2023 Graduation FAQ

Newton South Families of Seniors,

We look forward to seeing you at graduation on Thursday, June 8 at 5 PM! We have a few key updates that we want to make you aware of as we prepare for this special day:

Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 5 PM

Field House, Newton South High School

Rain or shine

Doors open at 4 PM

They will close temporarily at 4:50 PM to allow students and staff to process in. They will then reopen at 5:10 PM.

For those of you making post-graduation plans: please provision about 2 hours for the graduation ceremony itself. The actual runtime may vary.

Beginning at 3 PM, traffic on Brandeis Road becomes one-way going from Roosevelt Road to Greenwood Street. Newton Police will be available to assist with the one-way traffic and additionally facilitate exit at the conclusion of the ceremony. See the first picture above.

Guests may park in the areas listed above in the second picture. Please note that due to limited parking, we can only host one car per graduate. Please plan accordingly.

Parking for cars with handicap placards will be in the large lot across from the tennis courts.

Only vehicles with handicap placards will be allowed to park in the handicap parking lot.

We also have a drop-off location for anyone needing to be dropped off at the Field House. This location is also in the big parking lot across from the tennis courts. After drop off, cars can then park in appropriate spots on Brandeis Road.

When entering the Field House, the special seating section is located on the floor behind the staff section. There will be multiple staff who will have the names of those who have secured special seating. Please approach the section and provide your name to the staff in charge of special seating.

We work with GradImages to take photos of graduates as they receive their diploma. During lineup, representatives from the company will have address cards that the graduates can fill out to have free proofs sent to their home after the ceremony. Graduates, please keep an eye out for this prior to the start of the ceremony.

NewTV will be livestreaming the graduation. Click below for the livestream link:

Livestream of Newton South High School 2023 Graduation

We are partnering with LexiKeet to provide interpretation throughout the ceremony in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin Chinese.

To access interpretation, bring your own device (i.e., smart phone or iPad) and headphones. We will not have devices or headphones on site.

These slides will be on the TV outside the Field House. You can access the QR code through this screen:

1. Connect to Visitor Wi-Fi at the school using the QR code or the name and password below:

• Username: Visitor
• Password: FigNewton13

2. Then connect to the livestream at this link: https://stream.lexikeet.com/newton

This will be an audio-only feed.

If you are not using interpretation, we ask that you refrain from using the WiFi so those who need it to access the ceremony are able to do so with minimal disruption.

On May 4, 2023, we hosted an information webinar regarding all the things seniors need to know about the end of the school year. See below:

We want to make sure that any questions you have get answered as efficiently as possible. The best starting contact for graduation questions is your student's house office:

• Cutler House: Ms. Curran (curranl@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6551)

• Goldrick House: Ms. Trieger (triegerd@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6552)

• Goodwin House: Ms. Astone (astonee@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6555)

• Wheeler House: Ms. Murphy (murphyba@newton.k12.ma.us, 617-559-6558)

House offices can assist with special seating, requests for additional tickets, and more. Additionally, please be sure to read the FAQ below as your question may already be answered here.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Sincerely,

Jason Williams (he/him/his)
Vice Principal
Newton South High School

At senior checkout, each student will receive six tickets for graduation. If you will not be using all of your tickets, please return them to your student’s house office. If you need more tickets, you may call your student’s house office to be placed on a waiting list for extra tickets. Each house will keep a waiting list and distribute extra tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. We will have updates regarding extra tickets during the week of graduation.

Want to decorate your cap? Here is a menu of options

An assembly was held for all seniors on Monday, March 6 during Advisory to discuss the cap and gown ordering process for seniors. At this point, the standard window for ordering caps and gowns have closed. If you have not yet ordered a cap and gown, please contact Ms. Stonehill as soon as possible.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

7 PM - 11 PM

Fairmont Copley Plaza

138 St James Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

Click here for a detailed flyer with more information.

The senior prom is an event that many seniors have been looking forward to since entering South, and students make many preparations in anticipation of the evening. Please join us in ensuring that this night lives up to its promise for our students by helping to keep each one of them safe and sober. No student under the influence will be allowed into the senior prom; we will have random breathalyzer checks. Any student found to be intoxicated or otherwise under the influence will have their parents called and will not be allowed to stay at the prom. There will be no exceptions made to this rule. Bags/purses are also checked to make sure that no items are brought into the prom that could compromise the safety of the event.

Tuesday, June 6, 11:30 PM - Wednesday, June 7 2:30 AM

Newton South High School

Sponsored by PTSO

The PTSO Southfest Parent committee organizes an extravagant after-prom celebration on the first Tuesday in June at Newton South from 11:30PM – 2:30AM. Southfest is FREE for ALL seniors (whether they have attended the prom or not), and their prom dates.

Questions regarding Southfest can be sent to Theresa Fitzpatrick at tabilel@gmail.com.

The last day of classes for seniors will be Wednesday, May 31. Friday, June 2 will be the last official day for seniors, which will consist of the following events:

• 10:30 - 1 PM Senior Checkout, Gym B
• 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM - Graduation Rehearsal, Field House (THIS IS REQUIRED FOR ALL GRADUATES)
• 2:30 - 3:30 PM Lunch and Yearbook Signing, Student Center
• 3:30 - 3:45 PM Senior Countdown, Baseball Field

Your student may have textbooks or equipment or sports team uniforms to return before they can graduate. Towards the end of the school year, they will receive notification in advisory and a notice is also sent home. They should see their house secretary or department chair to return an item or pay for its replacement. Seniors should do this before checkout day; if not, they will have to take care of it on checkout day before they can receive graduation tickets, cap and gown, and their school folder.

• Seniors can return Chromebooks in the auditorium lobby during Lion block on May 2, 16, 23, or 30. After May 2, you will also be able to go to the tech office in 9140 to return your Chromebook.
• Please note the following when returning your Chromebook:
• Return both your Chromebook and power cord.
• If you lost your power cord, please order a new one. The model is the Lenovo 300e 45W USB-C/3.1 power adapter
• All Chromebooks will be checked for basic functionality and damage upon return.
• Here is a schedule of fees if your Chromebook is damaged.

We recommend you return your Chromebook at the earliest opportunity to save time during Senior Checkout, especially if you are no longer using it.

Miscellaneous: Books that need to be returned to the library, unpaid fees, etc.