Tag Archives: elem

Plugged In’s April Vacation Camp

Plugged In’s April Vacation Camp is open to ages 11-18 of all skill levels. Students will get placed in a band with band members their age and skill level. Each band will write and record a song and make a music video. On the last day, bands will perform in a livestream performance from Plugged In for friends and family to watch online.

The Plugged In Band Program is a unique non-profit rock band program in Needham teaching kids of all skill levels and needs about using music to help others. Continue reading →

April break = Stories! Movement! Art!

Want something to do during April school vacation? Stories! Movement! Art! will provide students in grades 3-6 the opportunity to tell stories through their art! By using low-tech materials, they’ll create art that physically moves or uses optical illusion to showcase movement! See the flyer Stories!Movement!Art!

The program will take place inside the Carriage House at Gore Place in Waltham (the large building next to the parking lot). This program is $20.00 for the whole week, or $5.00/day. Tickets: https://art-workshop.bpt.me

April 15th – April 19th, 1:00 – 3:30 pm

April Vacation Public Speaking Workshop

Public Speaking and Critical Thinking Skills For Your Child!

Lumos is offering 2-day Public Speaking workshops during April break. Your child will love Lumos’s friendly instructors and fun activities as they learn about:

  • Speaking Confidence
  • Impromptu Speaking
  • Debate Fundamentals
  • Argumentation and Reasoning

Right now you can use the code COMMUNITY to get $20.00 off. To register, go to lumosdebate.com/vaca-workshop. Email in**@*********te.com or call 781-474-3359 with any questions.

April 15th-16th, April 17th-18th, or April 19th-20th

Literacy Specialist/ELL Teacher Available for Private Summer Tutoring

Newton mom and former Newton literacy specialist, presently working as an ELL teacher in Needham Public Schools is available for Summer tutoring. Lani Verges-Radack, the parent of two kids with complex learning and emotional needs,  has over 15 years experience in education.

With experience in a variety of methods, she can assess your child to design the best plan for progress. Lani works on ALL areas of literacy – decoding, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, writing, oral language and phonics/spelling – depending upon the needs of your child.

State certified in ESL, Reading, Early Childhood, English. Experienced with all ages. Rates available upon request. Please contact Lr*****@***il.com.

Letter from School Committee regarding Equity Policy and Guidelines Information


Dear Elementary School Families:

Recently, several questions and concerns have been raised about the revised equity policy and guidelines scheduled for implementation in July 2019. The School Committee would like to clarify the purpose of the policy and guidelines, review the process by which the revised policy was determined, and identify the opportunities for public feedback in the coming weeks.

Equity is a core value of the Newton Public Schools. The School Committee is steadfast in our commitment to elementary students receiving a similar educational experience no matter which school they attend and despite any demographic differences among our school communities. In 1988 when it became clear that a large and increasing disparity in PTO fundraising and provisioning of schools threatened the level playing field, the School Committee instituted equity guidelines and limitations. Continue reading →

SC Special Update – Budget Hearings

Dear Friends,

This update is a special edition that covers the upcoming meetings regarding the proposed 2019-20 NPS Budget.

March 13, 2019 (Completed) – Superintendent’s Budget Presentation (Not a School Committee Meeting)

March 18, 2019 @ 7PM – (Special School Committee Meeting – No Public Comment)

  • Budget Review: Instructional Areas: Elementary and Secondary, Teaching and Learning

March 21, 2019 @7PM – (Special School Committee Meeting – No Public Comment)

  • Budget Review: Non-Instructional Areas, Student Services and Special Education

March 25, 2019 @7PM – Regular School Committee Meeting

  • Public Comment
  • Discussion: 2019 – 2020 School Budget
  • Race and Achievement Update
  • Straw Vote: 2019 – 2020 School Budget
  • Equity Committee Update
  • Possible Vote: Bus Loop @225 Nevada Street
  • Vote: Crowd Funding Policy

April 1, 2019 @6:30pm Public Hearing on 2019 – 2020 School Budget

April 1, 2019 @7pm Regular School Committee Meeting

  • Discussion and Vote on 2019 – 2020 School Budget

We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all School Committee meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching an SC meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org.

As always, we are very happy to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us via the email address below.

Sincerely,
The Newton School Committee

Newton PorchFest 2019: Signups are now open

Signups for Newton PorchFest 2019, scheduled for June 1st (raindate June 2nd) are now open. PorchFest is an afternoon of free music performed outside of people’s homes. Last year’s inaugural event included 60+ bands. You can participate by signing up to play (all musicians of all types are welcome), host (residents of Auburndale, Lower Falls or Waban), or volunteer.

For more information and to signup, see https://newton.porchfest.info/.

Newton Cantonese School Open House

The Newton Cantonese School will be having an OPEN HOUSE.  Come talk to the staff and tour the school while you learn more about these unique Cantonese Chinese programs.  Light refreshments will be served.

NCS is located at the Bigelow Middle School, 42 Vernon Street, Newton. To learn more, please go to www.newtoncantoneseschool.org.

March 23rd,  9:45 am to 12:00 pm
Bigelow Middle School