News, events, children’s activities in Newton, MA.
This is from my old neighbor who has done a lot of research tracking his ancestors. He shares a historical perspective of the last pandemic on the residents of Newton — the Spanish Flu.
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I was curious about the impact of the last pandemic on the residents of Newton. I decided utilize my experience gained from researching cemeteries to learn the hardships that people faced from the 1830s to the 1930s. The attached data was taken from the Newton Records of Deaths located on Familysearch.org
Dear Newton North Community,
Yesterday a group of intruders joined a Zoom session during a Newton South AP Chinese class and proceeded to spew vile, hate-filled images and speech directed at our students and teacher. The actions were racist and hate-filled. This incident is an attack on our Asian community, Newton South and Newton Public Schools. I’m am saddened and angered by this attack that was intended to divide and scare us.
I will be hosting an optional Zoom webinar at 2:30 this afternoon for staff and students. The purpose of this meeting is to provide support for our Asian community at Newton North, to answer any questions and discuss ways we can support and address hate. This will be an attempt to unite our community when others seek to divide us.
Mrs. Winston will share a Zoom link later this afternoon with students and staff who wish to attend the optional meeting.
Please read Joel Stembridge’s email below.
Be well,
Henry J. Turner, Ed.D
Principal
Newton North High School
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Dear Newton South community,
I am saddened and upset to share with you that yesterday a group of intruders joined a Zoom session of our AP Chinese class and proceeded to spew vile, hate-filled images and speech directed at our students and teacher. It was clearly racist, hateful, and horrible.
We immediately notified the Newton Police Department who are investigating the incident. We also notified families of students in the class, and are working with our teacher and students to gather more information. Initial reports indicate that the intruders were likely not from Newton, although that could change as we learn more.
This was a traumatic experience for our teacher and students, and we will continue to offer support to everyone involved. To be clear, an attack on members of our NSHS Asian-American community is an attack on all of us. We will be working on a plan for responding – I will share more about this soon.
We have hosted hundreds of successful zoom meets over the past weeks and have updated our security settings as new information has become available from Zoom on specific ways to secure our live classroom interactions. However, we have learned that Zoom links created prior to recent security updates may not have all the security features turned on, such as the waiting room and password features. Our Information Technology department is constantly working to increase security and to stay up-to-date on all recommendations to secure our virtual classrooms.
Out of concern for student and staff safety, I am cancelling all zoom meetings for today so that our IT department can work with faculty and staff to review our security protocols, re-verify settings, and refresh all zoom links.
This is a trying time for all of us, and events such as these underscore the fragility of this new environment in which we are working. We’ll have more work to do to ensure that we can continue to support students and build a safe, connected online community.
As always, thank you for your partnership.
Warmly,
Joel Stembridge
Principal, Newton South High School
Tony The Tailor just over the Wellseley Line at 21 Washington Street by CVS has made simple cloth masks with elastic ear holders . There are some for ready sale – sized small, medium, or large ($5) OR you can custom order.
781 239-3593
Open daily 8 am – 3 pm Monday thru Saturday
Hipstitch in West Newton Village sells double-sided cloth masks and children’s animal masks online for $9. They also sells kits to sew the masks yourself. Hipstitch has Fabric Face Masks for Purchase. Protective Face Masks and NEW Protective Face Mask KITS you can make at home to donate to family or those who need them.
Hi everyone. My name is Sidnie Kulik and I am a junior at the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, MA. This past year, I have been taking an online medical problem solving class with an organization called Global Online Academy.
As a part of our final project, we are supposed to address a health issue in our community. For me, it was hard to find a serious health problem in and around Boston due to the strong health care system and medical facilities we have. However, what I found to be shocking was the substance use rates in Massachusetts. In nearly every category, Massachusetts residents use and abuse substances at a higher rate than the national average.
My mission in my project is to raise awareness about this issue. I want to help potential users before they start and outline ways to help those in their recovery process.
Thank you for taking the time to watch the following video and please help spread awareness about substance use disorder in Massachusetts.
