Category Archives: From The City of Newton

Pumpkin Smash!

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Events, From The City of Newton

Bring your pumpkins to Newton’s annual Pumpkin Smash at City Hall on Nov. 5, the Saturday after Halloween, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Why put your pumpkin in with your yard waste when it’s much more fun to smash it?

This family friendly event takes our orange pumpkins and turns them “green.” All our smashed pumpkins will be composted by Black Earth Compost (our curbside composting partner), thus reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions and creating a valuable amendment for our soils.

You can fling, toss and smash your pumpkin in all sorts of ways, including with smashing machines made by the Newton LigerBots, the high school robotics team. 

Pre-registration is encouraged but onsite registration will be available for the Pumpkin Smash which will be held rain or shine. 

All the information above is available at www.newtonma.gov/recycling

Albemarle Parking Party Thursday 4/21

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Events, From The City of Newton, Upcoming Events

Hi Albemarle Friends,

We wanted to let you know that we have rescheduled the Albemarle Parking Party to take place Thursday 4/21 from 7:00-10:00 AM on Albemarle Road near Gath Pool. (Rain date is Friday 4/22).

This will be an opportunity to learn more about the head out angled parking proposed in the Albemarle Traffic Calming and Bike Lane Project, and try it out in your own car! .  Please note we cannot provide a car for you to use, so please bring your own, or come with a friend!

Information on the parking party is attached. For more information on the project, please visit: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/transportation-planning/projects/albemarle-traffic-calming-bike-lane

We hope to see you there. Please feel free to share the information with your friends.

Keep smiling,

Nicole Freedman

Director of Transportation Planning

City of Newton

(617) 879-8148

Newton’s Earth Day Festival – April 24th

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Elementary Schools, Events, From The City of Newton, High Schools, Middle Schools, School Breaks

Celebrate Earth Day with a festival on Sunday, April 24 from 1-4pm outside of City Hall! With electric vehicles and entertaining performances, bike rides and bees, ice cream and info on home energy improvements, we’ll have something for everyone to mark the day.

See a full list of activities at GreenNewton.org/EarthDay. 

Event will take place rain or shine. Newton’s Earth Day Festival is hosted by Green Newton, the City’s Climate Team, and Newton’s EV Task Force. 

Bike Rodeo event on May 1st

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Elementary Schools, Events, From The City of Newton, High Schools, Middle Schools, Other, Upcoming Events

Hello Newton School Families,

Celebrate safe biking in Newton at the Bike Rodeo hosted by Newton Parks and Recreation.  MA Safe Routes to Schools instructors will teach and review bike riding skills.  Volunteers from Bike Newton will help teach fun stations including knowing signs and hand signals, how to care for your bike, and more. 

The Bike Rodeo event will be on Sunday May 1st at Newton South High School and space is currently available for children in grades 2 – 6.  The Bike Rodeo is for children who live in Newton or attend Newton Public Schools, have their own bike, and are comfortable riding independently.  Helmets must be worn and an adult must attend. 

Please check out the registration website at https://newtonma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30165 for more information and to register. 

For questions, please contact Channon Ames at cames@newtonma.gov
When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

Registration Available Now – Tim Mayotte Tennis Newton – Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, From The City of Newton, Sports, Summer

Former world top ten player and Massachusetts native, Tim Mayotte, is overseeing Newton’s city-wide tennis-in-the-parks programs.

Registration is open for summer camp, after-school and weekend junior tennis programs. Beginners to advanced players – red, orange, green and yellow ball classes.

Schedules, registration: www.newtontmtennis.com.

Locations: Angier, Warren, Newton North, Newton South.

School Committee Resolution on FY23 Budget

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, From The City of Newton, Newton Public Schools, Other

On Thursday, March 31, 2022, the School Committee passed a resolution expressing our concern that the proposed FY23 budget, including 4 million dollars worth of cuts to balance the budget with the allocation of funding provided by the City, will have a serious negative impact on the students of Newton.  

