3/25/24 - 3/29/24 Weekly Update

Newton South Students and Caregivers:

MCAS ELA will take place on Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27. On these dates, all students in grade 10 will be taking the MCAS ELA test. We will follow a special schedule on these two dates. Makeups for students who are absent will begin on Thursday, March 28.

On both days, test takers will come into school at the regular start time and report directly to their testing rooms. Students who are not testing are welcome to be in the building once buses arrive. Here are the important times to be aware of:

• Tuesday, March 26

• Bus runs as normal for test takers and students arrive by 9am

• Testing runs from 9am - 1pm

• Bus does a second run starting at 12:30pm for all other students to arrive by 1:00pm

• All students must arrive to school by 1:30pm

• Classes start at 1:40pm

• Wednesday, March 27

• Bus runs as normal for test takers and students arrive by 9am

• Testing runs from 9am - 11:40am

• Bus does a second run starting at 11:10am for all other students to arrive by 11:40am

• All students must arrive to school by 12:05pm

• Classes start at 12:10pm

• Other Notes

• The library will be closed all day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

• Lunch will be served in the cafeteria until 1:35pm on Tuesday and until 12:05pm on Wednesday.

Note: This page is only viewable through an NPS account.

• Each test session begins at 9am. When you get to school, report directly to your testing location.

• Bring your Chromebook, pen/pencil, book, or non-ELA related homework, and a water bottle and/or snack. You will not be able to access the Internet or use electronic devices while in your testing room or while your test is in progress, so it is important to have a book or other homework to do in case you finish early.

• You must use your school-issued Chromebook to test. Make sure you charge it the night before testing day so it is ready to go, and bring it with you to school.

• Please review this checklist to make sure your software is up to date.

• Please bring both your Chromebook and your charger.

• Students may work as long as necessary, up until the end of the school day.

• Students who need to work beyond the end of the regular testing time will move to lunch, then to an extended time room to continue and complete testing. They will be excused from any class they miss while they finish testing and be given a pass back to class when they are done.

We recommend a good night’s sleep the night before and a good breakfast the morning of before each day of testing. Please let Jason Williams know if you have any questions about testing.

Here's to another week at South! Let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him)

Vice Principal

Newton South High School

Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27: ELA MCAS, Grade 10 (Schedule)

Wednesday, March 27, 6:30pm: Career Pathways Event

Wednesday, March 27, 7:30pm: Spring Concert

Thursday, March 28: Last Day of Term 3

Friday, March 29: No School (Good Friday)

Thursday, April 4: Tertulia

Saturday, April 6, 7pm: Class of 2026 Dance

The term 4 calendar is ready and can be found here. We will have a number of special schedules this term for MCAS Math and Science, Step Up Day, Graduation, and Final Events. All schedules are linked on this calendar.

We have the following special items during Advisory on Monday, March 25:

• Grade 11 in Cutler and Wheeler House: Auditorium for an assembly with the deans
• Grade 10 students will review the Chromebook checklist with their advisors.

The Newton Public Schools is in the process of developing a Portrait of a Graduate - a collective vision that articulates our community’s aspirations for ALL of our students. This is a first step in strengthening the vision for our school system.

Student voice is very important in this process and we need students to participate! We need to hear from you about what school should look like and what you need to know and be able to do to be prepared for whatever you want to do after high school.

We are beginning the process of gathering student feedback with student sessions at South on Wednesday, May 1st from 10:30am - 11:45am in Goldrick Commons.

Please use this Google Form to sign up. We will send a reminder closer to the date. FOOD WILL BE SERVED!

Get ready for Newton South’s first art competition! Starting March 19th, artists from around the school will have the opportunity to submit their artwork to three categories–2D, 3D, and Photography–with a $3 submission fee sent as cash or check to Newton South High School with Art Club in the memo line (please deliver this to Ms. Nichols in room 9107)!

The top finalists of each category will receive valuable prizes, and the funds will be donated to local schools in need of more art materials!

If you are interested, please use the form below to submit your work:
https://forms.gle/a9MwXzv1ExooP6mH9

**SUBMISSIONS CLOSE APRIL 12**

Please contact Ms. Nichols (nicholsam@newton.k12.ma.us) or the Art Club for any questions/concerns!

We are excited to announce a new update for the South community: our @south.learns Instagram page! This account will showcase all the amazing activities and events that occur every week at South, from performing arts to athletics to school focused events. Feel free to give us a follow on Instagram! In the bio, there is a link for a Google Form. If you are part of an exciting event that you want to be featured on the page, fill it out. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Newton Public Schools in partnership with Newton Youth Services and MassHire Metro South/West, is excited to host a Career Pathways Event on Wednesday, March 27 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Newton South High School.

See the attached flyer for more information.

Join us for a spectacular community celebration of all the NPS international travel programs and the scholarship program, Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF). This will be a unique opportunity to connect with your neighbors who are also passionate about traveling, to hear travel stories from our exchanges, and to foster a sense of unity that spans continents. Whether you are a seasoned globetrotter or someone with passion for exploring different cultures, the event is perfect to forge new friendships and savor the essence of international travel. Seats are limited, and reserve yours today by scanning the QR code to the right.

See the flyer at the right for more information.

