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December 22, 2023
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Dear NPS Families,
As we approach December break, I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome I've received in the Newton school community. It's been a pleasure getting to know our dedicated staff, wonderful students, and committed families. It is clear that we have a set of shared values that contribute to making Newton Public Schools a top-tier learning organization. My assistant, Ms. Carolyn Campo, deserves a lot of credit for managing all of my entry meetings and contacts. She even made me this fun shirt to memorialize the over 50 meet and greets/BBQs I attended in the city this summer. What a terrific holiday treat! Thank you again to all those who hosted me.
I always take time in this part of December to reflect on the prior year and spend time with my family. My daughter, a senior in high school, will be playing in a basketball tournament and I am feeling nostalgic about my baby playing in her last season! I’m a big poetry reader and many city residents and new colleagues have sent along books and articles to read…so I’m also ready for a week of reflection, good food, and reading.
Throughout this fall, students have also shared with me in the form of artwork, letters, and discussions. Recently, a second grader in one of our elementary schools shared a picture with me that I thought really emphasized the challenges some of our students are facing right now. She showed me a picture of her and her friend with an X drawn over their clasped hands. When I asked about the X, in her second grade way, she indicated that she felt scared and wondered if she could hold her friend’s hand any more. She spoke of her awareness and connection to world events and how that made her feel sad and worried. This story reflects the broader issues of grief, fear, and uncertainty many are experiencing during this time.
Our educators are committed to creating safe and compassionate environments in our classrooms. However, we recognize that words alone cannot address the concerns brought to us by students and families. It is crucial for us all to unite against hate and foster a sense of community care and love. As I observe classes every day in our district, I see educators devoting themselves to the love and care of your children. They go above and beyond and devote their own time and personal resources to ensure the best experience for Newton’s students.
Love and care creates a culture but it is not an educational strategy. Thus, we always combine hope and love with strong educational experiences to fight hate and discrimination. Here is an overview of how NPS combats hate through systematic mandated instruction, optional experiences, and how teachers are encouraged to respond to emergent needs in classes. A parent curriculum website will be published in January where information like this will be shared.
The worries of my 2nd grade friend have become increasingly common in recent weeks. We have seen a significant increase in antisemitic acts as well as a significant increase in Islamophobic and ethnic origin discriminatory behaviors and hate acts. A recent interfaith meeting of Muslim, Arab, Jewish, Christian and Black citizens I attended with our Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion revealed collective pain coupled with a collective desire for empathy, acceptance and love during this time.
I want to remind the community that if our culture of care and proactive education fails us and a hate act or discriminatory activity occurs, the incident should be reported. How we handle these investigations is detailed here. A form for filing a complaint is here. Our recent administrator training emphasized the Non-Discrimination Protocol and there will be a community training on January 8th (see below.) All investigations are conducted with respect for student privacy and in response to the specific situation. Sometimes, incidents or acts will call for school or district wide communication. In other cases, events, activities, or small group work or assemblies may occur within the school day or as part of the classroom curriculum. Our goal is to respond appropriately and as an educational institution, engage in the remedy that will result in real and meaningful change.
As we head into the end of the year, I challenge us all to model the love, acceptance and grace we desire for our children and this world. Please know that our staff are and will continue to do their very best as educators to care for all of your children while also managing their own well-being.
May we all have a restful, fun, and family-filled December break and return to each other with renewed commitment to peace, love, and learning.
Warmly,
Anna
Merry Christmas!
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature.
Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, who they believe was the son of God. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870. To read more about the history of Christmas (and how it was once outlawed in Boston!) on the History Channel website: A History of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community and culture. Kwanzaa gets its name from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” and is rooted in first fruit celebrations which are found in cultures throughout Africa both in ancient and modern times. This year, it will be celebrated from December 26 - January 1.
The seven principles which form its core were drawn from communitarian values found throughout the African continent. These principles are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
Want to learn more? Check out this video from the Smithsonian’s NMAAHC Kids:
Kwanzaa Educational Video from Smithsonian
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)
ICYMI - METCO Forum
On December 6, 2023, our METCO leaders and students shared a bit about METCO with our community. Thank you to all of our students for participating on the student panel and helping to bring the program to life for our community members.
Here is a link to the video: METCO 2023 Community Forum
The colder weather and holiday gatherings are here and so is a rise in respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. These infections are caused by different viruses but they can all cause similar symptoms including:
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Feeling tired
Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea
To protect your family and our community, please take the following everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs:
Keep children home from school if they have symptoms of illness- they must be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and there is no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours to return to school
Stay-at-home guidance for COVID is a minimum of 5 days since onset of symptoms or a positive covid test (whichever came first) and wearing a mask through day 10
Avoid social gatherings if you or your children are ill
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or an elbow
Clean hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer
Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth
Clean surfaces that may be contaminated with viruses
The federal government is once again allowing every home in the U.S. to order a fresh wave of four COVID-19 tests for free. To order tests visit https://special.usps.com/testkits.
