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Announcements by Type
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Website Stuff
The latest announcements from the Principal, PTSO, and NPS...
- Restoring Youth Mental Health [From the PTSO]
- Student Volunteer Opportunity [From the PTSO]
- Safety and the Environment! [From the PTSO]
- President’s Letter August 28th 2022 [From the PTSO]
- How to get to School [From the PTSO]
- First Day of School Schedule [From the PTSO]
- New Family Meet & Greets [From the PTSO]
- VP Newsletter August 23, 2022 [From the Vice Principal]
- Green Students Movement [From the PTSO]
- New Family Night at Newton South [From the PTSO]
Student Volunteer Opportunity
For the staff opening day event on Wednesday, 8/31, Superintendent Kathy Smith, is looking for a few Newton South students to staff a donation table for a food pantry from 7:45 am – 9:30 am. If your Newton South student is interested in serving the community in this capacity, please ask him/her/them to reach out to Vice-Principal Jason Williams at williamsja@newton.k12.ma.us.
Safety and the Environment!
One of our challenges last year was traffic and student safety in and around Newton South. The Newton South School Committee is working with the Newton School Committee and other stake holders to improve the traffic flow around Newton South.
Fewer parent drop-offs are the key to reducing car traffic. Its better for the environment, creates a more independent student and reduces traffic in and around Newton South. Follow this link to learn more
President’s Letter August 28th 2022
If the success of our first official week is a sign of things to come, we know this year is going to be great! Our first three Parent Meet & Greets were well attended and hats off to interim Principal Josepha Blocker, Vice Principal Jason Williams and House Deans Meaghan Martin, Marc Banks, and Ted Delicandro for taking time out of their evenings to offer their insights and answer parent questions. We want to send a very big thank the hosts, Kelly and Kevin Flannery and Dana and Scott Elisofon for graciously opening their homes. If you’re a Freshman or new family parent and you didn’t get a chance to attend last week, please join us for the next Meet & Greet, click here for a previously recorded Zoom meeting, visit our FAQ page which has all the questions asked at our previous sessions and more:
- Monday August 29th, 1446 Beacon Street (SPED director will be available for questions)
- Tuesday August 30th 930 Washington Street Dorchester (METCO Families)
We are about 30% to our goal of $66,000 for our Annual Dues Campaign! As we kick off our 2022-23 school year, the PTSO is launching our School Directory Confirmation process and our Annual Dues Campaign. Every family must confirm their information to be included in the online and printed version. When you confirm your information you will have an opportunity to contribute to our annual Dues Campaign. Your annual Dues donation is used 100% to support our school community and enrich the experiences of our students at South. The PTSO relies on annual donations of $70 from each Newton South family. Please pay your dues today!
We look forward to seeing you all around campus!
Michelle Wetlaufer & Will Adams
NSH PTSO co-Presidents
copresidents@newtonsouthptso.org
How to get to School
Safety and the Environment!
One of our challenges last year was traffic and student safety in and around Newton South. The Newton South School Committee is working with the Newton School Committee and other stake holders to improve the traffic flow around Newton South.
Fewer parent drop-offs are the key to reducing car traffic. Its better for the environment, creates a more independent student and reduces traffic in and around Newton South. Follow this link to learn more
New Family Meet & Greets
Recording of Zoom Presentation
August 25, 2022
VP Newsletter August 23, 2022
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Newton South Families:
We hope that you are having a safe, restful, and enriching summer! The first day of school is just two weeks away, and Acting Principal Josepha Blocker and I are getting ready for another exciting year here at Newton South High School! We have a number of updates for you below.
Note that we will be switching to Smore for our newsletters this year, which gives us two advantages:
If you have not had an opportunity to see last week’s update from Acting Principal Josepha Blocker, you can access it here.
We look forward to seeing incoming ninth grade families at our PTSO meet and greets starting this evening, and we are excited to see all of you in just a couple of weeks on Tuesday, September 6!
