Tag: fun things to do

Soccer Clinic for Girls Run by Boston Breakers and NGS

NGS (Newton Girls’ Soccer) is partnering with the Breakers to offer a 4-day clinic over April break! The sessions will be run by current Breakers players and supervised by Breakers coaches and our own Director of Coaching, Gary Beatty. Here are the details:

Dates: Tuesday, April 17 – Friday, April 20

Time:   9am – 12am

Location:         Newton Field (most likely Weeks Field)

Cost: $175

Please click here to register.

Email Gary Beatty, ngsdoc@gmail.com with any questions.

March 6, 2012
Best Gymnastics for Toddlers and Kids in Newton Area
A toddler gymnastics class was something that all my three kids did. I think I did it to tire them out and for my own sanity because it got us out of the house into the company of adults. Over the years, we’ve been to most of these places either for a class or a birthday party. There are a few requisites that I now have on my list as I select a gymnastics studio:
- Good parking.
- Safe, clean gymnastics space.
- Friendly instructors who can get my kid to come inside.
- Adequate space for waiting with younger siblings including seating for me.
- Adequate space to store kid’s shoes.
That’s it. I went to high school with a world class gymnast named Rhonda Schwandt. Her dad taught Driver’s Dd at the high school and he actually taught me to drive. She placed 6th in the Pan Am games one year prior to the Olympics. She was slated to go to the Olympics too but that was the year we boycotted because the then Soviet Union was the host country. By her senior year, Rhonda’s knees and one shoulder were shot and she had been through numerous surgeries. I met her on the swim team because she was only allowed to swim as rehab exercise. It turns out that she was a fast sprinter and an amazing diver. Rhonda went on to UCLA on a full ride but I heard that she was never healthy enough to compete again.

That’s my cautionary tale against hard core gymnastics for girls. And here is a list of all the great places for kids to do gymnastics in Newton.

Energy Fitness and Gymnastics, 70 Jaconnet Street (off Needham Street)

We’ve gone here for years. It has all the requirements including great gymnastics classes for toddlers and they don’t have a competitive team. They are very nice too!

Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing, 88 Wells Avenue

This is the place if you do want to do a competitive team. They also do lots of birthday parties!

TumbleKids, 201 Arlington St in Watertown (near Target)

I went here when I lived in the city. If price point is an issue, this is the place for you. They are very nice and the prices are very reasonable.

Needham Gymnastics, Needham High School’s “New” Gym

Creative Movement and Arts Center, 145 Rosemary Street (Needham)

We took a class here and the set up is very nice. It’s has all the elements for keeping a toddler or preschooler happy!

My Gym, 188 Needham Street

We took classes here and my kids still love going here for birthday parties.

Gymboree, 225 Highland Ave, Needham

There was one in Newton but it’s gone. We used to go there for birthday parties. It’s similar to My Gym.

Rhythmic Dreams Gymnastics, 1137 Washington Street

My daughter spent a year here doing Rhythmic Gymnastics. They are very successful at training Junior Olympic hopefuls!

Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton Street, Newton

They offer beginning gymnastic classes.

p.s. More Guides to Newton:

Best Preschools in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Birthday Party Locations and Ideas for Kids in Newton and Boston

Best Martial Arts Schools for Kids and Adult in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of After School Supplemental Math Classes in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Dance Studios in Newton

Best Caretaker and Child Music Classes in Newton

Best Tutors, Music Teachers etc in Newton
February 27, 2012
Because Spring is Almost Here … Maple Sugaring: Go, DIY, Read, and More!

I want to take my kids maple sugaring this year so I researched places near Newton. Have you been maple sugaring? What is your favorite place? Please leave a comment.

From Mass Audubon Society:

