Category Archives: From the Vice Principal

From the VP March 2, 2023

Newton South Students and Families,

Midterm comments for term 3 are now available for viewing on Aspen. These can be found on the home page in Aspen and contain a list of classes, comments for these classes, and number of absences from class.

Parents and guardians, if you are having trouble logging into Aspen, please call or contact your student’s house office:

 

Please note the following:

  • Attendance records are present for WIN (labeled as Lion/WIN Block), Advisory, and Directed Study. These courses will not have comments for them but will have absences and tardies recorded.
  • The Y or N in the attendance column is a snapshot for where students are with accordance to our new attendance policy.
      • Note that this is just a snapshot and that deans and/or teachers will be or already have been in contact with families of students who are at risk of not meeting the attendance standard in a given course.
      • Here is our attendance policy FAQ.

    If you have any questions about comments for a given course, please reach out directly to your/your student’s teacher. Questions about WIN block attendance can be directed to you/your student’s house office.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Jason Williams (he/him/his)

    Vice Principal

    Newton South High School

From the VP The week of 2/6 – 2/10

Newton South Students and Families,

 

The week of 2/6 – 2/10 is National School Counseling Week! This week, we give a special thanks to our counseling staff who serve as a vital resource for our students every day. We, as well as your students, appreciate all the work you do to guide our students down the right path as they navigate their vital high school years. Be sure to say thank you to a counselor this week!

Here are this week’s highlights:

Grade 9 Family Night Recording Available, and Grade 10 Night Next Thursday

The recording for the Grade 9 Family Night on Thursday, February 2 is now available and can be accessed here.

 

Additionally, Newton South High School cordially invites you to our annual Grade 10 Family Information Night Webinar. This event will be online and held on Thursday, February 9 at 6:30pm. At this event, you will have an opportunity to hear from Guidance Department Chair Dan Rubin, as well as Principal Tamii Stras and Vice Principal Jason Williams. You will additionally get a chance to ask general questions about the transition to grade 11.

 

This event will be recorded and published to the NSHS YouTube channel after the presentation. We hope to see you there! Here is the join information for this event:

 

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/84778538630

Passcode: 2025

 

Youth Risk Behavior Survey on February 6

On Monday, February 6, will we be administering the Youth Risk Behavior Survey during an extended advisory. This survey is anonymous, and we administer it to help better understand and address the health-related challenges affecting students. The survey is part of a larger effort to help increase the resiliency of young people by reducing high-risk behaviors and promoting healthy behaviors.

 

For more information, please see the letter that was sent home to families by the district.

 

See below for the schedule:

February 6 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Schedule

Here’s to another week at South! Let us know if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Williams (he/him/his)

Vice Principal

Newton South High School


 

A Message from the Superintendent

Dear NPS Families,

I write to invite you to an important forum on the 2023-24 (FY24) school year budget. This budget discussion will include information on the proposed operational override and its impact on the FY24 budget. Details are as follows:

 

Where: Newton North Auditorium (457 Walnut St.)

When: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Time: 7:00 p.m.

 

If you are unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed on NewTV.

 

The evening will include a short presentation and then an opportunity for questions and answers. You may ask your question live during the forum or you can submit a question in advance using this Google Form.

 

NPS Budget Questions – Google Form

 

For reference, below is a link to the presentation shared with the School Committee last week that provides a preview of next year’s budget.

 

FY24 Budget Preview to School Committee – January 23, 2023

 

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday night. As always, I welcome your questions and thank you for your feedback.

 

Sincerely,

Kathleen Smith, J.D.

Interim Superintendent


 

Updates This Week
 
Library Term 2 Newsletter

The Newton South Library is excited to release its Term 2 newsletter! You can access it here: https://www.smore.com/z8ubs

 

You can access the Newton South Library website here: https://nshslibrary.newton.k12.ma.us/home

 
Grade 9 & 10 Assemblies Coming Up

Students in grades 9 and 10 have been prescheduled for a WIN block to meet with their dean during a house assembly. These assemblies will take place in the following locations:

 

WIN 1 on Wednesday 2/8: Cutler Grade 9 to Lecture Hall, Wheeler Grade 9 to Auditorium

WIN 3 on Friday 2/10: Goldrick Grade 10 to Lecture Hall, Goodwin Grade 10 to Auditorium

WIN 1 on Wednesday 2/15: Cutler Grade 10 to Lecture Hall, Wheeler Grade 10 to Auditorium

Teen Summer Expo on Monday, February 6

The 18th annual Teen Summer Expo will be Monday, February 6 at Newton South High School, 5:30-8:00pm in the cafeteria. Meet with directors of a wide variety of top summer enrichment programs, locally and abroad and at all budgets, for kids ages 12-18. FREE and OPEN TO ALL. Pre-Register to by-pass the line at check-in. Please contact Teen Summer Expos with any questions.