Please remember to notify the school if your child is absent. Thank you for doing all you can to keep our community healthy during this winter season.
District "Soft Close" - December 25 - January 1
We wanted to let NPS families know that the district will implement a “soft close” from December 25 - January 1. This means that school buildings are closed except for athletics and preplanned activities about which advisors have given notice to families and students. Outside renters will continue to use the facilities, per their rental agreement. Families should not expect to reach people in the buildings and will not be able to retrieve items left behind over the break. NPS staff will respond to emails received during the soft close when the district reopens on January 2, 2023.
If there is an emergency, you may email your building principal or a member of the central administration. In case of a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911.
We are implementing the soft close this year to allow our staff time to rest and rejuvenate before the start of the next half of the school year. NPS staff are dedicated and committed individuals who pour their hearts into serving our families and community. It is important that they take time to take care of themselves and their families during this break. Another soft close will be implemented the first week of July.
A Message from DESE on Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism (missing 10 percent or more of the school year) appears in every type of district – urban, suburban, rural, regional, traditional public schools, career technical schools, charter schools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
We know that there are often valid reasons for students to be absent, but, to a troubling extent, students are missing more school now than they did prior to the pandemic. Before the pandemic, 13 percent of students statewide were chronically absent. Last year, 22 percent of students – close to 1 in 4 statewide – were chronically absent.
Newton Public Schools is not immune to this trend. In all but two of our 22 schools, the chronic absenteeism rate in FY23 increased from FY19. In many cases, it is double or triple what it was in FY19.
As of 12/21/2023, the district’s chronic absenteeism rate K-12 is 10.6%, which means that about 11% of the district’s students (over 1,200 students) have missed 10% or more of the school year so far.
We are asking you to commit to making daily school attendance part of your family’s routine again. As a leader of your family, you are the best and most important influencer of your child. When you make a point of getting them to school every day, they will understand that it is important for their success.
NPS is committed to partnering with you to find ways to remove any barriers that may be hindering any child from coming to school every day. Please reach out to your student’s school for any assistance or support you might need.
Lincoln-Eliot Elementary Ground-Breaking Ceremony
On Tuesday, NPS broke ground on the new Lincoln-Eliot Elementary! The new school will be located at the former Aquinas Junior College. This project will be the largest completely city-funded elementary school building project in City history. We are so excited!
L-E is scheduled for completion in Summer 2025. Follow along here:
Countryside Elementary School MSBA Approval
On December 13, 2023, the Massachusetts School Building Authority, MSBA, voted unanimously to authorize their executive director to execute a project scope and budget and project funding agreement with the City of Newton for the Countryside Elementary School Project. This step secures the ~$21M in state grants for the project. This is a monumental step forward for the Countryside community, and with this step the Countryside School Project will now move into the final design phase with MSBA.
Portrait of a Graduate Community Sessions - January
To provide the community with a preview of the work to be done by the Portrait of a Graduate Design Team later this spring, we have scheduled two community sessions in January. These sessions, called "Futures CoLab," will start our community conversations around how rapidly our world is changing and why our school system must change with it. These meetings will set the stage for developing the shared vision in our Portrait of a Graduate. The sessions will explore the following questions:
What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for our young people?
What are the skills and mindsets that our children need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?
What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences—and equitable access to those experiences—we provide in our school systems?
The session dates and locations are as follows:
Wednesday, January 17 at 6:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m. at Newton North
Thursday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Newton South
Because these sessions are different from the Design Team, you can choose to attend just one. RSVP using this Google Form - POG Community Session RSVP
We are excited to begin the process of developing the NPS Portrait of a Graduate with these community sessions in January. Your voice and input is critical to creating a portrait that reflects our community and the skills our students should have when they graduate.
ParentSquare is Coming to Newton!
We are thrilled to announce that ParentSquare is coming to the Newton Public Schools! After two years of surveying staff, and families, and conducting a thorough review of different communication tools on the market, the district has signed an agreement with ParentSquare.
What is ParentSquare? ParentSquare is a one-stop shop for communications and engagement with our NPS families and our community. From a single dashboard on your desktop or app, you will have access to all school and district information for your students. No more searching for emails or asking teachers, staff, or administrators to re-send information. You will simply log onto your dashboard or open their app to find news and information.
