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

Video Dec 9th HyFlex Q&A & District HyFlex Email

Posted on December 9, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO, From the Vice Principal

Hello Families and Students,

Here is a link to a recording of last night’s  HyFlex Q & A webinar for anyone that was unable to watch live.

Principal Aronson also wanted to clarify one of his responses to a question last night about voluntary staff Covid testing. Below is the accurate information:

“Staff will be tested once a month to begin the NPS voluntary covid testing program. Initially NPS will test ~500 High Needs educators, who are in close contact with students before break. Then other educators working with students in person (elementary and middle), then HS educators and others will be tested in mid January”

Regarding the HyFlex vs. Distance model survey, the district sent it out to all families yesterday via School Messenger. This is exactly what the email from the district looked like:

From: NPS Office of Secondary Education <[email protected]2.ma.us>
Date: Tue, Dec 8, 2020 at 11:30 AM
Subject: High School Learning Model Selection
To: YOUR EMAIL HERE

Dear NPS High School Families,

As you know, the high school is transitioning to a Hyflex hybrid model at the end of January. To determine the number of cohorts and student placement within specific cohorts, we are beginning the process now.

Below is a link to the form to select your learning model. You should receive one email for each student and you must complete one form for each student. The student ID is pre-filled into the form. The form must be submitted by Sunday, December 13 at 11:59 p.m.

If you didn’t receive it, first please check your email folder. If you still can’t find the email with the survey link, please contact me and I can send you a link to the form. A reminder that the deadline to fill out the form is 11:59pm this Sunday, 12/13.

Finally, to answer a FAQ that has already come up….

We need you to do the best you can, right now, to make a selection. Your selections now will impact how many cohorts we build. We need to build cohorts so that we can assign classes to rooms etc before Jan 27. There will be opportunities to change your model, after Jan 27, though we don’t yet know how frequently. You should anticipate that this selection, that you make now, will be in place through AT LEAST February vacation. 

Thanks,
Chris Hardiman
NSHS Interim Vice Principal

Reminder – Meeting Tonight for NSHS Principal Search – Dec. 9 @7PM

Posted on December 9, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in Midweek From the PTSO 2021

Please join us on tonight – Wednesday, December 9th from 7-8 PM to learn about the NPS Newton South Principal Search.

Superintendent Fleishman will be joining us to provide an update on the process and timeline.  Opportunity for Q&A will follow.  This event is limited to 100 participants and will be recorded.

Dec 9, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86445807761?pwd=V3dtc1JIT0ZrcFNRbjhSd2Y3czc5QT09

Meeting ID: 864 4580 7761
Passcode: Lions2020

Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 864 4580 7761
Passcode: 546131168
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kg3p5Tw3B

REMINDER NSHS HyFlex Q&A for Families Tonight 6:30PM

Posted on December 8, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

The Newton Public School sent an email today that included the link for your child’s selection form for Hybrid or Remote for the HyFlex implementation on January 27, 2021.  If you have not received the High School Learning Model Selection email today, please contact the main office at  617-559-6700.

A reminder to join the HyFlex Q&A for South Families at 6:30PM tonight!  Click this link to join:  https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/83535612440. Passcode: nshs.

The High School Working Group recommended the HyFlex model because it provided the most flexible option to continue the remote learning we currently have and allows the district to expand in-person learning opportunities.  As COVID-19 continues to be present in our community, the choice is a personal one for each family. There is no right or wrong choice in selecting the learning model for your child, for your family.

For more information about HyFlex, please visit the High School Transition to Hybrid HyFlex page for details including FAQs on the learning model and health & safety updates.  Building updates are also available.  The deadline for submitting your choice is midnight December 13, 2020.  

Dec 9th Faculty Appreciation Volunteers Needed

Posted on December 7, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Welcome Back our teachers to Newton South this Month and say Thank You to all staff!

The PTSO is providing grab/go breakfast, lunch and snacks for our faculty.  Thanks in advance in showing thanks to all faculty.

  • Wed, Dec 9th: We need 2 to 3 volunteers to pick up 4 Boxes of Joe’s from Dunkin Donuts to deliver at 8AM to the main lobby.  Please email May Chiu if you can help out.  Thank you!
  • Wed, Dec. 16th: We need 6 volunteers to pick up cases of bottled water. Please email May Chiu if you can help out.

Attention NSHS Students! Join the Photo Match Contest

Posted on December 6, 2020 by PTSO CoPresident in From the PTSO

Dear Newton South Families,

Please let your student(s) know about the PTSO 2020 Newton Photo Match Contest.  See details below.  Teams can sign up today to receive information by December 11.  Submissions are due Dec 20th.  Winners, prizes and celebrity judges will be announced after the break. Thank you!

Hello Newton South Students!

How well do you know your city?  Can your team find 10 unique spots (all villages in the Newton South district) and win Match That Photo?

Recruit your team of up to 10 students and register by emailing a one word team name to NSHS parent [email protected].  Take the opportunity to connect with classmates you’re not seeing much this year.  Teams with members from different neighborhoods will have an advantage.  Small teams (1-5) who would like to join with others can also email [email protected].

Each team will match the 10 photos, working together or “together while apart.”  

While out and about in Newton, please wear a mask and keep 6 ft away from teammates and other people.  No photos require going indoors or onto private property.

We hope you will have fun finding the 10 sights.  If you’re playing to win, match the photos as closely as you can – same angle, same distance, same weather??

You will receive the target photos and instructions on Dec 11 and must submit your entries by Dec 20. 

Winners will be announced after winter break (along with the celebrity judges and the prize!)

High School Transition Details and Timeline

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Aparna Singamsetty in From the PTSO

Hello South Students and Families,

As you may have heard at the School Committee meeting Wednesday night or seen in an email from Superintendent David Fleishman yesterday, the Committee voted to support the hybrid HyFlex learning model. Here are some related documents for you to review:

School Committee Presentation – December 2, 2020

Overview – NPS Transition to HyFlex Hybrid Model

FAQ for Families – High School Transition

FAQ for Students – High School Transition

As shared in an email on Wednesday, we will be hosting a meeting for parents/families on Tuesday evening, December 8th from 6:30 to 7:30pm. *PLEASE NOTE: In light of previous issues with security incidents, we have decided to change the meeting format to a webinar in order to keep the highest security settings possible. Below is the new meeting information for the evening of 12/8. Please disregard any previous zoom links you may have received.

Please click this URL to join Tuesday night. https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/83535612440

Passcode: south

Or join by phone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 Webinar ID: 835 3561 2440 Passcode: 406533 International numbers available: https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/u/kdmLClDp9i

As shared with students previously, we will also have a Q & A for students during flex block on both Tuesday, 12/8 and Wednesday, 12/9 next week. Students should check their NPS email for zoom links for those meetings.

In addition to perusing the documents above, we encourage you to watch this narrated slideshow, which should give you a solid overview of how the HyFlex model will be implemented at the high schools.

Going forward, all documents related to the transition to HyFlex, including translated documents, will be posted on a new high school page of the NPS website under development (and linked on the NSHS homepage). Please stay tuned.

We look forward to your partnership as we move towards this important transition for Newton South.

Have a great weekend,
Mark Aronson, NSHS Interim Principal
Chris Hardiman, NSHS Interim Vice Principal

South Stage Gear for Holiday Gifts

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Aparna Singamsetty in From the PTSO

South Stage, Newton South’s theatre program, is offering many options for your holiday gift-giving! Visit the South Stage Merch website for links to our Red Bubble shop for stickers, mugs, t-shirts, and more, experiences to hang out with South Stage teachers and alumni, our cookie dough fundraiser, or to simply donate before the year ends. Make sure everyone knows you’re a South Stage fan and thank you!

Dec 31 Deadline Diploma Name Verification Inbox

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Aparna Singamsetty in For Seniors

Hello, Senior Class!

Many of you may have seen my name on emails regarding your transcripts and Naviance.  I hope your plans for after graduation are falling into place!

This time, I am emailing you about pre-graduation business.  I am the one who sends the student information to the printer for your diploma.  I usually spend December and January confirming the spelling of every senior’s name.  That is proving to be tricky this year, due to the pandemic, so, here is this year’s plan.

Please:

  1. Go on ASPEN and confirm the spelling of your first, middle and last names; and
  2. Complete this Google Form to confirm the spelling of your full name.

Confirmations are due no later than December 31, 2020. All change requests will be confirmed via email to the student, and to the student’s parent/guardian.  Thank you for completing this form as soon as possible.  The earlier we can submit names to the printer, the more likely we will be to get our diplomas on time.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Marguerite Monahan, Registrar
617.559.6511
Pronouns I use: she, her and hers

Newton South Girl Up Fundraiser

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Aparna Singamsetty in From the PTSO

To fundraise for the UN’s global campaign against gender-based violence, Newton South Girl Up has just launched a raffle with four prize baskets! Join us for the chance to win gift-filled baskets from female-owned and/or small businesses in Newton. Prize baskets include goods from Indulge! Candy, Starbucks, Just Next Door, and Artemis Yoga–all of which are perfect for the gift giving season! The fundraiser will be held from now through Monday, December 23rd.

Visit the raffle directly from this link! All proceeds will go to the global Girl Up organization to support the fight against gender-based violence! For more information (including ticket sales), you can reach out to the Girl Up Instagram or email [email protected].

Special Schedule on Wed, Dec 16th & Teacher Conferences

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Aparna Singamsetty in From the PTSO

Attached is a special schedule for 12/16, with a 12:30pm dismissal to accommodate conferences beginning at 1:00pm.

A reminder that the first phase of conference sign ups for interested parents/families ends tonight at 7:00pm. The second phase of sign ups will begin tomorrow, (Thurs.) 12/3 at 7:00am and will stay open until 7:00pm on Sunday, 12/6. If you are not able to schedule appointments with a given teacher because their conference schedule is already full, know that you are always welcome to reach out to teachers at any time of the school year with questions or concerns about your child’s progress.