Dear NSHS Community,

In the spirit of the season, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Newton South community. I have had the honor of working with you all for about half a year now, and every day, I am humbled by the privilege and responsibility that you entrust me with your children. In my first few months as principal, I have had some amazing experiences with our students! One of the highlights of my time here is interacting with three seniors on Denebocast. This was a unique opportunity that allowed me to connect with some of our Lions on something they are passionate about! This sentiment was also visible at the Three Musketeers play, the Girls’ Soccer State Tournament, all of the athletic events, and each classroom and club I have had the opportunity to visit so far. The best times of my day are when I interact with students during lunches, in the hallways or in classes. I want to emphasize how incredibly impressed I am with each and every one of your children. They have shown incredible resilience, ability to adapt at short notice, and tremendous patience. While our young people have certainly missed experiences over the past 18 months due to Covid, they have responded with grace, effort, and enthusiasm, so for this I am incredibly thankful. Our community has so much to offer, and I see the potential that fills these halls each and every day; it spills out onto our athletic fields, auditorium, and into our many extracurriculars. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in a community where both excellence and equity are a throughline. I am looking forward to the challenge of ensuring all our students get the education they require to experience success as they navigate their post-secondary endeavors, while also being mindful and intentional of the negative impact that inequity and lack of access can have on all students. I cannot wait to continue working with all of you as we dive further into this year to create success for all our children. When I consider how to express my gratitude that so many contemplate at this point in the season, I have found the best answer involves keeping it simple. So with this in mind, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to work with your community. Thank you for being supportive of each other through what continues to be a difficult time for many. Thank you for putting the education of our students first. Lastly, thank you for being supportive of myself, my administrative team, and my teachers as we continue to put the academic and social-emotional well-being of all students at the top of our priority list. There is always more work to be done and progress to be sought, but I am thankful and grateful beyond belief for you all. I hope you all have the chance to rest and recharge the next few days, and enjoy family company whether this is in person, FaceTime, or however it may look this year. Thank you all for your commitment to education and our young people, and persevering through a truly difficult time.

Go Lions!

Sincerely,

Tamara (Tamii) Stras