Author: Mia

Celebrate Newton at NSHS
Celebrate Newton at NSHS on Sunday, Dec 6th.

Shop locally this holiday season and buy one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family at Celebrate Newton, Newton Community Education’s annual juried craft fair!
- More than 50 local artisans will be selling handcrafted jewelry, scarves, ceramics, tote bags, soaps, culinary treats, cutting boards, note cards, photography, and more.
- Live musical performances by local musicians.
- Kids’ craft table to keep your children entertained while you shop.
- Admission: $3 (kids under 12 are free). Net proceeds will benefit the NCE Scholarship Fund.
December 5, 2015
Newton at Home’s Winter Buddies program

The leaves have just about finished falling from the trees, which could only mean one thing: it’s time for Newton residents to start thinking about winter.

Winter can have significant effects on older adults. Slippery sidewalks, cold temperatures and snow make it difficult to move comfortably around town. Many feel a sense of isolation being in their homes for long periods of time. That’s where Newton at Home’s Winter Buddies Program can help.

The annual program, which runs from December 1st through April 1st, matches a member to a volunteer buddy who lives in close proximity. The volunteer buddy contacts the member buddy to warn about coming storms and assess the need for essential supplies such as food, water and medications. Winter Buddies also assesses plans for snow removal and remind members to charge cell phones and keep batteries handy. The buddy will call every day during a storm and connect the member to appropriate help if needed.

“I love being a winter buddy because with a very small time commitment, I make a big difference in my buddy Ethne’s life,” said Vicki Ritterband, a Newton at Home Volunteer. “She often tells me how much safer she feels when there’s an impending snow storm, knowing I’ll be checking in to make sure she’s prepared. And we’ve become good friends— all year round!”

The Winter Buddies Program is open to all Newton at Home members. Call the office at 617-795-2560 for more information. Interested in volunteering as a Winter Buddy to a Newton at Home member? Contact Julie

Plaut Mahoney at partnershipsandvolunteers@newtonathome.org.

Newton at Home is a non-profit membership organization designed to help Newton residents 60 years of age and older live active, more independent and connected lives in their own homes and apartments through access to a broad variety of social programs and practical services. NAH membership also benefits the families

of members who gain peace of mind knowing that their loved ones have access to an enormous support

network. NAH plays an important role in the larger community, too, offering both young and old a meaningful

opportunity to become involved in community service.

December 4, 2015
Jewish public art project, 8 Nights, 8 Windows
Boston’s first juried seasonal Jewish public art project, 8 Nights, 8 Windows, will brighten the city’s holiday season with the essence of the Festival of Lights, bringing a fresh understanding of Hanukkah to the entire community for the eight nights of the Jewish holiday, December 6-14, 2015. This innovative public event is sponsored by the New Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP), and in collaboration with the Boston Jewish Music Festival (BJMF) and the Boston Jewish Film Festival (BJFF). The project is a preview of a new initiative, the Jewish Arts Collaborative, which will be announced in the near future.

The New Center put out a call to artists for works that tell a unique story of miracle, illumination, and innovation. The eight chosen pieces were selected by a jury of notable curators, arts leaders, and arts practitioners. In addition to the artwork, free public events will be hosted at several of the windows throughout the holiday. The art will be on display for the duration of Hanukkah (December 6-14, 2015), in windows throughout the city of Boston:
- Downtown Crossing Roche Bros. (8 Summer St.)
- Pavement Coffee House (44 Gainsborough St.)
- United South End Settlements (566 Columbus Ave.)
- The West End Museum (150 Staniford St.)
- Boomerang’s Special Edition (1407 Washington St.)
- Milk Street Café (50 Milk St.)
- Boston Center for the Arts’ Artist Studio Building (539 Tremont St.)
- Cambridge Trust bank (565 Tremont St.)
A ninth window at Fire & Ice (205 Berkeley St.) will feature 8 Nights, 8 Windows Kids, a stained glass-like community installation created by children, with help from artist Tova Speter. This work is presented in partnership with Temple Israel of Boston and the Families With Young Children program.

