Category Archives: School Breaks

What’s Happening at the Y

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks, Sports, Summer for , , |

West Suburban YMCA’s Super Bowl Raffle! The West Suburban YMCA raffled off a Super Bowl trip package, and Newton resident Assunta (Sue) Calcagni was selected as the winner! Sue received 2 tickets to Super Bowl LIII along with airfare, lodging and ground transportation provided by New England Sports Tours. The raffle netted over $20,000 for the Y’s annual fund, which provides financial assistance for programs, services and scholarships at the Y.

Try the Y: Fridays in February are free! Present a valid ID at the welcome desk and use the facilities for the day.

Early Spring Program Registration: Registration is open for early spring session programs. Early spring session runs February 25th – April 14th. Sign up for swim lessons, youth basketball, floor hockey, fitness classes, kids yoga, tai chi, tumbling, music lessons and more.

Pickle Ball – Tuesdays & Thursdays: The West Suburban YMCA hosts drop-in pickle ball on both Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 am in the gymnasium. Pickle ball is free for West Suburban YMCA members and $5.00 drop-in fee for non-members.

Guided Meditation: Take a moment out of your day for this short, guided meditation that will leave you feeling relaxed, grounded and rejuvenated. Free for West Suburban YMCA members. Led by Jenni Plym in Studio A. February 9th, 9:00 – 9:30 am

Lifeguard Training and Certification Course:Become an American Red Cross certified lifeguard this February. Learn the practical skills necessary to recognize a critical situation and provide lifesaving care to individuals in the water. CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid certifications are included in the course.

Weekend course: February 9th, 16th, 17th and 23rd, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm each day.
School vacation week course: February 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm each day. Students must be present for ALL days of their chosen course. Visit wsymca.org to register or call 617-244-6050.

Family Fun Night: Bring the whole family to the Y for some family fun time. Featuring arts & crafts, bouncy house, games and more! FREE and open to all. Family Fun Nights are generously sponsored by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation and occur on the second Tuesday of every month. February 12th, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

February Vacation Programs: Do your kids need something to do while they are off from school for February vacation? The West Suburban YMCA is offering full day and half day program options February 19th – February 22nd. Call 617-244-6050 for more information or visit www.wsymca.org.

Spring YBA (Youth Basketball Association) League: Registration is open for the Y’s spring YBA league which runs March 2nd – April 14th. YBA is a fun league for boys and girls ages 4-12 to learn and play basketball. The league is separated into four age groups: Mini (ages 4-5), Biddy (ages 6-7), Rookie (ages 8-9) and Collegiate (ages 10-12). All leagues are co-ed, and volunteer coaches are encouraged. For more information and to register visit www.wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050.

Summer Camp Registration is Open! The West Suburban YMCA offers three summer camps: Camp Pikati at the Y, Camp Chickami in Wayland, MA and Camp Frank A. Day in East Brookfield, MA. Each camp offers children a unique and engaging summer experience. Attend one of the Y’s upcoming camp info sessions to learn more about summer camp.

Upcoming Camp Info Sessions at the Y:

February 6th, 9:00 – 11:00 am
February 11th, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
February 20th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
March 2nd, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Work at the Y: The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a variety of full-time and part-time positions. Great benefits, FREE membership and professional development opportunities. Please contact Laura Snow at lauras@wsymca.org or visit wsymca.org/careers.

What’s Happening at the Y

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks, Sports, Summer for , , |

West Suburban YMCA’s Super Bowl Raffle! The West Suburban YMCA raffled off a Super Bowl trip package, and Newton resident Assunta (Sue) Calcagni was selected as the winner! Sue received 2 tickets to Super Bowl LIII along with airfare, lodging and ground transportation provided by New England Sports Tours. The raffle netted over $20,000 for the Y’s annual fund, which provides financial assistance for programs, services and scholarships at the Y.

Try the Y: Fridays in February are free! Present a valid ID at the welcome desk and use the facilities for the day.

Early Spring Program Registration: Registration is open for early spring session programs. Early spring session runs February 25th – April 14th. Sign up for swim lessons, youth basketball, floor hockey, fitness classes, kids yoga, tai chi, tumbling, music lessons and more.

Pickle Ball – Tuesdays & Thursdays: The West Suburban YMCA hosts drop-in pickle ball on both Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 am in the gymnasium. Pickle ball is free for West Suburban YMCA members and $5.00 drop-in fee for non-members.

Guided Meditation: Take a moment out of your day for this short, guided meditation that will leave you feeling relaxed, grounded and rejuvenated. Free for West Suburban YMCA members. Led by Jenni Plym in Studio A. February 9th, 9:00 – 9:30 am

Lifeguard Training and Certification Course:Become an American Red Cross certified lifeguard this February. Learn the practical skills necessary to recognize a critical situation and provide lifesaving care to individuals in the water. CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid certifications are included in the course.