The Art of Nature: Sugaring Off, Ipswich River – 2/18/12

February Vacation Adventure Days, Ipswich River – 2/21/12

Winter Vacation: New England Winter, Age 4-K (AM), Drumlin Farm – 2/21/12

Winter Vacation: New England Winter, Age 4-K (PM), Drumlin Farm – 2/21/12

Winter Vacation: Winter Explorers, Gr. 2-3, Drumlin Farm – 2/21/12

Winter Vacation: Winter Naturalists, Gr. 4-6, Drumlin Farm – 2/21/12

February Flapjack Fling & Sugaring Tours, Ipswich River – 2/25/12

Sip Some Sap, Drumlin Farm – 2/29/12

Maple Magic, Drumlin Farm – 3/2/12

Maple Sugaring Tours, Ipswich River – 3/3/12

Maple Sugaring Tours, Ipswich River – 3/4/12

Sweet and Sappy – Maple Sugaring, Boston Nature Center – 3/4/12

Maple Sugar Days, Blue Hills Trailside Museum – 3/10/12

Maple Sugaring Tours, Ipswich River – 3/10/12

Maple Sugaring Hike, Boston Nature Center – 3/10/12

Maple Sugaring Tours, Ipswich River – 3/11/12

Maple Sugaring Festival 1., Moose Hill – 3/11/12

The Secret Life of Maple Syrup, Habitat – 3/13/12

Tree to Table 1, Moose Hill – 3/14/12

Tree to Table 2, Moose Hill – 3/14/12

From Sap to Sweet—The Art of Maple Sugaring (from Mass Audubon): Historical Roots

Native Americans were perhaps the first to discover that sap from maple trees could be processed into maple syrup. One popular oral legend is that a Native American chief hit a sugar maple tree with his tomahawk and the sap began to flow. The clear liquid that dripped from the split in the tree collected in a container on the ground. His wife used the liquid to cook venison and discovered that the meat and the sweet liquid that remained were delicious. Another theory: the Native people observed squirrels, sapsuckers, spring moths, and butterflies drinking from open wounds in trees.

From Sap to Tap

A spout placed inside a tap hole
where the sap will flow

New England maple syrup is produced during a short four- to six-week sugar window typically from early February into April. Conditions are optimum when the temperature rises above freezing during the day and then drops below freezing at night. This fluctuation in air temperature is vital, causing pressure to develop in the tree, which allows the sap to flow. As the maple sap flows up from the roots of the tree during the day, the maple syrup producer, or “sugarmaker,” taps the tree. Tapping involves boring a hole into the tree and placing a spout inside the tap hole. The sap runs out of the tree and lands in a bucket connected to the spout. Does this process harm the tree? When guidelines are followed and only healthy trees are tapped, no damage to the trees results. It’s estimated that tapping removes only 10 percent of a tree’s sugar—an amount too small to harm a healthy tree under normal conditions.

Maple Syrup in the Making

Traditional maple syrup buckets or a complex piping system can deliver up to hundreds of gallons of fresh sap to a large gathering tank. From the gathering tank, the sap flows into a sugarhouse through a filter to an evaporator, where it is boiled, removing water from the sap.

As the sap continues to boil the liquid becomes sweeter, i.e. it’s sugaring content increases and changes to an amber color. Before the sap starts to evaporate, it has about 2 to 2 1/2 percent sugar content. (The sugar content in trees changes as the season progresses; sugar maple trees have the highest concentration of sugar).

After the boiling process, the sugar content is about 66 percent. Next the maple syrup is put through another filter to remove “sugar sand,” which develops during the boiling and evaporation process. The maple syrup is then stored in stainless-steel drums for hot packaging into retail containers.

Where Else to Go

North Hadley Sugar Shack: open Wednesday through Sunday from Feb. 17th – April 18th for their pancake breakfast and sugaring tours.

South Face Farm, Ashfield, MA: Come visit us during maple sugaring season in March and early April. Our sugarhouse is always open for visitors, and on weekends our sugarhouse restaurant serves homemade pancakes, waffles, corn fritters, and many other special maple goodies. Try a stack of French Toast made with fresh homemade bread, topped with justmade maple syrup. Because maple sap flow depends on just the right weather conditions, you may want to call ahead and see if we are boiling when you plan to visit.

Harwick Sugar Shack: Join us for an Open house at Hardwick Sugar Shack every Sunday in March from 11-4 pm. Follow the process of making maple syrup from tree to tasting. During the open house you can sample the finished product, visit the horses, see the old-fashioned way of making syrup and enjoy hot mulled maple cider.

The Warren Farm, North Brookfield, MA: Open for guided sugaring tours Sat. & Sun. February 26th through March 27th, 2011, 11:30 and 2:00

The whole family will enjoy this fascinating visit to a New England sugaring operation.

We’ll share stories about the Native Americans’ role in the early history of sugaring, then continue by demonstrating colonial methods and tools for collecting and boiling. During a quick trip to our woods you’ll explore two different systems used today, and will have an opportunity to see new technology. Aspects of nature, science, meteorology, and math will be woven into the presentation. The tour heads to the sugarhouse, where a large evaporator stands ready to receive sap from collection tanks outside. Here, everyone will learn how sap is boiled into syrup, and see the equipment and gauges needed for this process. We’ll end back at the picnic table area for more stories and sampling. Boiling is weather dependent, so the tours are not based on our ability to boil. This is certainly a tradition that has something of interest for all ages!

