NECP Updates
School year 2022-2023: January 27, 2023, Newsletter #19
GOOD AFTERNOON NECP FAMILIES!
It was ribbon cutting this week! It was so wonderful to have families, children and staff present for this occasion! This building renovation has been a long time in coming and it is so wonderful to have been able to partner with the City of Newton, the Mayor's office, City buildings, NPS, etc... for this to come to fruition! The next thing on the agenda is the Community open house. It is this Saturday, January 28th, 2023 from 10am-12pm. This is for anyone in the Newton community who wants to see the school. Feel free to come by again with your family and friends!
I do have to reiterate on the hot topic of parking that southbound Albemarle Road should be open next week, which should greatly help for travel, parking, etc... They have been replacing the gas line and that project should be finishing. Separately we have had a few parents in our bus lane. This is a "do not enter" and "authorized vehicles only" lane with signage on both sides. The parking lot in that bus lane is for staff and the only staff who can park in there are staff not leaving at all during the day when buses could be in the lane for safety for the children loading and unloading from our vans. Please do not come into this area of NECP for safety. Thank you for understanding!
Lastly just a couple of reminders - we have an early release next Thursday, February 2, 2023. NECP releases at 12:00pm. Also the bits of snow have been making me think to remind you all of the snow day procedures for NPS/NECP. You will get a call from the Superintendent regarding a school delay or closure. I will also post on NECP's social media (Twitter, Facebook). Below is the following for NECP and please also see NPS weather information here.
- If NPS is closed, NECP is closed
- If NPS calls a 1-hour delay, NECP is also delayed one hour. A morning classroom that begins at 8:30 would begin at 9:30, for example. Any "walk-in" therapy sessions that happen before 10am would not occur. Groups cannot be pushed back one hour.
- If NPS calls a 2-hour delay, ALL NECP classrooms and groups/walk-in services are cancelled for the day.
Have a great weekend!
Kathleen
NECP PTO
Our next PTO meeting will be on February 16, 2023 at 9:15am in our new school at 687 Watertown Street, and virtual. The hybrid model worked well so we will continue this model for our next meetings:
PTO Meeting
Thursday, February 16 · 9:15 – 10:00am
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/gwy-kvfn-adw
Or dial: (US) +1 267-719-4404 PIN: 402 408 598#
The PTO is not a position that one person does alone! We are looking for a team! Please volunteer if you have a certain skill set that would make one of these positions easy for you! We also have many former NECP PTO folks that are willing to help!
Don't forget - The PTO also has a new ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. 20% of all sales go back to the PTO! Mabel’s Labels is the best-known brand of durable labels for families, and the line of products features baby bottle labels, allergy and medical alert products, sports labels, household labels and seasonal items. They’re extremely durable, they’re laundry, dishwasher and microwave safe – and they’re 100% guaranteed. https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/about-us/#
Kindergarten Registration
NPS has updated its Kindergarten page. For those of you who are moving on to Kindergarten, please check out the page for information about registration, kindergarten information night, etc....
Information Night for Families NEW to NPS - Feb. 28, 2023
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., Newton Public Schools will hold an information session for families NEW to the Newton Public Schools. The session will include a general overview of the kindergarten registration and screening process, as well as other important topics that may be useful to new parents. A link to the webinar will be posted on the Kindergarten information page in late February.
Parks and Recreation Camp Information for Summer 2023
A message from our social worker, Jen Kovitz:
Many of the Parks and Rec camps offered are not age appropriate for our friends but there are a couple that are such as Kids Corner or T-Ville Trails (entering K). Please reach out to Jennifer Kovitz (NECP Social Worker) if you need assistance filling out forms (Camp Application and Scholarship Application)
Kovitzj@newton.k12.ma.us OR 617-559-6868
This will be a confidential process.
Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture is gearing up for our summer camp registration. Families are invited to attend our summer camp and program fair on Sunday, January 29th at Newton North High School in the cafeteria from 12:00 – 3:00. Managers and camp directors will be on hand to answer questions about our programs.
Online registration for our camps will begin on Wednesday, February 1st. Registering online is the best way to guarantee a space in the program, but for families that are not able to register online, we also accept paper registrations forms staring on February 2nd. The paper registration form is attached. Please note that whether a family chooses to register online or with the paper registration form, a $30.00 deposit is due per child, per week with the registration.
Scholarships are available for families that qualify with an application form submitted before May 1st. All families will need to pay some money towards camp. We concentrate the most scholarship funding to those families falling under the 50% of the median income as set by CDBG.
S.P.A.C.E. CAMP
Please see the S.P.A.C.E. (Summer Program for Academic and Creative Endeavors) camp website. Registration is now open!
