Category Archives: Other

Newton Community Freedge

Despite Newton’s image as an affluent suburb, too many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their tables. On March 14th, Newton will have a new, free, supplemental food program that is available at all times and in all weather for anyone!

The Newton Freedge, an outdoor refrigerator and pantry, will be located at 420 Washington Street, Nonantum, graciously hosted by Mark Levine in the parking lot of Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning.

This all volunteer-run initiative, led by the Newton Food Pantry in collaboration with a diverse group of Newton organizations, will have teams monitor and clean the Freedge and stock it with prepared food and other items donated from local businesses.

How Can You Help? Spread the word to those who need food. The Freedge is open to anyone, no questions asked and no sign up needed. Help build momentum, join the Newton Freedge Facebook Group and follow the Freedge on Instagram.Donate items to the Freedge. Please review donation guidelines here.

Learn more at http://www.newtonfoodpantry.org/newton-freedge/  Contact newtoncommunityfreedge@gmail.com to get involved

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)

Continue reading →

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

Hospitality Homes 2021 Falmouth Road Race

Searching for people who have a passion for running and a commitment to supporting the Hospitality Homes mission. Hospitality Homes provides free (no cost) and low cost short-term housing in volunteer host homes and donated apartments for families and friends of patients seeking care at Boston-area health care organizations.

All funds raised will benefit the Hospitality Homes program. Runners will receive a guaranteed invitational entry bib & will be required to raise a minimum of $2,500.

Potential Race Scenarios:
– An in-person event (with a potentially reduced field size) – August 15th
– A hybrid event (virtual At-Home Edition and in-person with a reduced field size)
– A virtual At-Home Edition (fully virtual)

To learn more and join the team please email Jodi Riseberg, JRiseberg@hosp.org.

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)
+16465588656,,98538291113#,,,,*457897# US (New York)

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 →

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/

 

2021 Annual Golf Tournament Save the Date

Save the date for the 37th (Almost) Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the John M. Barry
Boys & Girls Club of Newton.

Registration details to follow. Email events@newtonbgc.com with questions and/or to sign up for all golf emails with further details.

June 7th
Woodland Golf Club

Sponsored by Cambridge Savings Bank and Village Bank