A Note from the Principal . . . .
This weekend I sat down to map out a few of the important details that come with planning the end of year events. In doing so, a distinct feeling of melancholy creeped in. I realized how much I am going to miss not only our 8th grade students, but the many students of Day we have come to know so well over what has at times been a surprisingly challenging year.
As they reminded me at our assembly on Friday, our 8th Graders did not have a Step Up Day to middle school. They missed out on other uniquely middle school opportunities, and starting their middle school years in a hybrid learning model most certainly delayed their connection to the school community. As 6th grade students so much of their time in the fall of 2020 was spent on Zoom or with most of their faces covered by masks.
However, as the restrictions of the pandemic gradually receded, this truly special group of students was revealed to all of us. In the months and years since then, their leadership, kindness, and humor has made an unforgettable mark on our school.
As we plan our last few moments together with this special group of 8th graders along with their peers in 6th and 7th grade, I realize that my sadness about their departure this summer, and indeed in the case of our 8th graders, for the future, says a lot about how truly special they are, and how fortunate we all have been to get to know them.
It has truly been a privilege to share daily moments of joy, challenge and growth with them throughout this school year.
SAVE THE DATE:
Tuesday, June 13, 2023: ELL Family Celebration 8:15 a.m.
Wednesday, June 14, 2023: Chromebook Return for 8th Grade
Thursday, June 15th - Friday, June 16th: 8th Grade Overnight Trip
Friday, June 16, 2023: 7th Grade Trip to Canobie Lake
Monday, June 19, 2023: No School - Juneteenth Holiday
Tuesday, June 20, 2023: 6th Grade Trip to Starland
Tuesday, June 20, 2023: Moving On Rehearsal for 8th Grade
Wednesday, June 21, 2023: Last Day of School - Dismissal at 11:20 a.m.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023: Moving On Ceremony for Grade 8 from 9:00 - 10:45 a.m.
8th GRADE END OF EVENTS
Wednesday, June 14th: Chromebook Returns and Yearbook Distribution and Sales
Thursday, June 15th - Friday, June 16th: Overnight Trip to Boston
** Students not attending the 8th grade trip should not attend school on either day.
Tuesday, June 20th: Moving On Ceremony Rehearsal
Wednesday, June 21st: Moving On Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. (Field opens for seating at 8:15 a.m., procession begins at 8:30 a.m.)
PLEASE SEE THE LINK BELOW TO THE DOCUMENT THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR THE 8th GRADE END OF YEAR EVENTS.
8th Grade Chromebook Return
On Wednesday, June 14th, ALL 8th graders MUST return their NPS Chromebooks. (They will receive a new 1:1 device as 9th graders at Newton North next year)
In school they will receive a report to fill out indicating the condition of the Chromebook.
Please take a moment at home to review the Chromebook Checklist prior to Wednesday. The checklist is linked below.
YEARBOOKS!!
Pre-Ordered Yearbooks will be distributed to students based upon the schedule below:
8th Grade: Wednesday, June 14th in the library during Team Ext. (when Chromebooks are returned)
7th Grade: Thursday, June 15th
6th Grade; Friday, June 16th.
There will be yearbooks available for sale by grade on the date indicated above for distribution in the Front Conference Room during lunches for $40. Cash or Checks can be made out to "F.A. Day PTO"
MOVING ON CEREMONY- SAVE THE DATE!
Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2022
Time: 9:00 - 10:45 a.m. (Procession begins at 8:30 a.m.)
Location: Albemarle Fields
Bring your own chairs, blankets, water and sunscreen!! Families can set up as early as 8:15 a.m.
No rain date: If the weather does not cooperate, we will schedule a staggered ceremony by team in the gym.
We are working on trying to live stream this event for relatives who cannot attend - more details to follow.
There will be individual graduation pictures taken of each student at the ceremony courtesy of the Day PTO!
Spring Chorus Concert
7th Grade Ambassadors
Step Up Day would not be able to take place without our incredibly upbeat 7th grade student ambassadors, who joined 7th grade teachers in guiding the 5th grade students through their mini-schedule on Friday. They enjoyed a little thank you ice cream treat before beginning their duties.
Sports Uniform Returns
Thank you to our amazing Day Coaches and players for an inspiring spring sports season. Please remind your children to return all uniforms to their coaches.
Uniforms should be returned cleaned to coaches ASAP
$50 fee for uniforms not returned. Student athletes must not have outstanding obligations in order to be eligible for future athletic programs both at Day and Newton North
GO Dragons!
Andy Comings comingsa@newton.k12.ma.us
Mark Murphy murphym@newton.k12.ma.us
FALL MUSICAL
The Fall 2023 Musical will be Mean Girls.
A note from Ms. McGettrick, Day Drama Teacher, about some new policies around the fall musical. See below.
We are going to make certain audition materials for Mean Girls jr. accessible all summer, and interested families of incoming students who don't yet know Schoology will be able to get access through a Google Drive share - I've done this before through a Google Form on my website, and it's been successful for helping new families get oriented.
NEW - For the musical - We are going to formally audition only the 7th and 8th graders for principal roles and ensemble roles.
We want to maximize opportunities, but also minimize stress and pressure, as new students get acclimated to the program.
