Dear Newton South Students, Families, Staff and Community Members,

It is with great joy and excitement that I introduce myself to you as the new principal of Newton South High School, as well as a new member of the Newton community. Over the past decade, I have been privileged to work and learn in diverse communities, and I am excited to continue to support building a robust culture of achievement where all students are affirmed to achieve at high levels here at South. While I look forward to getting to know each of you more deeply in the coming weeks and months, I want to share with you more about myself and my background.

Why I am committed to Newton South

I am my mother’s daughter: my mother grew up in the slums of India, but proved her excellence by earning a state-funded medical degree because she was one of the top 50 scoring 16-year-olds of millions in the state. She used this opportunity and her own excellence to serve the Untouchables (“lowest” people within the Indian caste system), and open hospice services for both people who were terminally ill from cancer, as well as for AIDS patients at a time no one else would touch them. She did this in Mumbai and London.

Just like my mother, I believe that education is the foundation of success, and that the definition of success is varied and unique to each individual. I do this work because the responsibility of a leader is to deliver on opportunities so every student can demonstrate their excellence. My mother constantly messaged to myself and my three older siblings that we are the only people who could define our own excellence, and this we did. My siblings and I have put in the hours and hard work to ensure success from our mother’s sacrifice and commitment to our achievement. Growing up in an 800 square foot apartment, we did not have many luxuries, but what we did have deeply embedded in us was the importance of education and the access that a good education gives you to the world. This instilled belief is the foundation from which I have been able to achieve at high levels and demonstrate success. My mom would often say, “Reach for the stars, and you’ll at least land on the tree-tops.” I still aim for the stars in everything I do, and I believe that every one of our students should believe they can do the same.

My experiences and perspectives

As a student, I experienced varied educational systems. I did my elementary through college schooling in India, and then left home at age 20 to pursue my advanced degrees in the United States. I received a Masters in Education from Boston College, and went on to teach various levels of science at Greater Lawrence Technical School and Lawrence High School. My first paying job, however, was right here at South! I taught summer school Chemistry to a group of wonderful Juniors and Seniors. I was also a student teacher at Newton North for one year while working on my Masters Degree. While a full-time teacher and Science Department Head, I also went on to earn a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from American International College. I have also recently completed a rigorous Principal Leader Fellowship through Lynch Leadership Academy at Boston College. I most recently completed four years at Haverhill High School as the Assistant Principal to the Class of 2021, where I focused on keeping equity as a throughline for all students, and success at the forefront for all.

These varied experiences have given me a unique perspective on what opportunity and success mean, and how they differ from person-to-person based on lived experience. As an educator, I have worked in diverse public schools that had a common, consistent, and committed belief. These beliefs were communicated in theory, culture, and practice both directly and indirectly through the words and actions of staff and peers that all students can be successful and achieve at high levels. I hold a deeply embedded belief that, when afforded the right access, opportunities,

and support, all students have the ability to achieve at high levels. Starting with my initial touchpoints and interviews with staff, and the privilege of starting my journey in Newton on July 1, I clearly see the passion that so many have for this community, and for our students.

Learning about the Newton South community

As a new member of this community, it is important to me to learn about your interactions and experiences with South. I want to learn about the important work that we need to preserve, and the ways in which our partnership can continue to grow to support the needs of our students and neighborhoods. I would like to leverage our individual and collective strengths so we can continue to make meaning of our passion and desires together on behalf of our students. It is important to learn about your experiences with our schools and the ways in which our school can continue to grow to support the needs of all students.

Through my variety of lenses, it is clear that Newton is actively working to dismantle systemic inequities, and ensure that all students thrive. I am humbled and honored to continue this equity and excellence-centered work with the help of passionate staff and community members committed to positive, holistic growth and success for all students.

Over the summer months, I have been engaging in conversations with multiple stakeholders and will continue to do so in the coming months. I will be engaging with community members through outreach to a wide range of people affiliated with Newton South High School. This includes scheduling a series of focus groups and 1-on-1 interviews with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of our school. I want to learn from our successes, and better understand what is working across programs as the foundation to continuing to evolve. I will also be connecting with families to learn their perspective on supporting high achievement. Together, I know that we will continue to make South a place where every student has the opportunity to become their best self and flourish as such.

For the month of September, I would like to invite parents and family caregivers to come and meet with our new vice-principal and myself and to share your experiences at Newton South during the following days and times:

• –  Wednesday, Sept 15, from 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Virtual session, details TBD
• –  Tuesday, Sept 21, 2021 from 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. In-person session, details TBD
• –  Thursday, Sept 30, 2021 from 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. In-person session, details TBDI am excited to begin this shared journey with you. Please reach out as you have questions, and look for additional communication in the coming days.

  Additional Information:

  Health and Safety-The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted each one of us profoundly. Unfortunately, we are not past this pandemic but in a different phase of it. I know you are all eagerly awaiting communication on what the fall will look like. Please find Superintendent Fleishman’s August 11th communication about back to school here and please find our vaccine encouragement letter here. I know more Health and Safety information is also being presented this evening at the Newton School Committee meeting and you can expect to receive more health and safety updates in the coming days.

  School Council-The Newton South School Council is a representative school building-based committee comprised of teachers, parents, students and community members. The council advises the Principal on improvement plans and other issues of general interest. School Councils are required at schools pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C. Please find the bylaws here.

