Category Archives: From the PTSO

Thank You to Our Volunteers Booking Vaccine Appointments!

Posted on March 28, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Thank you to our parent volunteers who helped 48 teachers to book their COVID-19 Vaccines this month!

As of March 22, 2021 the PTSO was advised by Administration that all teachers who wanted support have been helped.  The request form is now closed and will direct any teacher that is interested in getting support to contact our PTSO Coordinator, Melissa Monokroussos directly at melissab104@gmail.com.  If we get a significant increase in requests, we will re-open the form.

A big thank you to all our parent volunteers: Melissa Monokroussos, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sherie Heywood, Alo Mukerji, Liz Hiser, Constantinos Zacharakis, Julia Hamilton, Danielle Lieber, Ellen Gibson-Kennedy, Erica Hong, Reza Khorshidi, Cindy Lam-Yee, Meryl Miller, Svetlana Moldavskiy, Rachel McLeod, Kim Smith, Suruchi Kaul, Pamela Frorer, Sally DiLoreto and Joanne Levy.

Newton South Black Culture Day

Posted on March 28, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

The Black Student Union organized a series of webinars on March 10, 2021.

Newton South students and faculty had the opportunity to sign up for a series of webinars to learn more about the experiences and triumphs of Black Americans and the Black experience during three important and unique webinars.

Topics included:

  • BLACK WOMEN IN POLITICS;
  • MEDICAL DISPARITIES – BLACK WOMEN & CHILDBIRTH; and
  • BLACK CULTURE-APPROPRIATION VS. APPRECIATION

Click to view details of  NSHS Black Culture Day 2021.

Also visit the PTSO website for resources on anti-racism.

Good News! Opt-in to Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing at Newton South

Posted on March 26, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Some Good News!
Newton Public School’s partnership with JCM to provide Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing at South started on March 8th.  In the first two weeks of Newton’s new FREE asymptomatic COVID-19 testing program, Newton high school students took 1,519 tests and there were ZERO positive cases among students!   Thank you to all who participated in this program!

But 30% participation from NSHS families is low compared to some neighboring district seeing 75% participation.

Now for Great News!
You can still sign up your child in a few easy steps.   Pool testing is available to any in-person student and distance learning student who come to school for regular events (e.g sports, theatre, preschool, etc).

5 Easy Steps to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 and Get Started:

Step 1: Sign the consent form here to give your consent once.  The consent form can be found in the Aspen Student/Family Portal.

Step 2: Create an account at JCM Analytics (testing vendor) website at https://workflow.jcmworks.com/  PLEASE NOTE: once you sign the consent form, there is a brief lag time before your consent is uploaded to JCM.  You will NOT be able to create an account until your information is uploaded. Data will be uploaded on Monday and Thursday mornings by 8:30 a.m. You can access JCM after this time to create an account.

Step 3: Get the QR Code from JCM – you get code once, save it on your phone or print it out.

Step 4: Pick up Nasal Swab Kit at School

Step 5: Bring the Swab Kit with QR back on his/her designated cohort day. Get a new kit for the following week. No news is good news!

Highlights & Benefits to Asymptomatic Testing. While testing is optional, it is strongly encouraged.  The higher the participation rate, the better in identifying asymptomatic cases sooner and stopping the spread of COVID-19. Surveillance testing is considered a key pillar for detecting cases early and preventing silent spread and as we anticipate full-in person learning on April 26, it is more important than ever to participate in this FREE program.

  • The testing program is able to immediately test and identify the positive sample in a pool (reflex testing), so there will be no need to quarantine entire pools.
  • The nasal swab is completed done at home on the morning of testing.
  • Submitting the test kit takes less than 5 minutes.
  • Surveillance testing for COVID-19 is a critical measure as we combat the spread of this virus in our community.
  • Surveillance testing also works best with a high rate of participation.

If your child(ren) forget to conduct the test at home or just forgot, just go to the South main office and pick up a kit, go into a bathroom to conduct a test, and then bring it by the faculty dining room during B (lunch) block on Monday or Thursday (or 3:45 to 4:30 on Thursday if you are an eligible distance student). Students will then pick up a new test each week when he/she leave the testing center.

If your child forgets their QR code, we will have copies of their code too in the faculty dining room.

Please Sign up today and help us stop the spread of COVID-19. Wishing you and your family good health and stay safe!

For more information, please visit: NPS COVID-19 Dashboard, Testing Program FAQ, and NSHS COVID-19 Testing FAQ

Coffee, Beverages & Snacks Needed for Staff Appreciation Luncheon on March 24

Posted on March 21, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

STAFF APPRECIATION MARCH 24, 2021

Please consider donating beverage or snack to support the PTSO Luncheon for Staff on Wednesday, March 24th.  Use the link below to sign-up to contribute:  https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/575097752050/false#/invitation

We need coffee donations to be dropped off between 7:45-8:15AM, so the staff members can enjoy a cup of coffee to start their day.  All other items may be dropped off in the cafeteria any time from 7.45 am-11 am on March 24th.  Thank you for your support!

Our teachers will have a full day of professional training on Wednesday, March 24th. Please help us show our support of the staff at Newton South for our Staff Appreciation Luncheon. We will be serving a great selection of sandwiches, and are asking families to contribute additional items to round out the menu.  In keeping with COVID protocols, we request that all items be individually wrapped. We also need a couple of volunteers to help set up for the event (approximate time between 10:30 – 11:30am).

