5/13/24 - 5/17/24 Weekly Update

Dear NSHS Community,

At the start of the school day on Monday, two students alerted a teacher when they found a drawing of a swastika on a student desk. This symbol of hate is deeply upsetting, especially as we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, as well as Holocaust Remembrance Day/Yom Hashoah, this month. This is not the first time we have experienced antisemitic graffiti at South and we recognize the pain and suffering it causes each time it happens.

We have contacted the Newton Police Department as well as the ADL and are conducting a full investigation. We take this incident very seriously and are following all of our established protocols and procedures. In addition, I also had the opportunity to speak directly with the class in which the graffiti was discovered and reinforced to our students that this is unacceptable.

Antisemitism is on the rise in our community and in our nation. As a school, we will continue to stand up against antisemitism and to do our part to end this prejudice. There is no place for this or any other hateful act here at South.

I know this act of antisemitism is quite upsetting and it saddens and angers me to have to even communicate this news. I remain committed to continuing to address this pattern of hateful acts and invite you to join us as we walk with all Southside middle and high school students in the Walk for Unity (formerly No Place for Hate) on Thursday 5/23 at 2:55 p.m. at Winkler Stadium.

Sincerely,

Tamara (Tamii) Stras

Principal

We have the following additional updates for you:

Monday, May 6 marks the beginning of AP Exams. Students will be taking these exams from a variety of subjects the week of May 13. We will also have makeups the week of May 20.

See here for what to bring on exam day.

Note that bells will be turned off during this time period. Good luck to students who will be taking exams!

Questions regarding AP exams should be sent to Mr. Johnson at johnsonbra@newton.k12.ma.us.

Midterm comments were posted on Friday, May 10 and can be found on the Aspen homepage. We sent this message Friday afternoon.

The Newton - Beijing Jingshan School Exchange Program is restarting in January 2025! Embark on an unforgettable journey of cultural immersion and academic enrichment with our four-month high school exchange program in Beijing! Experience the vibrant tapestry of Chinese culture while studying at the prestigious Jingshan School, where you'll not only enhance your Mandarin skills but also forge lifelong friendships with fellow students and host families. The program blends classroom learning with hands-on experiences, including cultural workshops, traditional arts, and community service projects, ensuring a holistic understanding of China's past, present, and future. Expand your global perspective, broaden your horizons, and create memories to last a lifetime in Beijing as well as other captivating cities.

Application forms will be available next week.

Information Session for students (in person): 5/16 WIN 2 (location TBD) and 5/23 WIN2 (in the NNHS Film Lecture Hall with Ms. Lew)

Information Session for families (on GMeet): 5/15, Wednesday, 5-5:30pm

Meeting ID

meet.google.com/nqx-qwks-noy

Phone Numbers

(‪US‬)‪+1 727-228-1500‬

PIN: ‪477 789 757#‬

Please direct questions to: Ms Lew: lewy@newton.k12.ma.us

Here's to another week at South!

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him)
Vice Principal

Thursday, May 16 - Saturday, May 18, 7:30pm: Something Rotten (South Stage)

Sunday, May 19, 9am: Lions 5K

Monday, May 20: WISE Fair, A & B blocks

Tuesday, May 21 & Wednesday, May 22: MCAS Math (Schedule)

Thursday, May 23, 2:55pm - 3:45pm: Walk for Unity

Thursday, May 23, 7pm: Pops Concert

The Term 4 Wellness Newsletter is now available and can be found here.

Class of 2025/Newton South Juniors may join this college essay boot camp taking place from June 3 - 7 at no cost.

Plus you’ll have free access to classes on Supplemental Essays and the University of California Personal Insight Questions.

See here for the flyer.

Register for the boot camp here.

Sign up for the workbook here.

All Google accounts for students leaving Newton Public Schools will be deactivated sometime in July. Click the link below for instructions about how to use Google Takeout to download your NPS data.

Download Your NPS Data Using Google Takeout

Students who need assistance with this process can visit Mr. Hammel in the NSHS Library.

The next School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM. A full agenda can be found here. If you would like to attend for public comment, please email strast@newton.k12.ma.us directly.

Look out for the special ART WIN 2 sign ups for this Thursday. Jr and Sr Art Work Exhibits will be in the hallways outside of the art classrooms. Join Us!

We remain steadfast in our core values of choosing kindness, listening first, showing respect and taking responsibility, and unequivocally condemning hate in all forms. As a school, we commit to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, free of hate and prejudice. To show our strength as a community, I invite you to join me as I walk with all Southside middle and high school students in the Walk for Unity (formerly No Place for Hate) on Thursday 5/23 at 2:55 p.m at Winkler Stadium.

Here are all the remaining final schedules for the year:

May 21 and 22 - Math MCAS

Late arrival for students not taking tests on Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22

Week of June 3 - Science MCAS, Graduation, & Step Up Day

Late arrival for students not taking MCAS on Tuesday, June 4 and Wednesday, June 5

Early dismissal on Thursday, June 6 (No late bus)

Early dismissal on Friday, June 7

Beginning June 17: Finals

Special schedules June 17 - 26

Final FAQ is here

Additionally, here is the term 4 calendar with all dates.

We have updated the Finals FAQ to include more information regarding the last two days of school.

Specifically, June 25 and June 26 will follow a special will follow a special attendance policy. Reported absences during these last two days will not count towards the attendance standard and will be considered excused in alignment with the NPS School Committee Policy on Absences.

We have updated the Graduation FAQ to include the following:

• Senior Family and Student Information Sessions
• Students: Completing Name Recording
• Students: Cap Decorations
• Students: Chromebook Returns

You can find the full Graduation FAQ below:

The Lion's Roar is organizing our annual graduation issue and we would love to include tribute ads to as many seniors as possible! Our special section devoted to the Class of 2024 will be distributed to everyone who attends the graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 6th. Our staff will design the ad for you at no additional cost. Photos and all details about the ad can be emailed to The Roar’s adviser, Ashley Chapman (chapmana@newton.k12.ma.us) and Volume 41’s Editor-in-Chief (ss.lionsroar@gmail.com). To see what last year’s section looked like, go to this link! If you have any additional questions, please email Ashley Chapman and the Editor-in-Chief.

See here for the form.

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!

Help your teen grow and explore this summer with NCE's fun and educational programming for teens! Visit and tour local colleges, get a headstart on college applications, prepare for SATs, or even tour the vibrant and historical city of Boston. Led by experienced instructors, our programs provide invaluable insights, skills, and experiences to help students navigate the exciting journey ahead. From SAT prep to babysitting/CPR, we ensure each student is equipped with the tools they need to thrive. Visit our website to view our full lineup of programming and join us this summer!

This information is now additionally a pinned post on ParentSquare for easy access.

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 4 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