New Art Center needs our help. If you are able to, please consider making a donation or buying a gift certificate. New Art Center is also offering online classes in response to COVID-19.
New Art at Home!
In the wake of the ever-changing state of the COVID-19 epidemic, we appreciate the support and care we have received from our community. In response, until we are able to resume in-person classes, we are offering “New Art at Home” to students enrolled in our Spring 2020 classes! We are offering the following formats of remote learning and community building during this time.
We are offering 25+ live classes on our online platform, and we plan to add new content and classes each week.
New Art Center is now offering its spring 2020 classes online! Register now for a variety of classes including: Beginning Drawing: Thursday, April 2 to Thursday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Drawn to Paint: Thursday, April 2 to Thursday, May 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
These remote learning classes are filling quickly, so register today here.
Also, enjoy New Art Center’s Online Gallery “New Art @ Home” right here. More info at newartcenter.org.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at marte@newartcenter.org. We can’t wait to see what artwork you make! Would you like to provide feedback? Email us at marte@newartcenter.org.
Here’s how to purchase a gift certificate to New Art Center:
https://secure.givelively.org/
https://newartcenter.org/
https://newartcenter.org/
https://newartcenter.org/
Donate to New Art Center.
But even with our online enrollments and the astounding generosity donors have shown us in the past two weeks, the drop in our earned revenue is alarming and deeply impactful to our long-term viability. We have officially canceled 40 classes, and we have delayed another 27 until May. We are also canceling our April School Vacation program for K- 12.
For every $1 that has been donated since 3/16/20, we have returned approximately $1.25 to students who have withdrawn from classes.
If you can, please continue to support the New Art Center so we can resume normal operations easily with our existing staff and faculty, quickly and safely at the end of this crisis.
Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an online portal where individuals and companies can easily donate or sell personal protective equipment (PPE) and volunteer to support the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts.
This effort will ensure that front line responders get the protective equipment they need and will match health and medical volunteers with our communities and health care providers based on skillsets and need. Details:
Stay informed about all Massachusetts state government COVID-19 updates at: http://mass.gov/covid19, call 2-1-1 for questions and text “COVIDMA” to 888-777 to receive COVID-19 text message alerts. #COVID19MA
Dawn Davis Yoga is now offering Saturday online yoga class at 9:30 for $10. Friends and relatives anywhere in the U.S. can access her classes online.
Live Streaming Classes with Dawn
Tuesdays 9:30-10:30
Wednesdays 9:30-10:30
Fridays 9:30-10:30
Saturdays 9:30-10:30
Register through www.dawndavis.com
If you have a class card, you may use that (it would be at the regular price), or you can purchase a $10 pass for the Saturday class. Classes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday will all be at 9:30 as well. You may use your existing class card for the weekday classes.
If the global health crisis has had financial implications for you and you are interested in a reduced or free class, please send her a confidential email, no questions asked.
As always, my videos are completely free of charge and you can access the full library of my recorded offerings on my youtube channel: Dawn Davis Yoga.
10% of all proceeds from live-streaming classes go to support the vital work of The Second Step in Newton, MA.
p.s. Free FIVE MINUTES TO FREEDOM: Meditation Medic with Dawn
Help for Our Neighbors
For those of us who need help – ranging from unemployment insurance and SNAP benefits to mental health resources and emergency intervention – please also see the list of resources here and here. We will update this list of resources as we learn of them.
Food for Families
Please, only 2 bags per family to allow for more families to access food. Also, remember to maintain proper social distancing when picking up the bags (allow a person who is in the pod to exit before entering). Bags can picked up at any time.
Student Meals
The Corner Café, 321 Washington St., is providing free, hot lunches to Newton students pre-K through grade 12. Text “School Lunch” to 617-527-9835 for a no contact pickup.
Grab ‘n Go meals are available for all Newton Public School students. Swing by either of the two locations: the parking area near the auditorium entrance at Newton North and the front parking loop at Newton South High School between 10:00 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday.