SAVE THE DATE:
Mon. November 20, 2023 - 8th Gr. Student Advisory Council - Room 101 - Per. 4
Mon. November 20, 2023 - Girls’ Basketball Meeting - 7:40 a.m. in Room 119
Wed. November 22, 2023 - Early Release at 11:20 a.m. for Thanksgiving Break
Thurs. November 23 - Fri. November 24, 2023- Thanksgiving Break
Tues. December 5, 2023: School Council at 3:00 p.m.
Thurs. December 7, 2023: Early Release Day - Dismissal at 11:20 a.m.
Week of December 11th: Term 2 Progress Reports
Week of December 11th - SBIRT - 8th Grade
Wed. December 13, 2023: Day 1 Parent Conferences
Thurs. December 14 - 16 - Day Musical Mean Girls (Jr.)
Wed. December 20, 2023: PTO Teacher Holiday Celebration (morning)
Wed. December 20, 2023: Day 2 Parent Conferences
Thurs. December 21, 2023: Day Band Perform at BC vs. Lehigh Mens’ Basketball Game
Mon. December 25, 2023 - Monday, January 1, 2024: Winter Break
A Note from the Principal
It feels a bit like a cliche to share quotes about thanks and gratitude as we approach Thanksgiving week, but I have been doing a lot of reading as of late about the science of happiness and how to live your best life. So much of this research supports the healing power of gratitude. Gratidtude’s power is not just in its positive impact on others but in the healing impact on our own lives.
Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture, was a college professor who, learning that he had just months to live, delivered a profoundly inspirational lecture to the Carnegie Mellon Community where he taught. His words have been remembered decades later for their focus on gratitude. Instead of focusing on his own dreams being tragically cut short, Pausch shared his gratitude for being able to “enable the childhood dreams of others” through teaching. So very near to the end of his life, this man found healing in his opportunity to help others. His “last lecture” is to this day most known for its optimism and hope, and Randy Pausch for the peace with which he met his final days.
As we approach Thanksgiving week, there is certainly a lot to worry about both in our immediate lives and in the world around us. In the face of worry, gratitude gives us agency. Despite its simplicity, it gives us a way to positively impact those around us in a deeply meaningful and lasting way.
So what if this week, as we enjoy our family and friends, we take a moment to share our gratitude with them? What if our gratitude continues beyond the Thanksgiving table? What if we take a moment this week to acknowledge a colleague or acquaintance for whom you are grateful? What if, like Randy Pausch, we met each day with a moment of gratitude for the opportunity we have as the adults in our children's lives to support them in making their own dreams come true? How will it change our community, and just as importantly, how will it change us?
Day Middle School Community, I am grateful every day I walk through the door to the place we have all created where children are seen and cared for and where they are supported in making their dreams come true.
A Very Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Families!
TERM 1 REPORT CARDS POSTED ON FRIDAY
Term 1 Report Cards were posted in ASPEN on Friday, November 17, 2023.
Please take a moment to review Term 1 grades with your child, celebrate their accomplishments, and work with them to set goals for the term ahead.
In setting goals, It is important that you use language such as "not there yet" to help reinforce your child's agency around their own learning, and instill an important growth mindset around their progress.
If you have questions about your child's report card, please reach out to the individual teacher or your child's guidance counselor.
PARENT CONFERENCES- SAVE THE DATE
On Monday, November 27th, you will receive information on how to sign up for parent conferences with your child's teachers this year.
A few things to note about parent conferences this year:
All conferences will be virtual again this year. We will use Google Meet for the meetings and Sign Up Genius as the way to secure your meeting time.
Conference sign-ups will go live on Monday, November 27th.
Conference dates this year will be on the following Wednesday afternoons from 1:50 - 3:05 p.m.: 12/13, 12/20, 1/10, 1/17 and 1/24
We will use the same 10 minute time slots for all conferences.
Conferences with Team Teachers: Team teachers will be organized again in groups of 2 (ELA/Sci and Math/SS). You may only sign up for either your child's ELA and Science Teacher or their Math and Social Studies teacher. All team teachers will be prepared to discuss your child's progress in all subjects.
You may also arrange individual conferences with your child's multi-team teachers: world language, PE, Health, art, drama, music and tech ed.
Special Education teachers will join team teachers for conferences.
We will shut down conference sign-ups the Monday before each Wednesday conference date so that teachers can prepare thoughtfully for each conference. We will reopen conference sign up again following each conference days.
More details will be shared out on Monday, November 27th.
NPS CONNECTEDNESS SURVEY
In the Newton Public Schools, we are working to be sure that each school in our district is welcoming, supportive and safe for all students. An important component of students’ success is their sense of belonging in their school.
