| Mark your Calendar |
December 12
December 15
GUYS READ
|
|
|
|
| |
Season's Greetings!
It seems that just yesterday school started, but here we are, almost at the end of another year of adventure. As the year winds down...Here is our holiday/wintery check list for all:
1) Recognizing our teachers during the holidays. At this time of year, many of us wish to recognize and thank our kids' teachers for the exceptional job they do. The Newton School Committee has a "no gift" policy for teachers; however, a donation of books or wish-list items is a great way to say thank you. Homemade cards are always a thoughtful gesture, too.
2) Please consider participating in the GIFT for BURR campaign! Make your tax deductable donation before the end of the year. Your kids and the teachers appreciate and utilize every donation! Your donation provides the extra special events and activities that our kids look forward to every year! Make those donations go even further-Don't forget to apply for matching gift funds from your employer!
3) Join OneCause and Target - Take Charge of Education. For many of us, the holiday shopping season has already begun. Or, you may be having trouble getting started. Here's a way to go shopping and donate to Burr School without even getting out of your pajamas. Send flowers to your mother in-law, make travel plans, or simply buy gifts for your family and friends online, and OneCause will donate to Burr. They're two great ways to help Burr at no extra cost to you! Thank you, to all who shopped last week at Just Next Door, hopefully you checked off a few items on your holiday list!
4) Help others. Thank you to all who have contributed to the Holiday Food Drive, and to Toys for Tots. Your donations will certainly make someone's holiday very special indeed!
5) Inclusive Schools Week. Thank you to the Respect for Human Difference team who organized special activities for the kids last week and for reminding us all how to keep that warm holiday feeling all year long!
6) Blue Zone and the snow? It will be here soon enough, PLEASE take care to follow Blue Zone rules during the snowy season. Snow banks, slippery streets, and general congestion make for messy drop-offs and pick-ups. Please consider walking, or allowing extra time in the Blue Zone, and remember the good old holiday spirit and be a bit more patient. Thanks!
7) Avoid the "bah humbugs" of missing clothes! Grab a permanent marker and label all your kids' clothes...quick! Or, if that opportunity has come and gone and you are already missing the goods, check the Burr lost and found presently located in the front office area.
8) Mark your calendars now! We start off the New Year with Science and Engineering week, January 9-13. Volunteer 30 minutes and share you love of science and engineering with your kids and their friends! Email Johanne Kotz and Ted Vahey at BurrScienceWeek for more information.
And last but not least, let us not forget the laughs!
9) Witty Winter WingDing, February 11th, 2012; Burr School's Comedy Night! Line up your babysitters now!
We wish you and your family a very safe and joyful holiday season!
Tracy and Ted
PTO Co-Presidents
|
Newton Community Ed Classes at Burr
| | Registration is now underway for Winter classes with Newton Community Education.
Coming up at Burr we have:
Mondays: More Drumming 101
Tuesdays: Fold It and Chess
Wednesdays: Mad Science
Check out our Saturday family programs this winter: cooking specials The International Chocolate Chip and Two Continents Many Dumplings, and enjoy the outdoors in our new Winter Explorers. Older elementary schoolers can join us for The Stockmarket Game, Archery, Fencing, Robotics, or Babysitting. We have some new sports offerings this winter including Dodgeball, Basketball, and Sports Jam, and for younger kids we have indoor Saturday Sports Jams at Burr(and T-Ball and Flag Football coming this spring). If you're looking for great winter and spring vacation programs, we have those too. As always, we have a wide variety of classes at schools throughout Newton, and we welcome kids from all schools at all of our classes.
For more information or to register, call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org. Be sure to look through our huge selection of adult classes too, and watch for our summer catalog, coming in January.
|
Newton Centre Ice-Skating Rink Opening 12/31
|
|
Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Newton Centre Ice-Skating Rink!
Mayor Setti Warren partnered with Newton Community Pride, local businesses, residents and Alderman Vicki Danberg, to install a skating rink in Newton Centre. The Grand Opening on December 31 at 11:30am is part of the Mayor's New Year's Open House Celebrations. The Sheryl Franks Creative Skating Academy will perform at the Opening Ceremony.
