Category Archives: From the PTSO

Register by Dec. 3 for NSHS Students for Racial Justice meeting on Thurs., Dec. 10 at 7PM

Posted on November 29, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Are you interested in learning about racial justice issues?
Join us for our pilot event, in partnership with Diversify the Media Narrative, to learn about how media representation relates to racial justice! All students are welcome to attend the event over Zoom on Thursday, December 10 at 7PM.

To participate, register through this form by December 3: https://forms.gle/pjU8HEocaNe7QNa66.

Explore the Diversify the Media Narrative website for helpful information about media representation at https://diversifythemedianarrative.com/

Feel free to reach out with any questions! Email jessica.li.6462@gmail.com, or contact the club’s Instagram, @nshs_studentsforracialjustice

Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 are the last days for NSHS Senior Portraits

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in For Seniors, From the PTSO

Just a quick note: The last two days to get your photograph taken for inclusion in this year’s yearbook are Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. If you haven’t had a portrait taken already, make an appointment today at prestigeportraits.com. 

You’ll need the access code that Prestige mailed to you. Just email me at baronb@newton.k12.ma.us if you don’t have that code for whatever reason and I can give it to you.
Thanks!
Best,

Brian Baron

GPA Updates

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in For Juniors, From the PTSO, From the Vice Principal

Newton South GPA Update

As a follow up to first term report cards being released this past Monday, here is an update on GPA as we know there have been questions, especially for Uuniors:

As has been shared previously, the Newton South/Newton North joint GPA Committee met this summer to make recommendations regarding how grades earned during the 2019-2020 school year would factor into student GPA. While the school year was disrupted in March, students were awarded final grades using our traditional grading system. This allowed for a continuation of both schools’ long-standing practices for calculating GPA. The one notable wrinkle was that final course grades of “P” were not factored into the GPA at all, even in those courses that have traditionally counted toward GPA.

The GPA Committee has continued to meet during the fall to prepare recommendations for the two school communities regarding GPA practices in relation to our modified grading during remote/hyflex learning. The committee has recommended a plan to calculate a GPA for the 2020-2021 school year to be reported as a “stand alone” that will not be incorporated into a cumulative GPA. Students will receive a GPA for this year in accordance with the following values:

A=4.0, B=3.0, P=2.0, NG=1.0

A weighted GPA will also be calculated, adding an additional 0.5 for each course at the ACP level and an additional 1.0 for each course at the Honors/AP level.

The committee will continue their work and will make additional recommendations once the district makes the final determination regarding grading practices for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond.

Chris Hardiman,
Interim Vice Principal

Please read the attached and know the warning signs of diabetes.

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

November is Diabetes Awareness Month.  In memory of a former Newton Public School student, each year Newton school nurses send a message to families about the warning signs of diabetes.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful Thanksgiving,
Nurse Gail and Nurse Karleen

South Stage Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fundraiser now through Dec. 6!

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO, South Arts

Order a delicious holiday gift for yourself or someone else!  South Stage is selling refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough (yields 20-22 cookies) by the quart for $15.  Dough is made fresh by fabulous local caterer/restaurant VineRipe Grill.

Place your online order at southstage.org by Sunday, December 6, and choose your pickup time of either Saturday, December 12 (2-3PM) or Wednesday, December 16 (10-11AM).  Pickup will be at Newton South’s front entrance or inside at the auditorium foyer.  Other pickup arrangements can be made if needed — email LaurenLookner@gmail.com.  All orders must be made in advance, thank you!

For other South Stage holiday gift ideas, please visit https://www.southstage.org/merch.html.

Parent-Teacher Conferences SIGN-UPs Nov 11/29 @7PM

Posted on November 22, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO, From the Vice Principal

Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming.  SIGN UP is REQUIRED! For new parents, please sign up early as spots are limited.  