To be sure we are well-informed about students’ experience, we conduct a survey each year of all students in grades 3-8 and 10.
Survey Purpose:
The purpose of the survey is to gauge students’ feelings about:
Relationships with adults in school
Relationships with peers in school
Engagement with academic learning
Sense of belonging at school
Sense of being able to support peers
Sense of empathy with others
Access to and usefulness of academic support
Access to and usefulness of emotional and behavioral support
Participation and sense of belonging in sports, clubs and other school activities (middle school and high school only)
Survey Administration for the 2023-24 School Year
The survey will be administered between November 27th and December 22nd during school hours.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Each school will determine when the survey is completed.
Survey Data and Privacy
The survey is confidential, but will include student identification numbers to allow us to analyze results by subgroups of students.
The management and analysis of the data we collect will be done by the Newton Public Schools data office.
Each school will receive a report summarizing the results of the survey in their school and comparing results to previous years.
The survey data will not be disclosed outside of NPS, with the exception of Newton city officials focused on youth and education, who may receive district-wide summarized results.
Consent to Participate
You may opt your child out of participating in this survey by submitting this Opt Out form -- Opt-Out Form -- to the main office of your child’s home school by November 27th.
Hard copies of the opt-out form can also be found in the main office of your child’s school.
If you have not turned in the form by November 27th, we will assume consent for your child to participate.
Your child may voluntarily opt out or may choose to skip any questions they feel uncomfortable answering.
If you wish to see the survey itself, copies to review will be available in each home school’s main office. Alternatively, you can email Julie Athanasiadis at athanasiadisj@newton.k12.ma.us to request to view the survey electronically.
Your child’s participation in this survey will help inform our decisions about the effectiveness of our current programs, and to improve our programming and support as needed. Our goal is to provide each student in the Newton Public Schools with a safe and supportive learning and social environment.
DAY BASKETBALL
- Tryouts open to all 7th and 8th Grade Students.
- Info sessions posted on our After School Activities website, via posted flyers, and morning announcements.
- Boys Basketball Information Session: Monday November 13th at 2:35pm in the gymnasium
- Girls Basketball Information Session : Monday November 20th at 7:40 AM in Rm 119
- Family ID is open for pre-registration and closes on 11/19/23
- (please no payments until final rosters are determined)
- Our school nurse will check that physicals are up to date between 11/20-11/27
- Basketball Tryouts begin
- Boys: Monday 11/27 and 11/28 2:45-4:00 Gym
- Girls: Thursday 11/30 and 12/1 2:45- 4:00 Gym
General questions about sports should be directed to our Athletic Coordinators:
Andy Comings: comingsa@newton.k12.ma.us
Mark Murphy: murphym@newton.k12.ma.us
GRADE LEVEL END OF YEAR FIELD TRIPS
As we finalize plans for these trips, more information will be shared. All field trips will take place during school hours near the end of the school year.
Unfortunately due to the current context with the teacher's contract being unresolved, none of the Newton Middle Schools will be able to plan an overnight trip for the 8th grade this year, but we will work to create a memorable celebration for our 8th graders in collaboration with our PTOs.
If you are an 8th Grade parent and have an interested in helping to plan an event for our 8th grade, please reach out to Connie Yarian: c_yarian@hotmail.com
DAY BAND PERFORMANCE AT BOSTON COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME
Join member of the F. A. Day Community in cheering on our talented Day Middle School Band and the B.C. Men's Basketball Team on Thursday, December 21st!
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit programming for the Day Middle School Band.
Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023
B.C. Mens' Basketball vs. Lehigh
Performance by our very own Day Middle School Band
Join this wonderful night out for the Day families and support Mr. Brown and the Day Middle School Band.
To purchase your tickets, click on the link below.
DAY PTO
We hope you will consider joining the Day PTO. This is a wonderful way to get involved in supporting your child at the middle level. There are volunteer opportunities from being a Team Parent to sponsoring Teacher Appreciation Events to chaperoning the Fall Fest Dances.
Please reach out to the Day PTO a the contact information below.
Day Chorus, Band and Orchestra Donations
Music instruction helps children with the development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness. You can help enhance the program by donating today.
Your contribution will help Day Middle School Performing Arts Programs such as Chorus, Orchestra and Band. The QR Code below will lead you to the site where you can make a donation to our programs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DAY
Linked below is an important list of common questions that families often ask about our school. Included is information about the first day of school as well as information about who to call with specific questions. This is a great reference guide that will support your family throughout the school year.
