Category Archives: School Breaks

Food for Families: Free backpacks filled with breakfast and lunch essentials

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Other, School Breaks for , , |

Weekends and school vacations can be a significant hardship for families without access to school-supplied breakfast and lunch. The City is offering FREE backpacks to families filled with breakfast and lunch essentials at community locations to help ensure that all our families with need have adequate food on the table throughout the school year. Here is a list of the locations to pick up a free backpack:

Newton Health and Human Services, City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Fire Station 10, 755 Dedham Street
Newton Boys & Girls Club, 675 Watertown Street
Newton Free Library,  330 Homer Street

The FUEL program will also be providing FREE backpacks of breakfast and lunch essentials at some Newton Public Schools this year. The backpacks are designed for a child to have breakfast and lunch on the weekends. To request to have FUEL backpacks at your school, contact fuel@redeemerchestnuthill.org or call the Health Department at 617-796-1420.

For more information on food programs or for additional services offered by the City of Newton Social Services division, visit www.newtonma.gov/food or call 617-796-1420.

Newton Family February Ski Vacation to the Alps

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, School Breaks, Sports for , , |

Newton dad, Randy Friedman, of Seven Travel has lined up a family ski vacation to the Alps over February school break. Come join other Newton families and friends as you head to Innsbruck, Austria February 15-22, 2019!

Great skiing, scenery, sightseeing, shopping and much more. Skiers and non-skiers alike will have a blast visiting this historic cultural Capital of the Tirol.

Click http://www.seventravel.org/ and go to Trips.

What else is Happening at the West Suburban YMCA

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks, Sports, Summer for , , |

Pickleball
Join on Tuesdays from 9:30 -11:30 am and take up a new sport: Pickleball! What’s Pickleball, you ask? Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and ping-pong. All are welcome to come and try this up-and-coming sport. $5.00 drop-in fee.

Fall 2018 After School Program Registration
Enrollment for Fall 2018 Out-of-School Time at the West Suburban YMCA is open. Out-of-School Time (OST) is an engaging after-school care program for grades K-8. The school-year program follows the Newton Public School calendar, including extended hours and Early Release Days, and transportation to the Y is available from most elementary and middle schools in Newton. For more information, visit wsymca.org or contact Jeremy Smith at 617-244-6050 x3068 or jeremys@wsymca.org.

Have the Best Summer Ever
The West Suburban YMCA wants kids to have the best summer ever, so attend a camp open house and find your perfect fit:

Camp Pikati Open House
May 12th, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm and May 30th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
276 Church Street, Newton

Camp Chickami Open House
May 12th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm and May 31st, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
139 Boston Post Road, Wayland

Camp Frank A. Day Open House
May 20th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and June 3rd, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
125 South Pond Road, East Brookfield

Registration for summer camp is ongoing, but sessions are beginning to fill. For more information, visit wsymca.org or contact Camping Services at 617-244-6050 ex. 3008 or email campingservices@wsymca.org.

Zervas 5th Grade Families: Upcoming Open Houses for Highlands After-School Program

Posted on April 4, 2018 by zervaspto in Advertisements, Community Notes, School Breaks for |

OPEN HOUSES FOR HIGHLANDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open House events for interested families on: Monday, March 26, Tuesday, April 3 and Sunday, April 8 all from 5:30-6:30 PM. at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join us and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit our website highlandsafterschool.org

Zervas 5th Grade Families: Upcoming Open Houses for Highlands After-School Program

Posted on March 28, 2018 by zervaspto in Advertisements, Community Notes, School Breaks for |

OPEN HOUSES FOR HIGHLANDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open House events for interested families on: Monday, March 26, Tuesday, April 3 and Sunday, April 8 all from 5:30-6:30 PM. at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join us and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit our website highlandsafterschool.org

April School Vacation Programs

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, School Breaks for , |

Join Newton Parks and Recreation for an April School Vacation Program. All programs run April 17th – 20th. Register online at activityreg.com, check out the website at www.newtonma.gov/gov/parks or call 617-796-1500 for more information.

Programs include:

Burr Park Vacation Camp for grades K – 3. Enjoy a fun field trip each day including Dave and Busters, Wooden Toys and Crafts, One Stop Fun and Launch. Standard day from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm or extended day from 8:15 am – 5:30 pm are available. Register by day or for all 4 days.

Lower Falls Community Center special event camp for grades K – 6 and field trip camp for grades 3 – 6. Special event camp features activity choices during the day and a fun special event each day. Events include a Game Show Day, Lego Party, New England Aquarium Touch Tank, and Freestyle Frisbee Show. Field trip camp features a field trip each day including Fun World, Lil Folk Farm, Mystic Aquarium and Launch. Standard day from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm or extended day from 8:15 am – 5:30 pm are available. Register by day or for all 4 days.

Thundercat Sports at Pellegrini Park for ages 6 – 12. Play a variety of sports throughout the day. Camp runs 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Register by day or for all 4 days.

Einstein’s Workshop: Newton Summer Camp Discounts / Vacation Week Programs

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, School Breaks, Summer for , , |

Einstein’s Workshop Summer Camps provide a wide range of STEM programming for children in grades K-9 at their Newton (Zervas) and Burlington locations.

Register for the Newton camp by April 1st to take advantage of a 10% early bird discount and refer a friend by May 1st for an additional 10%. For more information or to register, please see www.einsteinsworkshop.com/summer-camp.