Newton S.P.A.C.E. is a four-week summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools from July 5th through July 28th. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall of 2023 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs - an upper camp (entering grade 5-entering grade 9) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten-entering grade 4).
SCHOOL LUNCH - DON'T FORGET TO ORDER!!!
On 7/28/22, universally-free meals for students in Massachusetts was confirmed for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. While free, this is a different program than last year and food services does need to log who is receiving meals this year.
EVERY WEEK parents must order their student a school lunches via this google form. Parent must do this for the week by 8pm Sunday evening. I have also linked the FD mealplanner at the top of the ordering form or here as well. The NECP menu is now live under Newton Early Childhood. Please remember to do this weekly and if you do forget teachers ask your teacher to get your student a meal for that day (they are sending 4-5 extra bagel meals just in case) and then we will log it separately.
Discovery Museum: Free events for families with children with disabilities
Irene, one of our wonderful Occupational Therapists found this information to share with you all:
The Discovery Museum (177 Main Street, Acton) offers its Especially for Me program of free events for families with children with disabilities. All events are free but require registration. Registration links will appear on this page before each event, and you can register now for the January 21 event here. at the links here. The events for 2023 are:
- Mornings for Families of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & KODA Infants and Toddlers (closed to the public): Mondays 9:30AM-12:30PM on February 13, September 11
- Sensory-Friendly Afternoons (open to the public, but no group visits are scheduled): Tuesdays 1:30-4:30PM on February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, August 1, October 3, November 7, December 5
- Evenings for Families with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & KODA Children (closed to the public): Saturdays 5-8PM on March 11, May 6, December 2.
- Evenings for Families with a Visual Impairment (closed to the public): Saturdays 5-8PM on February 4, October 7.
- Autism-Friendly Evenings (closed to the public): Saturdays 5-8PM on January 7, March 18, April 1, June 3, September 16, October 21, December 16
- All-Access Evenings (closed to the public): Saturdays 5-8PM on January 21, May 20, June 17, November 18
STORY STARTERS - DID YOU KNOW?
Story Starters is a Newton-based nonprofit that supports parents and educators in developing children's anti-racist values and inspires racial justice action in homes, schools and communities. Families with children ages 3-8 years old: if you are interested in exploring these strategies and discussions at home, their next Family Conversations Program enrollment is open!!! The program kickoff is February 12th online or in-person.
Here is more information:
Author and illustrator, Grace Lin will join us for our program kickoff! Story Starters is enrolling families with 3- to 8-year-olds to participate in our Family Conversations program. These 8 weeks are designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their young children. Story Starters gives families age-appropriate tools and skills to have meaningful conversations about race and racism. Story Starters families learn from educators, racial justice advocates, and each other.
Our program provides families with:
A bundle of 6 books
5 parent guides
4 curated book lists
2 family events and 2 parent workshops
A vibrant community of families seeking to make an impact in their homes and beyond
PASS THE WORD - NECP is enrolling for the 2023-2024 school year for our community peers
NECP is now accepting applications for NEW community peers for the 2023-2024 school year. We had our first developmental observation and our 2023-2024 placements are going fast! If you have friends with soon to be preschoolers or younger family members please apply and be a part of the first full school year in our new site at 687 Watertown Street. The application is found under "application process" on our website. Financial assistance is available.
PASS THE WORD - Preschool Developmental Screenings
NECP conducts Preschool Developmental Screenings monthly for children ages 3 to 5 years old in an effort to identify children who may have a disability and are in need of special education support. It is designed to review a child’s development and assist in the identification of children who should be referred for further evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services. This is a free and optional service for Newton residents only.
The screenings are conducted monthly in the 2022-2023 school year. If a student is already at NECP they do not need to attend this screening but if you have a friend who is concerned about their child's development, have them reach out to the preschool at 617-559-6050 for a screening
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
1. Community open house - Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at 10am.
2. Early Release - Thursday, February 2, 2023
3. February School Vacation/Winter Break - February 20-24, 2023
2022-2023 EARLY RELEASE DAYS
Please make note!
All students will be dismissed at 12:00PM on the following All School Early Release Days:
Thursday, September 29
Tuesday, November 8
Thursday, December 8
Thursday, February 2
Thursday, March 23
Thursday, May 11
CONTACT/FOLLOW NECP
Email: browningk@newton.k12.ma.us
Website: www.newton.k12.ma.us/NECP
Location: 150 Jackson Road, Newton, MA, USA
Phone: 617-559-6050
Facebook: facebook.com/NECPNewton
Twitter: @NECP_NPS