A Note from the Principal
In honor of Presidents Day and Black History Month, I share with you the words of our 44th President, Barack Hussein Obama at the dedication of the Museum of African American History and Culture. There is perhaps no better person to capture the meaning of black history to our country and the importance of lifting it up as an integral part of our nation’s fabric than our nation’s first black President. His words stand alone as a celebration of the accomplishments and acknowledgment of the struggles of black and brown Americans, and underlying it all, as a call to action for our future.
My daughter, Dominique, had the honor of being present for the dedication of the museum, and bearing witness as her mentor and role model brought life to the words that she had been so thirsty to hear - that her experiences, her culture, her life, matter, not just one month a year, but as an integral part of our nation’s history. I cried with her that night as she shared with me her experience of hearing President Obama’s speech. My daughter’s experience as a young black girl, growing up in a predominantly white community and school system, mirrors so many. There are Dominiques in each of our hallways and classrooms, eagerly awaiting to have their experiences, lives and promise lifted up.
As educators and guardians of tomorrow’s future, it is incumbent upon us to nurture the future leaders of our world, the future Barack Obamas in our classrooms, who rely on us to create equitable schools where their potential is nurtured, where their culture is celebrated, and their voices encouraged.
SAVE THE DATE:
Monday, February 19, 2024- Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL
*** There is school from Tuesday, February 20th - Friday, February 23td.
Tues. Feb. 27, 2024- NNHS CTE and Fine Arts 8th Gr.Presentation 10:30 - 11:30
Tues. Feb. 27, 2024 - School Council at 3 p.m.
Tues. Feb. 27, 2024 - 8th Gr. Night at NNHS
Tues. Feb. 27, 2024 - 5th Grade Step Up Performance : Day Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Jazz Band
Tues., February 27, 2024: - Superintendent and School Committee Coffee 8:30 a.m. in the Library
Thurs. Feb. 29, 2024: 8th Gr. Parent Night at NNHS
Tues. March 5, 2024- Orchestra Concert at 7:00 p.m. in the gymThurs. March 7, 2024 - 5th Grade Parent Night at Day - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. March 9, 2024 Boston Bowl
Mon. March 11, 2024 - 8th Grade Holocaust Presentation
Tues. March 12, 2024 Band Concert at 7:00 p.m. in the gym
Friday, March 15, 2024- Principal Coffee and Tour of Multi-Team Classrooms
Mon. March 18, 2024- 6th Grade Urban Improv Program
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR
NO FEBRUARY VACATION
- The NPS School Committee voted to make up 4 of the missed school days during February vacation.
- There will be no school on Monday, February 19th due to the federal holiday, President's Day.
- There will be school on Tuesday, February 20th - Friday, February 23rd.
JUNE
The remaining 7 days that need to be made up will be added to the school calendar in June. The new last day of school for students will be Wednesday, June 26, 2024. It will be an early release day for students.
SPIRIT WEEK AT DAY THIS WEEK Feb. 20th - Feb. 23rd
Join the Day Faculty in SPIRIT WEEK this coming week:
Tuesday, 2/20: Wear your Red White and Blue for Presidents Day
Wednesday 2/21: Mix it Up Day (Teachers dress like students and students dress like teachers)
Thursday 2/22: Wear your Tutu for "22" Day
Friday, 2/23: Comfy Day - Wear your PJs or favorite Comfy Clothes
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20 -23
As you likely know, we will be holding school on February 20-23 to make up for some of the missed school days. We recognize that there may be students absent for part of all of the week due to prior travel plans and that this is a family decision.
Students who are not attending school on those days will not be penalized for missing work. If you know your child will be absent for part of that week, you are welcome to complete our regular google attendance form ahead of time (linked HERE for your convenience).
Teachers have worked together to create engaging lessons for that week that help to deepen students' current learning and skills. Students that are in school that week will have an engaging and academic experience.
The schedule for the week is as follows:
Mon., Feb. 19 - No School for Presidents Day
Tues., Feb. 20 - Day 2
Wed., Feb. 21 - Day 3
Thurs., Feb. 22 - Day 4
Fri., Feb. 23 - Day 5
SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE - DAY PTO COFFEE- Tuesday, February 27th
On Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 8:30 we will host Superintendent Nolin and some members of the the Newton School Committee in the Day Middle School Library
The PTO will host this coffee. Please come to hear from them and bring questions of your own.