  • To make sure that all families have the opportunity to see teachers, there will be two phases to the sign-up process.
  • During the first phase of sign-ups, from 7pm on SUNDAY 11/29 until 7pm on WEDNESDAY, 12/2, you may only schedule a maximum of 3 teacher conferences per child. 
  • During the second phase of sign-ups, from 7am on THURSDAY 12/3 until 7pm on SUNDAY, 12/6, you may sign up for a maximum of 3 additional conferences. Total conferences CANNOT exceed 6 per child.  

DETAILS on SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS:  Teacher Conferences Info Letter

A reminder that conferences are on the following dates:

Wednesday, December 9th from 4 – 7pm (School schedule as usual)

Wednesday, December 16th from 1 – 4pm (*Special schedule—see below)

*Please note that there will be a special schedule developed for 12/16 to reflect the early release that day. We are working with the transportation department to see if we can arrange a 12:30 dismissal on this day so that teachers can have a 30-minute break before the first conference at 1:00pm. We will share out the schedule as soon as it is finalized.

Chris Hardiman
NSHS Interim Vice Principal

Nov 25th Special Schedule & Student Survey

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO, From the Vice Principal

Good Afternoon Students and Families,

NOTE:  November 25th Special Schedule

There will be staff professional development from 8:00am to 9:30am on Wednesday, 11/25.

From 9:15 – 9:30, students will be asked to fill out a survey that will be shared on the South all-school Schoology page (it will also be sent to student school gmail accounts in case they don’t see the Schoology message).  This survey is a follow-up to one sent to students in September to solicit feedback on the remote school experience.

ALL Students are encouraged to please fill out the survey on Wed, Nov 25 as your feedback and thoughts are very important to us as we continue to evaluate our learning options, including the “hyflex” model that the district in-person high school working group has presented in their Draft Recommendation on November 16 to the School Committee.

South Stage Cookie Fundraiser Now – Dec.6

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO, South Arts

South Stage Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough fundraiser now through Dec. 6th!

Order a delicious holiday gift for yourself or someone else!  South Stage is selling refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough (yields 20-22 cookies) by the quart for $15.  Dough is made fresh by fabulous local caterer/restaurant VineRipe Grill.

Place your online order at southstage.org by Sunday, December 6th, and choose your pickup time of either Saturday, December 12th (2:00-3:00 pm) or Wednesday, December 16th (10:00-11:00 am).  Pickup will be at Newton South’s front entrance or inside at the auditorium foyer.  Other pickup arrangements can be made if needed — email LaurenLookner@gmail.com.  All orders must be made in advance, thank you!

For other South Stage holiday gift ideas, please visit https://www.southstage.org/store/c5/South_Stage_Gear.html

South Stage Gear for Holiday Gifts

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO, South Arts

South Stage, Newton South’s theatre program, is offering many options for your holiday gift-giving! Visit the South Stage Gear website for links to our Red Bubble shop for stickers, mugs, t-shirts, and more, experiences to hang out with South Stage teachers and alumni, our cookie dough fundraiser, or to simply donate before the year ends. Make sure everyone knows you’re a South Stage fan and thank you! https://www.southstage.org/store/c5/South_Stage_Gear.html

SEPAC Presentation on Special Education Rights During COVID-19: Nov. 23, 7:30 PM

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

Please join Newton SEPAC for a presentation on:
Special Education Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, November 23, 2020, 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83029946801?pwd=ZkcvMVZ0M3l3V0YreDZURTBsaXRlQT09

Presented by: Daniel Heffernan, Esq., Newton parent and Special Education Attorney at Kotin Crabtree and Strong, LLP

Dan will discuss the most current DESE decisions and guidelines affecting special education students in Massachusetts during the pandemic. Some of the areas Dan will cover include IEP service delivery, compensatory services, evaluations, administrative timelines, etc. We will also have time for Q&A from families.

Please save the date. The link for the presentation will be emailed to the SEPAC listserv. We hope to see you there!