Youth Services Names March RAY of Hope Recipients

Trio nominated for their work assembling a swim-a-thon to help in Haiti.

Submitted by Needham Youth Services Penny Gordon nominated Samantha Distler, Aliza Bloostein and Beth Gordon for the RAY of Hope award for their work in assembling a swim-a-thon in 2010 to raise funds to help disaster relief work in Haiti after a very powerful and devastating earthquake struck Haiti.   In 2011, the girls also participated in a second swim-a-thon to benefit a Japanese relief fund to aid victims of the tsunami. They met six years ago on their swim team and have been friends ever since.  Distler, Bloostein and Gordon are long-time members of the Karishim Swim Club, a competitive swim team at the Jewish Community Center in Newton that is devoted to developing strong values, building self esteem and enabling swimmers ages 8-17 …

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VIDEO: NHS Makes a Statement

Needham High School staff and students wrote messages on white T-shirts and wore them to school on Friday, March 30 as part of Own Your Peace-Piece Week.

Last Friday, Needham High School staff and students truly expressed themselves, wearing white T-shirts decorated with a variety of quotes, song lyrics and phrases from inspirational to funny for the annual Make a Statement Day. Organized by Needham Youth Services and the Make a Statement Day Club at Needham High School, the event encouraged teens to speak out in a unique way—by wearing their words. With about 1,000 T-shirts donated by Mark's Moving Company and Lisa's Boutique, students and staff gathered for a big T-shirt decorating party on an early release day, Wednesday, March 28, working while they enjoyed music and pizza donated by local restaurants. Additional shirts were decorated on Thursday, and everyone wore their shirts to …

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POLL: What Tech Tool Do You Rely on the Most?

How hard is it for you to go without cell phones, computers and other electronic devices during Needham Unplugged?

Throughout the month of March, Needham Youth Services is encouraging the community to put away their tech toys and electronic essentials, to unplug from these devices while plugging in with family, friends and co-workers. The staff at Youth Services have created a calendar full of alternative ways to spend your time rather than sitting at a computer screen or texting on your cell phone (see the calendar at right). On March 15, the town celebrated its annual No Homework, No Meetings Night, with Needham Public Schools sending kids home without assignments and asking town boards not to meet for one night. Coming up, there will be an E-mail Free Friday on March 23 and a Text-Free Tuesday on March 27, both asking residents to commit to one day …

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A Concerning Trend: 'Am I Pretty' Videos Make Teen Emotions Public and Permanent

Needham Youth Services Director Jon Mattleman talks about the recent trend of teens posting comment-seeking videos to YouTube

Teenagers worrying about their looks and struggling with self-esteem issues is nothing new. Many adults can recall exploring exactly these emotions in the pages of a diary after a tough day at middle or high school, whether it was 10, 20 or 40 years ago. But take those emotions from the page to the video screen—and ultimately to thousands of Internet viewers—and new problems emerge, said Jon Mattleman, Needham Youth Services director. Mattleman talked with Patch recently about the new trend of young women posting videos on YouTube asking viewers, “Am I pretty?” and seeking comments. Mattleman said that the sentiments behind these videos are pretty common for teen and preteen girls, but that the permanence of these videos is concerning. “…

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Candace Chase Named 2012 'Good Person'

The Youth Services award recipient was honored at a presentation on Jan. 23.

Since taking over the Needham High School Anime Club eight years ago, Candace Chase has made it a haven of sorts for teens—a place where they can feel comfortable and have fun while learning about Japanese culture and working to make a difference in their community and in the world. On Monday evening, Chase was honored for her efforts with the 2012 Patrick C. Forde Good Person Memorial Award. “It’s not just another Needham High School club, and it’s not just a group of kids who are interested in Japanese anime cartoons,” explained Wendy Surr, one of several people who nominated Chase for the award. “What Candace has created—ironically, right here in this room—is a haven for Needham High School kids who need an alternative to the fast-paced…

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need To Know Today: Jan. 9

Registration opens for Needham Youth Services, After-School Enrichment programs.

 “Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 1. Sunny: Today will be sunny with possible snow showers late this evening, mainly after 3:00 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. The high will be around 38 degrees and the low will be around 28 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. 2. Using social media: The Needham chapter of Believe, Inspire, Grow, or B.I.G.—a career and networking group for women—will gather at The Center Café at 10:00 a.m. to talk about using social media in business. Visitors are welcome; RSVP via www.justthinkbig.us or email amy@levitts.net. 3. After school activities: Registration for Needham Community Education’s …

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Whiz Kids

Youth Services Ends 14th Year of Project VAN

Local teens provided 400 hours of community service around town in July.

Throughout the month of July, 30 Needham youth provided 400 hours of community service to local organizations as part of Needham Youth Services’ Project VAN (Volunteers Around Needham). Project VAN organizes youth ages 13-17 to offer their skills, talents and hard work to others every summer. The program is made possible by generous funding from the Needham Community Council. Locations where the youth offered their help this summer include: the Needham Free Public Library, Needham Housing Authority, Needham Community Council, Charles River Center, Wingate at Needham, Stephen Palmer Senior Center (Needham Council on Aging) and Needham Park and Recreation’s Cricketeer Adventure Program. Know a great kid or group of kids? Great kids are …

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Whiz Kids

Needham Grad Earns RAY of Hope Honor

Sean O'Connor kept busy with sports, volunteer work and Mandarin studies while in high school.

Sean O’Connor, a recent Needham High School graduate, received Needham Youth Services' RAY of Hope award for the month of June. O'Connor was nominated for the award by Chanie Krinsky, who leads the Friendship Circle program in Needham, where O'Connor has been a volunteer for four years.  O'Connor has been captain of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams at Needham High School and participated on these teams during all four years. He was vice-president of Needham High School’s National Honor Society this year and was a member of the National Chinese Honor Society as well. He just finished his fourth year studying Mandarin, which he hopes to continue studying at college. In his sophomore year, O'Connor went to China for 10 days …

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Whiz Kids

Rising Senior Receives RAY of Hope Honor

Needham teen recognized by Youth Services and the Needham Business Association for her efforts with Best Buddies.

Rising Needham High School senior Alison Smith received the RAY of Hope honor for the month of May and is being recognized as this week’s Needham Patch Whiz Kid. The Recognize A Youth program, or RAY of Hope, was created by Needham Youth Services in association with the Needham Business Association and recognizes youth who have performed outstanding service the Needham community and who are excellent role models for their peers through their actions. Smith, a member of the Class of 2012, was recognized for her work with the Best Buddies organization—a group that helps to create friendships with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and the STRIVE special education program. With the start of the new school year, Smith will…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: July 5

Longwood Opera's summer series kicks off tonight.

"Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 1. Don’t put away the sunscreen: Today will be mostly sunny with a high around 87 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The evening will be mostly clear with a low around 63. 2. Got an odd job? Needham residents in need of some help around the house this summer can turn to the Youth Services office, which links local teens to jobs around the area for a small fee ($5-$10) paid by the resident in need of service. For information, visit the town Web site or call 781-455-7500 ext. 267. 3. Evening of opera: Longwood Opera will kick off its 21st annual summer concert series tonight with “An Evening of Opera” …

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