 
South Stage Presents Our Annual Student Directing Festival

Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker

directed by Willa Foster and Audrey Jung

 

Horse Girls by Jenny Rachel Weiner

directed by Naomi Metcalf

 

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, February 9-11, in the Newton South Lab Theater

Tickets at SouthStage.org.

 

In Circle Mirror Transformation, four lost New Englanders begin a six-week-long community-center drama class with harmless games. Then, hearts are quietly torn apart, and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. In Horse Girls, twelve-year-old Ashleigh rules the Lady Jean Ladies, South Florida’s most exclusive horse club. News that her family’s stables are being sold and their horses killed for meat throws the Ladies into crisis in this dark comedy of middle school deception and lies. NOTE: Contains adult language, violence, and the use of stage blood. PG-13

 
Next ELPAC Meeting on February 9

ELPAC (English Learner Parent Advisory Council) meets in person Thursday, February 9. ELPAC is for ELL and former ELL families districtwide. ELPAC collaborates with schools and the district to improve ELL programming and support bilingualism. You are welcome to join this community meeting!

 

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023

Time: 6:30-8:00PM

Location: 100 Walnut Street, Newton (the Education Center for Newton Public Schools) Room 111

  • A big parking lot is behind the building on Crafts Street
  • Use the green door, at the top of the steps, near the right side of the parking lot

ELPAC Meeting Agenda will include:

  • Presentations:
    • College Application Process, presenter: Jennifer Geraghty from Newton North High School
    • Parks and Rec Opportunities and Summer Camps
    • ELPAC Elections–Three candidates will be on the ballot: Li Yin (Current At-Large member who is nominated for chairperson), Wendy Wang (At-Large Member), and Zoe Shih (At-Large Member). ELPAC welcomes more nominations. ELPAC needs a treasurer and a secretary.

RSVP: Interpretation and snacks will be provided with RSVP. Please note: no childcare will be provided for this meeting. However, children ages 5+ are welcome to join. ELPAC will include a children’s table of activities.

https://forms.gle/23tyb8qFuHzt53gPA

 
AP Proctors Needed

Newton South High School is seeking proctors for the 2023 AP Exams. Exams will be administered in person at Newton South High School May 1-5 and May 8-12. Morning exam sessions begin at 8AM; Afternoon exam sessions begin at 12PM. Exam sessions are generally between 3-4 hours, with the exception of students testing with accommodations. Exam sessions will be assigned based on the proctor’s availability. Payment rates are below:

 

  • Standard Time: $125
  • Extended Time (+50%): $185
  • Extended Time (+100%): $250

 

AP Proctors must be responsible adults who can guard against attempts at cheating. Responsibilities include:

 

  • Reading the exam administration script
  • Distributing and collecting exams materials
  • Familiarizing themselves ahead of time with the administration and exam security procedures
  • Reading all of the general and appropriate subject-specific exam administration instructions to understand the flow of the administration
  • Supervising the testing room at all times

 

Please note, an individual may not proctor an AP Exam in the year in which an immediate family or household member may be taking that exam. Proctors may not be employed at a test preparation company.

 

Interested candidates should contact the Newton South AP Coordinator Paige Perkinson at perkinsonv@newton.k12.ma.us

 
 
Save the Date: GELF Fundraiser on Saturday, April 29

Think Globally, Act Locally

Are you passionate about international travel and global understanding? Do you believe in making a difference right here in your hometown? Help open international doors for our students by getting involved with the Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF). GELF will have a dinner fundraiser on Saturday, April 29 at 7 PM. Formal invitation to follow. Reach out to Star Lew (lewy@newton.k12.ma.us) if you would like to help plan, organize and get to know more families who share the same passion!

 

 

Newton Youth Services Information
Career Exploration Events
 
  Let’s Get to WorkTuesday, February 21, 2023, 10:30am-12:00pmThursday, February 23, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pmCity Hall, War Memorial, 1000 Commonwealth Ave.Join Youth Services for two employment-focused workshops in preparation for summer and post high school employment, as well as internship opportunities. Interested young people do not need to register for both dates.

  • Tuesday, February 21st
    • How to apply for a job
    • Cover letter & resume review
    • Preparing for an interview
  • Thursday, February 23rd
    • Offer letters & onboarding documents for employers
    • Obtaining a work permit

Click HERE to register.
Career Exploration Event SeriesUpcoming Thursdays, 6:00pm-7:00pmDates: February 16, March 23, April 27, & May 18Newton Free Library, Druker AuditoriumJoin Newton Youth services and the Newton Free Library for a four-part series exploring careers through in person discussions with professions working in the industry. Industry exploration includes STEM (February), Medical (March), The Trades (April), and Human Services (May).Click HERE to register.
MBTA Youth PassThe MBTA and the City of Newton’s Youth Pass program helps provide affordable transit access for young people with low-income. The Youth Pass is a card that can be used by eligible young adults with low incomes to purchase roughly 50% reduced one-way fares for Commuter Rail, Express Bus, and ferry. For additional details CLICK HERE.

