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UNICEF Kid Power in Boston March 7-April 1

UNICEF today announced the launch of the 2016 Kid Power school program, which will empower 70,000 elementary school children in 13 cities to help save the lives of severely malnourished children around the world. You may have also recently heard about Kid Power when UNICEF announced P!nk as an UNICEF ambassador and the program’s national spokesperson.

Third through fifth-graders will receive Kid Power Bands, the world’s first wearable for good™, and a teacher-led classroom curriculum in a 30-day program, called UNICEF Kid Power Month. By being active and having fun, kids can earn points to unlock funding that delivers lifesaving packets of food to children in need. UNICEF Kid Power Month will take place in Boston from March 7 through April 1. The more kids move, the more points they earn, the more lives they save.

Globally, one in four children is malnourished – about 159 million children worldwide – while one in four children in the United States is inactive. Malnutrition is attributable to nearly half of all deaths of children under age five, and 16 million children suffer from the most life-threatening form of malnutrition – severe acute malnutrition – which can require specialized care with therapeutic food packets. The therapeutic food packets unlocked by UNICEF Kid Power contain a specially-designed protein and vitamin-rich peanut paste, which allows children who are severely malnourished to be treated in their communities and has the potential to transform the lives of millions of malnourished children around the world.

The growth in the Kid Power school program comes on the heels of the national retail launch of UNICEF Kid Power Bands in November 2015, allowing families everywhere to join the UNICEF Kid Power Team by purchasing a Kid Power Band, available at Target.com and in select Target stores, and downloading the free companion App.** Two Star Wars: Force for Change Bands are also available in “light side” white and “dark side” black. Kids and families everywhere can use the UNICEF Kid Power Band to get active, go on missions to learn about new cultures and earn points that help save lives.

March 11, 2016
PARCC at Peirce

Dear Peirce Families,

In May, our students will join elementary students across Newton in the PARCC tests in Reading and Math. Last year, Peirce was one of the 11 schools to try the computer-based PARCC test, while 4 schools (Angier, Lincoln-Eliot, Mason-Rice, and Ward) participated in the paper-and-pencil version, which was more similar to the MCAS exams. This year, all 15 schools will use the paper-and-pencil version. We discovered that the testing experience was quite different depending on the mode, and students with computer-based testing scored lower than they have historically scored on MCAS, especially in Third Grade. We are pleased to use the paper-and-pencil version this year and avoid the technical difficulties for both children and adults that were a part of the computer-based testing experience. We also expect it will more closely correlate with the paper-and-pencil assessments we give throughout the year that are tied to our curriculum. The state, having decided to discontinue PARCC testing after this year, is working on a new version of MCAS that will be introduced in 2017 and will be tied closely to our curriculum standards.

In the past, we have been able to use MCAS data to help us identify areas of strength and areas for growth, and we have found a strong correlation between MCAS scores and our school/district assessment data (e.g. Benchmark Assessments and End-of-Unit Math Assessments). We always use Third Grade scores as a baseline and seek growth for each cohort during their Fourth and Fifth Grade years. Our goal is for all students to meet or exceed Proficiency, indicating they are on track for strong academic success in Middle School and High School. Although our students typically score very well in the aggregate, we, like many other schools, have a clear achievement gap between students who are identified as “high needs” (English Language Learners, Low-Income, or Special Education) and all other students. In order to reduce this achievement gap, we have created and expanded learning opportunities for differentiated instruction, including Stretch Your Brain blocks at each grade level, intervention from Early Literacy Aides, and our Co-taught class in Fifth Grade. At Peirce and throughout the system, we are seeking to reduce the correlation between a “high needs” designation and under performance on state assessments while boosting the performance of all students to the next level.

For more information about MCAS/PARCC scores at Peirce and how they compare to average scores in Newton and Massachusetts, please see the following resource from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/general.aspx?topNavId=1&orgcode=02070100&orgtypecode=6&. This tool is also helpful for identifying schools that are most similar in terms of student population, including school size and percentage of students in high needs groups. This tool has historically picked Zervas as one of the schools most similar to Peirce.

With best wishes,
Mark Chitty, Principal

March 10, 2016
Authentic Chinese Food Restaurant Opens in Newton!

My family used to make a monthly pilgrimage to Los Angeles’ Chinatown for groceries and a decent meal. My father immigrated from mainland China right before the Communist Revolution and good Chinese food was hard to come by in the sleepy beach town that I grew up in.

