Tag Archives: mid

Youth Services Updates/Info/Opportunities

Many of you have already heard about the Executive Function workshop for parents and teachers run by Engaging Minds Learning and Tutoring Center. This is completely FREE and several schools have already booked dates for the program. If your school PTO has not yet scheduled pleased consider helping to pick dates, times and locations as well as help advertise to parents. Please let Youth Services know if your school is interested in hosting a workshop by contacting 617-796-1436 or jo*****@******ma.gov.

The 60 minute workshop includes:

  • Explanation of the term “executive function” and why these skills are important in school and in other aspects of education in today’s fast paced world.
  • Tips and strategies geared towards parents and teachers in order to help strengthen students’ skills.
  • Real life applications and take home toolkits to maintain effective learning

Openings on the Youth Commission: the Newton Youth Commission is a volunteer body of high school students and adults working together to empower youth. The commission is made up of a group of seven voting members ages 13-19 from all over the city who are appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Aldermen. Commissioners learn about civic engagement and connect with city officials.

The Newton Youth Commission has current openings for young adults interested in getting involved in their community. Please visit www.newtonma.gov/youth for an application or contact the Director of Youth Services at 617-796-1436 or jo*****@******ma.gov.

An Advisory Board to the Youth Commission is also appointed by the Mayor, with the advice of the youth commission. The advisory board is a group of twenty youth and adults selected to represent youth agencies, police, schools, health, recreation and other public or private organizations concerned with youth. Adults interested in applying for the Advisory Board should submit a resume and youth interested in applying should submit an application but specify on the application that they would like to be considered for the Advisory Board. Applications can be found at www.newtonma.gov/youth .

Dining-Skills Workshop for Tweens & Teens

Do you try to teach your children table manners and feel as if you’re talking to a brick wall?

Young people ages 11–15 will savor a delicious meal while learning how to be comfortable and considerate dining at home and away. Peppered with historical trivia, intriguing props and tales of real-life rudeness/dining faux pas, this workshop will address why manners matter, basics such as posture and mouth closed when chewing; setting the table; napkin handling; silverware positioning and cutting technique; common dining dilemmas; restaurant etiquette; host and guest etiquette and more.

Information and registration visit http://EtiquetteForToday.net/etiquette-classes/dining-skills-workshop-for-teens-tweens/ or www.EtiquetteForToday.net and click on the sidebar “Tween/Teen Workshop” button. For additional information, please call Office: 866-376-1110; Mobile: 508-566-3203.

March 30th, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Bertucci’s, 275 Centre Street, Newton
Cost: (including meal) $89 for the first family member; $79 for each sibling

Looking for Lego ambassadors

Think your child has what it takes to become one of Boston’s inaugural Lego ambassadors?
From now until March 14th, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston will be accepting applications from children ages 5 to 12 to participate on a team to help LEGOLAND become the best attraction of its kind. As part of the application, children must include a video or photo and written response explaining what makes them the biggest Lego fan and why they should be part of the panel. They should also show something they built with Lego bricks. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston will be accepting applications for its junior construction panel from now until March 14th. The 12 winners will be announced on their Facebook page on March 17th. For contest rules and to apply, visit the LEGOLAND’s website.

Letter from the Superintendent

February 2014
Dear Newton Families,

As most of you know, students in Massachusetts have been taking MCAS exams since 1998. MCAS was designed to assess students’ progress towards meeting standards established through the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. I am writing to let you know that MCAS will very likely be phased out in a few years and replaced by a different type of assessment. These new assessments known as PARCC, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, align to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which were adopted as Massachusetts state standards by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in July 2011.

PARCC is a consortium of 18 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands working together to develop a common set of K-12 assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. We have been told Continue reading →

Explore Biomedical Science and Engineering, grades 7-9

The Innovation Institute in Newtonville is accepting registrations for its Biomedical Frontiers Seminar for students in grades 7, 8 and 9. Enrollment limit: 10 students.