“We are so proud to share the beauty of Hanukkah with the community through this first public artistic exploration of the holiday,” said Laura Mandel, the New Center’s Executive Director. “The artists involved in this project are extremely talented, and they are not all Jewish, which underscores the holiday’s deeper universality. We are honored to be able to present their impressive and diverse work as a part of this unique celebration.”

On December 9, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston will host the second annual Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights, a free and open event that attracted over 2,300 people last year. The evening will include candle lighting, a unique Virtual Reality art installation, family friendly art activities, live music, art talks, and more.

For more information regarding the festival, artists, and how you can support the project, visitwww.8nights8windows.com.
December 3, 2015
New Public Art Exhibit at The Street

Check out the new public art exhibit at The Street!

Photo by Nicholas Knight, courtesy of Art Production Fund
The Street unveiled its latest art initiative, Everything, a larger-than-life public art installation by acclaimed artist Hanna Liden. Monumental in size, Everything is bound to stop The Street’s shoppers in their tracks, even in the midst of the holiday bustle, inviting them to take a moment and enjoy the simplest of everyday objects. With a unique dedication to bringing art and culture to its shopping experience, The Street has collaborated closely with Art Production Fund to make the installation possible.www.thestreetchestnuthill.com

Everything will include three carved versions of bagels throughout The Street. One will be a single 5-foot wide, 2-foot tall bagel, another will be 5.5-foot tall trio of stacked bagels, and the third will be a tower of five bagels, standing at 15 feet tall, acting as a makeshift vase, with a tulip at its center. A bright spot this season, Everything will be on view through Winter 2016.

Liden, whose work spans a variety of media, is known for her dynamic sculptural practice, in which she utilizes the casting process to seamlessly replicate and modify familiar objects. She views bagels as both “a great icon of urban living” and “a circle with no beginning and no end, evocative of the eternal cycle of city life.” Everything at The Street follows the exhibit’s inaugural installation in New York City, which was generously supported by Art Production Fund and Kiehl’s Since 1851.

The Street’s love for art has led to three different installations in the past year and a half, each enhancing its incredible shopping experience with delightful cultural encounters. Objects of Desire, by acclaimed photographer Jessica Craig-Martin, remains on view at The Street, showcasing high-contrast, cropped, and fantastical compositions.

About The Street: Located in the heart of Chestnut Hill, The Street has quickly become one of the region’s most delightful destinations for shops, eateries, entertainment and culture. Both a leader in national retail trends and a cornerstone within its Chestnut Hill community, The Street enchants its visitors with a collection of 40 unrivaled brands, as well as lively events by way of art, live music, fitness and kid-friendly fun. MiniLuxe and the first Juice Press in Massachusetts will soon open at The Street, happily neighboring the first Showcase SuperLux, Shake Shack and Splendid in the state, as well as such locally and nationally loved retailers as Vince, Ku De Ta, Jonathan Adler, skoah, Polkadog Bakery, Intermix, Calypso St. Barth, Del Frisco’s Grille, lululemon athletica, Pinkberry, Treat Cupcake Bar, Be Styled and Polarn O. Pyret. New tenants join an already robust lineup including The Container Store, Legal Sea Foods, Aquitaine, The Cottage, Star Market, Eyespot, Comella’s and more. The Street’s recent transformation under owner WS Development led Improper Bostonian to deem its Chestnut Hill home as Boston’s “Best Shopping Destination” and the International Council of Shopping Center’s U.S. Design and Development to recognize the property with a Gold Award in the category of Renovations/Expansions of Mixed-use Projects. The Street is located at 55 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill Massachusetts, directly along Route 9, between Hammond Pond Parkway and Hammond Street. For more information about exciting events and retailer announcements, please visit www.TheStreetChestnutHill.com to join the e-club or follow The Street on Facebook: The Street Chestnut Hill, Twitter and Instagram: @shopthestreet.