 

Other Information
NPS District Newsletter Released January 25

The district released a newsletter on Wednesday, January 25. You can find it here.

 
Eating Spaces

We have seen an increase in the number of students who are eating in the area near the wood shop and loading dock, which is unsafe as staff and delivery people need to move equipment through that area. Additionally, it blocks a hallway which would be needed in case of emergency. Campus aides or other staff members will continue to ask students who eat in this area to relocate to one of the following areas below:

 

  • The Student Center
  • The Wheeler, Goldrick or Goodwin Commons
  • Field House Lobby
  • The tables outside the auditorium
  • Any supervised area where staff give express permission

 

 

Students are NOT permitted to eat in the Lecture Hall, Library, Auditorium, or in hallways. Students are also not permitted to eat on the floor.

 

We appreciate your cooperation as we work together to maintain a safe, healthy environment for all.

 
Upcoming Events

Monday, February 6: Youth Risk Behavior Survey (special schedule)

Thursday, February 9: Grade 10 Family Night (6:30pm, Zoom)

Thursday, February 9 – Saturday, February 11: Student Directing Festival (7:30pm)

Monday, February 20 – Friday, February 24: February Recess

It’s never too late to get involved at Newton South!

 

Want to catch a game? View the athletic calendars here: Newton South Athletics Calendar

Want to join a club but don’t know where to start? Here are a list of clubs at Newton South!

Letter from the VP October 31 – Nov 4

BLUE WEEK

Newton South Families,

Welcome to the last week of term 1! Quarter classes are coming to a close, and semester classes have almost reached their halfway point. Now is a great opportunity for students to check in with their teachers to ensure they are on track to have a successful end to first quarter. The last day of term 1 is this Friday, November 4, and teachers will submit grades on Aspen by Monday, November 14. Report cards will be posted to Aspen during the week of November 14.

As you know, our principal, Tamii Stras, has been on maternity leave since the beginning of the school year. On Tuesday, November 1, she will be returning from her leave and reassuming the role of principal. We would like to give special thanks to Josepha Blocker for doing an amazing job with the principal duties in her absence. Additionally, we would like to thank Ted Dalicandro for all his hard work as the acting Cutler House dean. As of Tuesday, Josepha will be returning to her role as Cutler House Dean and Ted will be returning to the CORE program.

The district released a newsletter this past Wednesday. If you missed it, you can find it here.

Here’s to another great week at South!

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him/his)

Vice Principal

Newton South High School

Math and Writing Center Schedules

Need extra help in math or writing?

Here is the Math Center Schedule. If you have any questions, reach out to Mr. Marchica.

Here is the Writing Center Schedule. If you have any questions, reach out to Ms. Dornbrook.

 

Term 1 Wellness Newsletter

Attached is the Term 1 Wellness Newsletter from Newton South.

 

Book Drive from November 7 – 18

Do you have any old (but still in good condition) books that you’d like to donate? From Monday, November 7th to Friday, November 18th, there will be bins outside of the main office and at the Wheeler entrance to collect books. Donated books will be brought to the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory, where they’ll be sorted and distributed to kids in need throughout the Boston area. Please make sure that any donated books are appropriate for children and teenagers, and that they are still in good condition (covers should be on, pages shouldn’t be ripped, etc).

 

The Class of 2024 is Selling Merch!

Rep your class and purchase your Class of 2024 MERCH today!Check out our MERCH LINK here!Store will remain open until Wednesday, November 9th.Questions? Ask a Class Officer, Ms. Fitz, or Ms. Maillet!

 

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, November 8: PD Half Day

Thursday, November 17 – Saturday, November 19: The Visit (South Stage), in the Auditorium

November 23: Half Day

November 24-25: Thanksgiving Recess

 

Get Involved!

It’s never too late to get involved at Newton South!
Want to catch a game? View the athletic calendars here: Newton South Athletics CalendarWant to join a club but don’t know where to start? Here are a list of clubs at Newton South!

Welcome to Celebrate South Week 10/15/22 – 10/22/22

BLUE WEEK

Newton South Families,

 

We are sending the Update a little early this week to kick off Celebrate South Week!

 

Thanks to the collaboration between our Class Officers, Class Advisors, Fine and Performing Arts Department, Deans, PTSO, and Boosters, we are excited to bring you Celebrate South Week! Students have been receiving information and updates about the upcoming events through Schoology, and we hope you encourage your Newton South Lions to get involved!

 

Our summary calendar of events is below and you can access the more detailed calendar using the button below:

 
Detailed Celebrate South Week Schedule

The detailed calendar can be accessed via the QR code on the flyer.

 

Our kickoff event is the Girls Soccer game Saturday, October 15 at 6:30 PM. There will be free t-shirts for all student fans and burritos, cotton candy and more for sale at the concession stand. The Dance team will also perform at halftime. Come out and support the team and wear ORANGE!

