Category Archives: Community Notes

Pie in the Sky time!

Newton Rotary is again partnering with The Presti Group to support Community Servings!

Order pies for yourself, your friends, and your colleagues…AND/OR make a donation to help Community Servings deliver medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families.

It’s easy to do:
Click HERE to order (or donate).
Choose which pies you’d like to order or to donate
Select ‘Presti Marie’ as your seller in the drop-down list
Select your pick-up location by entering your zip code to see the options. Pick up is Tuesday, November 24th.
Make an additional donation, if you wish
Enter your payment info
Order soon as only a limited number of pies will be available at most locations.

Presto! On November 24th you’ll get to pick up some delicious, handmade pies AND get some delicious food to struggling families.

Conversations About Transition: A Webinar Series to Prepare LD Students for College, Career and More

Schools for Children is presenting a free three-part webinar series on the transition to college, career and more for high school students with learning differences and other social-emotional challenges.

Session 1: Who Will I Become?
November 17th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Register: bit.ly/SFCTransitionSeries

Session 2: College Bound with Challenges
December 3rd,  7:00 – 8:00 pm
Register: bit.ly/SFCTransitionSeriesCollege

Session Three: Learning & Doing: When College Isn’t Your First Next Step
January 12th, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Register: bit.ly/SFCTransitionSeriesCareer

Learn more at bit.ly/HSTransitionSeries

Holiday Gift Drive Kicks Off!

The Rotary Club of Newton is so happy to be partnering this year with The Village Bank to help ensure that every kiddo in Newton has a special winter holiday this year!

Can you help with a donation of a new, unwrapped toy (for a child age newborn to 10 years), a cash donation, or a gift card so that our Rotary elves can gather up some goodies?

Click HERE for details on how to:
Drop off a new, unwrapped toy or gift card at any Village Bank branch
Choose a toy to donate using this Amazon Wish List
Make a cash donation through the Newton Rotary Foundation

Click here for flyer: Gift Drive

What’s Happening at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club

The John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton invites children to register for afternoon and evening Winter Programs taking place in December and January. Featuring small groups and following all covid-19 protocols, the Club is offering programs for elementary, middle school, and high school children, in the areas of Basketball, STEM, Arts, and Leadership.

To open new possibilities for your child to have fun, stay active, and make new friends, claim your free membership to the Boys & Girls Club and register for programs today at https://www.newtonbgc.com/seasonal-schedules

What’s Happening at the West Suburban YMCA

Virtual Ugly Sweater 5K
Wear an ugly sweater and run or walk a 5k between November 29th and December 6th. Participants can do the race on their own time and on a route of their choosing. All proceeds go to the Annual Fund, which supports the Y’s commitment to keep the facility open to all, regardless of ability to pay. This event is an opportunity to support the Y in a social distant way, exercise, and receive prizes. Registration fees are $10 for youth, $15 for adults, or $40 for a family. Register online: https://donate.wsymca.org/UglySweater5k

Fall Program Mini Sessions
Late Fall Program Session Starts November 16th
The Y is helping families have an active, engaging, and safe fall! The Y’s Late Fall Session runs from November 16th to December 19th (no classes the week of Thanksgiving). Register now for swimming, sports, music, and fitness programs!

Create A Class
The Y is also offering the opportunity to “create a class,” by putting together a custom group such as a school cohort, a family bubble, or any group of your choosing. Most Y programs – such as basketball classes, swim lessons, fitness training groups, and more – can be created for your specific group. Staff will work with you to set up a day and time for your participant group and the program of your choosing.

Out of School Time Community Connections
Remote Learning Support and Enrichment for Grades K-8. This fall the Y’s Out of School Time (OST) program is offering a full day program from 7:45 am – 5:00 pm to support distance learning and complement the Newton Public Schools schedule. Families have the option to enroll their child for 5 days, 3 days, or 2 days per week. The EEC-certified Out of School Time program provides academic support, structured routine, and opportunities for physical activities and enrichment activities. Learn more at www.wsymca.org/OST.

