Category Archives: From PTO Council

News from the Newton PTO Council

NewtonHACKS to promote gender equality in the tech industry

NewtonHACKS is hosting an online hackathon on August 29th for middle and high school students who are beginner programmers. Hackathons are all-day programming events where participants get to collaborate, code, and create awesome projects!

This one is directed towards beginners!! Check out the website to register http://newtonhacks.com/ .

They also plan to host a series of webinars before the event to help brand new coders gain some experience! If you are interested, register asap because spots are limited!  If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email newtonhacks@gmail.com.

Drop-In Running Clinic for kids

Two rising high school sophomores on the Cross Country and Track teams at Newton South High School are eager to share their knowledge and love for the sport, and help provide guidance and support for the next generation of young distance runners (ages 8-12) in the Newton community.

Sessions will meet from 8:00 – 9:30 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week, from June 22nd – July 31st, at the Newton South High School track. The group will do some running (of course!) and also learn about proper stretching and other drills and exercises to enhance fitness and speed. They’ll also play get-to-know-you games and other group activities, while keeping proper social distancing at all times.

Masks will be required for all participants, and may – if allowed by the then-applicable guidelines – be set aside for activities where proper social distancing can be maintained. Instructors Felix Rogovin and Ben Pistiner will also cover training advice (including cross-training, such as biking and swimming), and discuss good habits for athletes – eating well, sleeping well, etc. They’ll talk about running as a team sport and the importance of supporting each other.

Flyer can be viewed here: Running camp. You can sign up for as many days as you’d like, but they need to know you’re coming, so if you’re interested, please sign up at https://forms.gle/TxvSHWwnWsLK5WsH7

The suggested (optional) participation fee is: $5.00 – $10.00 per session, or $20.00 per week. If you have any questions, please email, text or call Rogovin2@gmail.com or 617-821-3375.

K-12 Reading Program

The Boston University K-12 Reading Program has opened early, reduced rates, and converted all classes to a live online format, to help parents and schools maintain student education during these unusual times.

The live, teacher-led online classes are available now and throughout the summer, for Pre-K through 12th grade students.

The curriculum is high caliber and has been taught in a live, online format for 5 years already with over 50,000 school-age students. The classes are led by highly-trained teachers with many years’ experience teaching effectively in online classrooms. Skills taught include:

  • Early Elementary: letter recognition, phonemic awareness, sight words, phonics
  • Mid-to-Late Elementary: fluency, phonics, long-word decoding, comprehension, textbook reading, writing
  • Middle and High School: doubling reading speed, comprehension, writing, notetaking, test preparation, textbook strategies

For additional imformation, see the flyer here or visit the website  https://bu.readingclasses.org/.

 

Emergency Housing Relief Program

Are you struggling to pay your rent because you have lost income due to COVID-19?

The City of Newton in partnership with Metro West Collaborative Development is providing three months of rent assistance to qualified individuals and families. Please see the flyer HERE and visit the web page at COVID-19 EMERGENCY HOUSING RELIEF PROGRAM for details and application instructions. The application deadline is June 3, 2020.

This information is also available in Arabic الترجمة العربية ; Chinese 简体中文; Japanese 日本語; Korean 한국어; Portuguese português; Russian русский; Spanish español; Turkish Türk Dili; and Vietnamese Tiếng Việt.

Contact Robyn to begin the process by emailing robyn@metrowestcd.org or calling 617-923-3505 x 5. Translation services available. Applications received after June 3rd will be added to the bottom of the list and considered while funding lasts.

#NewtonTogether has launched!

Let’s stay connected as a community in the face of COVID-19! On April 20th, Patriots’ Day/Marathon Monday, we invite all Newtonians to make handmade #NewtonTogether signs and display them in your windows. Get creative–make paper signs, use sidewalk chalk, whatever inspires you–and share the incredible joy, strength, and resiliency of Newton. Just because we can’t gather for the Marathon this year, doesn’t mean we can’t connect! Tag your creations in the Facebook event or on social media with #NewtonTogether. For more information, click HERE.