 

Our Spirit Week will run as follows:

  • 10/17: Anything But a Backpack
  • 10/18: This is ME
  • 10/19: Pajama Day
  • 10/20: Tie vs Tie-Dye
  • 10/21: BLORANGE Sprit (9th and 10th wear orange, 11th and 12th wear blue)

 

We hope you enjoy all the amazing events upcoming and have a great week here at South!

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Williams (he/him/his)

Vice Principal

Newton South High School

 
Spirit Week for 10/17 – 10/21
 
 
Celebrate South Schedule
 

 

Other Updates This Week
NPS Newsletter Released on October 12

NPS released a newsletter on Wednesday, October 12 that you can find here.

 
 
 
South Stage Presents “Writers…Blocked”

South Stage presents the annual 9th grade play, Writers…Blocked, on Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 20-22 at 7:30 PM in the Newton South Lab Theater. Tickets at SouthStage.org.

 

Come see the work of our newest theatre artists in a series of 10-minute plays about the struggles of writers. Writers…Blocked is directed by professional theatre artist Jesse Garlick in our intimate black box theater. Masks are optional. The running time is 80 minutes with no intermission.

 

Tickets are $10 in advance at SouthStage.org. Tickets will be sold at the door if any remain.

 
 
 
List of Colleges Attending Newton South This Week

Attached is a list of colleges visiting Newton South this week. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathy Sabet, our College and Career Counselor.

 

The College and Career Center webpage is here.

 
 
 
Photo Retake Day is Wednesday, October 19

On Wednesday, October 19, we will have a photo retake day. This will be an opportunity for students who did not take a photo on our original date or would like to take their photo again. This will also be the last opportunity for seniors to take a photo for ID purposes. The order form for photo day is attached. 

Here is the schedule for the day. The bells will remain the same, but we will announce once a block for students who would like to retake their photo to come down at some point during the block, based on teacher discretion.

 
Grade 9 Elections Taking Place During WIN 3

Grade 9 students will be having class office elections during WIN 3 on Friday, October 21. During this WIN, all grade 9 students will report to the Field House.

 
South’s Second Annual Fence-Decorating Contest Ends October 20!

Get ready for Celebrate South and win up to $100 for your club, group or team by decorating a section of the chain link fence leading to Winkler Stadium Field! All entries must be finished by 6:00 pm, Thursday, October 20.

 

Click here to learn more and claim a section of the fence today!

 
Other Upcoming Events

Monday, October 24: Diwali (observed holiday)

Friday, November 4: Last Day of Term 1

 
Get Involved!

It’s never too late to get involved at Newton South!

 

Want to catch a game? View the athletic calendars here: Newton South Athletics Calendar

Want to join a club but don’t know where to start? Here are a list of clubs at Newton South!

 

 

October 10 – 14, 2022

ORANGE WEEK
Newton South Families,

This week marks the halfway point of term 1. Progress reports will be coming out later this week on the Aspen homepage for all students. For each course, this document will show teacher comments, the number of absences (excused and unexcused), and the number of tardies.

Additionally, the document will provide a snapshot for where students are with accordance to our new attendance policy. This will show up as a Y or N depending on the number of excused or unexcused absences. Note that this is just a snapshot and that deans and/or teachers will be or already have been in contact with families of students who are at risk of not meeting the attendance standard in a given course. Any questions about your student can be directed to their house office.

Here is the attendance policy FAQ. All students and families will receive a separate email when progress reports are posted.

Celebrate South Week will be taking place from October 15 – 22 this year! The PTSO, Boosters, and South Class Office have a week’s worth of SPIRIT planned! There will be music, athletics, art, giveaways, spirit days, and fun events! Use the QR Code to link to a detailed calendar of events! Get ready to join with your South community to CELEBRATE NSHS!

See below for the full calendar of events.

Enjoy your long weekend, and we will see you on Tuesday!

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him/his)
Vice Principal
Newton South High School

Student Volunteers Needed to Serve on the Superintendent Search Committee
The Newton School Committee is seeking volunteers to serve on the Superintendent Search Committee. If you are interested in serving on the Search Committee, please complete this form.

The committee will have representatives from the following communities: NPS administration, NPS educators, NPS families, NPS students and general members of the Newton community. If you are not selected to serve on the committee, there will be multiple opportunities for you to provide feedback and input on the selection of the next superintendent.

Please submit the form indicating your interest in serving on the committee by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. The first meeting of the search committee is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, 2022.

file type: pdf Superintendent Search – Solicitation of Search Committee – STUDENTS.pdf

Download
59.4 KB

Other Updates This Week
No School on Monday, October 10

As mentioned in the opening letter, we will have no school on Monday, October 10 due to Indigenous Peoples Day.

As there is no school, we will not have an Advisory. This week, we are asking teachers to dedicate a few minutes during F block on Tuesday to make sure you have signed up for your WIN blocks for the week. Any student not signed up for a Wednesday WIN by the end of the day on Tuesday will be automatically assigned.

