Category Archives: Middle Schools

Newton-Needham PMC Kids Ride

PMC Kids Rides are back in person and we have joined forces with Needham to create a Newton-Needham PMC Kids Ride!

We hope that you will join us as we raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Schedule of Events

  • 8 – 9 am – Rider and volunteer check-in, bike tune up
  • 8:45 am –  Opening Ceremonies
  • 9 – 10 am – RIDE!
  • 9:45 – 11 am – Post ride celebration with music, entertainment, raffles and more! 

TO LEARN MORE: Please visit https://kids.pmc.org/newton-needham

Newton’s Earth Day Festival – April 24th

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

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 [email protected]
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.

Pickleball Clinic

I’m a Physical Education teacher at F. A. Day Middle School and I would like to get the word out about an exciting 2 day clinic I’m offering during April vacation.  It’s for grades 4-8 on April 21 and 22 from 9:00-12:00 at Day Middle School.

Pickleball is a combination of ping-pong, badminton and tennis and it’s the fastest growing sport in America with 4.5 million people playing it. It is easy to learn and multi-generational. Many older people play and now it’s moving to the youth population!  

Thank you,
Amanda Church
F.A Day Middle School

Inclusive Summer Day Camp – Music That Matters – Registration Open

Plugged In’s Music That Matters Summer Day Camp.  Music That Matters includes band class, songwriting, recording a song, music video, workshops, offsite events, and performance opportunities. Each session ends with a benefit concert that raises money for a charitable organization chosen by the students themselves. Students are grouped in bands by age, skill level and musical interest.

Ages: 11-18
Hours: 9:00-3:00 (extended day available)
Session 1:  July 11-22
Session 2: July 25 – August 5

Plugged In is a unique, inclusive nonprofit youth rock band program in Needham where young musicians of all levels and needs are welcome. More information and online registration can be found at www.pluggedinband.org.

Ultimate Frisbee for Elementary, Middle and High School

There’s now an Ultimate Frisbee BUDA program for nearly every age group (sorry, toddlers!) in Newton. Programs meet on Sundays, and we will be returning to Newton North this season. Note that the 6-8 program will also have a recommended practice session one evening per week.

All programs will run from April 24 to June 19, 2022. There will be no formal program on Memorial Day Weekend, May 29.

Contact Burt Granofsky, BUDA Newton Youth Ultimate, if you have any questions: [email protected]

Nonprofit Youth Rock Band Program – Spring Session begins February 28

The Plugged In Band Program Spring Session begins February 28 (both in person and virtual).  Plugged In is a nonprofit youth rock band program in Needham where young musicians of all levels and needs are welcome. Students are grouped by age, skill level and musical interest.  I am emailing you in the event you know of any youth ages 8-18 who could benefit from participation in this unique, non-competitive and fun music program. More information and online registration can be found at www.pluggedinband.org.

Spring programming includes in person or online Band Classes, Songwriting and Production, Intro to Digital Audio Production, Creating Music with Coding, Livestreaming 101 and Amped Up: Planning a Youth Music Festival (more details below). 

Plugged In combines music education, philanthropy and diversity in a creative and collaborative environment where students gain music education, self-esteem, connection and community and are prepared for a life of civic participation in an inclusive society.

Music Lessons at The Conservatory at Highlands! 

Winter is in full swing and nothing makes the winter months fly by like playing music! If you’re starting a new instrument, or looking to develop your skills as a musician, The Conservatory is here to help. Locally owned and operated in Newton Highlands. 
Students beginning new instruments in school benefit greatly from private instruction. 
Our teachers are experienced, patient, kind and supportive. We help musicians of any age reach their goals. 

Sign Up/Inquire Here (no commitment necessary)   

(Trouble with link? Copy and Paste: https://forms.gle/WmHpoURxZoSNT6ZK6 in your browser)

or call/text/e-mail: 617-903-0944  

[email protected]

The Conservatory offers music lessons on almost all instruments, including: piano, voice, violin, viola, cello, guitar, drums, bass, saxophone, flute, clarinet, trombone, baritone, oboe, ukulele, and even harmonica! Sign up for parent/student lessons, or record in our state-of-the-art recording studio with audio production lessons and more!

more info:

www.highlandsconservatory.com

The Conservatory at Highlands is locally owned and operated and offers a 21st-century music education that is equally inclusive and challenging taught by the best musicians in Boston. The Conservatory is your community music school, where we can all learn and develop the craft of music together. 

51 Winchester Street, Newton Highlands.

Feel free to e-mail [email protected] with any questions.

Interactive Media Use & Youth Mental Health: Guidance for Parents of Students Across the Developmental Span

Description. The Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is excited to partner with Boston Children’s Hospital’s Digital Wellness Lab to offer a comprehensive presentation on the relationship between children’s and teens’ media use and their mental health. 

The Digital Wellness Lab’s senior content strategist, Kristelle Lavallee Collins, will discuss the most recent research on the relationships between interactive media use and the well-being of children and adolescents. The presentation will also cover the latest science-based strategies parents and caregivers can employ to support children in developing a “healthy” relationship with technology and screen media. 

For questions, contact [email protected]. We hope you will join us!

Date/Time. Jan 27, 2022 07:00 PM


Register. https://bostonchildrens.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jYYsTQrKQNq6Voan9rvqwA

Questions. Submit your questions in advance here:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6642281/Newton-SEPAC-Digital-Wellness-Lab-Presentation

Centre Street Food Pantry Kids’ Club

The Centre Street Food Pantry is introducing a new initiative to bolster our Kids Club program and we are hoping that the elementary schools in Newton can help make this program a success. Some of your schools have already contributed to this program and we really appreciate your participation!


As some of you know, we distribute around 100 Kids Club bags to families with children under 18 each time the Pantry is open. In an effort to better manage the influx of bags, we are recruiting schools, churches, temples and other local organizations to commit to contributing a minimum of 30 bags for a specific week. Your school can do this as often or a little as you choose. Some schools recruit a specific grade to participate; others make it a school-wide event.  It would be most helpful if bags could be dropped off on Mondays, as our distribution day is Tuesday. Of course, we can accommodate you any time if Mondays are not convenient.


The bags should be doubled bagged with handles and contain: 


1 jar jam/jelly
2 boxes mac n’ cheese
1 box of cereal
1 six-pack of applesauce or fruit cups
2 packs of cereal/granola bars 
1 large bag of pretzels/chips


The items are also listed on our website. If your school  is interested in participating in this great project, please sign up here.
Deborah Elliott will get back to you to confirm drop-off date and answer any questions. You can also contact her directly at [email protected].