A Note from the Principal . . . .
Dear Day Community,
I hope that you are all busy enjoying your summer, reconnecting with friends and family, exploring the activities that bring you joy, and enriching your world through both experiences and reading.
For those of you new to the Day Community, you will discover that I love quotes. I use them in our weekly newsletters to capture our shared experiences and journey together... and middle school is certainly a journey. Weekly newsletters are just one way for us to come together as a community, share information and most importantly, a vision for how we are educating and caring for the children of Day.
Typically after the last day of school, I take a brief respite from writing newsletters, giving you a clean break from the daily routines that we are all married to during the school year, and giving us all permission to reconnect with our families and friends as well as the world beyond are little hub. The quotes that I share with you in this July Newsletter hopefully capture these sentiments.
As much as I feel privileged to be part of a school community such as Day, I look forward to July every year as a time when just taking a nap alongside a good book in the sun unencumbered of any specific task fills my soul and replenishes me for the year ahead. I have heard from so many of you about family trips, reconnection with nature and the arts, and moments of joy with family and friends. I feel the peace and lightness of the memories as you share them.
This midsummer update is just to reconnect with you briefly and share a bit of information for those who plan ahead. If you are in the throes of summer bliss feel free to ignore the information I share with you below about the school year ahead just as I often choose to ignore the Back to School advertisements that flood my TV screen far too early. I will be picking up with the weekly newsletters again on Friday, August 18th. By then there will be so much more information to share..
In the meanwhile, enjoy the peace and joy with your families that only the summer months can bring. Give your children my very best. I miss them over the summer and cannot wait to hear about their summer adventures.
All the best,
Jackie Mann
Principal
Summer Families Connect Event
Please join the Day PTO and Day families, new and returning for some cookies and lemonade on our back lawn to celebrate our reconnection to our school community and the launch of a new school year in our Annual Families Connect Social.
Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p-.m.
Where: Behind Day Middle School
Ms. Mann will be giving school tours to families new to Newton before this event from 4:00 -5:00 p.m. If you are new to Newton, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Fisher for more information. fisherd@newton.k12.ma.us
TEAM POSTING
The Day Teacher Teams for the 2023-2024 school year will be sent out for your reference as well at the same time that team assignments are posted.
Ms. Mann's Recommended Summer Reads
The best way to support our children in their journey to becoming lifelong readers is to nurture and model your own passion for reading. My absolute favorite part of summer is that I can again turn my attention to that stack of books "on deck" for reading that has grown over the school year.
This coming school year at Day we will be sharing our love of reading with students by joining them during our Drop Every Thing and Read (DEAR) time. It would be incredibly helpful if you helped us launch that routine in your own homes this summer by carving out time for your family to read together.
Here are just a few of the titles from my nightstand stack that I'd like to share with all of you. You can seem a common theme around our journey through the middle years together. Happy Reading!!
Middle School Matters by Phyllis Fagell
Phyllis Fagell is a veteran middle school counselor and journalist who just so happens to also be a graduate of F.A. Day. Her first book, Middle School Matters, is a practical guide for parents as they navigate the middle school years.This book is filled with advice, strategies and humor and is a "must read" for every middle school parent and educator. This summer I am reading it again for the third time!
Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Teens in Turbulent Times
This second book by Phyllis Fagell is due out August 1st. is promised to be a guide for middle school parents and students on how to use skills that they already have to develop resilience when confronting the many challenges of the middle years. Resilience is also the common theme of our assigned summer reading books for all three grades this year.
The Successful Middle School: This We Believe
This book by authors Penny Bishop and Lisa Harrison is the fifth edition of what has become known at the "position paper" of the Association for Middle Level Education's vision for successful middle schools. This book not only outlines the details of a highly effective middle school model under the areas of culture and community, curriculum, instruction and assessment, and leadership and organization, but it shares the research that supports the critical importance and impact of a student's middle school experience on their later education and success.
Belonging:The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen
This book, recommended by our new Superintendent Dr. Nolin, focuses on how to prioritize connections in homes, workplaces and community at a time characterized by great divides.