South’s Second Annual Fence-Decorating Contest Starts October 11!

Get ready for Celebrate South and win up to $100 for your club, group or team by decorating a section of the chain link fence leading to Winkler Stadium Field! All entries must be finished by 6:00 pm, Thursday, October 20.

Click here to learn more and claim a section of the fence today!

List of Colleges Attending Newton South This Week

Attached is a list of colleges visiting Newton South this week. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathy Sabet, our College and Career Counselor.

The College and Career Center webpage is here.

MCAS Results Available in Aspen

MCAS results are available in Aspen for all students who took the test at Newton South during the spring of 2022 (generally juniors who took ELA and Math last March and May, and sophomores who took science last June). These can be found on Aspen in the Documents folder.

Photo Retake Day is Wednesday, October 19

On Wednesday, October 19, we will have a photo retake day. This will be an opportunity for students who did not take a photo on our original date or would like to take their photo again. This will also be the last opportunity for seniors to take a photo for ID purposes. The order form for photo day is attached.

As we get closer to the date, a more detailed schedule for photo retake day will be available.

Other Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 19: Passin’ Time during WIN 1 (10:45 – 11:10)
Wednesday, October 19: Photo Retake Day
Thursday, October 20 – Saturday, October 22, 7:30 PM: Writers…Blocked: The Frosh Play
Friday, October 21: Grade 9 Class Elections during WIN 3
Saturday, October 22, 7-10 PM: Senior Homecoming Dance

Reminders for Students
Get Involved!

It’s never too late to get involved at Newton South!

Want to catch a game? View the athletic calendars here: Newton South Athletics Calendar
Want to join a club but don’t know where to start? Here are a list of clubs at Newton South!

Lunch

Please be sure to clean up after yourselves when you are done eating. We have sometimes seen trash left at tables and other parts of the building which has created extra, unnecessary work for our custodial staff. Remember our school values – Choose Kindness, Listen First, Show Respect, and Take Responsibility.

Students are permitted to eat in the following locations:
The Student Center
Outside, when the weather permits (picnic tables are outside Wheeler House and in the Student Center Courtyard)
The Wheeler, Goldrick or Goodwin Commons
The Field House Lobby
Any supervised area where staff give expressed permission
Auditorium Lobby Tables

Students are NOT permitted to eat in the Library, Auditorium, Lecture Hall, or in hallways.
Students are also not permitted to eat on the floor.

We appreciate your cooperation as we work together to maintain a safe, healthy environment for all.

October 3 – 7 2022

BLUE WEEK

Newton South Families,

 

Welcome to the first week of October!

 

First, we want to wish peace and goodness to all those who are celebrating Yom Kippur this week. Please note that we will not have school on Wednesday, October 5 due to the holiday.

 

We are one week away from the halfway point of term 1, and with this halfway point comes progress reports. Teachers will be posting comments for students by Wednesday, October 12. We will then post a progress report document to Aspen. Stay tuned next week for more details about this process.

 

Regarding this week, we have an important safety day during advisory on Monday, October 3. Click below for the schedule:

October 3 Safety Day Schedule

All blocks will meet, but will be shorter to accommodate a special 50-minute advisory. During this advisory, students and staff will work through our different emergency procedures, culminating with an evacuation towards the end of the block. While we hope to never need to use these procedures, it is vital that we are prepared to respond to keep our students, staff, and community safe. If students have any concerns after these drills are concluded, we welcome them to reach out to their dean, counselor, or another trusted adult.

 

Last, but certainly not least, the district released a newsletter on Wednesday, September 28 that can be accessed here.

 

Here’s to another great week at South! Please let us know if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Williams (he/him/his)

Vice Principal

Newton South High School

 

 

Update on NSHS Phone Outage on Wednesday, September 28

As you know, Newton South briefly lost phone and Internet service towards the end of the school day on Wednesday, September 28. Thanks to the work of our IT team, we were able to resolve this issue later in the afternoon after dismissal. While we hope to not have an issue like this occur again, we would like to use this experience as an opportunity to discuss what would happen in the event we temporarily lost phone service in the future.

 

First, if there ever is a phone outage and you are unable to contact the school, we will send you a message through School Messenger asking for families to call the Superintendent’s Office if they need to reach Newton South. In case of an emergency, we would still be able to call 911 as we have special infrastructure in place separate from what went offline on Wednesday. We may additionally cancel activities that take place after school if we need to maintain the safety of our students and phone issues were to continue past the end of the school day.

 

We would also like to acknowledge that some families have raised concerns about the limited cell phone coverage in the Newton South area. We and the City of Newton are aware of these issues and share your concerns about the effect of the limited coverage and its implications for communication, especially in moments like Wednesday afternoon. We will continue to partner with the city to look for solutions to this issue that might allow two-way communication to continue to flow between our school and the greater community.

