Category Archives: From the PTSO

Volunteers Needed for PTSO Grade Level Committees

Every year, the PTSO need parent volunteers to help organize Grade-Level activities.  In light of the current structure of our school year, we hope to encourage more Parents, Teachers and Students to brainstorm together.

PTSO is actively trying to get in touch with all class officers (Class of 2025 still needs officers) through their South Staff advisors.  If your child is currently an officer, please have them reach out to info@newtonsouthPTSO.org so we can have their contact information and start the process of getting student input.

If you are interested in helping organize Grade-Level programs/events, please let us know by emailing info@newtonsouthPTSO.org.   We are seeking 1-2 parent liaisons to take the lead in communicating with parents/students.  As always, every program/event will need volunteers.

Please join us for our first PTSO Welcome on September 21st from 7-8PM.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81913459054?pwd=OUhzbEVybUk5TjhVeUdZN2pZV1dpdz09

Meeting ID: 819 1345 9054
Passcode: NSHS2021

Dial by your location
Passcode: 68252758
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyCp5QPDw

It will take a village as always to make a difference.
#NewtonSouthTOGETHER

Newton South Facebook Groups

Newton South has Facebook Groups for each graduating class.  These groups are not part of the PTSO or Newton South.  These are private groups at Newton South and are just another forum for connecting in that graduating class.

The Facebook groups are set up as private, requiring membership, and voluntarily managed by Newton South parents/guardians.   The Administrators would monitor the page and approve membership.

If you are interested in being the Administrator for The Class of 2024, please email info@newtonsouthPTSO.org.  Ideally, 2 parent volunteers should manage the group.

Current Facebook Groups

Seniors Class of 2021: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSHS2021Parents/

Juniors Class of 2022: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSHS2022Parents/

Sophomore Class of 2023: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSHS2023Parents/

NSHS Families Organizing for Racial Justice Welcome Night – Monday, 10/5 7pm

Newton South Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) is a growing group of parents, guardians, teachers, students, and administrators at NSHS who work together to promote antiracist initiatives, inclusion of all families, and an atmosphere of safety, equity, and inclusion at South.
Parents, Teachers, and Students – Please join FORJ to:
* Hear about Affinity Clubs at NSHS from our student leaders
* Learn about steps NSHS is taking to promote antiracism from faculty and parents
* Contribute your ideas about ways to create more connection and belonging at NSHS!
Questions? Email Amy or Cindy at amy@amybehrens.com or cindesli@gmail.com or Ms. Sumner at sumnerk@newton.k12.ma.us
Save the date and RSVP HERE!
 

Today is Last Day to Register & Fall Sports Tryouts Start 9/21

CLICK to view Fall sports tryouts schedule.

All students that want to participate in Fall Sports must register with FamilyId by Friday, Sept. 18th, including annual physical.  Athletics Fees need to be paid after team assignments.  Thank you.


Click here to view to find important information for the Fall Sports Season.

For the latest updates, please visit NSHS Website – Athletics

Please review these modifications with your student prior to registering for athletics

Thank you,
Pat Gonzalez, Director of Athletics

FroshPlay Starts Mon, Sept 21 @4-6PM

Welcome, Freshmen!
Frosh Play starts Sept 21, Monday-Friday, 4-6 PM
Connection Building, Drama Games, Scene Readings

Zoom link and password here.
You must be signed in with your
Newton Google account to see it.

Come when you can; stay as long as you can!

FAQs here!

The primary goal of the Frosh Play is to introduce freshmen to high school theatre and help them make connections with each other and with the school community.  We take everyone who shows up during that first week of virtual rehearsals.  Because we don’t know the numbers or the genders of our actors before that first week, we find a number of potential 10-minute plays, and then cast at the end of the first week.

Questions: Email Mr. K at knoedlerj@newton.k12.ma.us or visit SouthStage.org

Zoom Link for PTSO Welcome/Ideas on Mon. Sept 21st at 7PM

Typo in previous announcement – Zoom link title showed Sept 17th.   Correct date is Sept 21st.

You are invited!  – Join our meeting and get involved to support our students, parents and teachers this year at our first meeting on Monday, September 21 from 7-8PM.

The meeting’s goal is to get your input for programs and events to support in-person and remote connections for our students and parents.  Some ideas include:

  • Grade-level Coffees for Parents/Guardians
  • Webinars for Parents/Guardians – what topics interest you?
  • Trivia Night for Students, Parents
  • Student Mentoring for Freshman or New Students with Juniors/Seniors
  • New Family Connection from South Families willing to be a resource on Newton & South
  • Virtual Field Trips like Virtual Safari on Facebook

PLEASE JOIN US, meet new parents, connect with old friends and come share your Ideas!


Topic: PTSO Welcome
Time: Sep 21, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81913459054?pwd=OUhzbEVybUk5TjhVeUdZN2pZV1dpdz09

Meeting ID: 819 1345 9054
Passcode: NSHS2021

Dial by your location
Passcode: 68252758
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyCp5QPDw

Submit your NSHS Club Announcements

Newton South CLUB FAIR DAY – virtual live event on Friday, September 25th.  There will be no school that Friday.  Details and live event links coming shortly.

