Tag: Newton MA

Newton Ranks 1 for Best Suburbs for Education

Movato published a ranking of the suburbs for education in America. To create the ranking They looked at 109 suburbs based on student-teacher ratio, high school graduation rate, and test scores. Newton came in at number one!

It may come as no surprise that a New England city ranked atop our list, since the area is just littered with top-notch schools and known for its academia. But out of all of the suburbs in the Northwest, it was Newton that took the role of valedictorian.

That’s largely because this wealthy Boston suburb has the money to fund some really excellent schools. In fact, out of all of the places we looked at Newton spent the third most on each student: $17,343. It also had some of the highest test scores in the country, and, as the bonus point at the end of the test, had a low student-teacher ratio of just 11 to 1.

No wonder this city is consistently ranked as a top place to raise a family.

Thee 10 best suburbs for education in America:

1. Newton, MA
2. Plymouth, MN
3. Ellicott City, MD
4. Minnetonka, MN
5. Dublin, OH
6. Wauwatosa, WI
7. Evanston, IL
8. Columbia, MD
9. Towson, MD
10. Plano, TX

September 4, 2014
New! Cupcake City in Newtonville

Do you like cupcakes? There’s a new cupcake store in Newtonville! PickyKidPix and I dashed in between errands to check it out.

The first thing we noticed was the enticing aroma of vanilla and other delicious aromas as we entered the store. The cupcakes are in attractive display cases and it’s hard to decide!

These were the flavors of the day:

Eventually, we decided on Red Velvet, Hostess, Lemon and Mint Chocolate.

It was hard to resist sampling in the car, at least for my daughter. She tried them all. Her favorite was the Hostess which tastes like a Ding Dong only so much better. It’s very chocolate-y with a moist, rich crumb. There’s a cream filling inside too. I got a bite but I would have liked an entire Hostess cupcake for myself!

The Lemon Cupcake has a lemony custard inside. It was delicious with a tangy lemon flavor.

I think the Mint Chocolate cupcakes are sculptural and beautiful. They were delicious too!

The Red Velvet cupcake was the outlier. PickyKidPix said it was a little dry. It’s possible that it was an off day for the Red Velvet and, because it’s my daughter’s favorite, she can be a tough judge.

Still, three of the four cupcakes were delectable. We’ll be back!

November 23, 2013
Garden City Boys Summer Lacrosse Camp

Newton Garden City

2013 Boys Lacrosse Camp

July 22^nd – July 26^th

July 29^th – August 2^nd

Newton North High School

$275/5 Days 9am-3pm

www.newtonsummerschool.com

The off-season is the best time to improve your game for the spring season!!

The Newton Garden City Lacrosse Camp is an “Instructional Camp” that represents one of the best ways to improve your overall skills as a well-rounded lacrosse player. At our camp you will get the chance to play games but more focus will be placed on drills, skills, rules and strategies, which are so important toward the development of a complete lacrosse player. Our staff will focus on individual skills based on the player’s position and skill level and will also provide instruction on the team aspects of the game. The Garden City Lacrosse Camp is designed to make the camper an improved individual lacrosse player and teach him how to become more effective as an integral member of his hometown team. Players will also get the chance to put their newly improved skills to use through the playing of games.

Our camp enrollment is limited in order to keep player to coach ratio at a level that allows the coaches to get multiple exposures to each of the players. This small group setting will cover many important facets of the game such as shooting, dodging, defense, face-off and the transition game. Our daily sessions are up-tempo and are recommended for those players looking to improve these aspects of their game.

The Garden City Lacrosse Camp will challenge campers to maximize their athletic potential while encouraging them to go above and beyond their “comfort” level and open their minds to learning new techniques and exercising new drills. As players mature, we want them to become “students of the game” while developing their character and self-confidence. Our goals are to teach and instruct, but also and more importantly, to provide a fun and exciting atmosphere at camp. If you’re up for the challenge, go towww.newtonsummerschool.com (navigate to sports camps @ top of page, then scroll down to boys lacrosse-session 1 & 2) and register for camp. You will not regret it!!! Contact Bussy Adam with any additional questions attigerlax34@verizon.net.

