Category Archives: Community Notes

Effective Strategies To Reduce Anxiety In Children

Workshop will teach participants about classroom and home interventions for children (in preschool through Grade 8) with anxiety and related behaviors. Rather than respond with punishment- and reward-based consequences, it is important for adults to understand children’s challenges and teach them how to cope. This will allow children to improve their behavior by acquiring the necessary skills to make progress.

Presenter: Jessica Minahan, M.Ed, BCBA is a board certified behavior analyst, special educator and co-author of The Behavior Code:  A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students, with Nancy Rappaport (www.jessicaminahan.com).

Newton Parent Advisory Council (NewtonPAC) for Special Education meetings are free and open to all people interested in learning more about special education.

Questions, contact in**@*******ac.org or visit  www.newtonpac.org

February 13, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
100 Walnut Street, Room 210
Newtonville

Help plan the 2nd Newton Youth Summit

Following the first successful Mayor’s Newton Youth Summit in October, 2012, teens and adults who are interested in participating in an “Action Group” are encouraged to attend one or both of the two upcoming meetings in preparation for the Second Newton Youth Summit on March 20, 2013.
The Academic Stress & Time Management Action Group will be meeting on Tuesday, February 5 @ 6-7:30pm  at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club (upstairs boardroom).
The Youth & Adult Conversation/Collaboration Action Group will be meeting on Thursday, February 7  @ 6-7:30pm at the YMCA (Wellness Room).
This is a great opportunity to have a positive impact on well-being of youth in our City. For more information please contact Jenny O’Leary, City of Newton Youth Services Director, at jo*****@******ma.gov.

February vacation arts classes at Arsenal Center for the Arts

The Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown offers February Vacation Art Workshops from February 19 – 22 for three age groups:  5 & 6 year olds, 7-10 year olds and 11+.  In Comics, Cartoons and Creative Creatures, students will use drawing, painting, clay and other media.  Younger students will create comics, cartoons and creative creatures; the older group will focus on graffiti art, t-shirts, hats and simple jewelry.

Full or half-day options available.  Morning classes run from 9:30AM – Noon.  Afternoon classes run from 12:30 – 3PM.
Supervised Lunch and Extended Day options are available.

Classes are held at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street in Watertown, with free parking and access to public transportation.
Scholarships and Membership discounts are available.
For class descriptions, visit  the Arsenal Center’s website.

To register, call 617-923-0100, ext. 309.

Sewing fun on early release (Feb. 6) & February vacation week

Hipstitch in West Newton is offering an Early Release Day class on Wednesday, February 6th 1.30-3.30pm. Join the fun and make some cozy winter accessories!

Click here for early release sign up.

Have a free morning (9am-1pm) or afternoon (1pm-4pm) during school vacation?
Join Hipstitch and learn how to sew your own clothes and other fun projects.

Early drop off or late pick up.
Click here for February Vacation Sign Up

Hipstich( next to Cafe Laroma)
15 Spencer st
West Newton 617 965 0880

Online Summer Camp Auction by Countryside PTO

Countryside Elementary PTO’s online summer camp auction will run from: Friday, February 1, 3 p.m. – Sunday, February 10, 10 p.m.

Go to the online auction site and bid on sessions from some of the Newton area’s best day and overnight camps. Minimum bids are at a huge discount from the retail value of the sessions. Give your child a fantastic summer experience and save money!

Sessions are available from Beaver (Brookline, MA), Chestnut Hill (Chestnut Hill, MA), Camp Cody (in the White Mountains, NH), Meadowbrook (Weston, MA), LINX (Wellesley, MA), Rivers Day Camp (Weston, MA), and Everwood (Sharon, MA).

All proceeds benefit Countryside Elementary School.

For more information, contact Abby Schwartz or Gena Hooper.

Yoga classes for teens and pre-teens

Pre-teen/Teen Yoga

Yoga is a great tool to help pre-teens and teenagers develop healthy relationships with their bodies, as well as to help them feel empowered to make good decisions and manage the stress in their busy lives.  Yoga buillds strength, flexibility, and focus in the mind as well as the body.  

