A local parent group is looking into options for studying abroad as a way to reduce the cost of college as well as provide kids with an expanded worldview.
They’re in the process of inviting international colleges and universities to provide the membership with information on degree programs and costs and if possible, present in person. In addition, they are looking for venues and parents to join the group. Contact the group here https://www.meetup.com/College-Abroad/
Misuse of prescription drugs is a common way for teens and adults to start down the road of addiction. The most typical place young people get access to prescription drugs is their home medicine cabinet. A few simple steps can have a significant impact on limiting unsafe access to these powerful drugs:
Don’t miss your chance to thank teachers and staff who made a difference to your child this year! Making a donation to Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher program is a great way to do this. Look for a flyer in your child’s backpack or if you have children in the upper grades, you will have already received a letter by mail.
To donate online and to find out more about the programs NSF funds, go to www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org. Donations are tax-deductible and go toward enhancing educational excellence, including teachers’ professional development, initiatives to close the achievement gap, and new curricula and learning opportunities throughout Newton’s schools. Teachers, as well as their Principal and the Superintendent, will be notified of this honor, and if you donate by July 31st their names will appear in a special notification in the Newton TAB.
The Newton LigerBots are hosting a First Lego League (FLL) and Jr. FLL Info Night for elementary and middle school aged students and parents. FLL is the FIRST LEGO robotics competition for fourth through eighth graders. Junior FLL is a project-based FIRST program for children in grades K – 3.
In addition to building and programming LEGO robots, each year’s themed FLL challenge a project for which team members brainstorm and present creative solutions to real life problems. This year, all the FIRST competitions will be space themed and the FLL game is titled “Into Orbit”. The presentation is aimed primarily at parents, but kids are also welcome to come and learn more about the FLL program and participate in STEM related activities. Eastern MA Champion FLL team The Day Dragons will join current LigerBots students and coaches who have participated in FLL in the past will lead a presentation with general information on FLL as well as on how to start your own team. There will be demonstrations of EV3 robots, STEM activities, and people to answer any questions you may have. Email fl*@*******ts.com for more information.
June 20th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Newton North High School, Film Lecture Hall (just off the front entrance at Tiger Drive)
457 Walnut Street
Kids’ Morning on July 4th, 10:00 am – 12 Noon, Newton Centre Playground at Tyler Terrace. Free event for children ages 3 – 12 years. Children and families are invited to join in the Grande Pet Parade, Decorated Doll Carriage Promenade, Teddy Bear Parade and Foot Races. Free ice cream, candy and drinks complete the morning celebration – courtesy of Cabot’s Ice Cream. Kids Morning is cancelled in the event of rain.
Afternoon/Evening Events on July 4th, Noon – 10:00 pm – Albemarle Field/Halloran Sports Complex. The fun continues with kiddie amusement rides, face painting, craft vendor booths and food trucks. Look for the Circus Arts performances from students and staff of Gravity Alternative Movement! Then, the fun moves over to the main stage with the fabulous Bo & Bill Winiker Band (courtesy of the Village Bank) for music and dancing from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Bring lawn chairs, try out the delicious food from the many food trucks and pick up your light-up novelties. At 9:00 pm, don’t miss the grand finale…a fantastic fireworks display! In the event of rain, the concert and fireworks will be rescheduled for a date to be determined. Visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org for details.
Volunteers from Angier, Bowen, Franklin, Horace Mann, Memorial Spaulding and Ward Schools are needed for a School Survey.
Green Newton’s Schools Connections Group in collaboration with Newton’s Department of Environmental Affairs, needs volunteers to conduct a recycling survey on “waste, recycling and composting practices” in the schools listed above.
Volunteers from other Newton schools have offered to conduct the survey, which involves documenting observations by doing a walk-through of the school. Some questions may require communication with custodial staff, administrative staff, or faculty. We ask that volunteers read through the assessment BEFORE starting it, and please plan for a few hours or so to complete it in the next few weeks if possible.
Here’s the survey: Sustainable Materials Management Survey.
The data to be collected will help to better focus city resources on significantly improving the sustainability of our schools. Please contact in**@*********on.org to let us know if you are interested in volunteering for this project.
Dogs residing in Newton must be licensed by April 1st every year. Persons with dogs, please see this important information.
From June 8th to June 22nd, Newton Firefighters will be holding a food drive on behalf of the three food pantries in Newton; the Centre Street Food Pantry, the Newton Food Pantry and the Arabic Baptist Church, which together serve more than 1,000 families a month in our community.
Please donate canned or packaged non-perishable food items (that are not opened or expired) and toiletries (standard size) to your local fire station. Let’s support the Newton Firefighters in their fight to end hunger in our neighborhoods!
9% of students in Newton Public Schools are economically disadvantaged. In some of our grade schools, it’s 20%. Every year, NPS runs about $10,000 in school lunch debt.
Many families slip through the cracks and fall behind due to a variety of things such as:
· They hesitate to apply for SNAP food assistance
· They are unaware they qualify
· The paperwork is daunting
· They send some lunches, but must pay for milk or snacks
Our district is compassionate, ensuring all our children get the same lunch and our community can help raising funds to offset this debt. The target for this drive, organized by a Newton parent, is $5,000 by the last day of school.
If you’re food insecure – or know someone who is, there are links and information on Project Bread, The Centre Street Food Pantry and Newton Food Pantry in this GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/npslunchdebt
The Newton Child Assault Prevention Program is seeking volunteers for 2018-2019 school year. Do you have three mornings a month free during the school year? Are you looking for a meaningful and fun way to make a difference in children’s lives?
If so, then join the dynamic team of trained CAP volunteers who are committed to using guided discussions and role plays to teach elementary age children in the Newton Schools that they have the right to be Safe, Strong and Free with their friends and peers, when they meet adult strangers, and with those who are trusted to take care of them. Now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year, the next training begins on October 28th.
For more information or an application, please visit
http://familyaccess.org/family-support/child-assault-prevention/ or contact Gail Sommer, Director, at 617-969-5906, ext. 143 or gs*****@**********ss.org