About Hanna Liden: Hanna was born in 1976 in Stockholm, Sweden, and lives and works in New York. Liden has been exhibited internationally, including exhibitions at Maccarone, New York (2014), Galleria Lorcan O’Neill, Rome (2013), MDC|Carlson Gallery project space in Paris (2012), Salon 94, New York (2010), Gewerbemuseum, Winterthur, Switzerland (2010), Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2009), Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Rome (2008), the 2006 Whitney Biennial, Whitney Museum, New York, and Rivington Arms, New York (2004).

December 2, 2015
Lady Eagles Winter Soccer Clinics

Lady Eagles Winter Soccer Clinics

Winter Youth Clinic

Dates: Mon Dec 28 – Thurs Dec 31, 2015

Time: 9.00am – 3.00pm

Ages: 6-14 years

Location: Alumni Stadium Bubble

Cost:

4 day option $295

3 day (Dec 28/29/30) $225

2015 December Winter camp brochure.pdf

More specific information on the clinics, including information on how to register, can be found on our website www.bcwomenssoccer.com.

If you have any questions,or would like more information, please see contact information below.

EMAIL: soccer.clinic@bc.edu

PHONE: 617-552-0982

December 1, 2015
Later Start Time for Newton High Schools?

November 20, 2015 Dear Newton Community,

Addressing the health and wellness of all Newton students continues to be an important goal for our system. Our schools use a number of strategies and programs that are appropriate for each age group. At the high school level, we are well aware of the stress felt by many students, which our recently released Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results show increases significantly from middle to high school. I believe it is our job as a system, working in partnership with families, to address the stress and anxiety that many of our high school students are experiencing.

Currently, both of our high schools are engaged in multiple efforts to support the social and emotional needs of students. The work of faculty on growth mindset involves supporting students to understand the notion that effort is most significant and that making mistakes is a part of the learning process. The high schools are also engaged in extensive conversations regarding the purpose and scope of homework. In a couple of weeks, I will be leading a discussion on the stress of college admissions and we plan to address this issue with students as well.

There is growing consensus that later high school start times can also contribute important health and wellness benefits for adolescents. Yet, an overwhelming majority of American high schools continue to start relatively early (before 8:00 a.m.) including Newton North (7:50 a.m.) and Newton South (7:40 a.m.). High school typically starts early for a number of reasons including transportation costs and scheduling; parent and sibling schedules; timing for sports and after school activities; student employment; and field and facilities use.

The School Committee and Administration believe it is important to assess whether we can change our high school start times to enable our high school students to benefit from additional sleep at developmentally appropriate times. As a result, we have formed a working group to explore pushing back the start times. The working group will examine the multitude of challenges associated with shifting the start times, including determining how to address many of the logistical and other factors listed above.

They will also solicit input from a range of stakeholders over the course of the year, using both surveys and Newton Public Schools 100 Walnut Street Newton, MA 02460 David Fleishman Superintendent of Schools Telephone (617) 559-6100 Fax (617) 559-6101 public forums. Given that a change in high school start time may impact the start times at elementary and middle schools, we are sending this communication to the entire community.

Throughout the school year, the High School Start Time Working Group will report to the School Committee on their progress, and they are planning to present a final report by the end of the school year. Because this issue has the potential to impact families at all levels, we are inviting you to stay informed of the progress. You may click on the link www.newton.k12.ma.us/laterstarttime and sign-up for email updates from the working group.

We look forward to updating you on this initiative and other important work underway to support the health and wellness of our students.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman Superintendent of Schools

November 30, 2015
New Philharmonia Orchestra CELEBRATIONS!

New Philharmonia Orchestra celebrates the holidays with its first Family Discovery Concert of the 2015-2016 season, CELEBRATIONS!, a seasonal program filled with joy, including guest performers from Boston Ballet School Newton Studio, the All City Chorus Treble Singers, and a youth harp ensemble under the direction of Judith Kogan.

Following the program, join us for New Phil’s highly acclaimed Instrument Petting Zoo!