If your child is involved, or lead a club at South, please let them know that the PTSO can post their Newton South Club announcements to help connect our students.   The announcement should include a description of the club, webpage if any, the event date/time, link to signup forms, contact information and/or meeting if available.

If you are a teacher or student, please send your announcement to newsletter@newtonsouthPTSO.org by Thursday of each week.  Your announcement will be posted on our weekly PTSO Newsletter on that following Sunday at 6pm.  The PTSO will also add your event to our calendar. Thank you.

If you have any questions, please send an email to info@newtonsouthPTSO.org.

Student Schedules & First Day of School Schedule

Student Schedules with blocks were released Monday 9/14 on Aspen.  Please have your child log in to their Aspen account.   Teachers will be emailing students by Tuesday evening to welcome them with Zoom links to their class. Please have your child check their school Gmail account.

If you have questions or errors on your child’s schedule, please contact your child’s counselor, which is listed on their schedule.

CLICK to VIEW FIRST Day of School SCHEDULE

See details of the email from Vice Principal Hardiman on Sept 14, 2020.


Hi Students and Families,

Your schedules with blocks and teachers are now available in Aspen. A reminder that if you filled out the course error google form and your class list has NOT changed since Friday, this means that we were not able to fulfill your request because it did not meet the criteria or did not fit into your schedule.

Here are code descriptions in the Term Column of your schedule:

FY = Full Year

S1 = Semester One, S2 = Semester Two 

Each semester has two quarters:

S1 has Q 1 = Quarter/Term 1, Q2 = Quarter/Term 2

S2 has Q 3 = Quarter/Term 3, Q4 = Quarter/Term 4 

For the Track ID column in your schedule, the letters are the blocks that your class will meet during the week (NSHS Student Schedule with Blocks)

One important clarification from the email that was sent on Friday:

Classes that were 2 x week for the full year in the past are actually 3 x week for a semester, NOT 2 x week as previously mentioned. Similarly, classes that were 2 x week for one semester in the past are actually 3 x week for a term, NOT 2 x week as previously mentioned.

If you have any questions about your schedule, please do NOT reply to this email. Please contact your school counselor (if you don’t know who your counselor is, her/his name is at the top of your schedule).

Attached is the block schedule for the first day of school on Wednesday and the rest of the week, going forward.  A reminder that the Wednesday permanent block schedule is still being finalized and will be shared as soon as it is approved. Community block is similar to our old advisory system. Exact details regarding flex block are still being finalized but expect that it may be used for things like extra help from teachers, guidance seminars, special events, and the like.

Finally, here again is information on the first day of school.  Teachers will be email all their students by Tuesday evening.  Please have your child check their school gmail account to read an email from your teachers welcoming you to their class and providing zoom links for you to access on Wednesday.

Mr. Hardiman
NSHS Interim Vice Principal

South Stage Freshman Play Information

Be a part of the Annual South Stage Frosh Play. No cuts.  Everyone gets a speaking role.

The primary goal the Frosh Play is to introduce freshmen to high school theatre and help them make connections with each other and with the school community.  We take everyone who shows up during that first week of virtual rehearsals.  Because we don’t know the numbers or the genders of our actors before that first week, we find a number of potential 10 minute plays, and then cast at the end of the first week.

Zoom rehearsals starting Sept. 21. Afterschool TBA.  No rehearsal on non-school days.

Dress rehearsals: Nov. 16-18. Performances: Nov. 19-21 at 7:30 PM.  (Right now we don’t know whether it will be a fully Zoom production or taped live at school for streaming at a later date).

We have a lot of question marks right now, but we know it will be a fun and rewarding opportunity to connect!

Questions: Email Mr. K at knoedlerj@newton.k12.ma.us or visit SouthStage.org

PTSO Welcome & Brainstorm Meeting Thur, Sept 21 @7PM

Hello NSHS Parents/Guardians,

You are invited!  – Join our meeting and get involved to support our students, parents and teachers this year at our first meeting on Monday, September 21 from 7-8PM.

The meeting’s goal is to get your input for programs and events to support in-person and remote connections for our students and parents.  Some ideas include:

  • Grade-level Coffees for Parents/Guardians
  • Webinars for Parents/Guardians – what topics interest you?
  • Trivia Night for Students, Parents
  • Student Mentoring for Freshman or New Students with Juniors/Seniors
  • New Family Connection from South Families willing to be a resource on Newton & South
  • Virtual Field Trips like Virtual Safari on Facebook

PLEASE JOIN US, meet new parents, connect with old friends and come share your Ideas!


Topic: PTSO Welcome
Time: Sep 21, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81913459054?pwd=OUhzbEVybUk5TjhVeUdZN2pZV1dpdz09

Meeting ID: 819 1345 9054
Passcode: NSHS2021

Dial by your location
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyCp5QPDw