New this year! You may also choose to just come and walk around the farm on your own at no charge and without reservations. The Sweet Traditionsmovie will be playing throughout the day in the greenhouse, and you can poke around the tour areas when groups are not using them. $5 Admission for ages 4 and up.

Some picture books to get the kids excited. Click on image to read reviews at Amazon.

If you are thinking of DIY, these books might be helpful!

And a maple sugar memoir with instructions!

Once you load up on maple sugar, purchased or homemade, here’s what to do with it!

February 18, 2012
Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Days in the Arts Summer 2012: 1 Week Creative Arts Sleep Away Camp in the Berkshires

My daughter did this last year and she loved it! It’s just a week of sleep-away camp with emphasis on art, music and/or performing arts. Your child gets to choose what to emphasize. She had the best time, and would love to go back but you are not allowed to go back-to-back years in order to give more kids a chance. Ask your child’s music or art teacher about it if you think it’s a good fit for your child. The other thing: it’s very well priced! All in all, my daughter would say it’s the best sleep away camp ever! The camp is called DARTS. (Days in the Arts).

The BSO’s popular overnight summer camp is now open for pre-application. For more than four decades, the BSO has provided thousands of children throughout Massachusetts with an opportunity to participate in this multi-arts/creative writing overnight camp in the beautiful Berkshires. In the summer of 2012, Newton students in grades 5, 6, & 7 are eligible to participate in Week 6, JUL 30 – AUG 3. Only 15 students from Newton will be selected to participate by lottery. Pre-applications with details about the program are available from the music teacher in your school.

Pre-applications must be returned to the Fine Arts Department no later than 4:00PM on Thursday, March 1st, Newton Public Schools, 100 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460.

February 16, 2012
Literacy Time with Meredith! Wednesdays 3:30-4:45 (Newton Corner)
My Mom Friend Meredith is starting Literacy Enrichment classes for 1st graders and advanced Kingergarteners. I met her in preschool and I think she’s terrific!

—————————

What is it? Literacy Time is an enrichment program for your First Grader or academically advanced Kindergartener. I will use my 8 years of experience as an elementary and preschool teacher, tutor, parent educator, and college level professor to enhance your child’s love of learning to read and write.

This is a worksheet and workbook free zone! There is no MCAS influence to contend with, although the methods used to teach reading and writing in this program will most definitely benefit your child’s future academic achievements across the curriculum. The philosophy of Literacy Time is that children learn to read and write through authentic literature experiences and ample opportunities to put pen to paper with no outside pressures. Reading and writing should be fun. Our ultimate goal as parents and teachers is to instill a love of reading and writing in each child.

What is the format? Literacy Time will be held in my bright and spacious kitchen and dining room area at 50 Playstead Road in Newton Corner. We will meet once a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The session will last for six weeks with a start date on Wednesday, January 18th and end date of Wednesday, February 29th. The time will be 3:30-4:45. There will be a maximum of 6 children in each session. (Disclaimer: Luke may or may not participate bumping the ratio to 7:1 upon my discretion, depending on the needs and dynamic of the group). All materials will be supplied. An additional session may or may not occur in March, depending on interest level and success of the program, with times, days and fees possibly varying. This session, the introductory fee will be $120 per child.

I am CPR certified and have a BS in Elementary Education and MS in Educational Psychology. I am not a stranger to you: you know my behavior and safety expectations for my own kids and the kids who visit my home. My home is pet free and smoke free.

What will my child do during Literacy Time?
- 3:30 Meeting: Each session will open with a short meeting. I will share the pen with the children as they help me fill in the afternoon message on my easel. They will be learning phonics without even knowing it in an interactive and fun way.
- 3:40 Shared Reading: Next, we will have a group Shared Reading experience using quality children’s literature and Big Books from my personal library. We will be word detectives: taking special note of interesting vocabulary, sentence structure, and punctuation. We will observe illustrations and use them to make meaning from text.
- 3:50 Writer’s Workshop: After being inspired by the book we read, the children will have an opportunity to become authors and illustrators themselves through a Writer’s Workshop. Each child will have their own folder and a nice chunk of time to write freely. I will float from child to child conferencing with them and showing them the “book way” or “grown up way” of translating their invented spellings. Together, we will pick words out of their own writing to focus on as their “Word Study” words (more explanation below). Every child will have a chance to share their writing at the end of each Writer’s Workshop. They will consider questions, comments and compliments from their peers to improve their writing during our Author’s Share portion of the session. Every child will practice their skills as a listening audience and utilize their speaking voice to learn how to make constructive suggestions to their peers.
- 4:20 Word Study: We will then turn our focus into a hands-on and sensory- based opportunity to practice the previously mentioned “Word Study” words. This is an updated and more research based approach to the traditional spelling test method. Word Study is the method being taught in the best teaching colleges today. Children will work with their “spelling words” that are meaningful to them. These are words that we picked out together from their own writing. They were words they actually needed and wanted to use during Writer’s Workshop. We will use such materials as shaving cream, corn meal, wiki stix etc. to practice our words.
- 4:40 Poems and Songs: Finally, we will wind down our session with collectively interacting with fun and seasonal poems and songs back around the easel.
How do I sign up? Please let me know if you are interested as soon as possible by emailing me at meredithandrews13@gmail.com or by calling 617-332-2752. Spaces will fill on a first come first serve basis. Checks should be made out to Meredith Andrews. Please do not send your child sick. In the event of inclement weather, we will follow the Newton Public School’s closing system and make up the session at a later date.
February 13, 2012