Sincerely,
Jason Williams (he/him/his) Vice Principal |
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Annual Student Information UpdatePlease see the following important update from the district.
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. |
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Schedules |
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First Day of School ScheduleWe 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.
We are planning to post student schedules to Aspen 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 |
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Bus Schedules for SY 2022-2023
Bus schedules are now available on the Newton Public Schools website. Click the school bus in the top right corner or here to see all schedules.
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Upcoming Events |
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PTSO Meet & Greets The PTSO has graciously offered to host parents and guardians of 9th grade students and those new to Newton South for a series of parent meet-and-greets. Please sign up to join us for one of these informal conversations, where you will learn a little more about Newton South from the PTSO Co-presidents, Vice Principal Jason Williams, me, and a few other members of our team. To maximize the number of families who will be able to join us, the PTSO asks that only one member of each family attend the in-person events. All are welcome to the Zoom event. All events are from 6 pm to 7 pm.
In anticipation of the beginning of the school year, there are various dates that we wanted to send your way so you can mark your calendars. More details about these events will be forthcoming.
Student Events:
Family Events for Parents and Guardians
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Chromebooks |
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New Students: Sign the Chromebook Loan Agreement
Every student in the Newton Public Schools is issued a Chromebook. The Chromebook is for use both in school and at home. Entering 9th graders are provided with a Chromebook they will use for the length of time they are in high school. Devices are kept by the student over the summer.
Chromebooks are issued in September. To issue your student a Chromebook, and for those who have not yet completed the form, please do the following:
In addition, we encourage you to examine some of the resources on Online Safety and Digital Citizenship posted on our website, and engage your children in conversations on these topics on a regular basis. More information about the 1:1 Device program can be found on the NPS 1:1 Technology Overview Page. |
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All Students: Optional Chromebook Repair FundAll students in grades 6-12 are issued a Chromebook to use both in school and at home. As part of the Chromebook Loan Agreement, families are responsible for accidental damages to the device.
In lieu of purchasing outside insurance, NPS is offering families the option to participate in a NPS Repair Fund that will fully cover the costs of accidental damages.
Please see this document for more information and how to apply. |
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Food Services Updates |
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Meals at NPS This School Year
Please see the following update 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 $5.25 for elementary students and $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. Student ID barcode cards will be provided for all K-5 students on the first day of school. The cards will remain at school, and each school will determine how the students will access their cards each day.
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). |
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Summer P-EBT and Financial Assistance Waiver RequestFrom the district newsletter:
Summer P-EBT The Department of Transitional Assistance is providing summer P-EBT for children who are identified as free or reduced-price eligible through 8/31/22. If you believe you may qualify and have not received confirmation of Direct Certification, please access the online application or the printable application on the NPS website to apply for eligibility determination by the 8/31/22 deadline. A notification letter will be sent confirming eligibility within one week of submitting an application.
Financial Assistance – Waiver Request
Families who are notified of free or reduced-price eligibility through Direct Certification should also visit the NPS website to apply for district-level financial assistance, which can be accessed by submitting a financial assistance and waiver request. Applying for the district fee waiver is a separate and necessary step to receive this additional financial assistance. |
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Other Updates |
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Most Recent District NewsletterThe most recent district newsletter was posted on August 17, 2022. It can be accessed here. |
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The Class of 2023 Is Selling Merch!The Class of 2023 has created a CustomInk page for students to buy merchandise. |
Green Students Movement
Green Students Movement
DATE CHANGE !
The next clean up is scheduled for this Sunday (Aug 28) from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Newton Centre. Meet near the tennis courts in the Newton Centre playground. The date was changed from Saturday because of SAT testing
New Family Night at Newton South
New Family Night is September 8th. At this event the faculty and administration will have a presentation for new families to discuss Newton South and what your child should expect. Because the new family event is one week before our In-Person Back to School Night on September 15th, the administration is asking new families if they would like both events in- person OR if they would like the New Family Night to be on zoom.
You can complete the survey here. One question should take 5 seconds to complete.