SAVE THE DATE:
Mon. May 20th - Math MCAS Day 1 Gr. 6-8
Mon. May 20th - All City Track Meet at NNHS
Mon. May 20th - Boys’ LAX Home Game 3:30 p.m. Girls LAX Home at 4:45 p.m.
Mon. May 20th: Volleyball After School until 4 p.m.
Tues. May 21st - Math MCAS Day 2 Gr. 6-8
Tues. May 21st: Volleyball after school until 4:00 p.m.
Thurs. May 23rd: Math MCAS Make-Up Day
Thurs. May 23rd: No Place for Hate Walk and Rally at NNHS 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.
Thurs. May 23rd: Baseball and Softball Away Games at Oak Hill: 3:30 p.m
Fri. May 24th: Track Meet Away at Oak Hill at 3:30 p.m
A Note From the Principal...
It has been such a joy to have parents and caregivers join me every other month this year in instructional walks around the school. It has given me the opportunity to celebrate and show off a bit of the good work happening every day in our school. Seeing it through the eyes of our parent visitors, reminds me of the many strengths of our teaching and learning and the growth of our students.
We often get so focused on what needs to improve, we lose site of the progress we continue to make.
As I accompanied a group of Day parents through classrooms this past Friday, I was truly inspired. I know that the Day Faculty are quite a skilled group of educators. What I saw on a Friday in the last weeks of school filled me with pride. In ELA classrooms students were engaged in student-led book discussions and Socratic dialogues where they seamlessly cited evidence from the text to support their arguments and podcasts where they learned about journalism from experts; in science students engaged in making their own DNA models with blocks and they were analyzing the layers and types of rocks; and in social studies, students were engaged in collaboration with their groups around their selected U.N. Global Goal.
I share this with you because this time of year, part of our annual school community routines are to reflect on the year past. I do this with many stakeholder groups - the Principal Advisory Council with teacher leaders, the Student Advisory Council with student leaders, in School Council with parents, staff and community members, and shortly we will again engage in this work at one of our final faculty meetings of the school year.
While it is critically important to our progress as a school community to reflect on areas for growth, I want to take a moment to celebrate how far we have come with our students this year. In this moment, before the hectic pace of June takes hold of us, I want you to join me in acknowledging all that we have accomplished this year despite the many challenges thanks to the efforts of teachers in the classroom, and parents and caregiver as our critically important partners at home.
Despite all that we need to accomplish and the many areas for future improvement and growth, our students have come, as the quote states, a “mighty distance”. We have much to be proud of.
TERM 4 PROGRESS REPORTS THIS WEEK
This week we are officially halfway through the last term of the school year, Term 4.
Your child's teachers will be in contact with you this week to share updates about your child's progress.
If you do not hear from your child's teachers or you have questions about your child's progress, please reach out to the guidance counselor.
ARRIVING ON TIME FOR SCHOOL
There has been a significant increase in the number of students arriving late to school this year. Our teacher leadership group is looking into school policy changes for next year that will align with our school values and may involve consequences when there is a significant number of tardies.
In the interim, we need your help. Please help us reinforce the messages below with your children:
- Students MUST arrive to school no later than 7:50 a.m. Students are allowed in the building by 7:15 a.m.
- Morning advisory is NOT Optional.
- MCAS Days (This Monday and Tuesday is Math MCAS), students should arrive even earlier so that they are prepared to take the test which begins first thing in the morning.
- Arriving late to school negatively impacts your child's ability to transition into learning.
- Some students walk to school or take a bus but do not enter the building when they arrive, choosing to get a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts beverage and then arriving late to school. Please reinforce with your child that when they walk to school or take a bus, they should not leave school grounds. Arriving late with a beverage demonstrates to staff that arriving to school on time is not a priority.
- If your child needs support around organizing time or morning routines, please reach out to a member of the Day Admin Team or guidance counselors with any questions or concerns.
HEALTHY KIDS RUNNING SERIES
Healthy Kids Running Series is a non-profit created to motivate kids to lead healthy and active lifestyles through a positive introduction to the world of running
There are several races in Newton over the next couple of months. Can you please include this link in your newsletters? The first race is on May 19th.
