Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Writing classes available

Advantage Writing provides rigorous writing instruction with honest feedback in a laid-back, red-pen-free environment. The workshops are designed to help middle and high school students build skills to communicate effectively and elegantly in writing. Their workshops demystify the basics of writing and guide students through practical strategies that will take their writing to the next level.

The Basics class focuses on key elements of effective expository prose: thesis construction and development, structuring and supporting an argument, crafting purposeful introductions and conclusions, and writing strong topic sentences. The Grammar & Vocabulary class focuses on the nuts and bolts of writing: active and passive verbs, subject and verb agreement, punctuation basics (comma versus semicolon versus colon), and pronoun use.

Advantage Writing welcomes all levels of writers and are committed to working with students at any stage in their writing process. More information, including instructor bios, can be found on the website. Check out the flyer here: Flyer

For any and all questions please email ac*****@**************ng.com or call 617-680-7337.

10 Traits of Effective Parents in Special Education

Advocating for children in the special education system can be frustrating and overwhelming for parents. Over the past decade, Attorney Jeffrey Sankey has worked with hundreds of parents to help them obtain special education services for their children. In his experience, he has found that the parents who are best able to navigate the intricacies of the special education process share a number of common traits, which we will explore during this session.

SEPAC Presentation by Jeffrey Sankey of Sankey Law Offices, P.C.

Topics covered will include:

  • Understanding key special education rules and regulations
  • Maintaining accurate and complete records
  • Facilitating productive relationships with school staff
  • Please come with any questions you may have

January 16th, 7:15 – 9:00 pm
Room 210, Newton Education Center, 100 Walnut Street

FORJ Family friendly meeting with pizza ans socializing

You’re invited to the FORJ All Schools Family Friendly Meeting including:

  • Family Pizza dinner and socializing
  • Art Activity focused on Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired themes
  • Video and Small Group Discussions on Microaggressions and Standing Up Against Racism and Bias at our Schools

Sign up HERE https://goo.gl/forms/WN67i9Bb1eTLzyvp2
Want to receive FORJ Newsletters? Sign up here www.forjnewton.com and make sure the fo********@***il.com is in your contacts. Hope to see you soon!

January 17th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Angier Elementary

Basic Rights in Special Education for the Asian American Communities

The Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Newton SEPAC) is hosting a seminar on Basic Rights in Special Education for the Asian American Communities. The speaker will be Susan Ou from the Federation for Children with Special Needs, who will present and can answer questions in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, depending on the needs of audience members. Anping Shen, who is a Newton School Committee member, will speak. Eileen Sandberg from the SEPAC will give a short talk about special education in Newton, and her experience with her children. They plan to leave lots of time for questions.

Discussions will cover the student’s and parent’s legal rights, how to explore whether special education services would be helpful, and the support that the parents in the Newton SEPAC can provide.

The presentation is a free event and all are welcome. Begin with refreshments and networking at 7:15 pm, and the presentation and question session will be from 7:30 pm –  approximately 9:30 pm.

January 30th, 7:15 – 9:30 pm
Room 210, the Education Center, 100 Walnut Street, Newton

MLK – Multiplication Carnival

Can Multiplication workout be fun? Sure can be! Master the most difficult multiplication facts in one visit to the Multiplication Carnival – no mindless drills, no boring flash cards, no tears, no painful memorization.

Don’t get bogged down by multiplication, put it behind you! Organized by Mathnasium Math Learning Center. Register for the 2.5 hour carnival event during the MLK school holiday at www.MultiplicationCarnival.com.

Newton Mathnasium, 1349 Center Street, Newton

New England Camp Fair

The New England Camp Fair will hold its 4th annual event at Underwood School. The Camp Fair is FREE and open to the public and brings together camps serving kids ages 5-14.

Bring your camper(s) and engage with staff from 20+ premier day and sleepaway camps from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut. Participating camps run the gamut, including traditional day and overnight camps, sports camps, theater camps, computer camps, fencing camps, arts camps, as well as many other themed camps.

Visit www.newenglandcampfair.org for a complete list of camps attending. Parking and refreshments are also free! If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Underwood PTO at un**********@***il.com.

February 10th, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Underwood School

Seeking an Admin and Events Coordinator

Newton Community Farm (NCF) has an immediate opening for an Admin and Events Coordinator. NCF is a 2.25 acre intensive vegetable operation with an active educational and public engagement component. This position is well-suited for someone who enjoys working on contemporaneous projects each requiring a range of skills. You will never be bored!

The ideal candidate is detail oriented and personable, has a willingness to learn, and has an interest in food and farm-based education. The full job description can be found here.

Email Karyn Novakowski at ka***@*****************rm.org with questions and applications.

Dance Jam Fitness with Hadassah Boston

Join Hadassah Boston to get moving for Heart Health Awareness month. Come to ‘Dance Jam Fitness’ a dance class for all fitness levels. Absolutely no dance experience necessary.

Cost is $25.00 and includes the class and all-day use of the Life Time facilities. RSVP by visiting www.hadassah.org/events/dancejam.

February 3rd, 11:45 am
Life Time Athletics, Chestnut Hill

Study on Stress and the Teen Brain

A researcher and clinical psychologist at McLean Hospital is part of a group conducting research examining the impact of stress on the teen brain. They want to understand the factors that makes some teens more resilient in the face of stress and what make some teens more susceptible to developing depression.

They’re currently conducting this study with female teens ages 14-18, with and without depression. Please see the brochure Stress Study for more information and contact research research investigator Emily Belleau at 617-855-4245 or eb******@************rd.edu for more details about the study.

Winter Etiquette Classes

The etiquette classes at the Etiquette Academy of New England for grades 2-12 cover topics such as improving social and communication skills, projecting confidence, combating shyness, strengthening self-esteem and leadership skills, navigating friendships, resolving conflict, understanding social cues, basic manners, table manners, and much more!

Now enrolling for the 5-week program starting January 26th and 1-day programs in Boston, Brookline, Newton & More! For more information and to enroll visit theetiquetteacademy.org!