Thursdays, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm, March 20 – June 26
Cost: $775

This course is an unparalleled opportunity for students in grades 7-9 interested in experiencing a real university-calibre tour de force of research at the Biomedical Frontiers in Science and Engineering! Seven to eight science and engineering specialists will lead sessions specific to their areas of research. All instructors are MIT or Harvard affiliated. They include Hertz Fellows, Postdocs and graduate students. The seminar will be anchored and facilitated by one instructor over the 14 weeks.

Topics will include: Biology of Cancer and Emerging Cancer Therapies Medical Nanotechnology for Cancer Quantum Mechanics and Neurobiology: Theory and Applications 3D Printing and Medical Applications: Introduction, Progress and Future Applications Synthetic Biology: Genetic Circuits Vaccines: How They Work, Misinformation and Novel Applications Tissue Engineering: Progress and Future Applications Microbiomes and the Human Body: Bacteria Living in and on You Materials Science and How Molecular Properties Determine Function

For program information, visit the course website.   Registration is available online.  Questions? 617 340-9907 or email montana <at> theinnovationinstitute <dot> org

This Week at the Newton Free Library

Just for teens at the Newton Free Library:

Teen Crafternoons, Tuesday, March 4, 3:30 pm
Get creative in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library where we will be hanging out working on crafts and eating snacks. No registration necessary. Just drop by.

Mother-Daughter Book Club, Wednesday, March 5, 7:00 pm
Join us in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library for the Mother-Daughter Book Club. The group will discuss The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason. Registration is required. Visit the library website, call Liz, the teen librarian, at 617-796-1380 or email te***@***************ry.net. Ages 12-15.

Get Hooked: Knitting and Crochet Club, Thursday, March 6, 7:00 pm
Join us in the second floor Teen Area of the Newton Free Library for the ongoing Knitting and Crochet Club. The club meets the first Thursday of the month. Beginners are welcome! We have crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarn and the know-how to teach the basics of crocheting. You are welcome to bring your own project, share ideas and conversation. Refreshments will be served. Open to ages 10 and up.

Register Now for Newton Community Farm Spring Programs

The 2014 spring educational programs at Newton Community Farm are now open for registration.

Choose from a range of garden-focused classes as well as how to keep chickens here in Newton.

For families and youngsters, our popular Farm Sprout program returns as does “Ready Set Grow”, our family gardening program.

Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the NCF’s website at www.newtoncommunityfarm.org/education

 

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” at NewtonNorth, March 13-16

Theatre Ink, Newton North’s award-winning theatre troupe, presents: Thoroughly Modern Millie, directed and choreographed by Brad Jensen. Filled with frisky flappers, dashing leading men and a dragon-lady of a villainess audiences will love to hate, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE is an evening of madcap merriment.

A high-spirited musical romp that takes place in the roaring ‘20’s, the show tells the story of young Millie Dillmount, who has just moved to New York City in search of a new life at a time when women were entering the workforce and the rules of love and social behavior were changing forever.

March 13th, 14th, 15th at 7:30PM
March 16th at 2PM
Performing Arts Center at Newton North, 457 Walnut Street
Tickets are $10.00, $14.00, & $16.00 and can be purchased on the Theatre Ink website or by calling the box office at 617-559-6306.

Celebrate GELF’s 5th Birthday on March 8

Newton’s Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF) is five years old. Join 150 members of our community for chef’s favorites, wine, and live entertainment to benefit lower-income Newton students aspiring to participate in international educational programs. The dinner is on Saturday, March 8th, 6:30-10:30 pm at Newton North High School.

This year alone GELF has funded:

· $33,000 in grants to
· 28 students for
· 10 different international trips

You may pay online or send a $150/person check (made payable to Newton Schools Foundation) to Newton Schools Foundation, 246 Dudley Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459. If you plan on sending in a check, please click here and register. Please write GELF on the memo line of your check and include guest names and your email address.

Whether you are coming or not, please consider donating to Support a Teacher
to attend the event ($100/person) or just mail a check to the address above.