Ready, Set, Summer!

It is not too early to start looking at summer activities. Here are three events in Newton today to get you going!

TeenLife LIVE! Community Service Fair & Expo – Chestnut Hill

2/12/2012

When:	Sunday, February 12, 2012 From 12 – 4 PM
Where:	The Mall at Chestnut Hill 199 Boylston Street Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467 United States
Contact:	Kimberly Wolf (Kimberly@TeenLife.com)

JCC Kaleidoscope Creative Arts & Science Camp Open House

Today, February 12, 2:00 pm

Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton St,Newton, MA | Get Directions »
FREE

Open house for JCC Kaleidoscope Creative Arts & Science Camp will be held on Sunday, February 12 at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC (333 Nahanton Street) in Newton from 2-4pm. Meet the camp director and staff and learn how children in entering grades K-11 will make friends and spread their creative wings at JCC Kaleidoscope Camp. Art, drama, science, cooking, dance, music, games, sports, swimming, fishing, boating and more. Two to eight week program with flexible registration. Visual Arts and Theater Arts Intensive programs available for children entering grades 6-11. Bus transportation available to and from Brookline, Framingham and Wayland. Host of the 2012 Consortium of Boston Area Children’s Theatre (CBACT) Festival. For more information, visit bostonjcc.org/kaleidoscope or call 617-558-6523. No charge for camp fair. Open to the entire community. A program of the Ryna Greenbaum JCC Center for the Arts.

Special Needs Resource Fair

12February

Today, February 12, 1:00 pm

22 E Evergreen Rd, Natick, MA | Get Directions »
FREE

Natick SEPAC 1^st Annual Special Needs Resource Fair

Learn about some of the great special needs resources
available to Metrowest families in a relaxed, free,
easy-to-navigate forum. Meet with owners and therapists
for a wide range of great resources including:
• Therapeutic Yoga and Horseback Riding
• Occupational Therapy
• Social Groups
• Neuropsychologists
• Financial Planners
• Adaptive Sports

To see an updated list of registered vendors go tohttp://naticksepacvendorfair.eventbrite.com
Attendees: No cost, suggested $5 donation to support SEPAC

Children’s craft area will be provided.

For more information, please contact NatickSepac@gmail.com.

February 12, 2012

Best Tutors, Private Coaches, Music Teachers etc.

I hate to tell you how many tutors I hire for my 3 kids. It’s a little embarrassing because it’s quite a lot but I do use tutors to teach my kids things that I can not and/or to help them when they don’t want my help. I am known to do a long, investigative search to find the right match for my kids so I decided to share my Rolodex of Newton Tutors, Teachers and Coaches. I am sure there are other wonderful ones out there. Will you share? Please do by leaving a comment and I’ll update the list.

Requests for Referrals:

— My Mom Friend Melissa is seeking a Voice coach for her 6th grade daughter.

— My Mom Friend Penny is seeking a piano teacher for her 4th grade daughter.

p.s. A great source for an academic tutor: hire from a school that your child doesn’t attend. Ask your teacher for referrals!

p.p.s Here’s a post on How To: Select a Music Teacher

Best Flute Teacher: Barbara Nakazawa (Newton Highlands)

Best Classical Guitar Teacher: Dan Ascadi (Nonantum)

Best Soccer Private Coach: Ahead of the Game

Best Academic (Math but also other subjects) Peer Tutor: Lily Skerjl (email me for her info, she’s an 8th grader and she tutors my 6th grader)

Best Math or Reading Tutors for Boys: Hire teachers from Fessenden School

Best Spanish Tutor: Spanish by Martha.