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
tammyboem@gmail.com (Tammy  Tsikar)
ilanasteel@gmail.com  (Ilana Steel)

 

PTSO Hosts Speaker on Power of Gratitude on March 31 at 7PM

Posted on March 21, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Save-the-Date! March 31st – 7:00 to 8:00PM:  Author Nancy Davis Kho presents on the Power of Gratitude

The PTSO is excited to host Nancy Davis Kho, author of  THE THANK-YOU PROJECT: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time .  Both parents and students are invited to join this interactive discussion about the unexpected power and lasting benefits of thanking those who helped, shaped, and inspired them. This is not a tutorial on how to write a thank-you note.  With humor and compassion, Nancy invites her audience to remember and acknowledge those who have helped them in their lives. You can read more about Nancy’s work and the science of gratitude in this recent New York Times article.

In addition to being an author, Nancy talks about “the years between being hip and breaking one” on her Midlife Mixtape Podcast, which The Wall Street Journal named in 2019 as one of the 8 Top Podcasts for Anyone Nervously Facing Retirement.

For more information about the event, please contact PTSO Programming Coordinators, Paula Ito  or Julie Irish

Topic: Gratitude  Speaker Event
Time: Mar 31, 2021 07:00PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82627310277?pwd=Q2ppSE1XOUh0ME1yTmJQZTlDQ292QT09

Meeting ID: 826 2731 0277
Passcode: Thanks

NSHS HOSA Hosting Talk on Sports Medicine, Tue, Mar 30 at 8PM

Posted on March 21, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

NSHS Chapter of National Health Professional (HOSA) will be sponsoring an informational session on sports conditioning to be held on Tuesday, March 30 at 8 pm. New England Revolution’s starting midfielder, Scott Caldwell, will be live to talk about his daily routine, staying strong and fit at the highest level and his path to professional soccer. He will also be available to answer your questions. This promises to be an exciting session for all athletes and anyone interested in sports medicine.

If you have an interest, please email Hunter Tsao at newtonsouthhosa@gmail.com.

No School, Wed, March 24

Posted on March 21, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Reminder: No school on 3/24 as it is the final professional development day of the year for staff.

Ticketing/Towing Unregistered Cars at South

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Michelle Wetlaufer in For Juniors, For Seniors, From the PTSO

Juniors, Seniors, and NSHS Staff,

Please be aware:

As of Monday, 3/22/21, we need to begin sticker ticketing (the orange ones that stick to windows), and if it is a second+ offense – towing, cars parked without permits/placards on campus.

All WHITE lined spaces are Staff parking:

  •  any cars without NSHS Staff parking permit stickers will be ticketed (first offense) or towed (second+ offense).
All YELLOW lined spaces are PAID Student Spaces:
  • any cars without NSHS Student parking permit stickers/student placards will be ticketed (first offense) or towed (second+ offense).
  • these YELLOW numbered spaces are specifically assigned to individual students on their cohort days.
  • any unassigned car parked in a student’s paid space will be ticketed (first offense) or towed (second+ offense).

Staff, please be sure you have a parking sticker! (See Ms. Connolly in the main office if you need one!)

Students, we have very limited spaces left.  If you would like to purchase a parking space for the remainder of the year, fill out this form using your NPS email address.  The final lottery will be run Tuesday, 3/23, at 9am.  Be sure you enter before then!  Spaces this year are $75, which mirrors the bus fee and goes directly to the City of Newton (not South).

Don’t want to pay for a space?  The only place you can park on campus without being ticketed/towed are the few spaces next to the football field.  Be sure to get here early if you’re planning to park there!

Thank you, all!

If you have questions, please email Ann Dinsmore at dinsmorean@newton.k12.ma.us 

With love,

Mx. Tori Parker

Coordinator of Student Affairs and Restorative Practices

Department Chair of: EL, Campus Aides, and Library

Newton South High School

Newton, MA 02459

617-559-6700

2021-22 Course Registration

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

2021-22 Course Registration

  • The course registration on the South website has been updated with current documents and timelines. You can find all of the information you need here: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/2665 , including instructions for students entering elective course requests from March 25th to April 5th, and parent instructions for viewing courses.  Also, here is a link to an overview video of the registration process from our scheduler, Faye Cassell:

https://www.loom.com/share/4c4143667c1241978e71944350b8172

  • Please note that the 2021-22 Program of Studies is still being finalized and should be posted online by Tuesday, 3/23, or earlier, if possible (we will send an update when it is posted).
  • Also, on Tuesday, 3/23 during Community Block, I will be sharing registration instructions with all ninth and tenth grade Community teachers to review with their students so everything is clear. If they haven’t already received them, pre-registration worksheets will be shared with students on Monday as well.
  • 11th grade students will have a WISE presentation during Community Block on 3/23 so I will be sharing the registration instructions out with them via Aspen directly sometime Monday or Tuesday.

MA COVID Vaccine Distribution Update for All Groups

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

Please note the update from Governor Baker on 3/17/21 on timeline for all groups.  Learn more: mass.gov/covid-phse

All MA residents (including students) can now pre-register at http://www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.  Vaccine appointments based on phased distribution plan will be sent to those that pre-register.   The individual will receive email or text and has 24 hours to confirm.  Current the pre-registration is for the seven mass-vaccine sites in MA.  More sites will be added in April.

MA residents can continue to book vaccine appointments at other sites.