Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Newton Schools Foundation Awards a Record 20 Grants

The Newton Schools Foundation awarded a record 20 grants in the first half of the school year. In a particularly challenging year Newton Schools Foundation (NSF), the non-profit organization that provides grants to Newton educators, has received a record number of funding requests in the first half of the school year, resulting in $93,000 for 20 new grants across the district.

NSF grants support initiatives that fall within three funding priorities:  allowing teachers to try new approaches in the classroom, professional development, and addressing racial and income inequities.

This year’s grants span all three funding priorities and reach across all Newton Public Schools grades K-12 and include:

New Approaches in the Classroom

  • New Media Communities at Newton South
  • Healthy Living for Emotional and Physical Development (Central High School)
  • The Voice of Literature (Newton North)
  • Virtual Band Project (Newton South)
  • School Store (Newton South)

Professional Development

  • Enhancing the Knowledge and Skills of NPS Staff to Respond to Students’ Challenging Behavior (Districtwide)
  • Expanding Special Education Assessment Understanding and Tools (Horace Mann)
  • LIPS: Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech Training Course (Williams)
  • Anti-Racist Book Club for Faculty (Cabot)
  • STEM with Students in Visual Impairments (Newton North)

Racial and Income Inequities

  • Staff of Color Affinity Groups (Districtwide)
  • Brown Middle School, Anti-Racist and Diverse Representations in Classroom Libraries
  • Overdue: The Challenges and Work of Being Anti-Racist (Districtwide)

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Volunteer at Welcome Home

Do you have an hour or two per week or per month you would like to spend volunteering at a Newton-based nonprofit?

Welcome Home, in Newton Centre, strives to provide families experiencing hardship with basic household items they need to live with dignity. They collect and redistribute like-new household items to dozens of people in need each month with no fees, no forms and no requirements. Any items that can’t be used are repurposed or recycled appropriately, thus benefiting the environment.

The group needs help at donation dropoffs: every other Monday, starting March 8th, 1:00 – 2:00 pm; Wednesdays 1:45 – 3:00 pm; and some Saturday mornings 9:30 – 11:30 am.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact welcomehomemass@gmail.com. For more information about how to donate or request home goods, visit www.welcomehomemass.org.

LWVN Event with Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy III, and Jake Auchincloss

Join in a discussion among Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy III and Jake Auchincloss moderated by Gail Spector. For details visit Representing the 4th: A Conversation with Barney Frank, Joe Kennedy III, and Jake Auchincloss.

Forum questions can be sent pre-program (through March 6th) to info@lwvnewton.org For registration click here: bit.ly/lwvnD4

March 9, 7:00 – 8:30 pm via Zoom

Japanese Language and Culture Program for kids

Yurika Tarui, a junior at Newton North High School, is the founder of Boston Sakura Kids, a volunteer-based organization dedicated to fostering cultural awareness through the Japanese and English language and culture. Since their founding in July 2020, they have served 90 students in the Greater Boston area, providing over 300 hours of live instruction. The initiative has several volunteers from NPS and many NPS students participate in the programs.

This Japanese Language and Culture program (JLC) may be of interest to your family as an engaging, educational opportunity for students to stay connected with peers while learning this spring.

The virtual program is is entirely free and is aimed at kids ages 3-12 who are interested in learning more about Japan. No prior experience is necessary.

Registration is open until March 28th via this Google form. For any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact bostonsakurakids@gmail.com

April 1th – June 10th via Zoom

Call Y3K Tutor in your home today, when schoolwork goes the wrong way!

Call Y3K Tutor in your home today, when schoolwork goes the wrong way!

Many years of experience in teaching and educational consulting has developed the right way to motivate, the right way to teach, be understood, and be remembered. They tutor special education such as ADD, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, executive function, and gifted. Y3K also tutors regular education and test preparation, 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 https://www.Y3KTutorInYourHome.com.

Basic Rights under Special Education Laws presentation and discussion

Please join Newton SEPAC for a presentation and discussion about student and family basic rights under special education laws and regulations.

Whether you’re new to the world of special education or a seasoned special education parent, there are always new and helpful insights from each Basic Rights presentation!

Welcoming Leslie Lockhart as presenter, Leslie is the Mass Advocates for Children’s Helpline Coordinator and was also a founding member and driving force of the original Newton SEPAC.

March 2nd 7:30 – 9:00 pm via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting at https://middlesex-mass-edu.zoom.us/j/98538291113?pwd=eW0yMzRPd3lSR0RZbHNtSmw2ZFVKdz09

Meeting ID: 985 3829 1113
Passcode: 457897
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,98538291113#,,,,*457897# US (Chicago)
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Next CPC Meeting on March 9th

The March 9th CPC Meeting Agenda – including a New Proposal for West Newton Armory Affordable Housing Development and a Pre-Proposal for Gath Memorial Pool Renovation Feasibility Study – is now available online for review.

This will be a virtual meeting. To view and participate on your phone, download the “Zoom Cloud Meetings” app in any app store or at www.zoom.us. Click on “Join a Meeting” and enter  Meeting ID: 88010126719. To view and participate on your computer, go to www.zoom.us, click “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID: 88010126719

You can also access the meeting online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88010126719 Continue reading

Private tutor offering sessions for academic support and ACT/SAT prep

Are you looking for someone who can help your son or daughter? Chris Orr has worked with students of a wide age range, specializing in preparing high school students for the ACT, SAT and tutoring Math, English and History. Most of his SAT prep students enjoy a score improvement of over 150 points, which exceeds the results of any national or regional tutoring company.

His approach relies on a 3 pronged focus on Strategy, Content, and Practice with the material to maximize his students’ results. With over 10 years of experience as an interviewer of college applicants, Chris also offers students and their parents college admissions consulting.

Families hire Chris to help students with English, writing, Algebra, Geometry, History, and the SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, and AP exams. He works with students in their homes if the family prefers, or via Skype or Zoom. Find out more information about his services, including testimonials, at www.orracademicadvising.com or contact him at 781-304-8805 or orradvising@gmail.com

Mental Health: Starting the Conversation

Join Mayor Fuller, NAMI Newton-Wellesley, and Riverside Emergency Services to learn more about mental health, mental illness and the work of community organizations improving education and awareness.

Register for the webinar at www.newtonma.gov/mentalhealth

For additional information, please contact Aimee Sullivan at asullivan@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1420.

March 2nd, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, via Zoom

Family friendly outdoor art projects

Clay Soap Dishes Workshop – The Trustees of Reservations
This workshop is suitable for ages 5 and up, children ages 5-15 must be accompanied by at least one registered adult in their group. A safe, creative, festive, outdoor clay art project event that encourages clean hands and makes soap more fun!

February 27th, click below for details and registration

https://thetrustees.org/event/61518/

Clay Garden Signs Workshop at deCordova – The Trustees of Reservations
This workshop is suitable for ages 5 and up, children ages 5-15 must be accompanied by at least one registered adult in their group. Build, carve and decorate with ceramic colors fun clay signs for around your garden this spring! Creations will be fired and ready for signs in your garden before the snow melts!

March 6th, click below for more information and registration

https://thetrustees.org/event/61515/