 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked to resolve this unexpected issue on Wednesday afternoon.

 

 

This Week's Updates
 
 
List of Colleges Attending Newton South This Week

Attached is a list of colleges visiting Newton South for the week of 9/26 – 9/30. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathy Sabet, our College and Career Counselor.

 

The College and Career Center webpage is here.

 
 
 
Safety Day on Monday, October 3

On Monday, October 3, students and staff will review our emergency response plan during an extended Advisory, expected to be about 50 minutes.

 

During this advisory, students and staff will practice several drills and a school evacuation and learn about ways we can stay safe while we are in school. We will run an adjusted schedule that can be accessed here.

 

While we expect the safety day block to last 50 minutes, there may be unanticipated circumstances which may lead the evacuation portion of the block to extend a few minutes into B block.

 
No School on Wednesday, October 5

As mentioned in the opening letter, we will have no school on Wednesday, October 5 due to Yom Kippur.

 
 
 
Celebrate South Week: October 15 – October 22

New this year!

 

“CELEBRATE SOUTH” WEEKwill take place Saturday, October 15 – Saturday, October 22! The PTSO, Boosters, and South Class Office have a week’s worth of SPIRIT planned! There will be music, athletics, art, giveaways, and fun events! Be on the lookout for the calendar of events and get ready to join with your South community to CELEBRATE NSHS!

 
Denebola Customink Fundraiser

One of our student newspapers, Denebola, is fundraising! Here is a link to their Customink page.

 
Other Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 12: Midterm Comments Due

Saturday, October 15 – 22: Celebrate South Week

Wednesday, October 19: Passin’ Time during WIN 1 (10:45 – 11:10)

Thursday, October 20 – Saturday, October 22, 7:30 PM: Writers…Blocked: The Frosh Play

Saturday, October 22, 7-10 PM: Homecoming Dance

 

 

Reminders for Students
Get Involved!

It’s never too late to get involved at Newton South! Want to catch a game? View the athletic calendars here: Newton South Athletics Calendar

 

Want to join a club but don’t know where to start? Here are a list of clubs at Newton South!

 
Lunch

Please be sure to clean up after yourselves when you are done eating. We have sometimes seen trash left at tables and other parts of the building which has created extra, unnecessary work for our custodial staff. Remember our school values – Choose Kindness, Listen First, Show Respect, and Take Responsibility.

 

Students are permitted to eat in the following locations:

  • The Student Center
  • Outside, when the weather permits (picnic tables are outside Wheeler House and in the Student Center Courtyard)
  • The Wheeler, Goldrick or Goodwin Commons
  • The Field House Lobby
  • Any supervised area where staff give expressed permission
  • Auditorium Lobby Tables

 

 

Students are NOT permitted to eat in the Library, Auditorium, Lecture Hall, or in hallways.

Students are also not permitted to eat on the floor.

 

We appreciate your cooperation as we work together to maintain a safe, healthy environment for all.

 
 
 
Consider Opting-In to the NPS Chromebook Repair Fund
We encourage you to sign up for our Optional Chromebook Repair Fund. For $25 per year, all accidental damage to the device, including screen cracks, liquid spills, damages from dropping, etc. will be covered. Sign-up and payment for the Chromebook Repair Fund is done through the MySchoolBucks Portal.

September 19 – 23, 2022

BLUE WEEK
Newton South Families,

We are on to week 3 and halfway through the month of September! It was great to see everyone at Back to School Night this past Thursday, navigating the building and meeting all of our amazing teachers! We hope that for those of you who were able to make it, that you had a great experience and were able to get a feel for what a day at Newton South feels like. Additionally, we hope you had a chance to meet our Deans in the Student Center to learn more about our new Attendance Policy.

The Attendance FAQ can be found here.
The full Attendance Policy can be found here.

Students: looking for a way to get involved? Check out the list of clubs here that you can visit during Lion block, and be sure to take a look at the athletics schedule to see what games are coming up.

Acting Principal Josepha Blocker put out a community update on Friday, September 16. This can be found here.

Last but certainly not least, remember that the district will release a newsletter every two weeks. The most recent newsletter is from Wednesday, September 14 and can be found here.

Here’s to another great week at South! Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him/his)
Vice Principal
Newton South High School

This Week’s Updates
Sign Up for WIN Blocks During Advisory on Monday

Students will sign up for WIN blocks during Advisory on Monday, September 19. They will use the MyFlexLearning app to do so. There will be some special programming for certain grades this week:

Wednesday 9/21: All grade 10 students in Wheeler House will meet in the Field House for a Counseling Center activity
Thursday 9/22: All grade 9 students will meet in the Field House for a presentation by Rob Greenfield
Friday 9/23: All grade 10 students in Goldrick House will meet in the Field House for a Counseling Center activity

List of Colleges Attending Newton South This Week

Attached is a list of colleges visiting Newton South for the week of 9/19 – 9/23. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathy Sabet, our College and Career Counselor.

