Category Archives: Community Notes

Research Study on Stress and the Teen Brain

Researchers at McLean Hospital are recruiting female teens who are currently feeling depressed or down as well as female teens who are not feeling depressed/down. Your teen can earn up to $100.00 and receive a picture of her brain.

Researchers at McLean Hospital are investigating factors that make some teens better able to cope with stressful experiences and what makes some teens more vulnerable to experiencing depression. By participating, you and your child can help them better understand, prevent, and treat adolescent depression. Teens will answer questions about their thoughts and feelings. Teens will also undergo an fMRI brain scan. Parent permission is required for teens under 18.

For more information, please contact Emily at 617-855-4245 or via email
ebelleau@mclean.harvard.edu.

Public information sessions coming up

Newton Safe Routes to School would like Newton families to know about two upcoming public information sessions.

1. Commonwealth Ave Carriageway proposal to create two-way bike travel on the Carriageway; right now biking is only formally allowed for those traveling west.

October 19th,  5:30 – 7:00 pm Click here for Zoom link  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ShV3IMZWwO8B0iaRITXMIMESpq73j4zx/view?usp=sharing

2. Proposal to add bike lanes and shared lanes on Parker St beginning at Dedham St and ending at Beacon St. Parker St. bike lanes would take students to Brown Middle School, Oak Hill Middle School, Bowen Elementary School, and Newton South High School.

October 21t,  5:30 – 7:00 pm.  Click here for flyer https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B6DXG44GP-E8VD37bOW3z3QwueXs-lrP/view?usp=sharing.

Questions or comments about the proposed bike projects? Please email Nicole Freedman at nfreedman@newtonma.gov

Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council Declares a Pumpkin War Contest!

The Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council is hosting a virtual pumpkin carving/decorating contest as a replacement for their usual “Halloween at the Hyde” Haunted House event. Gift cards to local sweet shop, Indulge!, will be awarded to top entries in each of three categories: Scariest – Funniest – Most Original.

Who’s got the scariest/funniest/most original pumpkin on the block? If you think your family does, prove it! Enter the Newton Highlands Area Council’s Pumpkin War Contest.

All photos will be shared on Instagram at @NewtonHighlandsAreaCouncil. Winners will be announced at the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council’s November 5th meeting.

Entering is easy as pumpkin pie! Once you’ve created your pumpkin masterpiece, take a picture and email it, along with your name and address (names and addresses will not be shared on Instagram) to HighlandsPumpkinWar@gmail.com

Pumpkin photos only! No human, zombie, or ghost photos permitted. Entries must be received by November 2nd and limited to one per family. Participants must be Newton residents or own/work at a business in Newton. Contest details and rules are posted online at http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/neighborhood/highlands/default.asp.

Diversity in STEM series

The MetroWest STEM Education Network (MSEN) is introducing a new speaker series focused on diversity in STEM. The series aims to highlight the need for diversity of identities and expertise in all STEM fields and to showcase the diversity and breadth of the sectors and occupations that require STEM skills. The series opens during Mass STEM Week 2020 (October 19th – 23rd) and will continue for the rest of the school year.

All of these talks are geared toward high school and college students, but educators and other adults are welcome. Please contact Suzanne Wright with any questions at swright4@framingham.edu. For more information about the Speaker Series https://www.metroweststem.com/2020-metrowest-events.

October 21st, 4:30 pm
Technology, Seems Neutral, But Is It? – Assimilationism vs. Intersectional Antiracism in Technology Design
Speaker: Dr. Katlyn Turner, Research Scientist at Space Enabled, MIT Media Lab
Registration Link https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_su1M0COuSriMHrWl3RqfYA

Human biases about things like race, gender, class, or sexuality are easily encoded into technology design. Technology isn’t quite neutral: it takes our biased inputs and produces biased outputs. This has real consequences for real people. In order to design better technologies that are helpful and beneficial for all, Continue reading →

Online Debate Club

Lumos is offering weekly debate club programs online through Zoom on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays! Your child will build confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and get lots of public speaking practice. Students will meet once a week to learn new techniques, practice their speeches, and work one-on-one with their coaches.

These clubs are designed to be low-pressure and fun, so they’re perfect for students who are new to debate and want to try it out for the first time. Go to LumosDebate.com to learn more!

Student run website solutions for small businesses

Weaverbird.tech is a company run by a group of high school students with backgrounds in website design. They are focused on designing and renovating websites for small businesses and brick and mortar stores to help you adjust to the digital world during the pandemic. They’d like to help small businesses readjust to the uncertain times by creating an online space for you to sell your products to a wider range of customers and keep in touch with your existing community.

If you contact them with a request they will make a website that caters to your specifications and needs for free. Email hello.weaverbird@gmail.com for more information.

Tutor available

Would your 3rd, 4th or 5th grader benefit from individual tutoring? David Dubin is a licensed fourth grade teacher who can supplement your child’s remote learning or help them with homework during the after school hours.

Please email daviddubin75@gmail.com or text/call 617-513-4397 to discuss scheduling, rates and to devise a plan customized to your child’s needs.

Tutor available

Former teacher with 30 years of  experience in Grades 1-12 in the Brookline, Concord and Lexington Schools, classroom teacher, middle and high school English/Reading teacher, and certified Literacy Specialist, is available to support elementary, middle or high school students in academic subjects, executive functioning and study skills, and writing. She also can assist with college essay support / test prep–SSAT, ISEE, SAT and ACT.

Resume and excellent parent and professional references, including Newton parents, are available upon request. Currently all tutoring is virtual. For more information, contact Cynthia Carpenter at cscarp@gmail.com or  617-949-1522.

Support for Remote Learning

Does your 6th – 12th grade or college student need additional support to stay on track with the challenges of remote learning? Mindfulness Tutoring and Consulting specializes in
• Organizational help
• Tutoring in reading, writing and verbal communication
• Homework

Visit the website www.mindfulnesstutoring.com or email susan@mindfulnesstutoring.com for more information.

Chemistry Tutor available

Improve your grade in your Chemistry course. Prepare yourself for SAT2 Chemistry exam. Lida Famili, a retired Milton Academy Chemistry teacher, is offering tutoring in Chemistry courses and SAT2 Chemistry test. Lida has taught Chemistry for 25 years and has dozens of references. Walking distance to Newton South High School. Please call or text at 617-780-5461 or email lidafamili@gmail.com