Category Archives: For Sophomores

Course Verification Day: Wed., April 14

Verification Day: Wednesday, April 14th:

On Wednesday, April 14th, all classes for students will be asynchronous so that students can use the opportunity to check in with their counselor and/or teachers for last-minute questions, course recommendation approvals, or anything else that may need to be discussed related to courses for next year.
At approximately 5:00 pm on this day (4/14), course verification forms will be published to Aspen for every student. Students will be able to find their course verification form in the Documents section in their Aspen account.
From 5:00 pm on 4/14 through 4:00 pm on 4/16, students will then need to fill out a Google verification form (that will be shared with them on 4/14 via both Aspen and Schoology by me) where they will make any final, last-minute changes or course requests, rank their selections, etc. Instructions will be clearly indicated on the form. Please know that ALL students will need to fill out the form, EVEN IF NO CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE as we need to have a record that EVERY student has verified that the courses on their verification form in Aspen are accurate.
By late Monday morning, 4/26, updated verification forms reflecting any changes to student course requests for next year made between 4/14 and 4/16 will be published to the documents section of Aspen.

Finally, please be aware that NO changes to courses and schedules may be requested by students after 4/26 as we need to start staffing our courses and determining final numbers of course sections. Therefore, STUDENTS, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CAREFULLY REVIEW YOUR COURSES FOR NEXT YEAR AND MAKE THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS, KEEPING IN MIND BALANCE AND SIGNING UP FOR COURSES THAT YOU ARE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN!

Course registration information for the Class of 2023

Dear South Students and Families –

In the coming days students will access their course recommendations for the 2021-2022 school year. Students will also be asked to select their elective course choices. Course registration is an exciting time, allowing students to explore new disciplines and delve more deeply into previously identified interests.

Between March 25th and April 14th counselors will hold brief one-on-one meetings with all students to complete their selections in Aspen. For the class of 2023, we are prioritizing these meetings between Wednesday 3/31 and Wednesday 4/7. Students should schedule a meeting with their counselor during an unassigned period or flex block whenever possible. Students should also plan on scheduling their meeting on a day that they are learning remotely, when possible, to allow them to speak more freely than if they are in an assigned study with other students.

Counselors will work with students to consider balance (with regard to levels as well as overall course load), to make sure students are electing a full complement of courses including alternate choices, and how next year’s choices fit within a broader four year plan. In this most unusual year, we ask for your partnership with the following steps to make sure that students make good, thoughtful course selections.

  1. We encourage you to take time to review available course offerings in the NSHS Program of Studies. Rising 11th graders are reminded that US History and Biology are required courses for graduation, in addition to English being required for all four years.

  2. Please complete a draft course request form prior to meeting with your school counselor to complete/review your course choices in Aspen. Make sure you meet minimum credit count and that you select alternates.

  3. Remember that Newton South recommends that students take no more than three courses at the AP/honors level.

  4. Please review course request change guidelines

Please contact your counselor should you have any questions.

Best,

Dan Rubin

Director of Guidance

UNESCO Program Virtual Information Meeting: March 16 & 17

The UNESCO Program will be hosting a virtual information meeting on March 16 & 17 for all students who are interested in applying for the 2022 Program (see poster for details).

Description: Students will attend the 3-day International Meeting of the UNESCO Associated Schools.  Prior to traveling to the conference, students will brainstorm, implement, document, and produce a project around the conference theme: 2022 Diversity of Cultural Expressions.  At the conference, students will present their projects to students, teachers, and UNESCO organizers.  After the conference, students will tour historical sites and landmarks in and around Lisbon, Portugal, learning and experiencing Portuguese history and culture.

Eligibility:  CURRENT (2020-2021) Newton South freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Application Process & More Information:  Please visit the UNESCO Program website for more information and inside looks at the student experiences over the years and themes. Applications for 2022 will be made available on the site AFTER the information meeting.

Websitehttps://pavaos.wixsite.com/pavao/unescoportugalprogram

Zoom Link: https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/83667560104 Passcode: dogao2021

UNESCO 2022 – Information Meeting Flyer

Sophomore Parent Volunteers for G10 Meet/Greet

The PTSO is continually looking to find ways creative fun events to help Newton South students meet and connect.   We are proposing a student meet/greet event in the next couple of weeks, possibly on Wed. Nov 11 (No School).

In order to make this event possible, we need 3-4 parent volunteers interested in helping organize the event.

Please contact the PTSO at info@newtonsouthPTSO.org by Wed, Nov 4th if you are interested in helping organize this event.

PTSO is proposing to organize a Grade 10 student meet/greet on Wed. Nov. 11th (Veterans Day – NO SCHOOL).  The event would involve Grade 11 students leading a group of Grade 10 students in a meet/greet.  Grade 10 students would register and be grouped by their Community/Advisory Class to enable students to connect beyond their existing cohorts (friends, team mates, etc).  Each group be on the baseball field to allow the group to create a Spotify playlist of their favorite 10 songs.  All the playlists from each group will be merged into the Class of 2023 Playlist.

The event is to give the students a chance to meet/greet in-person.  All students must wear masks and follow 6ft social distance guidelines, whenever possible (during the walk and sitting in group circle).  All students will need to register.

Reminder Grade 10 Parent Night, Wed, Feb 5th at 7PM

On Wednesday, February 5th from 7 to 8PM, parents and guardians of sophomores are invited to attend 10th Grade Parents’ Night in the Seasholes Auditorium.

You will hear information about upcoming sophomore events; course registration; MCAS; standardized testing; and an overview of the transition to junior year, and will have time for Q&A.