The College and Career Center webpage is here.

Senior Parent Post-Secondary Planning Webinar on Thursday, September 22

On Thursday, September 22 at 6:30 PM, we will hold a Senior Parent Post-Secondary Planning Webinar. During this virtual webinar, the Newton South school counselors will discuss everything students and families need to know about school procedures to support students applying to colleges, technical schools, gap years and otherwise preparing for life after high school.

Our Counseling department head, Dan Rubin, sent an email to all seniors on September 8 with more information. Here is a link to the webinar:

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/89477861834
Passcode: Lions2023

Annual Student Information Update – Please Complete!

Every year, you are required to update student information in Aspen, our student information system. It is very important that families update addresses, emergency contacts, health records, and permissions so that schools have the most accurate and up to date information for students.

This system is also used to determine what student information can be released. Please note that we do have new Opt Out Permissions for the 2022-2023 school year that need your review and preference selections.

Families must update their students’ records by Friday, September 30th. Please use these instructions to access the information and forms in Aspen: Student Information Update Instructions.

Reminders for Students
Lunch

Please be sure to clean up after yourselves when you are done eating. We have sometimes had trash left at tables which has created extra, unnecessary work for our custodial staff. Remember our school values – Choose Kindness, Listen First, Show Respect, and Take Responsibility.

Please note the following from our school handbook, The Orange Lion, regarding lunch:

Students are permitted to eat in the following locations:
The Student Center
Outside, when the weather permits (picnic tables are outside Wheeler House and in the Student Center Courtyard)
The Wheeler, Goldrick or Goodwin Commons
The Field House Lobby
Any supervised area where staff give expressed permission
Auditorium Lobby Tables

Students are NOT permitted to eat in the Library, Auditorium, Lecture Hall, or in hallways.
Students are also not permitted to eat on the floor.

We appreciate your cooperation as we work together to maintain a safe, healthy environment for all.

Parking On Campus

Please do not park along the fence near the athletic fields and Cutler House, or in any fire lane. This is an important access point for city and emergency vehicles and a vital pickup and dropoff point for our school vans. We appreciate your cooperation as we help ensure the safety of all students.

Only seniors who have earned a spot through the parking lottery are allowed to park on campus. Only seniors who have paid for a parking pass at the beginning of the semester are allowed to park on campus, and are only allowed to park in their designated, numbered, yellow-lined space.

Vehicles illegally parked on campus will receive a warning ticket after their first violation. If the vehicle receives a second ticket, it is subject to being towed, at the owner’s expense, if it receives another one.

Here is the parking handbook for Semester 1.

Off-Campus Parking

Students: When parking in off-campus locations in the surrounding neighborhood, please be mindful of the following:
Observe parking restrictions on these roads
Park at least 5 feet away from a driveway so residents can get in and out of their homes
Park near but not on the grass edges if there is no curb so that there is space for pedestrians to walk and for fire trucks and other vehicles to pass through the street
Park thoughtfully to avoid having unparkable spaces between your car and another vehicle
On one-way streets, park in the direction of traffic

Following these guidelines will help keep our surrounding neighborhood safe and reduce congestion in the area. We thank you for your consideration.

Consider Opting-In to the NPS Chromebook Repair Fund

We encourage you to sign up for our Optional Chromebook Repair Fund. For $25 per year, all accidental damage to the device, including screen cracks, liquid spills, damages from dropping, etc. will be covered. Sign-up and payment for the Chromebook Repair Fund is done through the MySchoolBucks Portal.

Grade 10 Families: BMI Opt-In Screening Program

Grade 10 Families:

 

This year, BMI screening will be opt-in for students whose parents/guardians sign them up for the program. If you would like your child to be screened for BMI by the school nurses, please return this form to the school nurses by Monday, September 19.

 

Please see here for the form, which has more information about the program. If you are interested in participating, please print and fill out this form, and return it to the school nurses. If you have any questions, please contact the school nurses at 617-559-6575 or email them at kiritsyk@newton.k12.ma.us and kramerg@newton.k12.ma.us.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Williams (he/him/his)
Vice Principal
Newton South High School
140 Brandeis Road
Newton, MA 02459
617-559-6700

Back to School Night at Newton South on Thursday, September 15

Newton South Families,

 

Your student’s schedule for Back to School Night has been posted to Aspen and is available on the homepage. Back to School Night will run on Thursday, September 15 from 7 – 9 PM. It is an opportunity for you to meet your student’s teachers and hear an overview of the curriculum for your student’s classes. The PTSO will be outside the main entrance beginning at 6:15 PM to give out information.

 

Note that parking around Newton South is limited, so we recommend you allow time to find parking and carpool if possible. Oak Hill and Brown parking lots are also available.

 

Your student’s schedule will show full year, semester 1, and quarter 1 classes. Directed studies and small studies will not meet. During these blocks, we encourage families to visit the Student Center, our cafeteria, where Deans will be available to present and answer questions about the new Attendance Policy.

