I have witnessed parents making U-turns directly in front of the school, pulling into resident driveways to turn around disregarding the child that is walking on the sidewalk. Using the Blue Zone as a personal parking space showing a lack of consideration for other students and parents, double-parking and letting their child or children out of the car into the street instead of letting them out onto the sidewalk.

All of these types of unsafe driving behaviors are being done on a daily basis, defeating the purpose of the Blue Zone and the ability for a safe environment for your child. When you drop your child off/pick up at school, remember it is your responsibility to keep your child and others safe. Parents want to watch their child enter the school and drive away knowing their child’s in the safe environment, what some parents fail to think about is the way they drive away, making a U-turn or driving with excessive speed to work. All it takes is one time for you to hit a child and your life and your family’s life will change dramatically. No one would ever want to hit a child but with the current unsafe driving behavior it can happen to anyone!

The Newton Police Department employs 58 crossing guards for all 15 Elementary Schools, which is more than most cities in Massachusetts. Dropping your child off at school and letting him/her walk across the street without using the crossing guard defeats the purpose of having them there for your child’s safety. We appreciate that the majority of parents are friendly and treat our crossing guards with respect but unfortunately some of our crossing guards have reported that parents have used profanity and have been very disrespectful towards them.

We try to maintain as many crossing posts as required by the number of children crossing with our guards. If the guards are not being utilized that post may be eliminated.
Please remember to drive safely for the well being of all children attending our schools.
Thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter.

The Newton Cares Coalition was formed last year to bring greater awareness to mental health issues, to help prevent suicides in our community, and to find ways to support those who have been bereaved by suicide. Newton Cares is a community partnership that requires active and broad-based involvement. Join one of the four subcommittees – Postvention (the short-term response following a suicide), Youth, Adult, Advocacy – to brainstorm ideas and develop priorities for the next six months.

Accomplishments to date include the creation of a web-based mental health screening service offered by the City, a number of recently completed and upcoming suicide and mental health training programs, coping and support strategies, and programming for youth and adults. But more needs to be done.

What can you do to help?
Come to the next Newton Cares meeting:
October 23rd, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Newton Senior Center, 345 Walnut Street

Interested, but can’t make it? Join our mailing list and visit the website to see what’s on the horizon.

Volunteers are needed to rake leaves for Newton senior citizens in your neighborhood, beginning October 25 and running through November 23. This is one of Newton At Home’s volunteer opportunities for youth to engage with Newton seniors in their neighborhoods.

Sign up for one 2-hour shift. Parents, consider becoming a volunteer for Newton At Home along with your child. Please call 617-795-2560 or email to volunteer: vo******@**********me.org

A member of the Village to Village Network, this Newton non-profit is a members’ driven, neighbor-to-neighbor organization serving our city’s residents 60 years of age and older.

Are you someone that believes that all children have the right to be “Safe, Strong and Free?” If so, then join the dynamic team of trained CAP volunteers who are committed to teaching children in the Newton Elementary Schools the skills that they would need to stand up for themselves if faced with a situation involving verbal, physical or sexual assault.

CAP is now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year. The next training begins the week of October 18th. 19 Continuing Education Credits available for MSWs. For more information or an application, please visit the website at http://www.ncscweb.org/programs/familyservices/cap or email Gail Sommer at gs*****@*****eb.org.