Down Under Yoga’s Christyn Schroeder is teaching a yoga class for kids ages 10-16 in Waban Thursdays from 7:00-8:00 pm starting January 31.  May start anytime, pro-rated for number of classes taken.

Dates:  Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, 28, March 7, 14, 27
No class February 21, March 21
Cost is $126 for 7 classes

For more information, email Didi von Deck.

Marathon Reading of the Bestseller “Wonder” – March 16

You are invited to the first ever staged marathon reading of the book, Wonder, on Saturday, March 16 from 9:00am- 7:30pm, at the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street. Come for the entire reading or for parts that you particularly want to hear.

R.J. Palacio’s bestseller Wonder is the story of an ordinary 10-year-old boy, born with an extraordinary face, which explores themes of bullying, empathy, kindness and ultimately acceptance. The cast is comprised of 14 actors and 55 community readers. Taking the lead role of Auggie is Chapin Galowitz, a 6th grader at Oak Hill, appearing with his parents, Pamela and Adam Galowitz who play Auggie’s parents.  8th grade Oak Hill student Abby Lass will play the role of Via, and Zervas teacher Michael Stern will play Mr. Browne. The cast includes retired Zervas Principal Steve Griffin and Adam Brown, Chair of Newton North High School’s Theatre Ink.

Children are invited to submit a Wonder-inspired drawing, painting, or collage that embrace the themes of inclusiveness, kindness, courage and friendship for an art exhibition which will be on display all day. Artwork should be dropped off to the Newton Cultural Center no later than Wednesday, March 13.

More info is available at the Newton Youth Players website or by calling 617-796-1540.

The event is supported by the Newton Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs, Understanding Our Differences, and Newton Community Pride. A grant from the Newton Cultural Council underwrites the event.

Yoga, movies, crafts — Teen programs at Newton Free Library

The Newton Free Library is collaborating with the Newton Partnership and organizations throughout Newton on the ”I heart my heart” teen health and wellness campaign happening February 1-14. All programs are FREE at YOUR library.
Heart Felt – Teen Crafternoons, Wednesday, February 6, 3:30 pm
Get creative! Make a heart handwarmer or a Valentine’s Day card in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library

“How to Cook Your Life” Screening, Saturday, February 9, 2:00 pm
Celebrate Heart Healthy Month at the Newton Free Library, in Druker Auditorium with a screening of How to Cook Your Life. In this charming and enlightening film, Zen priest and famous chef Edward Espe Brown uses Zen Buddhist teachings to demonstrate how cooking can help us overcome feeling disconnected from the physical world and awaken our capacity to feel human. Following the film, in conjunction with the Newton Partnership’s Teen Health and Wellness Campaign, a nutritionist
will lead an informative Q and A discussion about healthy eating habits. Snacks will be provided by Whole Foods. The film is rated PG-13 and runs for 93 min. The program is open to ages 13 and up.

Yoga for Teens, Monday, February 11, 7:00 pm 
De-stress by taking a yoga class at the Newton Free Library! An instructor from Down Under Yoga in Newtonville will lead a session that builds strength and flexibility, while relieving the stress of daily life. The class will provide the opportunity for teens to focus on themselves in an environment that encourages a balance between pushing boundaries and accepting where they are today. The class will take place in Druker Auditorium. Bring your own mat if you have one, extra mats will be available. For grades 6-12.
All Levels Yoga for Adults, Monday, February 11, 8:00 pm
Attend a free, stress-relieving yoga class at the library! Bring your own mat if you have one, extra mats will be available. The class will take place in Druker Auditorium.

Winter Vacation Sewing Camp

Don’t get stuck scrambling with plans for winter vacation. Take a break and send the kids to sewing camp at Newton Sewing Studio and let the fun and creativity begin!

Feb 16 – 24th: 2 hours, Half or Full days.
Book online or call 617-213-0344
Newton Sewing Studio, 161 North St. (next to Fiorella’s restaurant)

Beginners and seasoned stitchers will appreciate our mix of fun and useful projects. We welcome kids as young as five, and parents are more than welcome to stay and sew with us.