July 18, 2013
Po Boy Has an Amazing Sandwich

This is exactly the kind of restaurant I love. Not too fancy. Very friendly. And with amazing food.

I love New Orleans but we haven’t made it out there in over a decade. Now, the food has come to us! I feel very fortunate to have Po Boy in the neighborhood!

It’s a small neighborhood restaurant with limited seating. I noticed a brisk take out business during lunch.

Owner Ed Cormier, on the left, made us feel welcome!

There are other things on the menu beside the Po Boy sandwich, but that is THE item to order! I’ll have to come back to try the rest of the menu. I also hear that ice cream will be a new addition.

I decided to try the Fried Chicken. I love Southern style fried chicken and this surprised me by being more like chicken fingers rather than fried chicken on the bone. I would have liked it with a little more seasoning. It’s great for kids though though one of my kids would eat the Po Boy sandwich.

My husband ordered the Po Boy and it was perfect. It’s on ciabatta bread and it’s not too huge. The oysters taste of the sea and were perfectly cooked and crispy. The secret, besides impeccable oysters, is the sauce that is a tangy mayo spiced concoction. I really liked the bread choice. It sets off the fried oysters perfectly.

Here’s the Po Boy opened up so you can see the deep fried oysters. We also liked the onion rings which were thinly sliced and crisp.

Po Boy is located at 67 Crafts Street near the Whole Foods in Newton off Washington Boulevard. This is the kind of restaurant that I am reallly rooting for. Please stop by and check it out! It’s open Mon-Fri 6 am – 6:30 pm but I hear some weekends also. Call ahead, (617) 244-4005, to order for take out.

Have you been to Po Boy yet? What did you think of it?

June 24, 2013
Newton Family Singers Spring Concert with GIVEAWAY!

THE TIDE IS HIGH

Songs Reflecting on the Water

It finally feels like Spring, and that means the Newton Family Singers Spring Concert is around the corner!

Join them for a program of tender, poignant and rocking water-inspired songs by an eclectic mix of artists, including the Beatles, Lyle Lovett, Blondie, the Grateful Dead and the Indigo Girls, in addition to strikingly beautiful songs by local songwriters, award winning singer-songwriter-naturalist, Oen Kennedy, and Waban’s own Andy Rogovin. This has something for everyone. Bring your family and prepare to sing along!

This concert, they will be thanking our Facebook fans with a ukulele giveaway! In order to be eligible to win, please like us on Facebook! They will also be giving away a few other prizes to a few lucky concert-goers. Good luck!

To see the Newton Family Singers in action, check out this 10 min. behind-the-scenes video of our Spring 2012 Concert!

Sunday, May 5th at 4pm

Memorial Spaulding Auditorium
250 Brookline St.
Newton, MA

Tickets are on sale now!
Buy them online!
$10 Adults/$8 kids
Doors Open at 3:30pm

May 1, 2013
Soccer Clinics and Camps for Kids in Newton

There is a Co-ed clinic being run this Sunday, today, (April 28) by Weston Youth Soccer and the New England Revolution. It’s a fundraiser for Weston’s unique “Score One Save One” campaign, which raises money for UNICEF, the United Nations program for children. It’s such a great example of combining soccer with citizenship. The cost is just $45 and several Revs starters are expected to attend. For more information, go to Weston’s web site at: http://www.westonsoccer.org

The other clinic is for girls only on Sunday, May 5. It’s being run by US Women’s National Team star Heather O’Reilly. Heather, who also plays for the Boston Breakers, did NGS a good turn last week when she showed up at our NGS-Breakers April Vacation camp to sign autographs and talk to the campers – despite not being one of the Breakers players assigned to work the camp. She has her own soccer academy and is running an offensively focused clinic at Harvard’s athletic fields. The cost is $85.