YBA Returns to the Y
YMCA’s YBA league is returning this November. The youth basketball league will run from November 14th to February 7th. YBA offers children a safe and positive environment, an opportunity to work as a team, and enjoy physical activity. YBA programming will follow all youth sports health and safety guidelines as determined by the state of Massachusetts. For more information contact Chris Ellison at chrise@wsymca.org or 617-244-6050 ext. 3806.

Personal Training – Outdoors, Indoors, or Virtual Training
Personal training is available for members either outside, in a private studio, or virtually. For more information or to set up a training session, please email Jenni at jennip@wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050 ext. 3034. Continue reading →

Boston Athletic Training offers one day basketball clinic

Join the upcoming 1 day basketball clinic at one of two small group training sessions for athletes ages 8-18. There will be two dedicated basketball trainers for these 90 minute sessions who will lead drills on everything from footwork and layups to shooting and ball handling.

Participants will maintain strict covid-19 guidelines including all athletes in masks, social distancing and keeping 2 exterior doors open throughout the clinics for better airflow!

Click here to reserve your spot for the 1 day clinic! Email info@bostonathletictraining.com with any questions or for help signing up.

November 21st, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon – Ages 8-13, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – HS Athletes
Hyde Center, Newton Highlands

Note for December:

BAT is also offering 8 week winter basketball clinics as well as speed and strength training programs for all age groups! Click here to learn more!

Find the “right fit” college

Are you a parent more concerned about your child finding “the right fit” college or university for her/him/them from a holistic standpoint, rather than getting your teenager into “the right” brand name college? Tired of the “Ivy Fever” that runs amok in the metro-Boston area? Looking for some ethical guidance through the complex and often unfair college admission landscape?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, Dr. Maruta Vitols  would love to work with you. She’s a member of Newton South Class of 1994 and owner of A+ College Consulting. Visit the website for more information on how she’ll help your family navigate this process. https://www.apluscollegeconsult.com/ or email mvitols@gmail.com.

Digital Audio program

Read on to learn about the Digital Audio Production program at Plugged In, a unique nonprofit youth rock band program where young musicians of all levels and needs are welcome.

In this innovative 8-week project oriented program students will learn fundamental skills, techniques and tools to work with digital audio software. The program will culminate in a student created song or podcast project that will be showcased at a Plugged In end of session live-stream concert. This is not a program adapted for online learning. The Digital Audio Production program was developed for, is geared towards, and is enhanced by a virtual environment. Topics in the 90-minute weekly classes include:

Week 1: Intro to Digital Music
Week 2: Audio Editing and the Grid
Week 3: MIDI Editing and Drums
Week 4: Mixing and Effects
Week 5: Creative Arranging and Start of Final Projects
Week 6: Podcasting and Final Project Work
Week 7: History of Music Production and Digital Music Making and Final Project Work
Week 8: Exporting Final Projects and Conclusions

The Digital Audio Production program runs from November 27th – January 31st. For more information and/or to register online, please visit www.pluggedinband.org.

Newton City Seal

Mayor Fuller has convened an ad hoc Working Group to consider the design of the Newton City Seal. As they embark on their journey, they are looking for feedback from the community. Click here to read Historic Newton’s brief history of the seal.

There are three ways to provide input to the Working Group.

Want to learn more about the seal’s history? Historic Newton will present a program entitled “A Closer Look at Newton’s City Seal” on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 5:00 p.m. Why did city leaders in 1865 choose an image of Christian missionary John Eliot proselytizing to Waban and other native people in the 1640s? What does the image convey? Register here.

Tutor available

Licensed and experienced teacher looking for part time teaching/tutoring (in person or virtual) positions.

– DESE licensed in Early Childhood Education , Reading, ESL, English (pending license in elementary mild/moderate special needs)
– Masters in Reading
– 20 years classroom experience
– parent of two teens with special needs
– Newton resident
– many family references

Please email LessonswithLani2@gmail.com or visit www.LessonswithLani.com.