Einstein’s Workshop also offers Good Friday and April Vacation Week programming at its Burlington location. Learn more at https://www.einsteinsworkshop.com/holidays-vacations/holidays-vacations.

Zervas 5th Grade Families: Upcoming Open Houses for Highlands After-School Program

Posted on March 21, 2018 by zervaspto in Advertisements, Community Notes, School Breaks for |

OPEN HOUSES FOR HIGHLANDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Newton Highlands After-School Program, just for middle school children is hosting Open House events for interested families on: Monday, March 26, Tuesday, April 3 and Sunday, April 8 all from 5:30-6:30 PM. at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands. This is a terrific opportunity for parents of 5th graders to learn more about the program as they plan for the next school year. Please join us and see the wonderful space that is the home base of this terrific program. For more information please contact: Rochelle Acker at 617-999-4617 or highlandsafterschool@gmail.com or visit our website highlandsafterschool.org

Try the Y!

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Events, School Breaks, Sports, Summer for , , |

Free and open to all on Mondays throughout March. Just stop by the Y at 276 Church Street with a valid ID, and they’ll waive the regular guest fees.

Early Spring Programs

Registration for Early Spring Programs is open. Programs run February 26th –  April 15. Visit wsymca.org to register online or stop by the Y’s Welcome Center at 276 Church Street, Newton, MA.

  • ·Swim Lessons for all ages
  • Youth Sports Leagues & Classes – New Teen Basketball League, Flag Football, Soccer and Karate
  • Private Music Lessons and Rock Band Program
  • Personal Training
  • New! Kids Yoga and Dance Classes

Just for Teens

The West Suburban YMCA offers a safe space for teens to connect with the YMCA community and build relationships with their peers. Drop in to open Rec Time on weeknights, Monday-Thursday from 6:00 – 9:00 pm to spend time with friends or make new ones while playing table games, board games, and Wii! Teens who are looking to make healthy changes or develop fitness goals are invited to try the Y’s Teen Fit program, Monday-Friday from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. To learn more, contact Youth & Teen Program Director, Jeremy Smith at jeremys@wsymca.org.

Sign Up for Summer Camps!

All summer long, the West Suburban YMCA keeps kids engaged and safe with camp programs. They inspire kids to work and play together, creating friendships that can last a lifetime, and make sure all kids feel welcome and comfortable being themselves. Registration is currently open for all WSYMCA summer camps! Sign up with a $100 deposit per session.

  • Day Camps – Weekly sessions, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am –4:00 pm. Daily Swim lessons are included and extended care is available both in the morning and afternoon.
  • Camp Chickami is a traditional outdoor camp located in Wayland welcoming boys and girls ages 6-15. Bus transportation is available from the West Suburban YMCA and stops throughout Newton.
  • Camp Pikati, located at the West Suburban YMCA, welcomes kids between the ages of 3-15 years with a half-day option young campers (ages 3-4). Pikati campers enjoy weekly themes in the traditional camp program, or they can participate in Pikati Sports Camp.
  • Overnight Camp – Camp Frank A. Day is located in East Brookfield and welcomes boys and girls ages 7-15. Spanning 52 acres, Camp Frank A. Day has direct lake access with a beachfront, athletic fields, modern cabins, basketball courts, climbing towers and all the facilities needed to run a fun and safe summer camp.

For more information on summer camps, come to the Y on March 3rd,  12:00 – 2:00 pm, contact campings@wsymca.org, or call 617-244-6050 x 3008.

Summer Sessions from the YCCA (Ages 12 and up)

Registration is open for the West Suburban YMCA Center for the Creative Arts (YCCA) Summer Sessions – a one-of-a-kind collaborative summer music program where participants write and record their own songs.

Participants will build and improve upon the creative skills of songwriting, filming, audio engineering, video editing, production, and instrumental or vocal performance while creating a complete, professional project featured on Spotify!  For more information, contact Kevin O’Connell at x 3208.

Session 1: July 2–13
Session 2: July 16–27
Session 3: July 30–August 10
Session 4: August 13–24

Kids’ Night Out (Ages 7-13) –  March 2nd, 6:00 – 10:00 pm

The West Suburban YMCA invites parents to bring their children to the Y for a fun and supervised Friday night program. Children will enjoy pizza for dinner and engage in games, swimming, movies and sports! Kids’ Night Out is held on the 1st Friday of each month. For more information, contact the Y’s Youth & Teen Services Director, Jeremy Smith at jeremys@wsymca.org.

Poetry and Open Mic Night –  March 2nd, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Free and open to the public! Organized by Barbara Helfogtt-Hyett, of Poemworks.com, listen to local poets and sign up for the open mic portion of the evening to share your poetry. Featuring live music from YCCA musicians. This events repeats on the first Friday of each month.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs

The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is our mission to never turn anyone away due to their inability to pay. Please contact our Membership Department at 617-244-6050 x 3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Vacation Week Drop in Play Space

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Newton PTO Council in Advertisements, Community Notes, Education/Enrichment, Events, School Breaks for |

Looking for a fun place for you and your toddler to spend the morning during February
vacation? On February 21st and February 23rd from 9:30 – 11:00 am, join Time for Partners Art & Music teacher, Paula Gannon, at a drop-in Playspace at Newton City Hall.

For children ages 18 months to 5 years with a caregiver – make an art project, make some music and make new friends! You do not need to be a registered participant in the Time for Partners class to enjoy this fun vacation program, just drop in! $10.00 per child or $25.00 per family. Any questions, please call 617-796-1540.