Best Mandarin Chinese Tutor: Stella Pan (email me for her info, no website)

Cynthia Carpenter for Reading:

I’m a “retired” Brookline, Lexington, and Concord and New York City teacher, with 30 years experience teaching grades Pre-K through high school. In addition to having taught in elementary classrooms and as a middle and high school English teacher, I’m a certified Reading Specialist (providing consulting to teachers, direct support to students, and doing diagnostic testing.)

I have a Master’s + 70 post-grad credits in Education, Comparative Literature, and Art History, and my classrooms have served as placement sites for many student teachers. I am especially interested in multicultural teaching, received a Lowell Scholarship to study Linguistics at Harvard, and am listed as an “executive functioning” specialist on the Concord SEPAC website.

Cynthia Carpenter
(978) 952-8871

p.s. Other Guides to Newton:

Best Preschools in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Birthday Party Locations and Ideas for Kids in Newton and Boston

Best Martial Arts Schools for Kids and Adult in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of After School Supplemental Math Classes in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Dance Studios in Newton

Best Gymnastics for Toddlers and Kids in Newton Area

Best Caretaker and Child Music Classes in Newton

February 8, 2012
LA Sports Club Boston: Kids Only Valentine’s Event and GIVEAWAY to Win 3 Day Membership!

For Kids Only at The Sports Club/LA presents

Sweetheart Social

Thursday, February 9th

4-6 pm

Come to For Kids Only for a Valentine’s Day celebration. There will be singing, dancing, arts and crafts, face painting and much more. Snacks will be provided.

Members: $15 for first child, $10 for each additional child.

Non-Members: $20 for first child, $15 for each additional child.

Prior registration required as it fills up fast! Please RSVP to Lisa Romano, FKO Manager at lromano@mp-sportsclub.com

GIVEAWAY: 3 Day Membership Pass to The Sports Club/LA in Boston near Theater District. Please leave a comment to win. I have 3 to give away!

February 7, 2012
Fun Stuff For Kids and Families Do During February Break in Boston and Newton

February vacation nears and here’s some activities and camps ideas. There are full week programs for parents who need to work that week, but there are also programs and activities with shorter time frames. Another option: sometimes if the vacation week isn’t full, they will let you do a partial week and prorate the price. What are your kids doing during this break? Please share!

Jackson Homestead and Museum, Newton

21 Tuesday, February 21, 2:00 PM
THE MA 54TH: A BLACK REGIMENT IN THE CIVIL WAR
A Vacation Week Family Program
Did you know that Massachusetts raised one of the first black regiments of the Civil War, led by a man who grew up in Newton? Come learn about their stories, and make a popular civil-war era toy to take home. Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission, snack, and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

23 Thursday, February 23, 2:00 PM
FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM
A Vacation Week Family Program
Learn about slavery in New England and what people did to fight against it. Hear stories of escapes on the Underground Railroad, and then explore our brand new, hands-on exhibit, Confronting Our Legacy: Slavery and Anti-Slavery in the North. Cost: $20 per family ($15 for members) includes museum admission, snack, and materials. Prepaid registration is required, limit 25; call 617.796.1450 to register.

Evolution Sports, Norwood

February 22 and 24th for all day fun including Alien Tag, Trampoline, Manhunt Middle Earth Wrestling, Hoops Sports Yoga, Capture the Crystal Slam Dunking, Dodge Ball, Open Gym and more. It’s a day of non-competitive sports activities for kids. They have so much fun that they don’t realize that they are exercising their bodies. 10-4.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Cogan Family Foundation Vacation Week Adventures

February 20, 2012 – February 24, 2012

Beasts and Beauties
10 am–4 pm (Wed to 8 pm)

Free activities for kids all week!* Discover wild beasts and beauties in art all week long. Enjoy making art, go on a fun tour of the galleries, and see and draw live animals.
ASL interpretation provided Feb 22.

*And did you know that kids get free admission to the Museum every day? Kids 6 and under are always free, and kids 7 to 17 are free during non school hours.

Special Events

Children’s Tours, Sharf Visitor Center
Every 15 minutes from 10:15 am–Noon; ASL Interpretation Wed at 11 am and Noon
Visit the galleries in search of beasts and beauties on this kid-friendly 30-minute tour.
Story Hour, Gallery 274
10:30 am and 1:30 pm; ASL Interpretation Wed at 1:30 pm
Drop in to enjoy stories about princesses, maidens, goddesses, and more. Stay for a story or for the whole hour. Great for toddlers.
Drumlin Farms Presents, Druker Family Pavilion
11 am, 11:45 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:15 pm, and 3 pm; ASL Interpretation Wed at 2:15 pm
Join naturalists from Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary to meet live animals. Learn about our local animals and environment, and before you leave, sketch the animals you’ve encountered. Sessions last 30 minutes. Space is limited to 30 visitors per session. First come, first served; pick up tickets at the door 10 minutes prior to session. Please choose one adult for your group to allow more children to attend.