Heather_O’Reilly_Clinic_flyer

We are lucky to live in a city that has many wonderful sports camps options for kids! Here are a few more that we’ve tried and can wholeheartedly recommend:

The Lady Eagles Women’s Soccer Team at Boston College is also running soccer camps this summer. My kids have done these camps for years and have a consistently great experience. They especially love the coaching by the B.C. women’s soccer team.

World Cup Day at Lady Eagles Girls Soccer Camp is always a fun day!

We have also done Garden City Soccer Camps at Newton North High School. Soccer combined with swimming is a great combination during the summer. It’s run by my daughter’s coach, Brian Rooney, who is a wonderful coach! Newton high school players help run the camp and it’s been fun for my daughter to recognize high school kids around town.

Be Ahead of the Game also runs great summer sports camps including tennis and soccer. My son has done these and it has been a great experience.

April 28, 2013

Houses for Sale: 82 Day Street in Newton, MA

Homes for Sale in Newton

82 Day Street in Newton is now on the market. Boasting 5 bedrooms and 3.75 baths (1/4 bath is the doggy shower off the mudroom!), this totally renovated house is designed for gracious living. New French Doors open to a spacious deck with views of the 3rd fairway at Brae Burn Country Club. The deck leads down to a grassy backyard.

Front view of 82 Day Street.

Front Entrance to 82 Day Street.

Mudroom is off the garage for easy in and out access. Drawers store shoes and hooks are great for backpacks and jackets. There is also a window seat with another storage drawer underneath that makes a great place to sit down to put shoes off and on. Are you a family that takes your shoes off when you enter the house? It helps keep the floors clean. This mudroom is designed for with this in mind.

3/4 Bathroom on First Floor. The 1/4 is a dog shower. This bathroom is next to the Mud Room as you come into the house through the 2 car garage.

All appliances are Viking Professional Series including the 6 burner stove.

Faucets are Grohe. Eat in kitchen with island and second sink. Countertops are honed black granite.

You can see the 3rd hole at Brae Burn Country Club as you wash dishes in the sink.

The microwave is also a convection oven!

The dining room off the kitchen has 2 tone walls.

New French Doors off the Living Room open up to a spacious deck with a gorgeous view of Brae Burn Country Club.

The view will be beautiful in every season as you look out the French Doors from the living room and on to the deck.

The spacious deck off the Living Room makes a great spot for entertaining or just enjoying the view of the 3rd fairway.

Step down off the deck to the back yard.

Full bathroom with shower and tub in the basement.

The basement is a spacious area that can be used for a playroom, office space, bedroom or all of the above!

The first floor stairwell is an inviting space.

The old master bedroom makes a lovely bedroom for a child or a great home office. It has lovely nooks and crannies!

Full bathroom on the 2nd floor has two sinks.

LG Washer and Dryer on the 2nd floor mean never having to haul laundry up and down two flights of steps!

New Master Bedroom is spacious!

Spa master bath includes a jacuzzi bathtub and marble throughout.

Double sink vanity for His and Hers in the spa-like Master Bath.

Walk in shower in the Master Bath is all marble with dramatic details.

Spacious walk-in closet in the Master Bedroom from Boston Closets as are all closets throughout.

The other side of the walk-in closet.

Here’s part of the listing sheet:

82 Day St	List Price: $1,499,000
Newton, MA : Auburndale 02466
Middlesex County
Style: Colonial	Total Rooms: 10
Color: Grey blue	Bedrooms: 5
Grade School: Peirce	Bathrooms: 3f 1h
Middle School: Day	Master Bath: Yes
High School: North	Fireplaces: 1
Handicap Access/Features:
Neighborhood/Sub-Division: Brae Burn
Directions: Comm Ave or Washington to Day

Remarks

Gorgeous renovation overlooking the Brae Burn golf course. This 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath sunfilled home offers great living space with nicely proportioned rooms and beautiful detail throughout. Front to back living room with french doors that lead to deck. Gourmet cooks kitchen with Viking appliances, superb master suite with lavish bath and walk-in closet, finished lower level, 2 car attached garage. Sweeping views of golf course. Walk to x-bus or green line T at Woodland station.