If you are interested in participating in the NSHS school council please fill in your name and contact information here.

Follow me on twitter for updates on all the wonderful happenings at NSHS: @StrasPrincipal

Logistical Information-I also understand that all of you are eagerly anticipating important information and dates that pertain to the events for the upcoming school year. Please know that we are working diligently to solidify these dates and communicate this information with you as soon as possible. Please be on the lookout for an email from our new vice-principal with all the important logistical information that you and your child will need for a successful school year.

I cannot wait to see all your children on September 9, 2021, and am excited and energized for the halls of South to once again be filled with joy and laughter from our uniquely talented and capable students.

Go Lions!
Tamara (Tamii) Stras

April 3, 2020

Hello Newton South students,

I hope you and your families are well, and that you were able to engage with some schoolwork and see many of your teachers and classmates online this week.

I also hope that you were able to read through Dr. Fleishman’s email and the NPS Long Distance Learning Plan document. It was very dense, with a lot of information. Below I will try to provide just the basics. We will be sharing additional information, including some organizational tools and strategies, this weekend.

I imagine that you have a ton of questions, and I hope that this document will answer some of them. The truth is that we don’t have answers to all of your questions. In fact, I don’t have answers to all of my questions either. We are making decisions as we go, and I am confident that some of the information below will change over time based on feedback from you and your teachers.

As we transition from enrichment options (phase I) to more structured learning (phase II), I ask that you keep the following in mind:

1) Our primary goal is to help you develop skills and connect with peers and your teachers. We are not replicating NSHS classes. This is different, and will feature different approaches and different types of learning. Give yourself permission to engage the best you can, and to grow into this new style of learning. Above all, STAY ENGAGED, keep trying, and communicate with us.

2) All of us have new normals. So do your teachers. They are trying things they have never tried. However you and they are feeling is a perfectly normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Be kind to yourself, to your peers, and your teachers (oh – and your family members too!).  We are all in this together.

3) This is a marathon, not a sprint. Think of Monday a bit like the first day of school. It will take some time to get used to the new environment. Some of you will feel very comfortable with this kind of learning. Others of you may struggle some at first. Again, keep trying, and keep communicating!

4)  Above all, know that we are trying to get this right for all of you, and that we care about each and every one of you. 

OK – here are some basic details about the structure of our work; your teachers will share details particular to your classes.

We will continue to operate on a weekly cycle: 

MONDAY – each of your teachers will share weekly work for their class on Monday, using a common template. The most important thing for you to do Monday, before you start any of the work, is to read through and understand what each teacher is asking you to do, and then to create a plan for yourself for the week. We will be providing some organizational help, if you need it, as well as some planning tools.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY – All teachers will provide “office hours” for their students, within the times on the chart below. Your teacher will notify you of the exact time that your section will be meeting, and will provide a link to the meeting. Some classes will have a specific 30 minute time frame where you will meet with your teacher and your classmates. Other classes will be offered pooled support from a group of teachers over a longer time period. Your teacher will let you know when you are expected.

TO BE CLEAR: you will not be online for the full two hours for each department – this is just the master schedule for the times within which your teacher will schedule the office hours for your class – your teacher will tell you exactly when you are expected.

                                             Tuesday                                                              Wednesday

THURSDAY/FRIDAY 

Class meetings – your teacher will share with you the link for the meeting. You are expected to attend. (Please note, Friday, April 10 is a holiday, and many teachers will be absent from school on Thursday, April 9. Teachers will share with you their plan for the week of April 6 on Monday)

Credit and Grading

• The goal is for students to receive full credit for the year; grading will support students, and will be accessible to all of our students.
• There will be 3 grading periods for the year: Term 1, Term 2, and Term 3 (no Term 4).  Term 3 will cover the period from mid-January to the end of the school year.
• T1 and T2 will have letter grades. T3 is Pass/Fail only.
• Final Exams are cancelled.
• Final Grade:  
  • Final grade is either a letter grade or P (pass), as below
  • If T3 grade is P, then final grade is average of T1 and T2, or P (student choice by class). 
  • If T3 grade is F and student passed T1 or T2, then final grade is P (no option for letter grade)
  • Teachers may consider major assignments and assessment grades from mid-January to March 12th (or make-up work for this period submitted after March 12th) in the students final grade if the grade helps the students overall grade.

April Break

As you may have heard from Dr. Fleishman’s email last night, or from classmates, April break has been cancelled, and the “snow days” that we used in March will be made up. We are doing this to provide continuity and momentum as we get started. (Seniors, please ignore this next sentence) I am confident that you would rather have those four days of summer back rather than being cooped up at home in April while physical distancing, right?)

End of Year Events (such as prom, graduation, semi, etc.)

We just don’t know. If we can figure out a way to hold them, we will hold them. We can plan for an event very quickly; it all depends on when the distancing guidelines are relaxed. For now, everything is postponed. As we get closer to these events we will hear your ideas and share our ideas for what is possible. Again, we are all in this together, and the adults want these events to happen every bit as much as you do!

Thank you for reading this far! I’m happy to answer questions that you may have. I’m looking forward to this next phase of Newton South. 

Again, I hope you and your family are well.

Best regards,

Mr. Stembridge

Principal, Newton South High School