This festive and collaborative celebration is perfect for music-lovers of all ages, and is sure to have something for everyone (for kids from 1 to 92!)

Sunday, December 13 at 3:00pm

First Baptist Church

848 Beacon St, Newton Centre, MA 02459

Adults: $17

Students and Children*: $10

(Students under 25 with ID, Children 18 months to 17 years)

The program will be approximately 1 hour long, followed by an Instrument Petting Zoo!

Click here to purchase tickets: (https://newphil.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0O1200000IS8ZxEAL)

November 29, 2015
Harry Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund’s dinner

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am sending this on to you hoping you can attend the Harry Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund’s annual dinner on Friday, December 4, 2015 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the China Pearl Restaurant in Boston’s Chinatown.

The Harry H. Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund provides resources to ensure access to the legal system for Asian Americans who are deprived of justice because of barriers such as language, race, culture, poverty or immigration status. The Fund was created in honor of Harry H. Dow, who was the first Asian American admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and who devoted his career to serving the poor and grassroots organizations in Boston’s Chinatown and the South End. Over the past 30 years, the Dow Fund has launched projects including an Anti-Asian Violence Education Project, an Asian Battered Women’s Project, an Asia Immigrant Rights Initiative, Cambodian Outreach Projects, the Chinatown Stabilization Project and a Community Internship Program.

This year, we are celebrating our 30th anniversary and we are delighted to feature Attorney Paul Lee of Goodwin, Procter as our keynote speaker and will be honoring the Honorable Fernande R.V. Duffly, Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Newton residents, May and Tetsuo Takayangi for their tireless commitment to public interest and social justice issues, and the newly appointed Chief of the Fair Labor Division for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

If you cannot attend, would you kindly consider supporting the Legal Assistance Fund with a donation? Your generous support will enable the Dow Fund to continue to support legal services and education to Asian Americans in our Commonwealth.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to see you on the 4th!!

Sincerely,

Amy Sangiolo

Dow Fund Trustee

WEB_DowFund_Inviation-2015 (1)

November 28, 2015
Superintendent’s Community Read

Superintendent’s Community Read

Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 pm

Join Superintendent David Fleishman for a community discussion. Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be by New York Times columnist and best selling author Frank Bruni is the selected title. The event will be held at the Newton South Library and will feature a panel with extensive experience in the college admissions process.

(click on image to view at Amazon)

For more information about the event, go here.

November 27, 2015
College Admissions Book Talk
Dear Newton Families,

As many of you know, college admissions has become an increasingly frenetic and pressured process. While our high schools in Newton have developed a college planning philosophy designed to support students and families, the energy, angst and resource devoted to the process can push some students and their families to the brink. What should we do about a phenomenon that can feel out of control?

New York Times columnist and best selling author, Frank Bruni, has written a compelling new book which offers a thoughtful perspective on college admission. In sum, Bruni argues that where a student goes to college is far less important than many of us previously believed. The book offers a counter narrative for students and their families who feel that their future and self-worth depends on a “yes” or a “no” from a certain group of colleges.

(click on image to view at Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

I think Bruni’s perspective is especially timely given that we have seen a spike in stress and anxiety among our students. Since reading the book, I have a consistently quoted Bruni when the topic of college admissions comes up in conversation: “Where you go is not who you’ll be.” I hope this message resonates with others after reading his book.

On Wednesday, December 2^nd, I will hold a superintendent/parent book discussion on Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be. It will give us an opportunity to talk about the book as a community and hear from a panel with extensive experience in the college admissions process. The panelists will include:
- Jennifer King, College Consultant and Retired Guidance Department Head, Newton South High School
- Beth Swederkas, Guidance Department Head, Newton North High School
- Ronne Patrick Turner, Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions – Northeastern University
Here are the details:

December 2^nd (7:00 p.m-8:30 p.m.)

Newton South Library

Here is the link with further information about the book. We have also included articles written by Frank Bruni on the topic.http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/bookdiscussion2015

I hope to see you for what should be a lively conversation on December 2^nd.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman

Superintendent of Schools
November 26, 2015