout July and August. Students will rapidly enhance their musical skills and leadership through rehearsing in small chamber ensembles to work towards a final virtual performance. All classes will strictly adhere to CDC guidelines which are in place, including distancing and mask requirements.

Register here https://www.bostonmi.org/registration-form

Session 1: July 12th – 16th
Session 2: July 19th – 23rd
Session 3: July 26th – 30th
Session 4: August 2nd – 6th
Session 5: August 9th – 13th

Join Newton Food Pantry’s Walk for Hunger Team!

The Newton Food Pantry is proud to be participating in Project Bread’s Virtual Walk for Hunger. Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, founded in 1969, is the oldest and largest community fundraiser for hunger solutions in Massachusetts. The team will be participating in The Commonwealth, a fundraising share program that allows the Newton Food Pantry to retain 60% of the funds raised by their team, with the remaining 40% of funds raised applied to statewide hunger solutions.⁠ A real win-win!

Teens (ages 13+) and adults are welcome to join. The traditional Walk for Hunger has been a 20-mile group walk into Boston. Because of the virtual nature of this year’s event,  team members have the opportunity get creative. Consider walking 20 miles over 20 days or replace the walk with family bike rides or hikes and try to hit the 20-mile mark over a few weekends this spring. No matter how you plan to “walk”, be sure to reach out to family, friends and neighbors so that they can support you in your fundraising effort. Some simple fundraising ideas: host a loose change drive on your block, break your Starbucks habit for a month and donate your saved funds, or have friends and relatives sponsor your bike ride/walk/hike miles. Every donation makes a real difference! ⁠

⁠The money raised by “Walk” participants, like the Newton Food Pantry, will provide grants to hundreds of community-based programs that rely on support—food pantries, hot meal programs, summer meals for kids, farm and garden initiatives, health center programs and more.⁠

⁠Please visit the NFP’s Walk for Hunger team page to join the team, make a donation, or for more information about how the Newton Food Pantry supports our community.

Participation in COVID-19 Testing

As NPS prepares for a full in-person return to school for students at all levels, they are STRONGLY ENCOURAGING families to enroll their student (s) in the COVID-19 testing program. Testing is one of the best ways we have to quickly identify infection and reduce the possibility of in school transmission. Here are 3 reasons to enroll:

  • It’s easy! Complete the opt-in in Aspen (here’s the link!) High school students then create an account at JCM (do it here!) for access to a QR code they use to check in their sample. Pre-K – 8th grade students will receive their QR code from school staff.
  • It’s painless! This is NOT the “touch your brain” swab! This is a sample taken from the front of your nose with a Q-tip like swab. It’s super-fast and painless.
  • It makes a difference! The more students who participate, the better data we have on infection rates in our community. This means we can quickly identify infection, reduce the risk of in school transmission, limit quarantines, and keep our schools, athletics and other important activities open for the rest of the year!.

Bonus reason: This testing program is FREE to all families! Please consider enrolling your student today. Thanks in advance for doing your part to keep our schools safer.