The text of the resolution is as follows:

“Because this is a critical time in the lives of our Newton students as we are emerging from two pandemic years, the 4 million dollars worth of cuts in the proposed FY23 budget to reach the allocation are too deep and too painful.  We do not believe we can shift 4 million dollars of cuts from other areas of the budget that would make them less painful – shifting cuts would just cause different pain, but deep pain nonetheless.  Therefore, the School Committee resolves that the current budget allocation of $262,070,208 is not enough to run the schools without serious negative impacts on our kids.”

The resolution passed 8-0-1, with Mayor Fuller abstaining.

The School Committee is hosting office hours this Sunday, April 3, 2022 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Please login via Zoom using the following login information:Join Zoom Meeting
https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/81283294592

Meeting ID: 812 8329 4592
Passcode: 449186

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81283294592#,,,,*449186# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,81283294592#,,,,*449186# US (New York)

Please note that the entire School Committee will not be present and attending members may be limited in their responses given the constraints of Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

If you wish to submit a question in advance, please use this form: School Committee Office Hours Registration and Questions Form

Please note that we will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, April 4th and all members of the public wishing to make a statement regarding the budget will be heard.  If you wish to speak at this public hearing, please fill out the form linked below with your name and address.  The form will close at 6:00 pm on April 4, 2022.

Form – Request to Speak at Public Hearing on the FY23 Budget

There will be an opportunity to sign up in “real time” during the meeting by using the “raise your hand” feature on Zoom. Speakers will be called in the order in which they signed up, first come-first speak, followed by those who raise their hand during the meeting, or at the discretion of the Chair.

Upcoming Program for Senior parents from Youth Services

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, From The City of Newton, High Schools

College Acceptance & Financial Award Review – “How to make the best decision for you.”  (Flyer attached)

  • The final workshop of our College Financing series titled, “College Acceptance & Financial Award Review,” will be held on Thursday, February 17 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom webinar.   The workshop will be facilitated by MassBay Community College in partnership with the Village Bank.  It is highly recommended that the young person attends with their parent/caregiver.   
  • Pre-registration required, CLICK HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_quWo-lbIRHmei9nv71PR-g

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Meg

Meghan Murtagh, M.Ed (she/her/hers)

Asst. Director of Youth Services

City of Newton Health & Human Services Department

617-796-1436

mmurtagh@newtonma.gov

WinterFEST this February 12-13

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Elementary Schools, Events, From The City of Newton, High Schools, Middle Schools, Upcoming Events

WinterFEST this February 12-13.  All events are family friendly, free and open to all.

Deadline Extended! Newton Community Needs Assessment Survey

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, From The City of Newton

The community needs assessment survey deadline has been extended to December 15th 2021! Please continue to share this opportunity with your network.

The Community Needs Survey will gather data that will inform the City on how best to assist lower-resourced residents who have been impacted by the pandemic. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides money to local communities to help with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Newton will be directing a portion of ARPA funds to programs addressing the needs of lower-income residents impacted by the pandemic. There is also an option to fill out the survey using your knowledge of resident needs based on providing direct services to these populations. We look forward to hearing from as many people as possible!

English: www.research.net/r/NewtonNeedsSurvey

Translations (Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, & Brazilian Portuguese): www.research.net/r/NewtonNeedsSurveyTranslated

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Responses will remain confidential. By completing the survey, you qualify to win one of four $50 VISA gift cards! We expect the assessment to be completed during the winter of 2021, with a final report and recommendations in early 2022. Please see attached for a revised flyer to distribute or post at your organization. Feel free to share our social media posts as well (@NewtonHealth)!

Understanding Depression in Tweens & Teens

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, From The City of Newton, High Schools, Middle Schools, Upcoming Events

City of Newton, Health & Human Services and Families for Depression Awareness are hosting an upcoming virtual program titled “Understanding Depression in Tweens & Teens” offered in parentship with Families for Depression Awareness on Thursday, November 18 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.   The program will be facilitated by Families for Depression Awareness and delivered by a licensed mental health professional.   Families and caregivers will learn how to recognize depression in teens, get teens to help and find treatment, communicate effectively with teens about depression, and access community resources.