 

We look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night! Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Jason Williams (he/him/his)
Vice Principal
Newton South High School
140 Brandeis Road
Newton, MA 02459
617-559-6700

This Week’s Updates Sept 5, 2022

We are excited to welcome students to Newton South on our first day of school, Tuesday, September 6. School runs from 9:00 AM – 3:25 PM on Tuesday (9:00 AM – 3:45 PM on other days of the week).

 

Here is a copy of the schedule. Grade 9 students will arrive at 9 AM following the regular bus schedule (see below). For students in grades 10 through 12, buses will start their run at 12:00 PM for an arrival to South by 12:30 PM. They will otherwise follow the same stops in the bus schedule detailed in the next section. Note that lunch will only be provided for grade 9 students.

 

The bus schedule for Boston routes can be found here.

 

Student schedules were posted to the Aspen homepage on Friday, September 2. Please follow this schedule for A-G blocks on the first day of school. If you have any questions about your schedule, please see your counselor at the start of school.

 
WIN Blocks for the Week of 9/5 – 9/9

We will follow a regular schedule on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. However, students will not be signing up for WINs this week. Instead, there will be special programming that students will go to based on their grade.

 

Please see this document for more information.

 

September 8 is Student Photo Day
 
 

Students in grades 9 – 11 will be taking their photos on Thursday, September 8. Students will be called down with their class to take their individual photo in Gym B. Please listen for announcements throughout the day and go with your class when you are called.

 

Here is the detailed schedule.

 

Students and families: Click or tap on the picture at the left to learn more information about ordering pictures. You can go to shop.legacyphotos.com and enter code 3597523. If you or your family have any questions about ordering pictures through Legacy Studios, you can reach out to them directly at customercare@legacystudios.com.

 
9th Grade/New to South Night on Thursday, September 8 at 6:30 PM

New to South and 9th Grade Parent Night will be held on Thursday, September 8 for families of 9th graders and families of students who are new to South. This event will run from 6:30 – 8:00 PM and be held virtually. See below for the webinar link:

 

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/83516455634

Passcode: newlions

 

This will be an opportunity for families to meet the deans and counselors, learn more about Newton South, and ask questions. The webinar will be recorded for those who are unable to make it and/or wish to rewatch the webinar at a later date.

 
The South Stage Frosh Play Starts Monday, Sept. 12

The Frosh Play is a no-cut, low-stress way to get involved in South Stage, make friends, and connect with the school. Actors should attend as much as possible the week of Sept. 12 after school (MWTHF 4-6 pm, T 3:30-5:30). We will play drama games and read from the scripts we are considering. At the end of the week, everyone will be cast in an evening of 10-minute plays to be performed on Oct. 20-22. Ninth graders interested in backstage crews are welcome to attend the first week or go directly to Lab Theater. Visit southstage.org for more information about the Frosh Play and tech opportunities.

 

Upcoming Family Events
  • Thursday, September 15, 7:00 PM: Back to School Night (in person) (slight time change)
  • Thursday, September 22, 6:30 PM: Senior Parent Night (Virtual)
 
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Other Information

August 31 District Newsletter

The most recent district newsletter was released on Wednesday, August 31 and can be found here.

 

Note that this newsletter has updated Health and Safety guidelines for the 2022-2023 school year.

 
Bus Passes

To download your bus pass from Aspen:

1) Log into Aspen

2) Click on Family Tab at the top

3) Click on Child’s Name

4) Click on Documents Side Tab

5) Look for and download Bus Pass 2022-2023 document

 

Your pass will have the 4-digit number on it, but also use the bus schedule to determine what letters (i.e., AA, VV) go with that bus, as that is what you will see in the bus’s side and rear windows.

 

Newton bus routes can be found here.

Boston bus routes can be found here.

 

Don’t have a bus pass but want one? Bus registration has re-opened. Visit this page to learn more.

 

If you have any questions about the buses, please reach out to Transportation at

 
Meals at NPS This School Year
 
 

Please see the following reminder from the district newsletter regarding School Meals at NPS:

 

Once again this year, Massachusetts will provide free meals in schools. However, the program this year is different from the last two years. Please read to understand the differences and actions you must take.

 

What is free?

FIRST meals are free for all students. However, SECOND meals and A LA CARTE ITEMS (at middle/high school) must be paid for with cash or through the MySchool Bucks account.

 

What is the cost of a SECOND meal?

The student charge for second meals is $5.50 for middle and high school students.

 

What do you mean by “all meals must be validated by student?”

This means that all student meals will be served from the cafeteria and each student must have their meal scanned at the Point of Sale register – even though the first meals are free.

 

How can I pay for SECOND meals and A LA CARTE items?

Please create or check your family MySchoolBucks lunch account to ensure there are funds available if your child purchases a second meal or a la carte items (middle and high school only).