February 16, 2022
Superintendent's Message
Dear NPS Families,
Last night, we met with the Medical Advisory Group to discuss a range of different issues related to the current state of the pandemic. We had a productive discussion and anticipate that they will be recommending changes to be implemented this week and after the February break.
Within the next week, the Medical Advisory Group will finalize a recommendation to the School Committee on proposed changes to the current mask policy. We expect to share this recommendation by February 25 and the School Committee will discuss it at their March 1 meeting. In addition, we discussed additional changes to school operations that will allow us to resume important in person activities and events.
As we continue to make adjustments to our COVID protocols in the coming weeks, we will keep you updated and informed. I hope you enjoy a nice change of pace and a bit of relaxation over the February break.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Update from Medical Advisory Group
Members will be formulating an official recommendation, which will be shared in the next week.
One immediate change that will go into effect today is that there will no longer be limits on the number of spectators who may attend athletic competitions or fine arts performances. All attendees must remain masked, but events may now return to full capacity.
Additional revisions will be shared at the end of this week in an updated Health and Safety Plan, which will be published on this webpage: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/domain/1361
Mask Mandate Update
As you know, Governor Baker and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced that the current mask mandate in school buildings will expire on February 28, 2022. At that time, the decision will then rest with local school districts to determine their own masking policy.
Below is a timeline for our district decision-making process:
- Tuesday, February 15: The Medical Advisory Group (MAG) met to discuss whether and when there should be a change to the current masking policy.
- Friday, February 25: The Medical Advisory Group (MAG) finalizes its written recommendation to be shared with the NPS community.
- Tuesday, March 1: The School Committee holds a special meeting to discuss and review the MAG recommendation.
- Monday, March 7: The School Committee will vote on any recommended change to the district masking policy at their regularly scheduled meeting.
As you can see from the timeline above, there will be no change to the current masking policy prior to March 7. Updates will be provided following the School Committee vote on March 7.
COVID Testing Updates
- Your student will be provided with a test kit just before February break. Please use one of the tests on Sunday, February 27, 2022 (prior to returning to school on Monday). Please use the second test on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
- You can still opt-in to the at-home COVID rapid antigen testing program. Opt-in through your Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen. Follow these instructions once you are logged in.
There are two types of test kits that have been distributed. One test kit has a tube that is already filled with a solution. In the other test kit, the tube is empty and you fill it yourself with a liquid that comes with the kit as well. It will be apparent when you open the kit which one you have been given. Please visit our testing website for instructions: NPS COVID Testing Webpage.
All testing information can be found on our website here: NPS COVID Testing Webpage.
If your student is within 90 days of a COVID infection, DESE recommends they not participate in the testing program.
All positive COVID tests results should now be reported using this form: Form - Positive Result from At-Home Rapid Antigen Test.
Middle School Matters Forum - Thursday, March 3, 2022
Please join us for an informative community forum with guest speaker Phyllis Fagell. Ms. Fagell is a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor, journalist, and author of the best-selling book “Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond—and How Parents Can Help.” She is also a Ward, Day and North grad! This will be a terrific night filled with important information and dialogue, including how families can help their students navigate through the pandemic. You can take a sneak peek at her work on her website.
Here is the Zoom link for this virtual forum:
https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/88476468856
Meeting ID: 884 7646 8856
Passcode: 090547
One tap mobile: +16465588656,,88476468856#,,,,*090547# US (New York): +13017158592,,88476468856#,,,,*090547# US (Washington DC)
Please RSVP to the forum using this form. You can login without an RSVP, but it is helpful for us to have a general sense of attendance to plan accordingly. Here is the RSVP form:
More details on the forum can be found on the NPS website here: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/3988
Non-Discrimintation Protocol - Revised Link to Document
In the last district newsletter, the link to the revised and updated Non-Discrimination Protocol - Updated December 2021 was broken. The link has now been fixed. As noted in the previous newsletter, we take all incidents of bias and discrimination very seriously and have laid out policies, procedures, and protocols to follow when they occur. We have also created an Online Discrimination Complaint Form that can be accessed by the NPS community to to report any incident of discrimination and bias.
2021 School and District Report Cards Now Available
The Department recently made the 2021 school and district report cards available on the report cards website. The site also contains supporting documentation related to report cards, including a glossary and a sample report card cover letter, both of which are available in English and nine other languages. This helpful powerpoint explains the report card distribution requirements.
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that districts receiving Title I funds distribute report cards to all parents or guardians of students enrolled in district schools. The 2021 report cards must be distributed even though DESE did not issue new district and school accountability determinations in fall 2021; reports contain valuable information related to other areas of district and school performance. The Department asks that districts distribute report cards to families by the end of February 2022. For more information, including details about electronic distribution, visit the website or email ElementarySecondaryEd.Act@mass.gov.
Calling all Kindergarteners!
If your child turns 5 years old before September 1, 2022, you are eligible to start kindergarten in the Newton Public Schools next fall! To help NPS with planning, class size, and school enrollment, please complete this form.
2022-23 Kindergarten Census Form
SAVE THE DATE! An information night for kindergarten families NEW to NPS will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2022. More details will be posted shortly on the kindergarten registration website linked below.
To find out more about registration for kindergarten, please visit this webpage on the Newton Public School district website: www.newton.k12.ma.us/kindergarten
School Calendar for the 2022-23 School Year
At their meeting on Monday, December 6, 2021, the Newton School Committee approved the calendar for the 2022-23 school year. You can find it here:
Horace Mann Building Committee - February 28, 2022
The next Horace Mann School Building Committee meeting is Monday, February 28, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. . At this meeting we will be presenting several conceptual plans with varying project approaches for discussion. This meeting is open to the public and all are welcome. You need to register to attend using the following link: Register for Horace Mann Building Committee Virtual Meeting.
Special School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, March 1, 2022
The next School Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. This is a special meeting of the School Committee to discuss the recommendation of the Medical Advisory Group and to review any proposed revisions to the current mask policy.
To join the meeting virtual, follow this link:
Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/390017072
Call-in information: 1-646-558-8656
Call-in meeting ID: 390 017 072
The meeting agenda and meeting materials can be found in this folder (once posted): March 1, 2022 School Committee Meeting Materials
North and South Students to Attend All State Music Festival
In early March, eight Newton South and one Newton North music students from the Wind & Brass and String Ensembles will be joining other exceptionally talented young musicians for a day of rehearsals and musical clinics, at the MMEA All State Music Festival, that will culminate in a weekend concert at Boston's renowned Symphony Hall.
Congratulations to: South Students Olivia Hong (Viola), Claire Lee (Violin), Jaesuh Lee (Baritone/Euphonium), Hannah Lim (Viola), Joshua Lim (Viola), Alexander Loo (Violin), Eva Shimkus (Bassoon) and Kyle Zhang (Clarinet) and North student Henry Lee (Violin and Orchestra Concertmaster).