Category Archives: Community Notes

South Stage’s Upcoming Silent Auction

In conjunction with South Stage’s upcoming production of Chicago, the annual silent auction will be held from May 15-22! Please us by donating items for the auction, or soliciting businesses to help through Playbill ads or donations. Consider donating unused gift cards to your favorite stores or restaurants, tickets to a fun theater or sporting event, museum passes, sports memorabilia, weekend away options or professional services: photography, catering, coaching etc. Contact southstageparents@gmail.com or learn more at https://www.southstage.org/donate.html.

Ticket sales for Chicago will begin on May 10th, and keep an eye out for dates for the Senior Showcase and Children of the Candy Corn Show!

Nominations are now OPEN for the 2021 Newton SEPAC Special Educator Virtual Awards!

Here’s how the 2021 “Virtual” Awards will work:

  • Families will submit nominations using the Google Form
  • Each nominee will receive the text of the nomination in an email
  • The email to each nominee will also include messages of thanks from Mayor Fuller, the School Committee, Superintendent Fleishman, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Beth Fitzmaurice, and the SEPAC Board
  • Each nominee will receive a printed award that will be dropped off at their school or location in early June
  • Each Principal will receive a list of the nominees from their schools

For those new to Newton SEPAC, the annual Special Educator Awards are a way to honor NPS and OOD staff who have gone the extra mile to support our special education students. Nominees span a wide range of staff, including teachers, aides, BTs, therapists, bus drivers, crossing guards, administrators, other support staff, etc. All nominees receive an award. The Awards are usually held in person but will be virtual in 2021 for the second year running. Fingers crossed for an in-person gathering in 2022!

Please go to https://forms.gle/M9uHkvhHx1NvvnJ2A to submit your nominations by May 17, 2021.Feel free to pass on the nomination link to SEPAC families.

Please contact the Board with any questions, and submit your nominations soon!

Now accepting nominations: NFP Teen Ambassador Program (TAP)

Currently seeking community-minded, motivated teens to apply for the Teen Ambassador Program (TAP).

This selective year-long program offers middle and high school students the opportunity for personal growth while serving the greater good in the Newton community. Accepted teens serve as ambassadors for the Newton Food Pantry, while developing leadership skills in volunteer service and community organizing. TAP members take part in a customized training program, taught by community leaders, including topics such as non-profit organizational management, community organizing and public speaking. Students are given an “insider” experience at the Newton Food Pantry, where they will learn how a successful non-profit organization runs and gain a better understanding of the impact that the NFP has in the community.

Find out more and consider applying HERE.

 

Mental Health: Continuing the Conversation

Join Mayor Fuller, Samaritans Inc., and Families for Depression Awareness to learn more about suicide prevention, recognizing depression and bipolar disorder, and the important work being done to reduce the stigma of mental health issues in our community.

Register online at www.newtonma.gov/mentalhealth

May 6th,  6:30 – 8:00 pm via Zoom

Invitation to #SpeakUp Summit

Join a global community tackling climate change. Students ages 10-15 are coming together to learn from one another and youth leaders how young people can make their voices heard in the debate about responding to climate change.

This is a free program open to any student regardless of any experience they have with debate or otherwise. Here is the invitation directly from students already planning to attend: https://youtu.be/nuFD27yFT-M

Students can register here. Check the flyer here.

May 8th, 11:00 am

Fans of Newton Community Ed: The NCE Kids team wants to hear from you!

The NCE Kids team would like to enlist your help! The last year has brought lots of changes, and while they’ve missed being in-person with kids in your schools, they’ve done their best to adapt to those changes and deliver quality enrichment programs offered online or outdoors.

Going forward, NCE Kids anticipates offering a mix of in-person and online programs and hopes to have several new and different offerings as well, keeping parent preferences in mind as they plan. To that end, they are assembling a group of parents who will act as an advisory panel. By sending four to six brief surveys a year; your answers will help influence these programming decisions.

If you’d like to help out, here’s the first survey! For now they’re just looking to collect parents’ names, email addresses, and some info about your child(ren) to be sure to have all ages and genders represented.

PANS/PANDAS Webinar: When Strep/Other Infections Cause OCD, Anxiety and More

Dearborn Academy Speaks is hosting a panel discussion on the little-known but disabling PANS/PANDAS syndromes. The diseases can occur when strep, other infection or environmental factors cause a misdirected immune response resulting in inflammation on a child’s brain. This response, in turn, can trigger the sudden onset of ADHD, OCD, disabling anxiety, a decline in math and reading skills, and more.

While researchers are only beginning to study and understand the PANS/PANDAS syndromes, this panel of experts will provide the latest information on causes and treatment.

Register https://bit.ly/DA-PANS-PANDAS2021

May 17th 6:30 – 8:00 pm, via Zoom

ActiveMinds Tutoring is Hopeful!

Shine this summer by signing up for a math program. Let ActiveMinds keep your learning bright by fighting learning loss.

Contact ActiveMinds for a complimentary conversation to develop a personalized math plan. Review the Spring Newsletter to learn more  https://conta.cc/3gR9OLE.

Call 617-227-2225 or email info@activemindstutoring.com for all of your tutoring needs.