Weekend course: February 9th, 16th, 17th and 23rd, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm each day.
School vacation week course: February 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm each day. Students must be present for ALL days of their chosen course. Visit wsymca.org to register or call 617-244-6050.

Family Fun Night: Bring the whole family to the Y for some family fun time. Featuring arts & crafts, bouncy house, games and more! FREE and open to all. Family Fun Nights are generously sponsored by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation and occur on the second Tuesday of every month. February 12th, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

February Vacation Programs: Do your kids need something to do while they are off from school for February vacation? The West Suburban YMCA is offering full day and half day program options February 19th – February 22nd. Call 617-244-6050 for more information or visit www.wsymca.org.

Spring YBA (Youth Basketball Association) League: Registration is open for the Y’s spring YBA league which runs March 2nd – April 14th. YBA is a fun league for boys and girls ages 4-12 to learn and play basketball. The league is separated into four age groups: Mini (ages 4-5), Biddy (ages 6-7), Rookie (ages 8-9) and Collegiate (ages 10-12). All leagues are co-ed, and volunteer coaches are encouraged. For more information and to register visit www.wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050.

Summer Camp Registration is Open! The West Suburban YMCA offers three summer camps: Camp Pikati at the Y, Camp Chickami in Wayland, MA and Camp Frank A. Day in East Brookfield, MA. Each camp offers children a unique and engaging summer experience. Attend one of the Y’s upcoming camp info sessions to learn more about summer camp.

Upcoming Camp Info Sessions at the Y:

February 6th, 9:00 – 11:00 am
February 11th, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
February 20th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
March 2nd, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Work at the Y: The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a variety of full-time and part-time positions. Great benefits, FREE membership and professional development opportunities. Please contact Laura Snow at lauras@wsymca.org or visit wsymca.org/careers.

Vacation Week fun with HIstory

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks for |

February vacation week programs at Historic Newton. Bring your family to Historic Newton for a full day of historic fun. With Historic Newton educators, try out colonial-era games, explore the museum exhibits, make a diorama, roll your own candles, and more.

Activities run from 11:30 to 1:30 and from 2:00 to 4:00 with a break for lunch. Come for one activity or stay all day! Recommended for elementary-age children; siblings welcome.
Information: 617-641-9142 .


February 20th and February 22nd, 11:30 am – 4:00 pm

February 20th and February 22nd, 11:30 am – 4:00 pm

Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue, Newton

What’s Happening at the YMCA

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks, Sports, Summer for , , |

Try the Y
Wednesdays in January are free! Present a valid ID at the welcome desk and use the facilities for the day.

Resolutions Fitness Challenge – Starts the week of January 14th
New year, new you! Sign up for the Y’s Resolutions Fitness Challenge to jumpstart your health and fitness goals for 2019. Join a team led by one of the Y’s certified personal trainers, and compete against the other teams to see whose team can lose the greatest percentage of weight and body fat during the eight week challenge.

Pickle Ball – Tuesdays & Thursdays
The West Suburban YMCA hosts drop-in pickle ball on both Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 am in the gymnasium. Pickle ball is free for West Suburban YMCA members and $5.00 drop-in fee for non-members.

Poetry Night- February 1st from 7:00-9:00 pm
Organized by Barbara Helfogtt-Hyett of Poemworks, the event features readings by two local poets, then guests are invited to participate in the open mic portion of evening to share their own written work. This event is free and open to the public.

February Vacation Programs – February 19-22nd
Do your kids need something to do while they are off from school for February vacation? The West Suburban YMCA is offering full day and half day program options February 19th through February 22nd. Sign up for a program to ensure your child has a fun vacation and you have peace of mind! Call 617-244-6050 for more information.

Lifeguard Training and Certification Course
Become an American Red Cross certified lifeguard during February school vacation week. Learn the practical skills necessary to recognize a critical situation and provide lifesaving care to individuals in the water. CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid certifications are included in the course. This is a four-day class that meets February 18th – 21st from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Students must be present for ALL days. Visit wsymca.org to register or call 617-244-6050.

Spring YBA (Youth Basketball Association) League
Registration is open for the Y’s spring YBA league which runs March 2nd – April 14th. YBA is a fun league for boys and girls ages 4-12 to learn and play basketball. The league is separated into four age groups: Mini (ages 4-5), Biddy (ages 6-7), Rookie (ages 8-9) and Collegiate (ages 10-12). All leagues are co-ed, and volunteer coaches are encouraged. For more information and to register, visit wsymca.org or call 617-244-6050.

Summer Camp Registration opens January 14th
The West Suburban YMCA offers three summer camps: Camp Pikati at the Y, Camp Chickami in Wayland, MA and Camp Frank A. Day in East Brookfield, MA. Each camp offers children a unique and engaging summer experience. Attend one of the Y’s upcoming camp info sessions to learn more about YMCA summer camps.

