newton community education SPRING 2020 classes for kids and adults notes cover artist Paola PaGe what’s new? Paola Page grew up in New England and went We’Re foolING you to college here in Rhode Island, then found love in Europe and spent much of her adult life in Stained Glass England and Italy. She has been an artist for as long as she can remember. Cakes You can really eat it... From an early age, Paola was drawn to research. but you may not want to. She ignored personality profiles that indicated s Learn to decorate a cake he should enter the legal profession, and instead focused her investi- so beautiful it could be a gative instincts towards the subjects for her art. Paola is particularly window in a church. See fascinated by fairy tales. She has uncovered early versions of many of page 16 for details. our beloved stories and myths, several of which were written by wom- en. She aims to tell the deeper stories of the female characters in these fairy tales through her paintings, using fluid color to define imagery, and mapping out narratives and avenues for abstract intervention. Our cover art features Aurore (aka Sleeping Beauty, Briar Rose, or Imposter baking La Belle au bois dormant), whose story was first told by Giambattista (for kids) Basile, later retold by Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and It’s a salad... no it’s a finally, by Disney. cake... it’s imposter baking! Make delicious Paola joined the NCE staff four years ago. She especially appreciates sweets that look like the reciprocal process in her classes, where she learns from her stu- burgers, bacon and eggs, dents as they learn from her. She admires their support of each other, or grilled cheese. Learn both inside and outside the classroom. Paola is also a faculty mem- more on page 50. ber at Tufts University. She holds degrees from Tufts University and Rhode Island School of Design, and has served in numerous arts advi- sory roles and managerial positions, in both the UK and the US. PAOLA’S CLASSES THIS SPRING: contact us Beyond Basic Drawing (p 5) our mission Newton North High School Advancing with Abstract Painting (p 8). Room 101 Newton Community Education 457 Walnut Street is a self-sustaining arm of the Newtonville, MA 02460 summer plans? Newton Public Schools. We are email: [email protected] dedicated to your lifelong learning. Phone: 617-559-6999 ThINk ouTSIde The box We offer programs for everyone Fax: 617-559-6998 eager to explore—from toddlers Monday–Friday 8:30am–5pm Build something at NCE this Monday–Thursday 5–8pm when evening to seniors—from Newton and summer—a city, a salad out classes are in session at Newton North. beyond. When the school day ends, of ganache, or a show. See our classes begin, offering access Newton South High School pages 50-69 for all sorts to school facilities for community Satellite Office, Room 9208 of options. 140 Brandeis Road learning. We aim to inspire or nurture Newton Centre MA 02459 your passion with quality programs Phone: 617-559-6508 provided at a reasonable cost.. Monday–Thursday 5:30–8pm when evening classes are in session at Newton South. During the day by appointment only (617-559-6999). 2 617 559-6999 spring 2020 adult classes featured teacher Art & Photography ....................................5 ShRuTI MehTa Business & Career ....................................42 I am a native of India. I learned Computers & Technology .........................43 to cook after migrating to the Crafts.......................................................32 USA as a young bride. Missing Dance & Fitness .......................................20 the simple daily meals of my English Language Learners (ELL) .............44 10 mother’s kitchen, I started rec- Food & Drink ...........................................14 reating dishes just by relying GED/HiSet ...............................................45 on the memory of the look and taste of the food I left behind. Home & Garden .......................................35 Languages ..............................................10 It is said that the taste of foods you love or hate nev- Lifetime Learning ...................................34 er leaves your palate; the memory of that taste lives on forever. I kept trying to achieve that same texture, Mind, Body, & Soul ..................................22 20 same flavor, same appearance familiar to me from an Money & Real Estate ...............................39 earlier life. It was an era in the 1970s when curry was Music & Theatre Arts ...............................28 snubbed as being too spicy and Indian food in gen- Online Learning.......................................45 eral was not as popular as it is today. But an Italian Recreation ...............................................17 neighbor’s enthusiasm and encouragement