To that end - Sixth graders will have a separate two-day audition process to provide an orientation to what rehearsals and performances are like, and we will provide a more holistic approach to the audition process - for example, more small group singing in the audition, than solo singing, etc. I see this as an incredibly positive teaching opportunity as they get adjusted to middle school, in general, but seeing if Day Drama is a good fit for what they'd like to do after school.
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE FALL MUSICAL, CLICK ON THE DAY DRAMA WEBSITE BELOW.
NPS Middle School Librarian Recommended Summer Reads
Your school libraries may be closed, but your library teachers still have great book ideas to share! This suggestions list pulls from your library teachers' favorite books of the year, the Massachusetts Children's Book Award list, and the Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award list.
Looking for your assigned summer reading? Check the Day website. It will be added there once it is ready!
Return of Library Books
Pleases take a moment to look around your home for any Day Middle School library books. The last day to check out books was June 7th.
The LAST DAY TO RETURN LIBRARY BOOKS is June 14th!
Bills for lost/unreturned books will go out on June 15th & 16th . Please return any library books before this Wednesday so students do not get billed.
NNHS Varsity Cheer Tryouts
Who: Rising 9th Grade to 12th grade students
When: June 12th, June 13th, June 14th from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: SOA Gym at Newton North High School
To Participate You Must Participate in EVERY Tryout
You must be registered in Family I.D. in advance.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Bus registration for the 2023-24 school year will begin in early June. All students who wish to ride the bus MUST register for a bus pass.
There are significant changes to the fee structure for purchasing a bus pass this year. Please note the following:
The bus fee has increased to $400 per student, with a family cap of two passes ($800.)
All elementary students who reside LESS than 2 miles from their elementary school must now pay a bus fee. We expect this to impact the majority of elementary students.
Elementary students who reside MORE than 2 miles from their elementary school DO NOT pay a bus fee.
As has been the case in previous years, all students in grades 7-12 pay the bus fee.
6th grade students: All students in grade 6 who reside MORE than 2 miles from their school do NOT pay a bus fee. 6th grade students residing less than two miles do pay a fee. Please visit our NPS Bus Fee webpage for details.
Please use this link to determine your distance from your school.
When bus registration opens in early June, you will be notified via email. You will register and pay via MySchoolBucks. Installment payment plans will be available. More information on bus registration can be found on our NPS Bus Registration webpage.
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Please read below for details on how to apply.
FALL ATHLETICS AT NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Below is a note from the Newton North High School Athletic Department for the families of Rising 9th Graders:
The Fall season starts on August 18th for Football and August 21st for every other fall sport.
Please plan vacations and travel around these dates if you want to try out for high school sports. There will not be alternate dates to try out and once teams are selected they will be final.
Stay tuned for further updates from the Newton North Athletics Department.
END OF YEAR- SAVE THE DATE!
As families begin to make summer plans, I have been asked about the last day of school:
The last day of school is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2023. It is an early release day with dismissal at 11:20 a.m.
8th Grade Moving On Ceremony is also scheduled from 9:00 - 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
FREE Summer Latin/Classics Classes
Eva Skelding, a Day alumna and current junior at Newton North, is offering a great opportunity for students this summer! As an experienced tutor (also the president of the NNHS Tutoring Organization), she is proficient in Latin and hopes to share this knowledge.
This summer, she will be running FREE remote Latin/classics lessons for kids in 4th-8th grade. Your child is welcome to attend any or all of the lessons, offered on weekends June 17-July 16, 2023, over Zoom.
Please visit her website to learn more and register: [https://www.living-latin.com/]. Feel free to reach out (livinglatin.education@gmail.com) with any questions!
Newton Community Education Teen Programming
NEWTON COMMUNITY EDUCATION CIT PROGRAM: NEW FOR 2023!
Calling all rising 8th & 9th graders!
Learn how to become the best camp counselor ever with Newton Community Education's CIT (Counselor in Training) program. You will get experience working with campers and counselors to develop the skills and confidence to become effective leaders in a supportive environment. Sign up for one or more sessions!
Session 2: July 24-August 4, 2023
Check out our other SUMMER CAMP OFFERINGS for middle schoolers!
Questions? Email us: nce-staff@newton.k12.ma.us
Also, Newton Community Education is interested in expanding its program for middle school aged students. Please take a moment to complete the programming interest survey below. It will help their planning efforts reflect the needs of our middle school community.
CITY OF NEWTON'S CELEBRATION OF QUEER CULTURE
Saturday, June 17, 10:00-2:30 p.m.
City Hall, War Memorial
The mission of the “Celebration of Queer Culture,” is to highlight and provide education for parts of queer culture that are usually erased or taken out of the spotlight.
In partnership with the City of Newton HHS, the Human Rights Commission, the Newton Youth Commission, Lasell University, and the New Art Center, we will highlight queer history, queer art and the intersectionality within the queer community. This will be achieved by celebrating with a queer art display, a community art project, a queer history presentation, a resource fair, a panel highlighting queer high schoolers of color, music, and more! This is an event created by young queer people that creates an informative and welcoming space where queerness is not just tolerated, but celebrated.
In addition to the event promotion, we are seeking young queer artists to showcase their talent as part of the event. We want to include as many perspectives and as much artwork as possible.
Artist Application Google Form: https://forms.gle/8ywmbYL7yy3FinJ5A
