It’s that time of year again: the time of year when parents/guardians have a million questions about gifts to teachers.

Please remember Newton’s policy about gifts to teachers. This policy was adopted by Newton School Committee and can be found at their website using this link: Gift Policy.

Please click here for a flyer that may be helpful: Gift Policy overview.

Thanks to the generous support of our community, last year Newton Schools Foundation, (NSF) provided $155,000 to support the 12,000+ students in the Newton Public Schools.

NSF advances excellence and equity in NPS by funding promising initiatives, professional
development, and programs that close gaps in achievement and opportunity, including:

• The Calculus Project, a program aimed at closing the achievement gap by helping low-
  income students and students of color reach higher levels in math through tutoring,
  summer programs, and field trips.
• Generation Citizen, a middle school civics education program to empower young
  people to become engaged and effective citizens.
• Responsive Classroom, an elementary and middle school teacher-training program
  that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school
  community.
• The DaVinci Program, a unique multi-disciplinary high school curriculum that examines life’s big questions through science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
• Instrumental Music Enrichment Program, 5th grade students at several elementary
  schools that have a higher proportion of low-income students receive small-group music lessons from professional musicians during band/orchestra.
• Race and Achievement Working Groups, an ongoing district initiative which includes
  teacher training, outreach to parents, and student learning.

As we enter the holiday season, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to NSF. Make a gift here: http://newtonschoolsfoundation.org/annual-appeal

Your gift ensures that our students and faculty continue to benefit from these critical programs. Thank you!
–Newton Schools Foundation Board of Directors

The Centre Street Food Pantry board is looking for an energetic new board member who has strong connections in the business community in Newton. They are a working board and in addition to managing programs, members also help out at pantry-related events and host work days at the pantry. The Board meets monthly on Tuesday evenings. If you are interested in being part of this fun and meaningful non-profit board, please send a resume and letter of introduction to info@centrestfoodpantry.org.

In addition, the Centre Street Food Pantry is seeking candidates for a part-time paid Volunteer Coordinator position (total of 10-12 per week including working at the pantry every Tuesday 4:00 – 8:00 pm). Ideal candidates are enthusiastic, good planners, kind, easy to talk to and have experience in volunteer management or training. To express your interest, please send your resume to m.yacovi@centrestfoodpantry.org.