Tag Archives: elem

City of Newton Outdoor Programs for Kids

Nature Spotters
Spend select Saturdays exploring the river, searching for bugs, learning about local habitats and discovering nature. Nature Spotters will take part in fun-filled activities including trail walks, nature games, crafts, stories, and much more.

  • Feb. 21- Nature’s Winter Habits
  • March 21- Animal Tracking
  • April 25- From Seed to Seedling

Time: 2:00 – 3:15 pm Grades: K-5 Fee: $12 per class
Registration: activityreg.com For more information about Nature Spotters call Newton Parks and Recreation at 617-796-1525.

Outdoor Adventure Summer Program 2015
The Outdoor Adventure Summer Program at Nahanton Park offers 2nd – 6th graders a two week environmental awareness experience. Come spend time discovering the natural world, making new friends, fishing, canoeing, and playing fun games.

  • Session 1: June 29th-July 10th
  • Session 2: July 13th- July 24th
  • Session 3: July 27th- Aug. 7th
  • Session 3.5 Aug. 10-14th

Monday-Fridays: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, extended available until 3:00 pm. For more information check the Newton Parks and Recreation Website at newtonma.gov/camps.

JCC Kid’s Choice February School Vacation Program

From sports and swimming to arts, dance, cooking and rock climbing, kids have their choice of activities at the JCC Kid’s Choice February Vacation Program.  For boys and girls entering grades K-6 (and CITs in grades 7-9 at a reduced rate).

Special highlights include JCC Magic Ark performance of Toying with Science, field trip to Wheelock Family Theatre to see Pinocchio and Purim Carnival.

Held at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC, 333 Nahanton Street, Newton.  Monday-Friday, February 16th – 20th from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Come for one day or as many as you would like. Everyone welcome.

Register at bostonjcc.org/schoolvacations. For more information, contact 617-558-6529 or sc*************@***gb.org.

Free Toddler Program at Sunday School for Jewish Studies

The Sunday School for Jewish Studies welcomes 2-and-3-year-olds and their parents to a celebration of Judaism through creative arts and play. Please come and join the fun! This free, family program will be held on one Sunday in February, March and April from 11:00 am to noon at the Oak Hill Middle School.

For additional information about this free Toddler program and once per week Pre K – 7th grade Hebrew school, please contact Dori Stern at pr*******@**************************es.org or 617-264-8855 or visit www.SundaySchoolforJewishStudies.org.

Newton Community Preservation Committee – Affordable Housing Proposal

Affordable Housing Proposal for February 12th Public Hearing

The CPC has scheduled a proposal for affordable housing on Taft Avenue, West Newton ($584,029 of CPA funds requested by CAN-DO) for a public hearing on February 12th. Written comments received by January 23rd can be included in the CPC’s pre-meeting packet. The full proposal and its attachments are online from the Proposals & Projects – Pending section of the program website, at www.newtonma.gov/cpa.

For assistance, contact Program Manager Alice E. Ingerson at 617-796-1144 or ai*******@******ma.gov.

Newton Heartbreak Hill Road Race & Walk

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to start dusting off those running (or walking) shoes! The 23rd annual Heartbreak Hill Road Race and Family Walk is a perfect way to shake off some of that cabin fever! The course is one mile – up and down historic Heartbreak Hill, the day before the Boston Marathon! Every runner receives an official digital-clock time, a race medallion, goody bag and a free ticket to the pre-race pasta party at Newton City Hall on Saturday, April 18th.

The 1st, 2nd & 3rd place runners in each category win a trophy! There are free games and activities organized by Steve DeMasco’s Shaolin Studios of Wellesley and the Lasell College Special Events students. Not a runner? Everyone can walk the course at 11:30 am. Register at www.newtoncommunitypride.org. The first 500 registrations receive a free t-shirt.

April 19th, Newton City Hall

Newton Spelling Bees

A fun and educational Spelling Bee for Newton children in grades K – 5. Children compete within their grade level only. The 1st place prize winner receives a gift certificate from Learning Express, and all spellers receive a goody bag to celebrate their hard work.

Registered spellers can participate in a ‘Pre-Bee’ coaching session held by Chung Dahm Read Write on March 8th at Newton City Hall. There are still openings in Grades K, 3rd, 4th & 5th. Register at www.newtoncommunitypride.org. Call 617-796-1540 for more information.

Spelling Bees will be held on March 23rd, March 24th, March 30th, March 31st and April 6th at Newton City Hall.

Planning for the future at the elementary level

December 2014

Dear Newton Families,

As many of you are aware, we have begun an exciting time of facilities renovation and expansion in the Newton Public Schools.  The recently renovated Carr School, which is currently housing the Angier School during its renovation, is a terrific modern facility.  We expect our Long Range Facilities Plan to continue for many years.  A key aspect of this plan is not only the rebuilding and renovation of aging buildings but also expanding their capacity to meet the needs of our growing population.  A new Angier school will open in January 2016, with Zervas to follow in September 2017.  A renovated or rebuilt Cabot is planned for January 2018.

We currently have schools that are over crowded and a few schools that will soon reach expanded capacity.  As a result, we will address the student assignment process, a task that will involve moving elementary boundary lines. We expect that the student assignment plans will be addressed in phases, in order to match the timing of the various school construction and/or renovation projects.  The initial phase for the first three schools will be addressed this year and additional phases will occur as the plan for rebuilding/renovating elementary schools continues for the next 15-20 years.

I am well aware that shifting elementary boundary lines represents a significant change.  Please keep in mind that most residences across the City will remain in their current districts.  However, our space challenges necessitate some movement.  As a result, we have created a Student Assignment Working Group, which will develop criteria for evaluating various assignment scenarios based on mapping data and other information.  A recommendation will be made to the School Committee by the end of the school year.

We fully appreciate that communication and community engagement are essential when making such changes.  In addition to providing regular updates at School Committee meetings, there will be public meetings that will focus solely on this topic.  Student assignment planning will be on the agenda when School Committee members join me at PTO meetings in each of the schools over the next few months.

Our goal is to develop a process that is thoughtful and sensitive.  We will be certain to update you over the course of the year and further information will be provided on our website.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools