3/18/24 - 3/22/24 Weekly Update

Newton South Students and Caregivers:

Did you see Principal Stras's newsletter from Friday? If not, you can read it here.

It's hard to believe we are more than halfway through March and the beginning of spring is mere days away! Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 are continuing to meet with their counselors to confirm their course selections. Be sure to attend your meeting with your counselor and let them know if you have any questions about registration!

Additionally, sophomores begin their MCAS testing next week – more details about this will be coming soon. For now, ensure that your Chromebook is running the correct version of Google Chrome using this guide. If you have any questions, Mr. Hammel in the library is a great resource!

We have a few other updates for you:

This week, students will be able to request courses in Aspen and see recommendations from their teachers. Additionally, counselors will begin to schedule appointments with students to check in on their schedule choices. The registration window for students ends on Wednesday, March 20, and the full registration cycle closes on Thursday, April 4.

Course registration documents can be found here on our school website.

Here are student instructions for entering course requests.

We posted a newsletter on February 26 announcing the release of the 2024-2025 Program of Studies. You can see this newsletter here, or view below to go directly to the Program:

On March 21, we will have an early release PD day. The last class will end at 12:35 PM, and students will have an opportunity to get lunch before leaving the building. Buses will depart Newton South at 12:55 PM.

Here is the schedule for the finals week for school, beginning on Monday, June 17. We will have two long blocks on most days, along with two bus dismissals: One around the halfway point of the day, and the other at our standard dismissal time. We will not have late buses beginning on Monday, June 17.

Additionally, here is an FAQ for the week. Please reach out to your house office and teachers if you have any questions regarding finals.

Here's to another week at South!

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him)
Vice Principal
Newton South High School

Monday, March 18: Passin' Time (Advisory)

Thursday, March 21: Early Release PD (12:45pm Dismissal – Schedule)

Saturday, March 23, 7:30pm: Faculty Variety Show

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: Good Friday (No School)

Please note that the library will be closed all day on Monday, March 18.

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

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 once-a-term tradition, Passin' Time, will take place on Monday, March 18. This term, it will take place during Advisory. Questions can go to Mr. Alan Reinstein.

Let's fill the halls!

On Thursday, March 21, South’s High School Democrats of America (HSDA) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapters invite you to learn more about the opportunities for civic engagement available to South students and to hear from community leaders about their involvement in government and activism.

Here is a link to the program.

You’re all invited to an evening of joy at the 2024 Newton South Faculty Variety Show!

Saturday evening, March 23rd, from 7:30 to 9:30, in the Van Seasholes Auditorium.

Tickets are $5 at SouthStage.org or at the door. Proceeds benefit the school’s Students-in-Need Fund.

Hosted by Matt Wilson and Lillian Robinson.

Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27 are ELA MCAS days. Grade 10 students will be testing on both days. Grade 10 and other students who are testing will come in at the regular start time and be the only students in the building for testing. Other students will arrive later, at 1:00pm on Tuesday and 11:40am on Wednesday. Buses will begin their run a half hour before each arrival time. Lunch will be available during the windows detailed in the schedule, and classes will run in the afternoon.

See below for the full schedule on these two dates:

We are looking for an additional host family for the NSHS French Exchange.

The group arrives from Bourg-la-Reine, France (a Paris suburb) with their teachers on Tuesday, April 2 and departs Friday, April 12 (the day before April break).

Host families provide a welcoming environment, a bed and all meals. While students in French may be most interested in this opportunity, our exchange students have a generally high level of English, so knowledge of French is not required for hosting. Just be willing to share your warmth and daily life with a student from abroad!

Please reach out to either Mme Hahn (hahnd@newton.k12.ma.us) or Mme Murphy Ferguson (murphyfergusons@newton.k12.ma.us) to express questions or interest. Merci!

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.

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.

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.

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
• 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