Tag Archives: high

Get a no-cost energy assessment

Until September 30th, homeowners can get 100% off the cost of a Mass Save approved home insulation project after having a virtual no-cost energy audit using a smartphone to take photos of some areas of your home. In addition to potentially great financial savings, this will help to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your carbon footprint.

Other incentives include air-sealing; rebates off up to $2,750.00 on energy-efficient equipment upgrades; no-cost LED light bulbs; shower heads and power strips. Homeowners are eligible for an energy assessment every three years.

The number to call is 781-305-3319, choose option 2 and say you were referred by Green Newton or visit https://www.homeworksenergy.com/neighbors/greennewton

If opportunities are found to weatherize or insulate your home at no cost, a follow up appointment will be scheduled with an installation specialist by the end of November.

You can learn more at greennewton.org.

Volunteer Positions Available at the Newton Food Pantry

Volunteers are currently needed for the following positions at the NFP (Must be 18 years or older for all positions):

  • Monday AM Volunteer (75 minute shift): Working within a small team, volunteer in this role must be physically fit and able to lift and move 50 pound boxes and unload 6,000 pounds of food. Hours: 8:15 – 9:30 am or 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
  • Wednesday AM Volunteer: Drivers needed to caravan to Newton housing facilities and make contactless deliveries. Volunteers must have their own car and be able to lift 30 pound bags. Hours: 9:45 -1 1:00 am
  • Wednesday PM Volunteer: Physically fit volunteers needed to help with client grocery distribution. Shift work requires ability to lift 10-50 pound boxes and bags repetitively while being outside in all weather conditions. Spanish, Portuguese or Russian speaking volunteers are an added bonus! Hours: 12:30 – 2:30 pm or 2:30 – 4:30 pm

If interested please email volunteercoordinator@newtonfoodpantry.org.

An active and socially distant service opportunity

Are you looking for an active and socially distant service opportunity for your family?

Join the Centre Street Food Pantry’s ‘Off the Beaten Path’ campaign! They’re looking for families who like to bike, swim, walk, or run. For every mile that you go together, you will raise money for our local pantry. Pantry staff will help you find safe routes around the city and provide all the tools you need to solicit sponsors. Contact Team Leader Kate Ballas at k.ballas@centrestreetfoodpantry.org to join the fun!

Green Students Movement

Join a youth-led, environmentalist organization that hosts weekly community cleanups! Their goals are to spread environmental awareness, serve local communities, and get more students passionate about the environment. Cleanups are open to all students who want to help with the initiative!

At cleanups, students can socialize and make new friends, and in partnership with the Newton South Student Corps, students gain volunteer hours as well! As the group is working on becoming a nonprofit organization, any donations would be greatly appreciated.

It’s required that students wear masks at cleanups, and recommended that they bring their own plastic gloves, trash bags, and water bottles.

If you are interested in being added to the email list, please complete this form https://forms.gle/fQnnWiJDxtbGXSz98

Kibbeh Kitchen

Diego Mobarak, a rising freshman at Newton South, and siblings Anais and
Gibran, started the Kibbeh Kitchen, which sells authentic, homemade Lebanese platters and delivers them to your home.

100% of the proceeds are channeled directly to the Lebanese Red Cross. The Kibbeh Kitchen not only aims to raise funds for the Lebanese Red Cross, which is offering on the ground support in the wake of the two explosions that devastated Beirut, but also raise awareness about Lebanon.

The menu consists of a family platter and an individual one, both containing beef or butternut squash kibbeh, tabbouleh, man’oushe, and hummus with pita. For more information on each dish and how to order, please visit kibbehkitchen.org and Instagram @kibbeh_kitchen.

The West Suburban YMCA is open!

The West Suburban YMCA reopened its doors to new and existing members on July 6th, following the state’s transition into Phase 3 of its reopening plan. New protocols are in place to align with all guidelines and recommendations outlined by the CDC, state, and local health departments.

Visit the reopening guide for more about the West Suburban YMCA’s new protocols.

Summer Eats
Free Meals for Kids & Teens through September 4th
The West Suburban YMCA has partnered with the Metrowest YMCA to participate in Summer Eats, Massachusetts’ Summer Food Service Program. The federally funded nutrition program provides free, healthy meals to all children ages 18 and under when school is not in session. Meals are available for pick-up at the West Suburban YMCA in Newton, Monday through Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm (lunch) and 3:00 – 4:00 pm (snack) through September 4, 2020. Kids and teens who wish to pick up a lunch or snack should check-in at the Y’s Welcome Center.