Art-Making Activities

Ongoing: 10 am–4 pm (until 8 pm on Wed)

Works on Paper, Part I—Drawing, Lower Rotunda
Pick up your drawing materials and explore “Paper Zoo” in Gallery 170to sketch some of your favorite animals. Take your sketch to Part II to create a series of prints!

Works on Paper, Part II—Printmaking, Druker Family Pavilion 159
Visit the studio to turn your animal drawing into prints to take home.

Masks, Shapiro Family Courtyard
Make a cuddly—or scary—mask of your favorite animal to wear around the Museum! Afterward, go see the beautiful masks on Level LG of the Art of the Americas Wing.

Wire Sculpture, Level 3 landing, Art of Americas
Get inspired by Alexander Calder’s wire Cow. Use wire, string, paper, and glue to make your own animal sculpture.

Clay Sculpture, Workshop Studio G85
Visit our menagerie of porcelain animals in Gallery 142. Find birds and other creatures. Then go to the workshop studio and sculpt your favorite beast or beauty in clay to take home!

New Art Center, Newton

February Vacation Week for students in grades K – 5
February 21 to February 24, 2012 (4 days)

Escape with us to the island of Madagascar, off the coast of East Africa! From lemurs, giant baobab trees, and the cultural richness of the Malagasy people, to the amazing biodiversity of its wildlife; this vacation week will give us plenty of inspiration to paint, draw, sculpt and create rich, colorful pieces of art!

Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown

February Vacation Workshops
Tuesday – Friday
February 21 ,22, 23, 24

COMICS, CARTOONS & CREATIVE CREATURES
Cultivate the cartoonist within! Create your own characters and watch them come alive using drawing, painting, clay and more.
617-923-0100 x309 | www.arsenalarts.org

Weston Cross Country Skiing, Newton

Weston Ski Track is a cross-country ski and snowshoeing center located on the Leo J. Martin Golf Course and serving the Greater Boston area.

With natural snow, we groom 15km oftrails. Snowmaking on our 2km lighted loop provides consistent snow conditions and reliable night skiing. Drop in for a beginner lesson and then warm up in oursnack bar.

Newton Parks and Recreation

Family Movie Day and Night at the West Newton Cinema February 21 & 22, 2012
Special $6.00 price includes a MOVIE, POPCORN, and SODA. See The Muppets or Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. Tickets will be sold on the day of the event at the West Newton Cinema at 1296 Washington St. This is a very popular event and tickets may sell out. Ticket sales will begin at 10:00 AM for the Movie Day on Tuesday and Wednesday with movies starting at 11:00 AM. Ticket sales will begin at 4:15 PM for the Movie Night on Tuesday with movies starting at 6:15 PM.

For Children in Grades K-6 at the Newton Centre Hut February 21 – 24, 2012
It’s like summer camp in the winter. Participate in sports, arts and crafts, inside games and more. Each day features a special event including a Movie Day, Sports Party, Dance Party and Portable Planetarium. Sign up by day or for all 4 days. Standard Day 8:30–3:30 PM, extended day 8:15-5:30 PM. $45.00 per day or $160.00 for all 4 days (add $12.50/day for extended day)

For Children in Grades K-3 at Burr Park February 21 – 24, 2012
Enjoy an exciting field trip each day including Cosmic Bowling, Chuck E Cheese, CoCo Key, and Plaster Fun Time. Sports, arts and crafts, and inside games are offered before or after the field trips. Sign up by day or for all 4 days. Standard Day 8:30 AM–3:30 PM $45.00* per day or $175.00 for all 4 days *Thursdays cost is $60.00

For Children in Grades 3-6 at the Lower Falls Community Center February 21 – 24, 2012
Enjoy an exciting field trip each day including Chunky’s Cinema, Glow Golf, Amesbury Sports Park and Chuck E Cheese. Sports, arts and crafts, and inside games are offered before or after the field trips. Sign up by day or for all 4 days. Standard Day 8:30 – 3:30, extended day 8:15 – 5:30. $45.00* per day or $175.00 for all 4 days (add $12.50/day for extended day) *Thursday is $60.00