I’m basing my sense of “authenticity” on those Chinese meals with my family and all those wedding banquets we attended as well. My father also hung out with a group of Chinese STEM immigrants and the potluck dinners they hosted were legendary for the array of home cooked Chinese delicacies!

So how else do I rate “authenticity”? By the number of Asian diners of course! On a number of drive bys (The Dumpling House is on Walnut Street which we drive by several times a week en route to flute and Valeo FC), I ask my kids to count up the number of Asians they spot as we wiz by. They don’t really like this task but they humor me. It seems to attract about a 50% Asian customer base which is high given that Newton is just 11% Asian!

That seemed to be worth checking out. I went with my husband for lunch and we ordered the weird stuff like this dish of tendon and beef in a spicy sauce:

The meat is stewed in soy sauce and aromatics and then doused in a spicy sauce. It was both familiar and new to me. The meat had that familiar flavor of loo’ed slow simmered flavor, but the sauce was new to me. The tendon was chewy and flavorful. It was delicious and clearly authentic but I’m not quite sure what region of China this hails from. Northern China or Central with the zippy spicy sauce?

My husband ordered the Ma Po Tofu, feeling the need for something healthy. This was light and delicious!

I also ordered a tofu dish: pressed tofu with bamboo shoots. It was my favorite dish out of a meal of outstanding dishes.

Interestingly, the dumplings were not my favorite. I’m used to thin skins and these thick skin dumplings were good but not what I’ll be coming back for. The menu is full of more interesting dishes that seems to attract the Chinese crowd from beyond Newton.
The Dumpling House is a find! It’s a completely new restaurant from the previous Hot Pot restaurant. Come by and try it before word gets out and it gets really crowded!

March 9, 2016
Meet America’s Top Young Scientist Today

CLASSROOMS WORLDWIDE INVITED TO MEET AMERICA’S TOP YOUNG SCIENTIST DURING DISCOVERY EDUCATION LIVE STREAM EVENT

WHAT:               On Tuesday, March 8, Discovery Education will host a unique, live-streamed event featuring 15-year-old Hannah Herbst, winner of the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. This live stream event will provide inspiration to students about how they can make a difference in the world. Hannah will share information about her unique invention, talk about her experiences in the challenge and answer questions from aspiring young scientists. Students can submit their own questions for Hannah to answer on air by clickinghere.

Inspired by her 9 year old pen pal living in Ethiopia who lacks a reliable source of power and electricity, Hannah created an energy probe prototype that seeks to offer a stable power source to developing countries by using untapped energy from ocean currents. Hannah submitted this innovative idea to the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and after working one-on-one with a 3M Scientist Mentor to bring her idea to life, she was awarded the grand prize of $25,000. As America’s Top Young Scientist, Hannah has traveled the nation to share her innovation, appearing on national media outlets such as Fox and Friends, Wake Up With Aland at the Social Innovation Summit in Silicon Valley.

To register to attend, please visit http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/live-event.

WHO:                  Hannah Herbst, winner of the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

WHEN:                 Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

WHERE:               http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/live-event

March 8, 2016
Artemis Yoga 100 Days FREE Classes

We are celebrating our first 100 days on March 12 & 13th with free yoga classes, live music by Matt Hanna and many perks such as free chair massage from Harvard Sq. Shiatsu, juice and fruit bar samples from Dosha Bar and yoga apparel from Crane & Lion.

Schedule_Artemis_First100Days

This all happens on Saturday March 12th and Sunday March 13th.

Classes on handstands, standing poses, the rope wall, family yoga, yoga for runners and athletes and more. It’s going to be fun!

Sign up for a class today!

Visit www.artemisyoga.com/celebrate

March 7, 2016
Anti Semitic Hate Crimes at Day Middle School

February 26, 2016

Dear Newton Community,

As you may now be aware, two incidents of anti-Semitism occurred this year at Day Middle School. The District, the Mayor’s Office, and Newton Police are working together to investigate these incidents.

Newton Public Schools are committed to creating a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and supportive for all. Hate crimes are a direct violation of our core values and are not tolerated. We must take this opportunity to reflect upon our values, engage in dialogue, and strengthen our educational efforts.

The initial response to these incidents was not commensurate with the severity of the offense. We are, therefore, reviewing our current protocols. If we find that there is lack of clarity on what needs to happen when incidents occur, we will strengthen our protocols working closely with our principals and other administrative leaders in our schools.

