Category Archives: From the PTSO

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:
[email protected] (Tammy  Tsikar)
[email protected]  (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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] 

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.

AP Exam Update – Technology & Test Dates

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

Please see latest update on 2021 AP Exams from Mrs. Price.  Please contact her directly if you have any questions at pricem@newton.k12.ma.us.  

I am sending you information about communication, requesting a refund for an AP exam, selecting which device you will use if you are going to take an AP exam online, and update on test dates.

All students should: 

  1. Checking in with classmates. I have heard from some parents that their child is not receiving my emails. I want to ask you a favor. Can all students please check with classmates and friends to see if they received the latest information? If they haven’t, can you please share it with them? Thank you very much.
  2. Cancel an exam/Request a refund.  If you wish to cancel an exam and request a refund, you must log on to your Total Registration account to do so. A request for a refund must be made by 6:00 p.m. on May 2, 2021.
  3. Technology check-in. This year Mr. Brian Hammel, Instructional Technology Specialist at Newton South, is going to handle the technology preparation of the digital AP testing. Mr. Hammel will answer any questions you may have about the device you are going to use if you are testing online.  
  4. Technology requirements for online AP Exams. If you are going to take an AP exam online, I am adding the general technical requirements from the College Board 2020-2021 AP Digital Testing Guide for devices that will be used for taking an exam:
  • Each student will need access to a laptop or desktop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook). iPads may be used if they fit the technical requirements.
  • The computer can be a personal computer (except for Chromebooks) or a school-provided computer but must not be shared between students after exam setup is completed.
  • Smartphones are not permitted for testing. Students’ personal Chromebooks may not be used for 2021 digital AP exams. ”
  • Contact Mr. Hammel with any questions that you have about the device that you plan to use. He can be reached at [email protected]. If you going into the building, you may meet with Mr. Hammel. His office is in the library behind the circulation desk.

It is important that you decide now which device you are going to use for online testing. Starting April 8, the College Board will send directions to you through your College Board account on how to download and install the digital testing application to your device. You will need to complete the exam setup for each exam you plan to take one to three days before each exam. You are responsible that your computer is ready for the exam. 

Update on 2021 Exam Dates

I am writing this email blast about the 2021 exam dates. Right now the College Board has everyone scheduled to take their exam(s) at South in person from May 3 to May 17. You will see that if you log on to your CB account.

In previous emails, I have let you know that we are using the in person dates for WL and Music, and that we are encouraging students to take all other exams online at home. Online exams will not be given at school.

Recently the Newton district administration decided to offer the dates from Administration One for those students whose families feel that an in person testing would better fit their child’s needs.

I apologize in advance for any and all inconveniences.  I am going to start making changes on Tuesday, March 16 afternoon. Please look at the changes and contact me with concerns, starting Wednesday, March 17. I would like to have this finished by Tuesday, March 23.

  1. Students who are taking a World Language exam or Music Theory are scheduled to take the exam during Administration 1. I am not going to change those dates. They are correct.
  2. I am going to assign all other students to an online testing date.
  3. If the test dates are correct, you do not need to contact me.
  4. Seniors and other students with obligations related to graduation/class activities and who are taking Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Physics 1, Physics Mech, Physics E & M, and Stats need to email me and let me know that a change needs to be made. I anticipate that other changes will need to be made as well. If you have already emailed me about a change, you can forward the same email to me.
  5. I am aware that some students may be double booked for two exams at the same time, and that changes may need to be made for students approved for extended time who have two exams on the same day. I’m not sure that there are great solutions for every situation, but I will do my best to try and make the schedule work.