Thundercat Sports Clinic for Children Ages 7-12 February 21 – 24, 2012
Play a variety of sports including basketball, floor hockey, soccer and more all in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Located at Pelligrini Park. Be sure to bring a snack and lunch. $45.00 per day
Half Day program for ages 5 – 7 9:00 – 12:00noon $120.00 ($130.00 non residents)
Full Day program for ages 7 – 12 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM $162.00 ($170.00 non residents)

Contact Newton Parks and Recreation at 617-796-1500 or visit our website atwww.newtonma.gov/parks for more information. Register online at www.activityreg.com

JCC Kid’s Choice February School Vacation Program

Monday, Feb 20 9:00a to 4:00p

at Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, Newton, MA

Kids rule at the JCC! During the JCC Kids Choice February school vacation program, February 20-24, children in grades K-6 choose what they want to do each day. The daily choice of electives includes sports, swimming, arts and crafts, dance, drama, cooking, board games and rock wall climbing. Special activities are planned each day.

Newton Girls Soccer

Newton Girls Soccer is pleased to offer for the second year running a 4-day Soccer Skills Clinic series that will be held over February Break at Oak Hill Middle School. The Clinic is open to all NGS players in the U9-U12 age groups.

These sessions will be headed up by Newton Girls Soccer Director of Coaching, Gary Beatty. Based on the actual number of registered players, we will have the appropriate number of Assistant Coaches for each session. Please note that due to the size of the Oak Hill gym, each session will be limited to 20 players. In addition, sessions must have a minimum of 10 registered players to take place (a full refund will be offered if this minimum number is not met).

The focus of these sessions will be on individual technical skill development and small group tactical concepts. Each day, players will work on a variety of different technical elements (skills), game related exercises and small sided futsal scrimmages.

Full program details are as follows:

Dates:             Feb 21/22/23/24, 2012 (Tues-Fri)

Location:         Oak Hill Middle School, Newton – Gymnasium

Times:             U9/10 Girls – 9.00am – 11.30am
U11/12 Girls – 12.30 – 3.00pm

Cost:               $150 Click Here to Register Online

Create A Cook, Newton

We will be offering classes for Teens at 9:30am, 1:30pm and 5:30pm (with few exceptions), and for 7-11/Adult & Child at 9:30 (with few exceptions), 1pm, and 5pm. Click here to see a one page list of the classes on offer. Click here to register.

February 6, 2012
Best Preschools in Newton UPDATED
Preschools, Day Care, Toddler Care in Newton

This list is from Newton’s Wikipedia page. I noticed that it’s not a comprehensive list, so please add in any preschools that you know as a comment and I’ll add the link to the page. We think this is a comprehensive list of all the preschools (Montesorri, Cooperative, Day Care, Home Preschools, etc. ) that we know of. We don’t know what the “best” preschools are; that’s very subjective but I think it starts by looking at a lot of preschools and taking time to really spend time in the classroom. Look for clues like how clean the bathrooms are and how the rooms are decorated. Ask if there are parents from your neighborhood and then track them down for their honest opinion.

Leave a comment to ask a question. Also, please leave comments about your preschool experience. Thanks!

Here are other links on preschools:

How To: Pick a Preschool

Top 10 Starting Kindergarten or Preschool Picture Books

Why Preschool Helps You Get a Job

Preparing for Kindergarten: Activities to do With Your Child

Newton Preschools: A Comprehensive List
- Rosenshine Nursery School, Temple Reyim, 1860 Washington Street, Waban
- Capability:Mom posted her experience here.
- Presbyterian Church Nursery School 75 Vernon Street
- Temple Beth Avodah Nursery School, 45 Puddingstone Lane
- Beth-El Pre-School, 561 Ward St.
- Burr Cooperative Nursery School, 64 Hancock St., Auburndale
- The Teddy Bear Club Preschool, 1466 Commonwealth Ave, West Newton. French bilingual program, meaning half of the instruction (including all literacy) is taught in English. Accepting toddlers starting at 22 months
- Bernice B. Godine JCC Early Learning Center, Leventhal-Sidman JCC, 333 Nahanton St.
- The Children’s Cooperative Nursery School, 848 Beacon St.
- Temple Shalom Nursery School, 175 Temple St. (Many of my non-Jewish Mom friends send their kids here. Great proximity to Peirce Elementary School and just a great place for kids).
- Walnut Park Montessori School, 47 Walnut Park (All my Mom Friends who went here were happy)
- Auburndale Community Nursery School, 230 Central St.
- Rockwell Nursery School at Lasell College, 70 Studio Road (Full day preschool used to teach Lasell students about Early Childhood Education.)
- The Barn at Lasell College, 1844 Commonwealth Ave, Auburndale (daycare)
- Newton Community Service Center, 492 Waltham Street
- Parkside Preschool, 474 Centre Street, Newton Corner (I have one Mom Friend whose two kids went here. She was very happy with it).
- The Preschool Experience, 1091 Centre Street (I’ve always heard great things about this preschool but don’t actually know anyone who went there)
- Upper Falls Nursery School, 45 Pettee St, Newton Upper Falls
- Bilingual Beginnings at Pine Village Preschool 1326 Washington Street, West Newton (Spanish Immersion)
- West Newton Children’s Center Washington St, West Newton (gives a lot of flexibility in term of what hours you want)
- Little Red Wagon Playschool 50 Winchester Street, Newton Highlands
- Second Church Nursery School, 60 Highland Street, West Newton Hills
- Bowen Cooperative Nursery School, 96 Otis Street, Newtonville (Two of my kids went here. The teachers are fantastic but the coop format is not for everyone. Also, very short days.)
- Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC), 1900 Commonwealth Ave, Auburndale (My two oldest went here. It’s great if you need infant child care and full day coverage.) My neighbor Kathleen says, “Our sons went to Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) at the corner of Auburn street and Commonwealth ave. It has been a number of years but we loved it. “
- Plowshares, 457 Walnut Street, Newtonville. At Newton North High School, Franklin Elementary School, and Lincoln-Elliot Elementary School.
- Newton School for Children, 25 Lenglen Rd # 2
- Golden Days Children’s Center, 66 Needham Street
- Happy Child Day Care and Preschool, 1191 Chestnut Street
- JAMS Preschool, 1671 Beacon Street, Waban (will take very young preschoolers and everyone I know who went there loves it)
- Longfellow Preschool, 777 Dedham Street, at Mount Ida College
- Suzuki Preschool, 1860 Washington St, Newton
- Camp Echo Bridge Preschool, 124 Vernon Street, Newton
- Hills and Falls Cooperative, 258 Concord Street, Newton Lower Falls (My summer camp director teaches here and she’s wonderful)
- Echo Falls Preschool, 545 Grove Street, Newton Lower Falls
- Newton Child Care, 225 Nevada, West Newton
- Barbara’s Day Care, 404 Homer Street
- Meeting House Child Care, 848 Beacon Street
- Newton Montessori, 80 Crescent Avenue (I’ve also heard good things about this school)
- Children’s Corner at Newton Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington St, Waban (A Mom Friend was very happy here. They have 12 hour coverage also because they provide child care for medical staff but you don’t need to work there to go here)
- Newton Creative Start, 573-B Washington Street, Watertown
- Newton School for Children, 25 Lenglen Road, Newton Corner
- Victorian Montesorri, 3 Curtis St , Newton Highlands
- Newton Early Childhood Program, 100 Walnut Street, Newtonville
- Panda Cub Academy (Mandarin Chinese immersion preschool), 1200 Boylston Street, Brookline/Chestnut Hill
- Weekday Nursery School, 54 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands
- Jewish Creative Preschool, 349 Dedham Street, Newton, MA 02459
- Saplings Preschool, 0 Carlton Rd, Waban, MA 02468
Preschools Specifically for Toddlers in Newton

These two three schools are for 2 year olds who are typically too young for most preschools where you must be 2.6 years old in September.

Toddler Loving Care

66 Walnut Street

West Newton

My neighbor says, “When your little one gets a little older keep “Toddler Loving Care” on your list. It is a fantastic preschool. It is the multicolored Victorian building near the Ed Center on Walnut Street. Our youngest Sammy went there.” (Ann)

Jams in Waban

1671 Beacon St

Newton, Ma 02168

My mom friends were very happy at Jams. They typically used JAMS for a pre-preschool before moving them to the preschool where their older siblings were.

Green Peas Toddler Care in Newton Centre

My mom friend Katherine raved about Green Peas. It’s a half day 1, 2 or 3 mornings a week. She described it as “very sweet” and especially liked the tiny yogurt and other healthy items for snack. Her kids did a year here before preschool and she highly recommended it to me.

Saplings Preschool in Waban

We are a nurturing play and theme based program geared towards the 2 year old and offer an enriching curriculum in a beautiful indoor/outdoor space in Waban.

p.s. Other Guides to Newton:

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Birthday Party Locations and Ideas for Kids in Newton and Boston

Best Martial Arts Schools for Kids and Adult in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of After School Supplemental Math Classes in Newton

A Fairly Comprehensive List of Dance Studios in Newton

Best Gymnastics for Toddlers and Kids in Newton Area

Best Caretaker and Child Music Classes in Newton

Best Tutors, Music Teachers etc in Newton
February 4, 2012