Category Archives: Community Notes

Parenting in the Time of Corona; How parents can care for the social-emotional needs of their children

SEL4Newton and Newton Public Schools will be holding an hour-long Zoom Webinar  specifically for Elementary School Parents. The panel will address “Parenting in the Time of Corona; How parents can care for the social-emotional needs of their children now and in the coming months”.

A panel of Newton experts will be discussing social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies for parents in this unusual time and with opportunities for you to express your challenges. Check out the flyer here SEL4Newton

To register, click on https://actionnetwork.org/events/sel4newton-webinar-2020-05?source=flyer&

Zoom virtual meeting
May 27th, 7 :00 pm

Breathing Room- A Place for Special Families

Join Breathing Room, a FaceBook private group for parents and caregivers of children with special needs. Members may be caring for kids with any kind of special need from subtle to severe.

Cindy Kaplan will be guiding the group with wisdom from Conscious Parenting, her years of yoga practice, and 18 years of experience learning from her daughter, Mira, who has significant special needs. Cindy is a local Conscious Parent and Family Coach with an MA in Psychology. She has been working with parents and families for over 20 years through private practice, workshops, group coaching, and speaking engagements.

No surprise, there will be a deep focus on self-care and learning how to deconstruct generations of patterns and beliefs so that you can free yourselves from guilt, the “shoulds and what ifs”, and ultimately take care of yourselves so that you can truly be the best that you  can be for your children.

Please take a look, and share with those you know who could benefit from being a part of a community that will allow them to feel less alone and more whole.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/657935261443585/

Zoom Open Houses for Highlands After School Program

The Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children, is hosting Zoom Open Houses for interested families in May and June. Here’s the link for additional information on how to join:

https://www.highlandsafter-schoolprogram.org/announcements

SPACE IS LIMITED! This is a terrific opportunity for parents learn more about the program as they plan for the upcoming school year. If you can’t make an Zoom meeting or would like more information contact Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit the website https://www.highlandsafter-schoolprogram.

Join the Newton Food Pantry Teen Ambassador Program (TAP)

Interested in building your leadership skills while supporting the efforts of the Newton Food Pantry? Consider joining the inaugural Teen Ambassador Program (TAP) with other teens who are developing their passion for making a difference in our community.

Find out more about the TAP program and the Newton Food Pantry at www.newtonfoodpantry.org. To apply to the TAP program please complete the TAP Application today.

Basketball training remotely

ASA Hoops is now offering virtual training 4 days per week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Training is for boys and girls ages 7-14, prices just $10.00 per session. This is a great way to stay fit and active during this time.

To register please visit https://www.asahoops.com/training  and if you have any questions please email Coachb@asahoops.com.

2020 Newton Schools Foundation Honor Thy Teacher

Over these past weeks, many parents have developed a deep appreciation for the job that our teachers do each day. If you are looking for a way to express that appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week or after, here is a way to say thank you.

By donating to Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher program in the name of one or more of your children’s teachers, you can show your appreciation for them AND support your children’s schools. NSF will notify each teacher honored of your gift and share their names with Principals and the Superintendent. A list of honored teachers will appear on the NSF website and in the Newton TAB.

Your tax-deductible donation will go towards funding NSF grants for promising educational initiatives, professional development, and programs that close gaps in opportunity and achievement. In furtherance of those goals, in recent weeks NSF directed its resources toward the challenges of COVID-19 with a $85,500 grant for the Newton Public Schools to purchase 300 Chromebooks for students needing access to online learning during school closures.

It’s easy to donate online at http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/honor-thy-teacher or you can mail your donation to Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton Centre, MA 02459. Please be sure to include the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring.

To find out more about the programs NSF funds, visit their website at http://www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org/programs-we-fund.

 

Newton Food Pantry

The Newton Food Pantry would like to extend a huge thank you to the community for the incredible support over the last 6 weeks. COVID-19 has brought about a challenging and uncertain time for many in our community but our hearts are full from your overwhelming love and support.

Because of your generosity, the Newton Food Pantry is able to continue its commitment to help those in need across Newton by offering:

  • Curbside pickup twice a month to Newton residents (previously clients were able to shop once a month.) From March 18th through April 22nd, the Newton Food Pantry served a total of 978 households. Thirty percent of these households are new to the Newton Food Pantry since March 18th.
  • Bulk grocery deliveries to seniors residing in 9 different Newton housing facilities to keep them safe and sheltered in place. From March 18th through April 22nd, over 40% of the total households served (411 households in all) were senior bulk grocery and home deliveries.
  • Home delivery to clients who are homebound because of disability or severe medical conditions.
  • Optimum safety and efficiency for both clients and volunteers with use of 3 new PODS located outside City Hall.
  • Canned and dried goods for the city’s Food for Families Backpack program.
  • The Newton Food Pantry is distributing more than 8,500 pounds of food per week. In addition to distributing a dry goods bag, a produce bag and a refrigerated goods bag, the Newton Food Pantry clients are also receiving personal care items and cleaning agents.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Aside from donating double-bagged grocery bags and egg cartons (please drop off at 61 Ballard Street or 36 Metacomet Road ONLY), please consider a financial donation at www.newtonfoodpantry.org/donate/

Check out this little jingle https://bit.ly/NFP-DBS) just to show you how serious they are about double-bagging.

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors

In the last two weeks Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors has focused on supporting local organizations that serve some of our most vulnerable community members. Neighbors gathered food and collected thousands of dollars for Coleman House, a elderly housing facility in Newton that lost much of their food supply due to a power failure after the storm on the 13th. Neighbors also donated enough funds to the Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry in Newton Corner to buy food supplies the next two months, and helped deliver food from Newton Food Pantry and Centre St Food Pantry to neighbors in need. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed and volunteered for these efforts and others!!

As you can imagine, the need does not end here – in our conversations with partners who work closely with community members deeply affected by COVID-19, we are hearing about the many ways in which families are profoundly struggling during this time. We believe that our community extends beyond the Newton city limits and that it is critical to consider how we can support our neighbors both within and outside of Newton. Many of you have reached out asking for ways to help and we have organized a large, 4-part donation drive this week which will benefit several organizations and communities that are heavily burdened by this crisis. You can contribute any time between now and May 2nd. The houses gathering items for the drives below are all in Newton Centre.

How you can help

Porch Drive #1: Donate non-perishable food Continue reading →

Nature Exploration Virtual Nature Classes for Ages 3 to 7

Looking for a way to engage your young explorer at home and outdoors?

Sign up for a virtual PUDDLESTOMPERS Nature Exploration class! Each weekly class consists of a pre-recorded lesson with three fabulous naturalists teachers who will lead the children through a virtual circle time about a springtime topic. Then head outside for an interactive outdoor experience where the children can follow along, either with the video or in their own explorations. Afterwards, one of the teachers will read a story based on a springtime topic.

Every participant will get:
* a STEM activity sheet
* an outdoor activity or scavenger hunt
* a handout to extend the learning into the home
* a coloring sheet

Topics so far include “Signs of Spring,” “Birds:Nesting,” “Soil,” and “Seed Growth.” Up next:”Worms!” The beauty of these classes is that they are pre-recorded and can be watched at any time! Price: $15.00 per lesson.

Additional details are available at https://www.puddlestompers.com/virtual-classes or  www.puddlestompers.com. As always, your teachers are here for you! If you have any questions, email  info@puddlestompers.com and a teacher naturalist will be in touch!