Q & A WITH SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR
Superintendent Dr. Anna Nolin and School Committee Chair Chris Brezski will host an open forum for Newton community members on the following dates:
Thursday, February 22 at Newton South Auditorium from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 27 at Zervas Elementary School from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.
The forum is an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about upcoming budget discussions, the new contract, new and existing supports for students, and more.
The meeting is in person, but can be watched via livestream at Newton News (a channel of NewTV.) Questions may be asked in person or using this Google Form in advance of the event. We are not able to take questions virtually for these events.
8th GRADE END OF YEAR EVENTS- SAVE THE DATE
Below is a list of the end of year events we have scheduled to celebrate our 8th grade students:
Friday, May 31, 2024: 8th Grade Semi- Formal
at the Newton Marriott sponsored by the Day PTO
(see the flyer below)
Thursday, June 20, 2024: Spirt of Boston DJ Lunch Cruise (during the school day)
Friday, June 21, 2024: 8th Grade Moving on Ceremony 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
8th GRADE TRANSITION EVENTS AT NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Below is a link to the newsletter sent out by Newton North Assistant Principal, Amy Winston, with the updated dates for the 8th grade transition events.
NNHS staff will visit our 8th grade students on. Wed. Feb. 27th to review the many elective options at North next year.
The other transition events for 8th grade families are linked in the newsletter below:
COFFEE WITH NNHS PRINCIPAL DR. TURNER - MARCH 22nd
Day Middle School welcomes Dr. Henry Turner, Principal of Newton North High School, to discuss the transition to high school with 8th grade parents at Day Middle School.
Friday, March 22, 2024
Time: 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Location: Day Middle School Library
SCHOOL TRANSFER REQUESTS ("Out of Assigned District Requests")
School Transfer Requests 2024-2025. (formerly “Out-of-Assigned District” Requests)
Each year, the Newton Public Schools consider applications for Newton students to transfer
to a school outside of their home (assigned) district.
Applications for the 2024-2025 school year can be submitted online between March 1 and
May 1, 2024. The online form will be available on our website at www.newton.k12.ma.us in
the “Registration” section.
Interested families may contact the Elementary Education Office (grades K-5) at
617-559-6105, the Secondary Education Office (grades 6-12) at 617-559-6115 or via email at
registration@newton.k12.ma.us for additional information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE LINK BELOW
PARENT CONFERENCES
Jennifer Murphy will be in touch with all parents who were scheduled for parent conferences on January 24th.
ALL of these conferences will be rescheduled for the same time on Wednesday, February 28th.
For your conference, please click on the Google Meet link provided to you at your designated conference time. If you are not let into the conference at exactly the time of the conference please know that often conferences run a little bit behind schedule. The teachers will admit you to the conference once they are available.
If you are having difficulty logging in for your conference, please call Jennifer Murphy at : 617-559-9142 or call the front office at Day: 617-559-9100. If you have a question that is not urgent, please email her at the address below:
Jennifer Murphy at murphyj@newton.k12.ma.us
THE ANNUAL BOSTON BOWL AND PIZZA FAMILY EVENT
Thanks to the generous sponsosrhip of the Day PTO, the Day Diversity Club is pleased to share information on our annual Boston Bowl Pizza on Saturday, March 9th.
When: Saturday, March 9, 2024 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Boston Bowl, 820 Morrissey Blvd. Boston
This event is FREE to all Day families.
To RSVP and see more information, click on the links below:
THIS FRIDAY COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL
The next Coffee and Tour will the Principal is on Friday, March 15th!! Thank you to those who attended this past Friday. Please note that the tours are open to all Day parents and caregivers regardless of the grade level of their child. Each event will feature a different department or grade. In March we will feature our multi-team classes such as world language, arts rotation, health and PE.
COFFEE AND TOURS WITH THE PRINCIPAL
This school year I will be hosting a morning coffee accompanied by a walkthrough our school so caregivers can see our building in action. Each month we will feature a different subject and grade.
These events will be scheduled every other month on Friday mornings from 8:15 - 9:00 a.m.
Save the dates below:
SAVE THE DATE:
March 15, 2024
May 17, 2024
NEWTON COMMUNITY EDUCATION AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AT DAY
Pictured below are the incredibly diverse offering of winter after school enrichment programs being offered at Day Middle School through the winter months. For more information, feel free to call Newton Community Education at 617-559-9999
Scholarships are available for ALL PROGRAMS.
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.
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.
