Category Archives: Community Notes

Building Resilience Across the Watershed

The Charles River Watershed Association has created a flood monitoring tool that shows flooding scenarios and the impacts of potential green infrastructure solutions along the Charles. This will equip watershed communities with the best information on community-specific impacts of climate change, helping to guide local investment, regulatory changes and predict the best ways to respond to flooding.

They want to hear from you! Their next Zoom discussion will focus on the tool’s relevance to the Middle parts of the watershed including Dedham, Newton, Belmont, Lexington, Lincoln, Wellesley, Weston, Waltham, Needham, Dover, Wayland, and Natick. Please join and give input about your own climate-related stressors, your opinions about changing infrastructure, and your hopes for building climate resilience in your community! Share this email with your fellow residents, this is a conversation for everyone!

April 1st, 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom  RSVP HERE!

Watch the first webinar here to learn more about this project. Fill this Feedback Survey if you belong to the Charles River Watershed

For further questions contact anna@climatecrew.org

West Suburban YMCA Providing Afterschool Care

The West Suburban YMCA’s Out of School Time program returns to a traditional afterschool format offering after school care for children in grade K-8 starting on April 5th when Newton Public Schools return to full-time in-person schooling. This comes after spending the school year supporting students and families through a virtual learning academy, where students came to the Y during the school day to complete their virtual learning.

“We are so excited to be able to get back to our after-school format and engage kids in activities outside of schoolwork,” says Out of School Time Director Kaitlin McCarthy. “We will be focusing on ‘unplugging’ and offering enrichment activities, clubs, and much needed time outdoors!”

OST will run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2:30 – 6:00 pm and Wednesdays from 1:15 – 6:00 pm. Kids will have opportunities for homework and academic support, sports, arts and crafts projects, games, and social activities.

The Y offers transportation from Burr, Bowen, Cabot, Franklin, Horace-Mann, and Lincoln-Eliot schools via bus for a fee of $5/day and from Underwood via a chaperoned walking route free of charge.

The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is their mission to never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. The West Suburban YMCA is operating in accordance with all guidelines and recommendations outlined by the CDC, the state of Massachusetts, and local health authorities.

For more information and to enroll your child in OST, please visit https://www.wsymca.org/ost.

Summer Camp at the John M Barry Boys & Girls Club

This summer the John M Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton will feature endless age-appropriate activities that include a summer full of Fine Arts, Coding, and Animation. Programs will capture your camper’s imagination and teach new skills throughout the summer.

The Club will also have great outdoor opportunities like Archery, Athletics or even testing solar energy devices that will help campers build friendships and engage in the different possibilities that the Camp has to offer in a safe, healthy and positive environment. Come and enjoy the fun! Register Today! https://www.newtonbgc.com/summercamp2021.

Tutor available for elementary and middle school students

Nicholas, a 17 year old honors student at Newton North planning on pursuing a career in education,  welcomes an opportunity to provide tutoring to your elementary or middle school aged child in math, science, English, or Latin. He’s taking all honors and AP courses, and receive A’s in them.

His tutoring rates are flexible. If you are interested in learning more, please contact  nzhd1003@gmail.com.

Library Virtual event

Join Anna Malaika Tubbs for a presentation based on her acclaimed new book, The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.

During this inspiring virtual program you will enjoy a fascinating exploration into the lives of three women ignored by history after raising sons who helped shape a movement.

Register at How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X & James Baldwin Shaped a Nation This program is presented in partnership with Tewksbury Public Library.

March 24,  7:00 pm

Registration is required for all events (see the complete program calendar here!)

Hackathon for kids hosted by the Newton LigerBots

Do you have students who are creative and like problem-solving? Programming is a great way to combine storytelling and problem solving, especially when using Scratch.

The LigerBots, Newton’s High School robotics team, invites you to join them in a Hackathon for kids! Please see the flyer attached for more information!

Join the free virtual Scratch hackathon for students grades 4 – 8. Programmers of all levels can compete in teams of 2-4 to code the best animation in Scratch. There will be workshops throughout the event and prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

April 3rd, 1:00 – 5:00 pm

Free webinar on Pandemic Parenting

In the Pandemic Parenting: Supporting Teen Mental Health webinar, Dr. Archana Basu discusses how the pandemic is affecting teen, parent, and family mental health. Dr. Basu will provide practical evidence-based ways to manage parental stress and share tips for communicating with and supporting teens and young adults. This program is designed for parents, guardians, family members, youth workers, and any caring adults interested in teen mental health.

Register to join a live webinar discussion or watch on demand after it airs. After the webinar, complete the online evaluation and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a free educational book on the topic of teen depression.

Can’t attend the live webinar? Register today to submit your questions and watch the recorded webinar after it airs.

April 8th,  7:00 – 8:15 pm via Zoom

Better, safer mobility in Newton

Bike Newton has created a petition for better, safer mobility with specific actionable items, several of which are routes to schools. All parents are encouraged to read the petition and sign and share if they agree. Click here to view the petition.

To join Bike Newton’s email list, click on the green “Join Us” box on the website https://www.bikenewton.org.

Summer program options for your middle or high school student

For guidance on finding the right summer program for your middle or high school student, visit TeenSummerExpos.com

You’ll find a curated group of top summer opportunities listed by the child’s interests as well as virtual programs that kids can do during the school year. You can also get free personal guidance by phone to help you choose.