1/15/24 - 1/19/24 Weekly Update

Newton South Students and Families:

Tuesday, January 16 marks the first day of term 3 as well as the beginning of second semester. Starting Tuesday, we will follow a couple of new calendars:

• Term 3 Calendar
• We have two half days next term and you can find their schedules below:
• February 1
• March 21
• Semester 2 Lunch Schedule

All students: Please double check your schedule on Aspen. Q2 and S1 classes will have ended, and Q3 and S2 courses will begin. Here is how you can change your view on Aspen to ensure you are seeing the correct classes.

Grade 9 students: Please check your schedules for your new directed studies. They will have changed and may have new teachers and/or classroom locations.

Teachers will be working this week to finalize grades for term 2, and report cards are expected to be released next week.

Enjoy the rest of your long weekend and we will see you on Tuesday!

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him)
Vice Principal

The City of Newton will host its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of celebration on Monday, January 15, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at Newton North High School. The day of events includes:

Day of Event Program Details

• 9:15 Arrival

• 9:30 Program Start

• 10:15 Story Starters

• 11:30 Program End

• 11:30 - 12:30 Reception

• 12:45 Service Education and Lunch for Participants (NNHS)

• 1-3 Service (on site at NNHS and at Cradles to Crayons)

Registration is required. Here is the registration link. Learn more about the event on the MLK, Jr. Celebration event webpage.

Since we will not have an Advisory this week, please take time on Monday or Tuesday to sign up for WIN blocks. Students will have until the start of Lion block on Tuesday to self-select their WINs. After this, we will begin assigning students.

Here is an example explaining how to calculate GPA. If you have any questions, please contact your student's counselor.

Sincerely,

Tamara (Tamii) Stras

Principal

The district has made a decision to move the Portrait of a Graduate development process to later this spring.

However, we are excited to offer TWO options for the community to learn more about why we want to create a Portrait of a Graduate for our district. Come learn about how the world has changed and why our schools must change with it. You will also have the chance to provide input on what our Portrait will look like once the design team process starts.

Ultimately, the work you help with now will set the stage for developing a shared community vision in our Portrait of a Graduate. The session dates and locations are as follows:

• Wednesday, January 17th at 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m. at Newton North

• Thursday, January 18th at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Newton South

Please consider attending one of the sessions! You can RSVP using this Google Form:

POG January Community Session RSVP

The sessions will explore the following questions:

• What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for our young people?

• What are the skills and mindsets that our children need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?

• What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences—and equitable access to those experiences—we provide in our school systems?

Your voice and input is critical to creating a portrait that reflects our community and the skills our students should have when they graduate. We look forward to your participation.

Monday, January 15: No School (MLK Day)

Tuesday, January 16: First Day of Quarter 3 & Semester 2

Wednesday, January 17, 7pm: Winterfest I

Thursday, January 18, 6:30pm: Junior Family Night (Virtual)

Monday, January 22: Term 2 Grades Due

Thursday, January 25 - Saturday, January 27, 7:30pm: March of the Falsettos (Lab Theater)

The most recently released district newsletter was on Friday, January 12, 2024. You can access it here.

We are holding a contest for next year's cover for the Program of Studies! Students may submit their entries to Ms. Talia Brown at brownta@newton.k12.ma.us between now and Friday, January 26. After the submission window closes, the student body will vote for the winning artwork via a Google Form on Schoology. The winning submission will receive a copy of the Program of Studies, along with a $100 gift card from Blick Art Materials!

We look forward to seeing your amazing submissions!

As the weather turns cold, The Newton Food Pantry Teen Ambassador Program is collecting winter gear to distribute to Newton Food Pantry clients! Donate mittens for snowy days, thick socks to protect kids’ toes from the cold, or any of the other listed items. Spread some love this winter and drop off new or gently used winter hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, snow pants, jackets, and socks (new only) in sizes from kids to adults from Jan. 8 to Jan. 19, 2024. Thank you!

Dan Rubin, Head of Counseling, and the PTSO will sponsor Parent Coffees. Joined by grade level counselors, House Deans, College & Career Counselor, Kathleen Sabet, and Teacher Class Representatives, the Parent Coffees will preview the year ahead and offer time to answer your questions. Please join us from 9:00-10:15AM in the Lecture Hall on the following dates:

January 25 - 11th Grade

February 1 - 12th Grade

February 8 - 10th Grade

February 15 - 9th Grade

Please sign up here for Parent Coffee(s).

The Writing Center has reopened as of Wednesday, January 3!

Need help with a writing assignment or college essay? The writing center is reopening this Wednesday! HERE is the schedule. Drop in during any open block for writing help. If you’d like to come during a WIN block, sign up for Ms. Dornbrook’s WIN on MyFlexLearning.

The writing center is located in the library (first room on the right when you walk in the doors).

If you are interested in being a PEER TUTOR in the writing center, please email Ms. Dornbrook at dornbrookk@newton.k12.ma.us.

All seniors in the Class of 2024 are encouraged to apply for the

Newton South Local Scholarships

Opened Friday December 1, 2023

Local scholarships are awarded through Newton South High School and through the generosity of individual and business donors, community organizations and memorial funds.

To apply, 1) complete the online application 2) Get a recommendation from someone outside Newton South. The links for these steps are below.

The application deadline is Friday February 2, 2024.

Based on the criteria of each scholarship, recipients will be selected and notified. While some scholarship awards are announced in March/April. Most will be received in early June.

Links:

Local Scholarship Application

Local Scholarship Recommendation Form (share this link with your recommender)

Questions?

Please contact Ms Sabet, NSHS Scholarship Coordinator

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.

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.

Sign up for Newton Community Education college prep and enrichment classes this fall! From arts to academics, NCE programs empower your child to learn, grow, and connect. NCE classes can also inspire their passions and boost confidence. Preview our wide range of classes in the Teens At-a-Glance. Secure your teen's spot now at www.newtoncommunityed.org!

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

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

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:

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