The Sophomore Casino Night Dance is coming up on 4/6, 7-10 PM! Enjoy a night of games with professional dealers, including Roulette, Texas Hold-em, and Blackjack. Dance, take photos at the photo booth, eat pizza, and play to win a grand prize. Tickets are on sale for $30 during lunch right outside the library.

Please note that the 9th Grade Dance date has been changed to May 4 from 7-10 in the Student Center. Ticket information will be available in the coming weeks.

Our first Graduation FAQ for the Class of 2024 is ready and can be accessed below! This was sent to seniors and their families on Friday, March 1.

The Term 3 Wellness Newsletter is now available and can be found here.

Newton South's annual Aware Day - a day dedicated to talking about all things mental health - is fast approaching on Thursday, April 25th! We are currently recruiting for student panelists. If you are interested in speaking on the student panel - or simply learning more about the opportunity - please fill out this google form.

Thank you for considering being a critically important voice in the conversation about mental health at South and beyond.

On April 9, Massachusetts superintendents, school leadership, school administrators, school resource officers, and education stakeholders are invited to attend this important virtual one-hour summit to learn about a practical strategy to counter antisemitism in K-12 schools. Please join us and invite others to attend as well.

Here is a link to register.

Take your spring cleaning to new heights by donating to a good cause! Welcome Home is a nonprofit located in Newton dedicated to providing home necessities and more to those in need. They are in urgent need of gently used blankets and towels. Please consider donating these items during the month of March at the pickup bins located at the main office! Want us to pick up your donations? Fill out this survey to request an at-home pickup (we can accept more than just blankets and towels for the pickup)! Share this drive and pickup information with friends, family, and even those outside of the Newton South Community!

Enter for a chance to be featured in a Yale publication and win $300! Deadline is April 14.

Prompt: Choose a country, identify a global or domestic issue it faces, and develop a foreign policy approach that addresses the problem.

See this document for more information.

Donate clothes! There are bin drop off locations at Oak Hill, Brown, and F.A. Day Middle Schools as well as the West Suburban YMCA and Temple Emanuel.

Use this form to report an absence:

• Cutler

• Goldrick

• Goodwin

• Wheeler

Attendance Standard for the 2023-2024 School Year

Attendance Standard FAQs

District Procedures Regarding Attendance

We will excuse up to two college visits per term in term 3 and 4 for juniors, and anytime during the year for seniors.

Our academic honesty protocol can be found here. This protocol is taken directly from the district's Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

Bus Schedules

Boston Bus Schedules

Cell phones should not be seen or heard in class, and should be in a student's pocket, backpack, or door holder in the classroom. Consequences include a verbal warning, the teacher temporarily taking the phone, etc. If you need to contact your student during school, you should go through the house office, as students will not be able to check their messages during class.

We aware aware and mindful that students may need a cell phone for vital functions such as glucose monitoring. If you have any concerns, please reach out to your house office and work with them to find a solution that works best for both parties.

Please see the following letter from the Newton South Faculty Council regarding cell phone use.

• Year at a Glance: Overview of the 2023-2024 school year
• Term 3 Calendar
• Term 4 Calendar (New!)
• Lunch Schedule for Semester 2. Classes are assigned lunches based on what wing of the building they are in.
• Public Calendar of Events: We keep an updated calendar of events on the school website - this is a combination of events from the NPS calendar and our individual school's calendar.

Math Center Schedule – Located in 4201 (except for WIN 1, in 4216)

Writing Center Schedule – Located in Library, first door on your right

Play basketball, badminton, or pickleball OR create with pastels and watercolors! After school. evenings, and weekends, NCE offers enriching programs for all interests with scholarships so everyone can participate. Explore our offerings for grades 6-12 and register here. Ignite curiosity and build friendships right here at school.

SAT Coordinator: Namal Sadiq (sadiqn@newton.k12.ma.us)

AP Coordinator: Brandon Johnson (johnsonbra@newton.k12.ma.us)

Did you know that you can scan a barcode on your phone during lunch to save time in the line? You can do so using the Stocard app and following these instructions.

The South store is centrally located right next to the Student Center and is open several blocks throughout the week.

Come check out our different selections of Seltzer, Snacks, and South gear - or just come by to say hi! We accept cash, debit/credit cards, and Apple Pay. We can’t wait to see you there!

See below for the schedule:

Attached please find the School Transfer information for the 24-25 school year. The Instructions, Policy and link to the request form are located on the NPS website under the Registration Tab.

Access the instructions here.

Students use MyFlexLearning to sign up for WIN blocks.

All students are assigned to a space.

• If you do not sign up for a WIN by the day before that WIN occurs, you will be pushed to a teacher's WIN based on available space. You will be pushed to a Wednesday WIN on Tuesday afternoon, a Thursday WIN on Wednesday afternoon, etc. If you continuously do not sign up for WIN block, we will follow up with you and determine a strategy to make sure you are making the most of this important time on learning period.
• If your teacher is absent the day of your WIN, you will be unscheduled from that WIN and pushed to another space.
• You have up until an hour before a WIN block starts to reschedule; after this, your WIN assignment is locked.

The library is not freely open during WIN block. To be in the library during this block, you must be signed up with a teacher who is assigned to this space. We will ask teachers to not send you to the library, as the library will send you back to the class from which you came.

List of Clubs & Activities at Newton South

Athletic Calendar