Camp Info Sessions at the Y
· January 24th – 4:30 – 6:30 pm
· February 6th – 9:00 – 11:00 am
· February 11th – 3:00 – 5:00 pm
· February 20th – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
· March 2nd – 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Work at the Y
The West Suburban YMCA is hiring for a variety of full-time and part-time positions in child care and youth development, aquatics, fitness and more. Great benefits, FREE membership and professional development opportunities. Please contact Laura Snow at lauras@wsymca.org or visit wsymca.org/about/work-here.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs
The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is their mission to never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Contact the Membership Department at 617-244-6050 x3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Come to City Hall to help sort the food on December 31st

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, Other, School Breaks for , , |

Please help our neighbors facing food insecurity. Newton’s four food pantries provide meals for more than 1,800 people each month, and they need everyone’s help to keep up with the growing need right here in Newton.

Donate to the Newton Food Drive—the four pantries are asking for breakfast foods including cereal, granola, oatmeal, energy and granola bars, non-perishable milk boxes, coffee, tea, and peanut butter. (Sorry, no open or expired food can be accepted.)

Bring donations and/or help sort the donated food on December 31st from 10:00 – 10:30 am in the War Memorial at City Hall.  Everyone can help, from youngsters to seniors. Plus, enjoy craft making, face painting, and refreshments for the Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Open House until noon.

Camp Grossman Info Session

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Events, School Breaks, Summer for , , |

Come meet the camp director and learn all about Camp Kaleidoscope. With art, music, dance, theater, science and nature activities, campers of all ages have opportunities to spread their creative wings. The talented staff of artists, performers and educators inspires campers to try new things in a pluralistic Jewish setting that embraces campers of all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs.

Located at JCC Greater Boston’s, Leventhal-Sidman Center in Newton with transportation available from the surrounding areas. Can’t make it? Register online using the online registration at bostonjcc.org/kaleidoscope-registration.

January 20th
JCC Greater Boston
333 Nahanton Street

February, April, and Passover vacation camps

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, School Breaks, Sports for , , |

Worrying about what to do during school vacation? Don’t worry, JCC Greater Boston School Vacation Camp has got you covered. Camp runs during the weeklong break for February, April and Passover vacation. Kids get to choose up to three electives daily, including sports, swimming, arts & crafts, board games and more.

You do not want to miss this fun and engaging program as space is limited. Early bird pricing ends on January 21st and registration ends on February 11th. Enrollment is always flexible to fit your family’s plans. Kids can join for a single day, several days or the entire week. Children play and learn through a variety of different activities including swimming, art & crafts, cooking, dance and so much more! A kosher lunch is available for purchase making your morning a breeze. During the week, there is a different special highlight each day. Register at bostonjcc.org/schoolvacations.

Winter break songwriting workshop

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, School Breaks for , , |

The Plugged In Band Program is offering a 2-day songwriting workshop for youth ages 10-18 of all skill levels (beginners included). Songwriting experience is not required.

The songwriting workshop provides students with the opportunity to learn songwriting techniques and write, perform and record an original song. On the first day, students will learn about the charitable organization for which the Plugged In fall session concert will be raising money. Students will then be placed in groups led by Plugged In teachers. Each teacher will help their group write an original song about the charitable organization or about any subject that the group chooses. On the second day, each group will record their song. Recordings of all the songs will be posted to the Plugged In Band camp site to raise money and awareness for the charitable organization. More information and registration is available at www.pluggedinband.org.

Plugged In is a unique, inclusive nonprofit youth rock band program in Needham teaching young musicians ages 8-19 of all levels and needs about using music to create positive change in the world. In addition to weekly ensemble band classes, private lessons, summer camp, songwriting workshops and community performances, five times a year Plugged In students perform in benefit concerts that raise money for causes and organizations chosen by the students themselves. Plugged In provides a nurturing, non-competitive and supportive community to which young musicians feel a sense of belonging, an opportunity to express and be acknowledged for their musical interests and a chance to use their music to help others around the world.

Join for a special Math Circle meeting!

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks for |

Students will be solving challenging problems for different grades, while competing against each other to win prizes! Small prizes for everyone! Participation is $20.

For students grades 3 – 6. Register at www.engagingmath.com or email admin@engagingmath.com.

December 16th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Engaging Math

Multiplication Carnival

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks for |

Don’t get bogged down by multiplication! Master the most difficult multiplication facts in one visit to the Multiplication Carnival – no mindless drills, no boring flash cards, no tears, no painful memorization.

Have fun, and leave the carnival a Multiplication hero! Organized by Mathnasium Math Learning Center. Register for the 3-hour carnival event during the winter school break at www.MultiplicationCarnival.com

Choose one of December 27th, 28th, or 29th, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Mathnasium NEWTON
1349 Centre Street, Newton