5/29/23 - 6/2/23 Weekly Update

Newton South Students and Families:

Welcome to the last week of May! We have a few important updates for you, with the highlight being the last week of school for seniors:

It's the last week of school for seniors and graduation is just a couple of weeks way on Thursday, June 8! Teachers are currently working on wrapping up grades for seniors and we expect report cards to be posted on Monday, June 5.

As a reminder, our Graduation FAQ is here:

If you have any questions regarding graduation, to ensure we can answer you in as efficiently a manner as possible, please start by calling or emailing your student's house office:

• Cutler House: Ms. Curran (curranl@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6551)

• Goldrick House: Ms. Trieger (triegerd@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6552)

• Goodwin House: Ms. Astone (astonee@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6555)

• Wheeler House: Ms. Murphy (murphyba@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6558)

House offices can assist with special seating, requests for additional tickets, questions about student obligations, and more. Additionally, please be sure to read the FAQ above as your question may already be answered there.

The last day of classes for seniors will be Wednesday, May 31. Friday, June 2 will be the last official day for seniors, which will consist of the following events:

• 10:30 - 1 PM Senior Checkout, Gym B
• 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM - Graduation Rehearsal, Field House (THIS IS REQUIRED FOR ALL GRADUATES)
• 2:30 - 3:30 PM Lunch and Yearbook Signing, Student Center
• 3:30 - 3:45 PM Senior Countdown, Baseball Field

To get through senior checkout, you will need to:

1. Complete the Naviance Survey
2. Complete the Name Recording form
3. Return your Chromebook
4. Return any books, uniforms, or other obligations
5. Pay any remaining fees

We will send information to seniors specifically with links to these items. Any of these items you can complete before checkout begins will save you time!

Please note that this is the last week that senior parking tags will be valid. As of Monday, June 5, yellow, numbered parking spaces on campus become first come, first served for any student who is able to drive. We will still reserve the right to ticket vehicles if they are parked illegally.

Back by popular demand… The PTSO will be selling personalized lawn signs for the senior class! Use this link or click on the photo to purchase one!

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

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him/his)

Vice Principal

Newton South High School

Please see the link below for a message from incoming superintendent Dr. Anna Nolin.

Monday, May 29: Memorial Day (no school)

Tuesday, May 30: Lip Dub (Lion Block)

Wednesday, May 31: Last Day of Classes for Seniors

Friday, June 2: Seniors' Last Day:

• 10:30 AM - 1 PM Senior Checkout (REQUIRED, Gym B)
• 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM Graduation Rehearsal (REQUIRED, Field House)
• 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Lunch (Student Center)
• 3:30 - 3:45 PM Senior Countdown (Baseball Field)

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Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7: Science MCAS

Thursday, June 8: Graduation

Friday, June 9: Step-Up Day

As described in the last district newsletter, we have developed a survey that seeks to inform revisions to our school calendar. The survey seeks to:

• Identify religious and cultural observances observed by NPS families and staff and understand the nature of those observances.

• Understand the priorities of the school community in balancing days out of school for religious observances with the state requirement for days in school

• Utilize data to consider whether to add or subtract days out of school for religious observances.

Here are the survey links:

Calendar Survey: English (with language drop down at top upper right)

Calendar Survey: 简体中文

Calendar Survey: 日本人

Calendar Survey: 한국어

Calendar Survey: Português

Calendar Survey: русский

Calendar Survey: Español

Complete the survey by June 2, 2023 and you will be entered to win the following:

1. A ride to school on a Newton Fire Department fire engine (grand prize)

2. One of 25 $20-gift cards to Cabot’s Ice Cream donated by Village Bank

Thank you in advance for your input!

We need a new name and want your help!

The NSHS School Store wants your input for developing a creative new name for the store. We aim to find a name that represents our school, South's values, and the South Store's mission. We are holding a naming contest and will be collecting your suggestions now through 5/31. A review board will make a selection of finalists to be voted on by the school community. A winner will have the honor of naming our store and one free spirit wear item of your choice!

Here is the form link, also accessible via the QR code.

Please see the following message from the PTSO:

Hello 12th grade parents!! We are so excited for senior prom and Southfest.

An incredible group of parents is planning an amazing party for the kids after the prom. I’m dealing blackjack again and the food and entertainment will be spectacular. It’s a night to remember!

Our overall fundraising for the year is short and we really need your help subsidizing the cost of the event. Please click here to contribute.

Thank you so much for considering.

Yay Class of 2023!!!

Science MCAS, Graduation, and Step Up Day Week of 6/5

Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7 are MCAS Science dates. Grade 9 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 12:00pm on Tuesday and 11:40am on Wednesday. Buses will begin their run a half hour before each arrival time (11:30 on Tuesday 5/17, and 11:10 on Wednesday 5/18). Lunch will be available during the windows detailed in the schedule, and classes will run in the afternoon.

June 8 is Graduation. We will run a half day schedule. While we will have grab and go lunch as usual, there will be no late buses that day.

June 9 is Step-Up Day and we will hold school from 9 - 12 before welcoming rising ninth graders from Oak Hill and Brown to join us for an afternoon orientation.

Final Events Schedule Beginning June 13

Starting on Tuesday, June 13, we will run a final events schedule where students will come to school for two extended blocks (one on Wednesday) to take an exam, present a project, or do some other final task for their courses. Please note attendance at each of these blocks is required. On each day, there will be time for students to get grab and go lunch before leaving, and optional WIN time in the afternoon if students need assistance from their teachers. Students who stay after the first bus can take the regular dismissal bus at 3:45 PM, and should wait in the Student Center after they have finished working with their teachers.

See below for each schedule:

Dear Parents,

As Teacher Appreciation Week and the end of the school year approaches, you may be wondering how best to thank the special teachers and staff who have taught and nurtured your children since September. Please consider participating in Newton Schools Foundation’s (NSF) Honor Thy Teacher program, which provides a way to simultaneously recognize our faculty and support our schools while complying with the Newton Public Schools Gift Policy.

When you donate to Honor Thy Teacher, NSF will

• Notify honored teachers and staff of your gift
• Share honoree names with the Superintendent’s office and individual school principals
• List all honored teachers and staff on the NPS website
• Deliver to all honored staff a Certificate of Honor and Honoree commemorative magnet

By donating to NSF, you are not only acknowledging teachers on a personal level but also providing rich professional development opportunities for them, and supplementing the existing enrichment opportunities that the district provides. The funds raised through Honor Thy Teacher fund new approaches in the classroom, professional development for teachers, and programs that promote equity for all students, which collectively impact schoolchildren across all grade levels. Read about the programs NSF funds.

You can find out more information about Newton Schools Foundation, the Honor Thy Teacher program, and how you can make a donation today.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support Newton’s teachers.

The district released a newsletter on Thursday, May 18. You can find it here.

NCE offers classes to help students and families prepare for college: SAT prep, the college application process, as well as the financial aid process. For more information about the classes below, visit www.newtoncommunityed.org or call us at 617-559-6999.

SAT Math Review

August 14 - August 18, 2023

Newton North

10:00 AM -12:00 PM

Lijia Li

Course ID: KSH01-S23-1, $325

SAT Verbal Review

August 16 - August 24, 2023

Online

8:00 - 10:00 PM

William Boyce

Course ID: KH17-S23-Online, $299

(Please purchase The Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board (2020 edition with eight practice tests) and have it handy for the first class.)

Write Your College Essays

July 11 - July 20, 2023 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Newton North

Course ID: KH115-S23-1 $525
August 1 - August 10, 2023 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Online
Course ID: KH115-S23-2 $525

Your College Application Process & What to Expect

July 12, 2023 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Newton North

Scholarships are available. The scholarship application can be found under “Quick Links” on our homepage at www.newtoncommunityed.org.

Encourage your student to pick up their MBTA Student Charlie Card from Ms. Lucia Curran in the Cutler House office. The card lets students ride the MBTA at the reduced fare rate ($0.85 for bus, $1.10 for subway). The card is free and comes empty so you will need to add value to it at an MBTA station.

The MBTA 52 bus comes near Newton South, but the Student Charlie Card isn't just for school travel. It works on the bus, subway, and commuter rail throughout the MBTA network and is valid through August 31.

Questions about the card? Reach out to NewtonSafeRoutes@gmail.com

This is our 4th year offering it and this year, it is made possible from a generous grant from the Newton South PTSO!

Please see the attached flyer for details and the QR code to register.

These are virtual sessions with live, synchronous instruction on Monday, June 12th, Wednesday, June 14th and Friday, June 16th.

Bonus: in addition to getting this College Essay Boot Camp, you may also participate in the Supplemental Essay Boot Camp in August and the University of California Personal Insight Questions Boot Camp in July.

It's never too late to get involved at Newton South!

Want to catch a game? View the athletic calendars here: Newton South Athletics Calendar

Want to join a club but don't know where to start? Here are a list of clubs at Newton South