NO PLACE FOR HATE WALK AND RALLY 2024
As part of our journey to create a more inclusive community, we have to create opportunities for students, staff and parents to lift their voices. We have begun planning for our No Place for Hate Walk 2024 in collaboration with the students and faculty at Newton North.
This year’s event will take place on Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Every year we have parents and staff supervise students walking from Day at dismissal to Newton North to participate in the rally as we stand as a community against acts of hatred and bias in our community and world.
If you are able to help up on in any way, please sign up using the Google form below:
No Place for Hate Walk and Rally 2024 Parent and Staff Sign Up
Students will be given a chance to sign up for the No Place Hate Walk in advisory this week. If your child is interested in attending, the student sign up is below:
5th GRADE TRANSITION EVENTS
May 3 Cabot Elementary Visit
May 6 Horace Mann Elementary Visit
May 15 Burr Elementary Visit
May 31 Franklin Elementary Visit (new date)
June 3 Peirce Elementary Visit (new date)
If your 6th grade student is interested in being an ambassador to their elementary school, please have them reach out to their guidance counselor.
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:
- This is not a school-sponsored event. It is being organized by the Day PTO. Questions about the event should be directed to the PTO at: fadaydragons@gmail.com
- cost- $100. Registration forms went home on Tuesday. You can also register online:
- Click here to register for dance tickets
- DEADLINE IS TUESDAY 4/23
- *click here to volunteer as a chaperone or help at the dance
- Any extra contribution will go towards scholarships.
Thursday, June 20, 2024: Spirt of Boston DJ Lunch Cruise (during the school day)
(estimated cost: $125) - Permission Slips will be send home in May 2024.
Yearbooks are no longer on sale online. Some copies will be available for purchase after June 20th.
Yearbooks purchased with be distributed on Thursday, June 20th before the 8th Gr. Cruise.
Friday, June 21, 2024: 8th Grade Moving on Ceremony 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Note: There is no cost for the Moving On Ceremony, but donations to the 8th grade end of year fund are welcome.
Email: fadaydragons@gmail.com
Financial Assistance:
The costs for the 8th grade end of year events are listed above. If your family is in need of financial assistance for any or all of the 8th grade events or yearbook, please complete the financial aid request form linked below.
Natalie Saintil: saintiln@newton.k12.ma.us
Max Xu: xum@newton.k12.ma.us
Appreciating Music and Rhythms in the World Around Us
Mr. Brown's 7th Gr. General Music class watch a video on how the cast of STOMP collaborate with the Harlem Globe Trotters on creating music and rhythm on the court.
Light Reflecting Art
Math Teachers Engage in Professional Learning
At this week's citywide professional learning session for all middle school math teachers run by Math Coordinators,Jen Shore and Brian Marks, teachers share ideas about the most important practices and skills for all Newton math students to know and be able to do.
NEWTON JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
The Newton Juneteenth Celebration returns to the Hyde Community Center, 90 Lincoln St, Newton, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm!
The Juneteenth Celebration Steering Committee, who plan and oversee Newton’s Juneteenth Celebration on behalf of FORJ, invites you to join us for this annual, fun, family event! This Celebration marks the national holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Americans and invites all residents and visitors to celebrate African-American heritage and culture through food, music, dance, and story-telling. Our partners include the Newton Coalition of Black Residents and FORJ NNHS.
This year we feature the historic Myrtle Baptist Church to honor their 150 Year Anniversary. That’s a huge milestone and one that deserves recognition, especially as it coincides with Newton’s 150 Year Anniversary. The Myrtle Baptist Church Choir will take center stage for a headline performance.
The event is free and easily accessible by public transit. Register with Eventbrite to help us plan so you won’t miss the…
- Delicious Food Truck flavors of Zaz and Gourmet Kreyol!
- Children’s Reading with Story Starters!
- Free Face Painting!
- Children’s Reading with Myrtle’s Youth Pastor!
- African Drumming and Dance!
- DJ Firestarta Dance Party!
- Shopping over 20 Local Black-Owned Businesses!
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
Community Education is offering fun and exciting programming for students during the upcoming April Vacation.
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.