Some Newton villages are also choosing to stand outside at noon on April 20th to clap/bang pots in recognition and gratitude for all the hometown heroes (medical personnel, pharmacists, grocery workers, teachers, etc.) who are working the front lines to keep us all safe. Feel free to recognize your favorite hometown hero in your #NewtonTogether social media posts.

The idea came to the Mayor’s Office from Newton resident Rakashi Chand:

Let us bring our community together in a shared message of perseverance and pride. Let us inspire one another as we are and always have been an unwavering city, that has stood tall and united in the face of adversity and overcome again and again, every challenge, hardship, tragedy and crisis. We will persevere, we will fight in every way we can, we will unite and we will see the dawning of a brave new day. This epidemic will make each day harder than the last, but we will persevere, we will face the challenges that present themselves, because we are strong.

Let’s find a way to inspire our citizens, and remind them that we, like our forefathers and foremothers, will overcome this, and find ways to raise each other up with hope.

In addition, for those of you who are big fans of the Boston Marathon, the Newton, Wellesley and Natick Historical Societies will be showing vintage photos of the Boston Marathon on their websites on April 20th. You are welcome to share your marathon thoughts, memories, and photos of your favorite site on the route using #VirtualMarathon.

Thanks so much for being a part of #NewtonTogether on April 20th! Click here for the flyer with information.

Student Volunteer Group for COVID-19

Learn about the Greater Boston hub of Students Against Corona, a worldwide student volunteer organization. This organization works to connect low-risk volunteers to at-risk people to help them with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, walking the dog, etc.

Recently, the worldwide organization has been getting media attention such as the Oxford branch appearing on a BBC News article. Let’s help to spread awareness to better help our community during this crisis. Please click here to see the flyer with additional information.

Newton COVID-19 Care Fund

Newton COVID-19 Care Fund
The Mayor’s Office just announced the launch of the Newton COVID-19 Care Fund. Its focus is on basic needs and critical services, but we recognize that this crisis is evolving quickly. The priorities of this fund may change as the needs of the Newton community evolve. The funds will help pay for rent, food, utilities, internet connectivity for families with school-aged children, childcare, medications and other basic needs.

HOW CAN I GIVE TO THE NEWTON COVID-19 CARE FUND?

You can give to the fund by clicking the GIVE button at Unitedwaymassbay.org or visiting https://unitedwaymassbay.org/covid-19/newton-covid-19-care-fund/. All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of the proceeds (net credit card fees) will go to individuals seeking assistance. You may also give via your Donor Advised Fund by including “The United Way Newton COVID-19 Care Fund” in your recommendation details. The fund’s tax ID number is 04-2382233.

You can also send a check to United Way of Massachusetts Bay, PO Box 51381, Boston, MA 02205-1381. Please include “Newton Covid-19 Care Fund” in the memo of your check.

All donations will be collected by United Way and distributed by an established Newton nonprofit organization with a track record of administering assistance funds. These funds will pay for rent, food, utilities, internet connectivity for families with school-aged children, childcare, medications and other basic needs. City of Newton First Responders who incur new childcare expenses or other expenses as a result of the crisis will also be eligible.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED ASSISTANCE?

The Newton COVID-19 Care Fund is a coalition of Newton-based care providers coming together to serve those who are in need in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. In the coming days, visit the United Way web page for more detailed information on fund eligibility requirements and information about how to submit your application. Until next week, if you need immediate help, please contact United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline which will provide immediate guidance.

ActiveMinds Tutoring is Adaptable

ActiveMinds Tutoring is adaptable and ready to assist your transition. Their tutoring team is equipped with the resources to accommodate the limitations of online schooling and the needs of your child during this difficult time. Through tutoring, mentorship, and coaching, they are prepared to offer meaningful learning experiences through online support.

Contact ActiveMinds to learn more about their experienced tutors. Call 617-227-2225, email info@activemindstutoring.com, or visit http://www.activemindstutoring.com/testimonials.html