A reminder that we need EVERY family from Newton South to fill out the learning model survey that the district sent out to families on Tuesday. The deadline is 11:59pm on Sunday night. If you did NOT receive the email from the district, no worries as we have this form that we are also allowing families to fill out:

Learning Model Survey – Due December 13

Next Steps & Key Dates for HyFlex Implementation
The School Committee approved the HyFlex Recommendation on Wednesday, December 2nd.

• December 23rd – Number of cohorts is determined and shared with families
• January – Students cohort assignments shared with families and transportation registration process.
  
• January 27, 2021 – Full HyFlex implementation at high schools.

Please find updated information below to help you make your selection for your family.

• December 2nd School Committee HyFlex Updated Presentation
• Overview – NPS Transition to HyFlex Hybrid Model
• FAQ for Families – High School Transition
• FAQ for Students – High School Transition
• View Narrated Slideshow on HyFlex

Lastly, many of you asked about where health and safety and building updates can be found on the district website.  Please see the links below:

• Mayor Fuller’s December 4 email update on Surveillance Testing for NPS staff and faculty.  Click to view
• Newton HHS COVID-19 Manual, updated December 1, 2020
• Newton School COVID-19 Dashboard.  The Newton Health and Human Services Department is tracking COVID-19 infections in the Newton Public Schools.
• The Facilities Updates can be found here https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/3804
  In addition, the table showing the status of the HVAC/Inspection can be found on this table in the Nov 18th report.  Scroll to the bottom on dates for the high schools.

“Welcome Back” to our faculty!  More than 150 faculty have been coming to the building this month in preparation of January HyFlex.

The PTSO is providing grab/go breakfast sandwiches and coffee for our faculty and staff on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.  We need 3 parent volunteers to pick up 2 cases of bottles water and 4 boxes of Joe (DD or Starbucks with cups/lids, creamers and sugars).  Please email May Chiu if you can help out. Thank you!

Please note our Holiday Faculty Appreciation will be on Wed. Dec. 23 (previously schedule for Dec 21st):  Click to sign up to donate holiday treats for our faculty.  Thank you! 

Help say THANKS to our faculty and staff at Newton South this holiday season.

We need parent volunteers to help donate food items and beverages.  Due to COVID-19 precaution, commercially purchased or individually wrapped items are needed to ensure health and safety.

Please note the date change for the Faculty Holiday Treats is now scheduled for Wednesday, Dec 23rd:  Click to sign up to donate holiday treats for our faculty. 

All items can be dropped off in the cafeteria starting at 7:45am on Wed. Dec. 23rd.
Thank you!

On Thursday, December 9, 2020, the Newton South PTSO hosted a Q&A session on the Newton South Principal Search Process with Superintendent David Fleishman and Toby Romer, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education and Special Programs.  Click to view the meeting to learn about the process and timeline.

The Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) will include 2 parents from Newton South High School who will participate in the interviews of candidates in February 2021. In addition, open meetings with Newton South parents and students will be held with the finalist in March 2021.  The SAC serves the role of an advisory group to the Superintendent, who will make the final selection from the finalists at the end of March.

Parent representatives on SAC must be able to commit to attending the following meetings listed below, and possible additional SAC meetings, if needed.

• Feb 4, 2021 from 3-4pm SAC meeting via Zoom.
• Feb 23 and Feb 24, 2021 for Candidate interviews (Live and Zoom)

The open meetings in March with the finalist will provide another opportunity for more parents and students to be involved in the process.  Our community will also be able to provide input via surveys on the candidate’s skills.  More details as we get closer to that timeframe.

This is an excellent opportunity for parents and students to be part of the process of selecting new leadership for our school. Newton South is a diverse community of students, faculty and parents from all cultures, backgrounds, gender and color.  Parents interested in being a candidate for the SAC should email May Chiu by January 8, 2021.  Please include a brief statement in your email of your background and experience at Newton South.  Thank you.

May Chiu, co-President
Newton South High School 
Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO)

DON’T PUBLISH Till January 10, 2021

Please find updated Newton Public Schools policy for 2020-21 for Snow Days & Technolog Outage Days.

Changes for 20-21 because of Distance Learning
This year, due to our hybrid and distance learning models, the state has granted permission to districts to shift to a “distance learning day” instead of cancelling in-person school due to inclement weather. This day will count as a day of school and all students will be expected to log in to classes. Teachers will notify students and families via email of their schedule for the day with all relevant login/link information.

Please note: in the event of inclement weather, the district may still decide to cancel school instead of shifting to distance learning. You will need to carefully monitor the notification channels listed below for the plan for the day. The decision made will apply to ALL students whether they are hybrid or distance only students.

Given our reliance on technology and access to myriad software programs, we also must plan for a “technology outage” day. A “technology outage” day would occur when technology outages or power outages affect critical systems used for learning in our current hybrid and distance models. If this were to happen, you would be notified by voice or text message and a notice will be posted on the Newton Public Schools’ website as described below for snow days. It is possible a technology or power outage could impact one school community and not the entire district.

Notifications
Below are our notification procedures for either a distance-only “snow day” or a “technology outage” day.

School closings or delays will be communicated via phone call, text message, email, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), NPS district website, and local television and radio stations. Please note: television and radio stations will only be used as a notification channel if school is cancelled or delayed.

A “shift to distance learning” instead of cancelling or delaying in person school, will be communicated via phone call, text message, email, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and NPS district website.

To receive text messages, you must opt-in. To opt-in, please login to Aspen, navigate to the contact information section, and select “yes” for SMS messages in the drop-down box below your cell phone number.

Following a storm, many of our students will continue to walk to school. We have collaborated with Newton DPW to create maps showing sidewalks that will be plowed, ensuring safe routes to school. Please access the maps here.

Because this year is so different, please be sure to carefully monitor communications when inclement weather approaches. We will clearly communicate our plan with you, which, as noted above, could include cancellation, delay, or transition to distance. For more detailed information on school operations in winter weather, please visit our webpage here: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/weather

If you need this information translated, please copy and paste it into Google Translate. The link to Google translate is http://translate.google.com/

Buy a raffle ticket and support NSHS’s chapter of GIRL UP, a global organization that fights gender-based violence. There are just 2 weeks left to enter. Get your raffle ticket by Wednesday, December 23rd for a chance to win prizes from female-owned and/or small businesses in Newton. Winnings include goods from Indulge Candy, Starbucks, Just Next Door, and Artemis Yoga.

All proceeds given to GIRL UP help provide safe spaces and resources for girls worldwide.

Visit the raffle directly from this link to grab a ticket and support the cause. For more information, you can reach out to the Girl Up Instagram or email [email protected].

WINTER FOOD DRIVE
– organized by Newton South students Tess Ertel & Isabella Gloria

Please consider donating any of the following items to help the local food pantry. Below is a list of needed items:

• Granola bars (any kind)
• Cereal or oatmeal variety packs
• Peanut butter
• Jelly/Jam
• Milk or juice boxes
• Mac n’ cheese
• Soup and/or pasta (spaghetti O’s or similar)
• Fruit or applesauce snack packs
• Pudding, cookies, or fruit snacks
• Pretzels, goldfish, corn chips, crackers

Drop off donations at either 37 Halcyon Road or 15 Bellingham Street. If you are unable to drop off at either location, please contact [email protected]  or [email protected] to organize a pickup.