Property Information

Approx. Living Area: 4000 sq. ft.	Approx. Acres: 0.18 (8000 sq. ft.)	Garage Spaces: 2 Attached
Living Area Includes:	Heat Zones: 4 Hydro Air	Parking Spaces: 2 Off-Street
Living Area Source: Owner	Cool Zones: 4 Central Air	Approx. Street Frontage:
Living Area Disclosures: Includes finished lower level

Please contact Nancy McAuliffe

(617) 431-5422 if you wish to view the house. Did anyone get a chance to see the Open House? Please feel free to leave a comment with feedback and suggestions! Thank you!

November 3, 2012

Math Power! Summer Program at Green Planet Kids: Open House Tonight

What are your kids doing this summer?

Come learn about our Math Power! summer program.

OPEN HOUSE this Thursday, June 7th @ 7:00 pm

**** Please call us @ (617) 332-7841 to save a space for your family****

Come play games, solve puzzles, explore logic and HAVE FUN!

About Math Power!

This fun and engaging program is led by Christine Moynihan, Ph.D., former principal of the Williams School in Newton!

You don’t have to be good at math to enjoy this program. It’s all about having fun with numbers, learning to think creatively, and making connections in order to solve problems.

Math Power! will be offered at Green Planet Kids during the weeks of June 25th to 29th, and July 16th to 20th.

Math Power! is for students entering Grades 2 – 8. Morning session for Grades 2- 5, and Afternoon session for Grades 4-8.

If you can’t make it to the open house, but you are interested in the program, please call us for more information, or stop by to pick up a brochure.

Green Planet Kids is located at 22 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands. You can reach us at (617) 332-7841.

June 7, 2012
Math Power! Open House at Green Planet Kids

Math Power!

What are your kids doing this summer? Come learn about our Math Power! summer program.

OPEN HOUSE this Sunday afternoon, May 20th @ 4:00 pm

Please call us @ (617) 332-7841 to save a space for your family.

Come play games, solve puzzles, explore logic and HAVE FUN!

(If you can’t make it to the open house, stop by and pick up a brochure and registration form.)

About Math Power!

This fun and engaging program is led by Christine Moynihan, Ph.D., former principal of the Williams School in Newton!

You don’t have to be good at math to enjoy this program. It’s all about having fun with numbers, learning to think creatively, and making connections in order to solve problems.

The program will be offered at Green Planet Kids during the weeks of June 25th to 29th, and July 16th to 20th.

Math Power is for students entering Grades 2 – 8.

Morning session for Grades 2- 5, and Afternoon session for Grades 4-8.

Green Planet Kids is located at 22 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands. You can reach us at (617) 332-7841.

May 19, 2012
Newton News: Newton Developing into Russian Enclave, and Special Education Trend in MA
Some interesting links on Newton:

Mass. suburb develops into a Russian enclave. The Mass. suburb that the Boston.com article refers to is Newton!

Russian immigrants have become part of the character of the Boston suburb of Newton. More than 9% of people in the town report Russian ancestry, according to the U.S. Census, and residents say it is common to hear Russian spoken there. Newton’s Russian community also has set up schools and community centers to preserve its language and culture.

Report finds more low-income students in Mass. special education. Newton is not a low-income school district but special education is expensive so this is an interesting twist.

Students from low-income school districts in Massachusetts are about twice as likely to be placed in special education than those in more affluent districts in the state, a new report shows. The study’s findings are counter to the belief by some that more affluent families are driving a push for more accommodations and services for students. The study recommends districts work to prevent the over-identification of students for special education and strive to educate more students with disabilities in inclusive settings.
- Seventeen percent of Massachusetts students are in special education programs — the second-highest rate in the nation.
- … many kids are identified as special needs students because they don’t get the help they need early on.
April 30, 2012

Tag: Newton MA

THE TIDE IS HIGH

Songs Reflecting on the Water

Homes for Sale in Newton