about Writing, Speaking, & Literature ...............30 my food led me to venture out to teach Indian cook- ing to the general public. kids classes It has been almost 40 years and both the cooking Spring Classes & Sports ...........................46 35 and teaching continue. I now teach various foods Spring Classes for High Schoolers ............49 from all the different regions of India. Besides the Summer Programs ..................................50 classic and exotic recipes that made Indian food so Summer at a Glance .......................68 & 69 popular, my students learn to make American dishes using Indian spices and herbs. Thus one can learn to nuts & bolts make Aloo quesadillas (spiced potatoes with cilantro General Info & Policies ............................70 chutney quesadillas) or masala spaghetti (spaghetti Registration Form ...................................71 with vegetables, ginger, chilies, and garam masala). Staff Picks..................................................4 46 I share many stories and anecdotes related to the dishes being cooked. My classes and my food will Spring take you back to another country and culture. into action We decide whether a class Shruti is currently compiling her recipes to put together is running a week or more before its start date (or by in a book. But you can learn to cook directly from her in June 1st if it’s a Kids Summer these spring NCE classes: class). Your registration might make all the difference. South Indian Cooking on page 15 But some classes fill really Dine-in Indian on page 15 fast, so jump to it and register now. newtoncommunityed.org 3 Want to know why we pick what we pick for our Staff Picks page staff picks each term? Here’s a little insight. FOR kIdS Robin’s picks Susan’s picks lisa’s Picks ActivISM & Art Springtime GaMING: uNPluGGed Sami Martisian (page 6) bIRd WalkS Joe Eckstrom & Lucas Mihalich (page 63) So often I find myself without the right Michele Grzenda I LOVE when teachers come to me with words to say how I feel. What I I love (page 17) total enthusiasm for an original class idea, about this new class is that you don’t need It’s January and it is and that's what happened here. We have the right words, or any words for that c-c-c-c-old as I sit here lots of tech classes at NCE, but this class is matter, to express how you feel or what and look out at the grey of winter. I find really different, and that's why it appealed you mean to say. Your art speaks for itself. myself longing for the greener times ahead to me. These teachers are long-time bud- You can say it or scream it in whatever and to be outside. I’m the kind of gal who dies looking to share their shared passion color, shape, or size you desire. And may- needs fun things to look forward to. So for good old board games. While no one be you can create something that moves what I am truly excited about are Michelle’s here is anti- people—that affects how they think and walks in local parks. She is so much fun; tech, we all feel, or that inspires them to take an ac- she can identify birds not just by sight, but love the idea of tion to improve the world and hopefully also by their chirps and whistles! I’m hop- getting familiar make it a better place for all of us. ing I’ll learn how to imitate some. with the basics of gaming felTed faux CactuS TRavelING strategy and design, enjoy- Bonnie Lerner (page 32) Solo & lovING IT ing some hearty competition, and putting I have the fondest memories of sewing your creative energy towards the task of with my grandmother as a child. I don’t Debbie Toppan making a game you can actually touch and sew at all anymore, but I’ll never forget (page 19) feel—as well as play with friends. the tomato pincushion my grandmother Speaking of get- used with me long ago. I’m excited to ting out and about, CReaTIve leTTeRING offer this class because when I saw sam- our college-age ples of the pincushions you’ll make here, daughter is thinking farther afield and Joanne Baker (page 55) it brought back that memory from my planning a solo trip across Europe. I’m This class had its debut at NCE last sum- childhood. You could make any decora- all for this, and while I’m no helicopter mer. It ran in a room right across from tive object out of felt, but the pincushion (or bulldozer) parent, I have a healthy our office. Every time I popped in, I was speaks to me. My grandmother’s looked amount of concern that she’ll be okay. blown away by the collective focus and like a tomato and yours will look like a (Her solo trip to the Netherlands in the easygoing atmosphere in there. Honestly cactus; I hope you are able to fondly look dead of winter went well, hooray!) But (you can ask him), I went home many back and I do think she could use a few pointers nights and gushed enjoy the about travelling alone.