Over the next few weeks, we will be meeting with the Day staff and community. We expect a productive conversation and an open process of collaboration.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools

Setti D. Warren, Mayor

p.s. There was no statement by the mayor or superintendent when Newton North High School put on an anti-Asian racist play. Newton has an 11% Asian American population and Newton North High School’s Asian American population is 9%.

p.p.s. What happened exactly? My 8th grade daughter at Day Middle School said that there were two swastikas drawn in one of the boys’ bathroom stalls. She didn’t see them but heard that they were small. She said that not much mention was made to her in class by teachers or administration regarding the swastikas or anything about racism or racists acts.

Dear Day Family,

I regret to inform you that hateful graffiti was found written on a bathroom wall yesterday at Day. The police were notified immediately and are currently conducting an investigation. The Superintendent, the Mayor, and the Day faculty have also been alerted.

Such deplorable acts are unacceptable, will not be tolerated, and do not define our inclusive school community. If you or your child has any information about the person who may have committed this offense, please contact the police immediately. Information can be submitted to the Community Services Bureau at 617-796-2103 or via the anonymous tip line at 617-796-2121.

As I described in an earlier message, we have begun a series of discussions with students, faculty, and community to strengthen our educational efforts to combat anti-Semitism and insure a supportive learning environment. I met with the Day staff earlier this week, began a series of conversations with students yesterday, and look forward to hearing from you at the forum for Day parents on Wednesday, March 9th at 7:00 p.m. or at the Parent-Principal coffee on March 11th at 8:00 a.m.

Many of you may be aware of media reports of the incidents here at Day. I thank you for supporting our students and school as we address these incidents and discuss ways in which we can come together as a community.

Sincerely,

Brian Turner

March 7, 2016
Valeo April Vacation Soccer Clinic

Valeo April Vacation Clinic 2016

March 6, 2016
Common Ground Pop Up Market

Spend a Sunday Afternoon at

Common Ground Pop Up Market

featuring 16 Artisans, mompreneurs, craftspeople, and artists.

Photography Artwork, Fair Trade & Custom Jewelry, Local Honey, Artisanal Pasta, Book Signing by Children’s Author, Handmade Upcycled Wool Scarves, Pottery, Personal Chef and Baker, Skincare, Massage Therapist, and more!

Sunday, March 13th

12:00-4:00pm

Common Ground

319 Broadway

Arlington, MA 02474

March 5, 2016
20% off Tickets to Yamato Drummers of Japan

YAMATO The Drummers of Japan
Sun., March 13, 3pm
Berklee Performance Center
136 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

Yamato takes the ancient Japanese art of taiko drumming and creates a heart-pounding spectacle of athleticism, precision, and exhilarating musical expertise. The sheer physical strength and movement of the drummers is as impressive as the music. Yamato’s performers display their breathtaking talent on over 20 drums as well as bronze cymbals, vocals, and bamboo flutes to produce a kaleidoscope of sound.

Select the number of tickets you wish to purchase. Click “Buy Tickets” and add them to your Shopping Cart. Input coupon code “YDOJ20” at the bottom of your shopping cart and click “Add Coupon.” Your tickets will automatically be discounted!

PHONE: Call World Music/CRASHarts at 617-876-4275 and mention coupon code “YDOJ20” when ordering tickets.

March 4, 2016
$50,000 College Scholarships from The Village Bank

$50,000 in college scholarships will be awarded by The Village Bank

For the 18th consecutive year, The Village Bank’s Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation will award scholarships to local college-bound high school seniors. Announcement of this year’s awards, which will total $50,000, was made today by Joseph A. De Vito, president and CEO of The Village Bank.

The Foundation will award two $10,000 scholarships and fifteen $2,000 scholarships. The $10,000 scholarships require that, in addition to academic achievement, the recipient must have been actively involved in community and/or charitable causes, in a leadership capacity.

“The $10,000 scholarships will recognize students who not only excel, but who also share The Village Bank’s strong commitment to supporting the community and initiatives that directly benefit our friends and neighbors,” said De Vito.

The scholarship awards can be applied toward college tuition, room and board, or supplies. Complete rules, requirement information, and application forms are available at local high schools and at The Village Bank’s branches in Auburndale, Newtonville, Nonantum, Newton Highlands, Waban, West Newton and Wayland. The information is also available online here.Completed applications must be received by the Bank no later than April 15, 2016.

Auburndale Community Charitable Foundation scholarships are funded in part by a Golf Classic held each fall. The scholarship program began in 1998 with the announcement of five $2,000 scholarships to be awarded to members of that year’s graduating class. The Foundation’s total investment in education since the program began will total $598,000 with this year’s awards, according to De Vito.

March 3, 2016