Change the Narrative: How to Foster and Anti-Racist Culture in Your School by Dr. Henry Turner and Kathy Lopes
First Phone:
Dr. Catherine Pearlman is a licensed clinical social work and parenting expert, is the author of this book for middle school students prior to owning their first cell phone. While the audience is meant to be middle school students, the book contains resources and strategies for parents and caregivers as they navigate the complex issues around social media and digital citizenship.
The Middle School PTO Councils sponsored Dr. Pearlman's presentation to Newton parents last year. This year we hope to bring her back to speak with us as we look to create a more consistent message around limiting access to cell phones during the school day and supervising usage at home. More information about Dr. Pearlman's presentation last year is linked below.
FIRST PHONE: A Child's Guid to Digital Responsibility, Safety and Etiquette
As your plan for your child's transition to middle school, one of the issues you will likely discuss is their access to a cell phone. The decision of whether to get your child a cell phone for middle school will vary by family. We recommend that prior to purchasing a cell phone for your child, there are many conversations about responsibilities and expectations. Our own school policy is that cell phone are off and away while your child is at school, but you may also want to consider your family policies and expectations.
This past fall, the NPS Middle School PTOs co-sponsored a presentation by Dr. Catherine Pearlman, author of First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety and Etiquette. Her book includes many resources that you will find helpful as a new middle school parent.
As we end the school year and your family may be considering getting your child a smart phone, I felt it would be helpful to re-share her talk. Click this link to watch the recording.
We also encourage you to order her book! It is written for a student audience and equally helpful for parents. First Phone by Dr. Catherine Pearlman (Amazon link)
Dr. Pearlman also shared some helpful resources including:
I hope you find these materials helpful.
"Suggested" School Supply List
Linked below is a list of "suggested supplies" complied by grade. It is a general supply list to help your child get the year started but does not include more specific items that might be required for each class.
Please note that this is only a "suggested" supply list. We will offer supplies to any child who does not have access to their own. Also, children DO NOT need all of these supplies on the first day of school. Typically they should bring:
- A pen or pencil
- One notebook
- One folder
- An independent reading book
Teachers will review them any additional supplies they might need to support their learning each year.
Message from Superintendent Nolin
Message from the Superintendent
The superintendent is conducting an entry plan and analysis of the school system. She would like you to advise her on a few items.
Be Heard. Your Unique Perspective Matters. Tell me your thoughts about our future.
We need your input on this question:
"What are some things we should stop, start, or continue to do in the Newton Public Schools?"
To gather your feedback, we're using a tool called ThoughtExchange. All of our voices matter, so your participation is crucial and valued. Below is the link to participate in our community Thought Exchange:
ThoughtExchange Link (Click here)
You'll be asked to respond to the open-ended question noted above. Then, you will be asked to consider and assign “stars” (which means you like or agree with the ideas) to some of the ideas shared by others (20 to 30 is ideal). Your thoughts and stars are confidential. You can come back as often as you'd like to participate and, in fact, we ask that you do come back to star any new ideas shared since you first participated. We learn what's important to the group by looking at the ideas that receive the most stars. The ratings will help us understand the most important areas to focus on in the coming year. The survey is in three languages.
If you need technical help, please call ThoughtExchange at 1-800-361-9027 ext. 4 or email help@thoughtexchange.com.
Celebrate Our Staff. Importantly, help me celebrate our staff on the Opening Day of School 2023-24. Share with me the stories of how our Newton Public School staff have demonstrated care, expertise and excellence in serving the children of Newton. (any staff: nurses, paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, principals, teachers, behaviorists, counselors, psychologists, tutors, –ANYONE–). Complete this form to participate!
Form: Celebrate Staff on Opening Day (click link).
Finally,
Sign up for my podcast and blog (click links). New content coming soon!
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.
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.
FAMILIES ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
The Day Chapter of Families Organizing for Racial Justice has been an incredible partner in our journey toward becoming a more culturally responsive and anti-racist school community. Please consider joining their efforts this year or attending any of their events.
Linked below is the June FORJ Newsletter. It has more information about their organization.
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.
