The latest announcements from the Principal, PTSO, and NPS...

Next Gen Voices – Creative Minds Event

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

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!): [email protected]

AAPI Solidarity Event Feedback, Slides and Resources – Thanks for coming!

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

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)

In case you missed the event or wanted to review the material shared again, please see the following…

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

AAPI Resources List

Specific trainings that address anti-Asian violence and xenophobia

Contact: [email protected] w questions

Want to go to future FORJ events? Join the Citywide FORJ email list here. 

Before you close this email, please offer us your feedback here…

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

Your feedback will be reviewed by our planning team at our next meeting on May 3rd.

Thanks again for joining us! We hope to see you again in the future.

Sincerely,

The FORJ NSHS Team

Newton Citywide FORJ

Newton PTO Council

Honor Thy Teacher Campaign

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Michelle Wetlaufer in From the PTSO

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!

NPS Announcement Today: Required COVID Testing for HS Extracurriculars

Posted on April 17, 2021 by Manisha Kasana in Athletics

Newton Public School’s partnership with JCM to provide Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing at South started on March 8th.  But 30% participation from NSHS families is low compared to some neighboring districts seeing 75% participation.

Today, Superintendent Fleishman sent an update to all families: Required COVID Testing for HS Extracurriculars.  See below for details:

“As you know, we have made every effort over the past several weeks to encourage voluntary participation in our COVID testing program. Unfortunately, our participation rates are not meeting expectations nor are they at the level at which the pool testing is significantly useful in terms of gauging infection rates. In addition, COVID cases are rising among young people and there have been outbreaks in other towns and cities linked to athletics. Given we are returning more students to the building beginning April 26, we have determined we need to take more significant action.

Given we are returning more students to the building beginning April 26, we have determined we need to take more significant action.

Therefore, we have made the decision to MANDATE TESTING for all high school extracurricular activities. This is a mandate not only for students participating in athletics, but for any students participating in in-person extracurricular activities.

If your student participates in any in-person extracurricular activity, they must be enrolled and participate weekly in our pool testing program.”

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 the 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!

Fall 2 Sports Award Night Sat, May 1

Posted on April 17, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in Athletics

Fall 2 Sports season Awards Day will be Saturday, May 1. We will use the same format that was in place for the previous two seasons.

The awards will take place by team appointment time. Only the students receiving awards for each program and their parents will be attending the event. The slots are by program and include all levels of the sport.

The event will take place in Gym B.  Attendees will enter by using the outside entrance doors.

Please notice that with Spring teams in session,  times were selected to accommodate coaches and athletes participating in both seasons.

  • 10:00 AM  Girls Volleyball 3 levels
  • 10:15 AM Unified Basketball
  • 10:30 AM Football 2 levels
  • 10:45 AM Girls Track 2 levels
  • 11:00 AM Boys Track 2 Levels
  • 11:15 AM Dance
  • 12:30 PM Cheer – presentation will be held after car wash.

Girls Volleball

Posted on April 17, 2021 by PTSO CoPresident in Athletics

The Girls’ teams want to thank the support that coaches, parents, staff personnel, and their remote fans gave them during the season.

Fall 2 was filled with great moments, joyful experiences, and memories that will continue to strengthen the players’ bonds. Our coaches had the opportunity to develop skills and nurture community building by creating spaces for the students to thrive.

Closing the season by playing outdoor volleyball against the coaches was a fun closure to a great year.

Spring Sports Registration

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Manisha Kasana in Athletics

Just one week ahead and we need to prepare for your season safety protocols.

Please notice that due to COVID guidelines some sports have a cap on the number of athletes that can sign up for the sport.

We realize that this can be disappointing to some late registrants yet we have to follow guidelines that allow an extensive number of students to safely participate in our programs.

The Spring Tryout schedule will be released on Monday, April 19. You will find it by clicking on the Athletic Tab on our school website and scrolling down the menu.

Boys Volleyball

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Manisha Kasana in Athletics

Boys volleyball this Spring! Athletes wanted!!

Have a high vertical? Highly coordinated? Want a chance at winning a state championship and being part of a supportive team? No prior experience required. Join one of the top programs in the state. Register for tryouts on the Newton South Athletics website.

You can also reach out to our Head coach Lucas Coffeen at [email protected].

Unified Basketball

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Manisha Kasana in Athletics

From Coaches Strongin and Rodriguez:

“This season, Unified Basketball still held on as one of the strongest teams in the state. We gave NSHS three consecutive wins this season; a perfect season. We had a full roster of 25 athletes. Our goal this season was to give everyone a real and meaningful sports experience, and thanks to our athletes we were successful. Our athletes worked harder this season than any year previous. Our team was a constant reminder that friendship, respect, and inclusion are very much present at NSHS.  We are extremely thankful to the athletes for making this an overall great season.”

DCL Cheer and Dance

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Manisha Kasana in Athletics

The Cheer and Dance teams competed at the DCL tournament on Saturday, April 10. The competition was held outdoors for the first time in league history. Both teams had strong performances and represented South well.

With only 4 athletes the Cheer squad vowed judges by sticking all their stunts and their tumbling sequences!

The dance team presented a very solid routine with extensive use of space and multiple fronts. Their rhythm and coordination earned them the Dance trophy.