Category Archives: Community Notes

Family advocate available

Looking for help advocating for your children’s special needs during this unprecedented time? Or maybe you need help navigating state and local systems of care for your child with complex needs? Lani, a 20 year veteran educator as well as a Newton-based special needs single mom of 2 exceptional teens, can help.

Contact her for a free consultation at FamilyvoiceAdvocates@gmail.com or visit www.familyvoiceadvocates.com. Sliding scale fee structure based on household income.

ActiveMinds Tutoring is Flexible

While school goes online, keep an active mind! 14 years providing in-person and online tutoring for all academic subjects, studying skills, and standardized test prep (SAT/ACT, ISEE, SSAT).

Contact ActiveMinds to learn more about our personalized plans with experienced tutors.
Call 617-227-2225, email info@activemindstutoring.com or visit http://www.activemindstutoring.com/testimonials.html

Math tutoring available

MathSense is offering private tutoring for K-2 students. Your child will work 1-on-1 in short, focused, 25-minute sessions with fun and engaging math instructors! MathSense is the best way to make sure your child has a mastery of basic math fundamentals and gets a head start on more advanced arithmetic, geometry, and measurement math.

Get started by scheduling a FREE 45-minute online assessment and parent-conference for your child. You’ll talk through your child’s strengths and weaknesses and compare them to grade-level benchmarks.

Visit lumosmathsense.com for more information. Call 617-454-4658 or email zephchang@lumosdebate.com to the schedule your free assessment!

Call Y3K Tutor in your home today,

When schoolwork goes the wrong way!

Their many years of experience in teaching and educational consulting has developed the right way to motivate, the right way to teach, be understood, and be remembered. They tutor special education such as ADD, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, executive function, and gifted as well as regular education and test preparation. In addition to academic subjects, Y3K teaches children organizational skills, homework coaching, study skills, and time management.

All subjects and ages are taught. Parents can now receive 25% off the first lesson. Call 781-492-8700 or log on to https://www.Y3KTutorInYourHome.com

Online Music Lessons with The Conservatory at Highlands!

The Conservatory has temporarily gone to all virtual lessons and their teachers are exceptional at teaching music through your preferred service (Zoom, Facetime, Etc.)

Students beginning their first instruments in 4th/5th grade band or orchestra need extra one-on-one help at this time. Conservatory teachers can help the students get off the ground and excited about playing even though they can’t play in their school ensembles.

Sign Up here https://forms.gle/UNoEX81hGAqrJErN9 No commitmentment necessary.

Try learning an instrument along with your child in parent/student lessons. It is an amazing and educational activity for the family. Teachers are experienced, patient, kind and supportive and can help musicians of any age reach their goals.

For more information, call or text Dave Carroll at 617-903-0944, or email info@highlandsconservatory.com

Special Educational Advocate Available

COVID-19 has caused changes throughout public education and will continue to for some time. You may be noticing that your child is experiencing new or different social, emotional, and learning challenges. Your child may already be on an IEP or 504 plan and you are concerned about the services they are receiving.  Sumner Saitz, an experienced education advocate, works with parents, children and school officials to ensure that their child receives the education that will meet their unique learning needs and that they are entitled to under the law. Please visit the website to learn more www.sumnersaitz.com or email smsaitz@gmail.com.

YMCA participates in 5 Days of Action to promote child protection during COVID-19

The West Suburban YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action, a week designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.

The West Suburban YMCA encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making Newton and the surrounding towns a safer place for children, especially during this ever-changing environment. As our communities continue to press pause and participate in social distancing, we all know that protecting kids looks different this year. Not only is our community dealing with a pandemic that is separating kids in need from the safe adults in their lives, but there are spikes in domestic violence, cries for social justice for Black lives, and more concerns about the mental health of youth and adults.

Five Days of Action will help communities and parents/caregivers take it One Day at a Time and will offer tips, tools, activities, and resources that are relevant to the current environment.

When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening. Continue reading

Newton Schools Foundation Transforms Newton Inspires

Newton Schools Foundation transforms Newton Inspires into a Virtual Speaker Series

Newton native Jason Hehir, the director of the 2020 Emmy award-winning Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance, will kick off Newton Schools Foundation’s 10th annual Newton Inspires: A Celebration of Ideas and Community. The live talks and presentations in which notable Newtonians share their interests and passions will be
delivered via Zoom — once a month through October 2021.

November 10th, 7:00 pm

Other monthly presenters include:

  • Denise Drower Swidey , PBS producer, food stylist and writer
  • Sonja Spears, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Boston Health Care for the Homeless
    Program and Chair of the Newton Police Reform Task Force
  • Broadway actors and NPS alumni Zachary Baer, Skylar Fox , Tess Primack , and  Ryan
    Vona with special guest, Adam Brown, director of  Theatre Ink  at Newton North High
    School
  • Sam Vaghar , executive director and co-founder of Millenium Campus Network, an
    international nonprofit that trains college students to be leaders in social movements
  • Giovanni Fazio, Harvard astrophysicist
  • Aixa Beauchamp, philanthropist and Co-Founder of the Latino Legacy Fund at the
    Boston Foundation

Sessions are free, although donations are encouraged and may be made at registration. To register click www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/newton-inspires

All proceeds support Newton Schools Foundation. NSF funds professional development for Newton educators, grants that give teachers the opportunity to try new approaches in the classroom, and programs that address both racial and income inequities and enable all students to achieve their full potential.

Individuals and businesses wishing to support public education in Newton through a Newton Inspires sponsorship can visit http://newtonschoolsfoundation.org/newton-inspires-sponsor.

This year’s lead sponsors are Northland and The Village Bank. Other supporters include
premium sponsor Mark Development and major sponsor Wegmans.

Virtual Tanzanian Cooking Class

Join a fun and interactive cooking class with Nurturing Minds Board members Jane Juma-Nyamunga and Rukia Marijani Mchumo, where you will learn how to make four Tanzanian dishes – all while in the comfort of your own home! Standard Ticket: $50.00 | Premium Ticket: $100.00.

To register, please click here: https://www.nurturingmindsinafrica.org/events/2020/11/7/virtual-tanzanian-cooking-class

November 7th, 11:00 am