The rink is free and open to the public from 9am - 8pm all winter season. Skating is at your own risk, and hockey is prohibited. It is located at The Newton Center Green, between Centre Street and Langley Road. Call 617-527-8283 for more information.
|
|
Join the Celebration at City Hall on New Year's
| | Join Mayor Setti Warren to celebrate the New Year with a fun-filled  afternoon of free entertainment. Newton City Hall is the place to be this New Year's Eve with four fabulous family entertainers: The American Chinese Art Society Dancers, popular singer Wayne Potash, The Newton Family Singers and Big Joe the Storyteller. There is also free face painting to add to the festivities! All the shows repeat, so visit them all! The entertainment and refreshments are free, but please bring a donation for our Newton Food Pantries. 1000 Commonwealth Ave., December 31, 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Call 617-527-8283 or visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org for more information.
|
|
Parent Ed Opportunities from Newton Partnership
| | |
"Parents Helping Parents" Support Group
Are you a parent or guardian feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Could you use the support of peers to help? Come to an anonymous support group run by a trained facilitator. This group will meet weekly on Wednesdays beginning December 7 at Brigham House, 20 Hartford St., Newton Highlands. For more information, please call Meg at 617-926-5008 ex 108. Child care provided. FREE.
Connecting With Your Child in a Digital World
Parenting in the digital age can be challenging. Social media and technology have become such an important part of your child's daily life. Please join us for an interactive workshop where we will examine your child's use of technology, increase awareness of the potential challenges around technology use, and learn practical parenting strategies to maintain connections with your child. The workshop will be facilitated by Middle School Prevention/Intervention counselors Amy Comeau, M.Ed. and Rolanda Prophete, LICSW.
This workshop will take place on Tuesday, December 13 from 6:30-8:00 p.m at Brown Middle School, FREE.
|
|
Free Classical Piano Concert with Franco Leon
| |  Brookline Music School (BMS) presents a Faculty Concert with pianist Franco Leon on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 7:00pm for free. The performance is a solo piano concert by Franco Leon, featuring works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Albeniz and Piazzolla. |
| Newton North Freshman Cabaret! | | |
Newton North's current Freshman showcase their amazing talent through a fun-filled evening of songs, sketches and dances in Freshman Cabaret. Performances are on December 15th and 16th at 7:30PM in The Performing Arts Center at Newton North High School.
Tickets are $7 and available at www.theatreink.net or at the door.
|
| BC Lady Eagles Soccer School December break | | |
The BC Lady Eagles Soccer School will be holding their Winter Clinic for
girls ages 6-14 during December 27-30, 12:00noon-5:00pm  at the 'Bubble' at Alumni Stadium on the BC main campus. Come join us for soccer fun and development. Cost is $295. Registration may be found at: http://www.bceagles.com/camps/bc-w-soccer-camps-winter.html and then click on 'Register Online Here'.
|
Be A Winter Buddy to a Newton senior
|
|
Be a Winter Buddy: Join Newton at Home's New Winter Buddy Program! We all know our New England winters are long and there are storms aplenty. Newton at Home has designed a new Winter Buddy Program to encourage connections between seniors and other community members when the snow and wind are swirling outside. Being a buddy means that a volunteer or volunteer family would connect with a Newton at Home member to: 1. Advise that a storm is coming. 2. Assess the need for essential supplies (milk, bread, flashlights and batteries, etc). 3. Develop plans for snow removal. 4. Call your buddy every day of the storm. 5. Direct your buddy to appropriate help when necessary. Volunteering as a Winter Buddy will require minimal time commitment, but would give Buddies a sense of connection and satisfaction from helping others. If you would like to participate, please contact Bonnie Katz at bkatzdesign@gmail.com or 617.244.0694.
Newton at Home is an organization dedicated to empowering Newton's seniors to age at home comfortably, independently, and with peace of mind through a membership-based organization that offers access to comprehensive practical services and fosters social supports and a sense of community.
We will hold a short Winter Buddy Training session on Wednesday, Dec 14, at 11:30, as well as several dates in January. Training sessions will be held at our office, 206 Waltham St, in the Scandinavian Living Center building. For more information about the Winter Buddy program and Newton at Home, please check our website at www.newtonathome.org.
|
Historic Newton Events
| |
MUSEUM SHOP HOLIDAY SALE
During the entire month of December, find wonderful small gifts for both adults and children at the annual Holiday Sale at the Jackson Homestead and Museum, and support Historic Newton with your purchase. Enjoy 10% off all purchases such as note cards, games, DVDs and more. Members receive a 20% discount.
VACATION WEEK FAMILY PROGRAMS
Tuesday, December 27, 2:00 PM (note Date Change)
STORIES IN THE SNOW Greet winter with open arms at this family program. We'll read White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, and make snow globes to take home. Kids of all ages can enjoy the warmth of the Jackson Homestead, where we'll serve hot cider and snacks. Cost: $15 per family ($10 for members); includes museum admission, materials, and snack. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register. Thursday, December 29, 2:00 PM CANDLES ARE WICK-ED COOL Bring the whole family to this fun, hands-on workshop where you will learn how the Jacksons made candles in the 1800s, and then do it yourself! Bring your candles home and light up the dark nights of winter. Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.
Events are at Jackson Homestead, 527 Washington Street, Newton.
|
|
|
|
|
