The Newton South School Council is a representative school building-based committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, students and community members. The council advises the Principal on budget, school improvement plans and other issues of general interest. School councils are required to be established by each school pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C.
Read the NSHS SC’s Bylaws here.
For more information, please contact the NSHS School Council at schoolcouncil@newtonsouthptso.org
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS, 2020-21 at
- Interim Principal Mark Aronson
- Co-Chairs OPEN
- Faculty/Staff Marcia Okun, Deborah Bernhard, Ricardo Gessa, Charles Myette, Daniel Rubin
- Students TBD
- Parents Michelle Luo, Didem Vardar Ulu, and Xiaoguang Zhen
- PTSO May Chiu
Click to view School Council Agendas and Minutes
INITIATIVES
2018:
Researched pros and cons of Weighted GPA, 19 GPA Research Summary April 28
19 Newton South Traffic Study Jan28 to School Committee
Later Start Letter to School Committee 6-18
2017:
Op-Ed, “Insist on Later High School Start in Newton,” Newton Tab, May 21, 2016
Huffington Post Viral Video: “The Case For Starting School Later,” (1:29), posted April 21, 2016
VIDEO: Dr. Chris Landrigan at the Community Forum, NNHS, 1/26/16 (22 mins)
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Helpful Links
Adolescent Sleep & Later High School Start Time Resources
Later High School Start Time in the Media
High School Start Time in Newton
High School Start Time Working Group Website (Newton School Committee)
Superintendent’s Letter to the Newton Community – Late Start Time (November 2015)
Superintendent’s Video on High School Stress: Start Time & Other Initiatives (December 2015)
Dr. Chris Landrigan’s Presentation (PowerPoint) from the Community Forum at Newton North, 1/26/16
Growth Mindset
In 2015-6 we hosted a discussion with hands-on activities to give parents a window into the important educational concept of growth mindset, showing how teachers are using it to encourage and support students. The discussion was led by Jennifer Chen, a math teacher at South and Principal Joel Stembridge and included student insights and a thoughtful discussion with parents, teachers and students.
Growth Mindset Resources (courtesy NNHS School Council)