Fall Programs
The Y is offering programming in swimming, sports, music, and fitness this fall! Small group and private sessions are available. All programming follows state health and safety guidelines. Visit the Y’s website for more information and registration.

Childcare and Out-of-School Time
Preschool and Out-of-School Time are planning for Fall 2020 programming. The Out-of-School Time program will offer full-day care to support distance learning and complement Newton Public Schools plan for the fall. Programs have been adapted to meet guidelines and safety protocols outlined by the CDC, the state of Massachusetts, and local health departments.

Open Gym and Outdoor Hoop
Court A in the gymnasium is available for basketball by reservation. Reservations are 60 minutes long and limited to 1 person or 1 family/household per appointment time. Please bring your own basketball and a water bottle. To make reservations visit wsymca.org/reservations.

The Y also installed an outdoor basketball hoop in the rear parking lot for member use. Members must scan in at the Welcome Center before using the hoop and everyone must bring their own basketball. Reservations to are not required, but it is only available during certain hours.

Family Swim
The small pool is available for family swim by reservation. Reservation slots are for 30 minutes and are limited to one family/household and a maximum for 6 family members. To make reservations visit wsymca.org/reservations.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs

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. Please contact the Membership Department at 617-244-6050 ext. 3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Save the date for this Free webinar

Families for Depression Awareness is presenting the free Navigating Teen Depression and Substance Use as a Family webinar next month.

In this webinar, David Blair LCSW, CACIII, AAMFT, and Jamie Blair Echevarria, LCSW, LMFT, CACIII, will cover how caring adults can fully engage in the process of prevention and treatment for adolescent substance use and depression. This program is designed for parents, guardians, family members, youth workers, and any caring adults interested in teen mental health.

Register here to join the live webinar discussion and 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.

If you are new to the topic of teen depression or in need of a refresher, please watch  Understanding Teen Depression as a foundation to this upcoming webinar.

September 23rd, 7:00 – 8:15 pm

Attention parents of high school seniors!

College Application Essay Writing workshop starting this Monday, August 17th.

  • Start to finish product in one week
  • Receive edits and feedback from two ELA teachers with 15 years experience each in guiding students in this process
  • Ramp up into academic mindset for one’s senior year
  • Check off one task before school starts
  • One in-person, socially distant two-hour workshop outside in Auburndale, Monday 9:30-11:30 (highly suggested but not required)
  • 3-4 30 min sessions of remote conferencing with two teacher-editors
  • Limited to six students (five spots remaining)
  • Students should be ready to commit to 8-10 hours of work to get this done
  • $300/student

Contact Erin Giesser 617 293-5104 to register!

Writing tutor available

Abby Kurzman has over ten years of experience providing writing and editing support to students in grades 5-PhD — including college application essays, SAT & ACT prep, and literary analysis. Reasonable rates and references from Newton parents available. Home schoolers welcome!

Please feel free to visit her website www.gowriteworkshop.com and contact Abby with questions at abby@gowriteworkshop.com.

Fall Planning Update from the Superintendent

August 7, 2020

Dear NPS Families,

Next week, we will share our fall Return to Learn plan with the community. We will begin with a presentation of the plan at the School Committee meeting on Monday, August 10th at 7:00 p.m. There will be an additional School Committee meeting on Wednesday. School Committee members will then hold virtual office hours on Thursday and Friday to answer some of your questions.

The plan we will present reflects our current thinking on the possible models with which we will return to learning in the fall. It will give you information on both the health and safety measures we have put in place in our school buildings, as well as draft academic schedules for both hybrid and distance learning.

Please mark your calendars for the following meetings next week to learn more about the plan.

Monday, August 10th – 7:00 p.m. School Committee Meeting – Link here for meeting login information.

Wednesday, August 12th – 8:00 a.m. School Committee Meeting – Link here for meeting login information.

Thursday, August 13th – 7:00 p.m. School Committee Office Hours (pre-registration required) – Link here for meeting login information.

Friday, August 14th – 8:00 a.m. School Committee Office Hours (pre-registration required) – Link here for meeting login information.

Please know that public health data will continue to drive our decisions and the plans are subject to change based upon this data. We will continue to work closely with the Newton Health and Human Services Department to guide our decision-making process. Please visit our Return to Learn website at www.newton.k12.ma/returntolearn or email us a community@newton.k12.ma.us with questions.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman

Superintendent of Schools