From the Newton South High School Wellness Department

 Choose Kindness Program

Fostering community one act of kindness at a time!

 What’s it about?

The Choose Kindness Program was created to recognize members of our community for their random acts of kindness or maybe not so random!  These acts are not behaviors or actions that are considered normal or expected but a sincere effort to help others.  Holding a door for someone, picking up a piece of trash in the hallway, or saying “good morning” to someone are all very polite and nice gestures but are considered expected behaviors in our community.  Volunteering to help at a soup kitchen, tutoring another student who is struggling academically, and supporting someone who is in crisis are acts of kindness that deserve recognition and help strengthen our community. 

 What do I do?

It’s easy!  Complete the Google form below.

 What happens after I nominate someone?

I will be displaying all nominations on the Choose Kindness Program wellness board.  The board is located in the field house lobby, just look for the large smiley face!  Each month I will choose recipients of the Choose Kindness Program of the month award.  This award will give recognition to one faculty/staff and one student. 

 Choose Kindness Program – April Nomination Form

Next Gen Voices is the civic engagement club at Newton North. Next Gen Voices is planning an art event focusing on Artists of Color in Newton called Creative Minds. Creative Minds is open to people of all ages, so we would love to have some art submissions from Students of Color in Elementary, Middle, and High school (and any adults who are interested!).

Creative Minds is open to fine, written, and performing arts. We wanted to create a platform to highlight the talents of artists of color in Newton (this includes anyone with ties to Newton such as attending school or living here). Some art topics to consider include culture, race, ethnicity, and identity in general. This list is not extensive, and artists should feel free to submit any kind of art that they like. This event will take place on April 24th at 1pm at the Arts Courtyard at Newton North. This event will include an area for performing art, as well tables to display the fine arts.

Additionally, anyone is welcome to attend, enjoy the art, and hear from our amazing speakers!

Here is the general interest form and our website which has more information.

Here is the email to send submissions to if students are interested (please reach out with any questions or concerns!): nnhsnextgenvoices@gmail.com

Dear Friends,

Thank you for joining us on Wednesday night for our AAPI Solidarity Event sponsored by FORJNSHS and the Newton PTO Council. We appreciated hearing from our presenters and listening to everyone’s perspectives in the breakout rooms and the full group discussions afterwards.

Want to review material from the event? See below. 

We hope you will be inspired to:

• Reach out to connect with AAPI families in your schools and community
• Speak up and out about racism you witness and experience
• Speak out about the need for AAPI curriculum in our schools
• Speak out about the need for more AAPI teachers, administrators, and community leaders
• Organize events of your own within your own neighborhoods, groups, schools, and communities

EVENT FEEDBACK FORM – takes 1-5 minutes depending on how much you share

Please share your feedback while the event is still fresh in your mind. Your feedback will be reviewed by our planning team at our next meeting on May 3rd.

We wanted to play this song « We are Proud to be Asian » at our event but ran out of time. It’s wonderful! It’s called composed by a 14-year old Lexington student Phoebe Tian recently. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/09/lifestyle/lexington-teens-we-are-proud-be-asian-song-inspires-weekend-rally-boston-common/ (FYI – this story is behind a Globe Paywall – sorry about that)

Supporting our AAPI Students– Slides created by NNHS Teachers Michele Leong and Charlene Beh from NNHS

Slides about NSHS ASO Events –Slides created by NSHS Teacher Marianne McChesney

Google Doc to Share ideas from your Breakout Room Discussion – this is shared with everyone so that you can read each other’s words and wisdom. If you took notes during the Breakout Rooms, please add your reflections here.

Event Slide Deck w Agenda and Timeline

This past year has been a challenge! During Teacher Appreciation Week on May 3-7, show your gratitude for the efforts of teachers and staff by participating in Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher campaign. Watch for a postcard arriving in your mail or make your tax-deductible donation online.

By donating to Honor Thy Teacher in the name of one or more of your children’s teachers or other school staff members, you can show your appreciation AND support your children’s schools. NSF will notify each teacher and staff member honored of your gift, share their names with principals and the Superintendent, and include their names on a list of honored teachers and staff members to be posted on the NSF website.

To learn more about the programs NSF funds, visit our website.

THANK YOU for your donation!