One of the most amazing features of ParentSquare is that families will receive your communications in the language you choose. Information will automatically be translated and transmitted to you. You can write back in your home language and teachers/staff will receive it in English.
We are beginning our pilot phase now and we thank the principals and vice-principals at North, Bigelow, Angier, and Bowen for volunteering to test the product and utilize the tools. If you are at one of these schools, you may notice a change in format. You will also be asked to create a ParentSquare account. This will give you full access to all of the amazing features of ParentSquare and we highly recommend doing so.
Once administrators do some testing, and the district starts to use it for districtwide communications, some teachers and staff may try it out in the spring. The full launch will be next fall when all administrators, teachers, and staff will use it for communications with families.
We will continue to share more in the coming weeks. We are thrilled to be able to offer this tool to you to make communication and engagement easier and more manageable!
Districtwide Non-Discrimination Protocol Training
Our goal is to always provide a safe and welcoming environment for all of our community members. To that end, you may remember that last year, we spent significant time revising our non-discrimination protocol and procedures. Given recent world events, we recognize that there is a heightened sense of fear, grief, and anxiety and as such, we have seen an uptick in the number of incidents and reports.
In comparison to data from the last year, the DEI Department has received an increased number of discrimination reports and a substantial increase in the percentage of reports that fall under the protected class of religion. While we are a community that cares about all of our members and responds to all acts of harm, we also need to meet this moment with accountability, support and most importantly, grace.
Even with these numbers, we’ve also heard from several community members that not all acts of discrimination are reported, often due to fear of retaliation or lack of knowledge about our process. In addressing this we have taken a few steps to increase our consistency of practice in reports, investigations and repair when possible.
On Wednesday, November 29, nearly 100 administrators participated in a refresher training on the NPS Non-Discrimination Protocol. We highlighted that every NPS staff is responsible for reporting ANY act of discrimination, the reporting & investigation process & timelines, and reinforced the ultimate goal of education and restoration when possible.
Although we always prefer that reports go directly to a trusted adult or NPS employee, there is also an option to submit a report via our Online Reporting Tool. This tool is accessible to ANY NPS community member and will go directly to the DEI Department for review and follow up. This also includes an anonymous option, but we encourage you to share your identity as anonymous complaints may inhibit our ability to process a thorough investigation.
Want to learn more? Consider attending a community training on the NPS Non-Discrimination Protocol–a crucial component in cultivating inclusion and belonging for all members in our community.
The session on January 8th will:
Develop an understanding of how NPS makes decisions
Goals of corrective and restorative action
Role parents can play in having conversations at home
There will also be Q&A session as well as some situationally relevant examples to help highlight how the protocol works. If you are interested in learning more about the protocol now, go here. To attend the meeting, RSVP here.
Google Account Deletion!
Attention: Families with Students who Exited NPS prior to June 30, 2018
The Newton Public Schools’ Department of Information Technology and Library Services intends to destroy the Google records of all students who exited from any Newton Public Schools prior to June 30, 2018.
Please note: Your child's/your student transcript will be maintained by the District for at least (60) years following graduation, transfer or withdrawal from the District.
If you would like to be provided with copies of the Google account records, please submit this Google Form to the Newton Public Schools IT Department by February 16, 2024.
For more detailed information, please see this notice:
IT and Library Services Notice Re: Google Account Deletion
If you have any questions, please contact the IT Department Department at 617-559-6190.
Newton Schools Foundation Fall Grant Awards
The NSF Board approved $134,268 of funding to support 24 initiatives that touch each level and every school in the district. For this fall grant cycle, NSF allocated 65% of the $205K donated to NPS to support both the fall and spring grant cycles this year. NFS donated $260,000 in total for the 2023-2024 school year - $205K for grants and $55K for the Calculus Project directly.
Key awards:
- $17,727 for K-8 Literacy Professional Development
- $7,189 to diversify the 6th Grade Novel Study Unit (all four middle schools)
- $14,578 for MakeMusic (all four middle schools)
- $16,800 to support the Profile of a Graduate process
- $20,000 to provide consistent elementary SEL classroom support (all fifteen elementary schools)
Awarded applications focus on opportunities that support both the NPS district goals and the three NSF strategic focus areas: New Approaches in the Classroom, Professional Development for Teachers, and Programs that Promote Equity for all Students.
NPS is grateful for the important opportunities that this NSF funding creates. The feedback from awardees reflects immense enthusiasm and gratitude!
Newton Schools Foundation (NSF) - Get Connected!
NSF is looking to include all NPS families in their community of work, which has supported the Newton Public Schools since 1985 by providing funding and awarding grants in three strategic areas to "teachers and staff totaling over $4 million. Supporters and donors include parents, community members, and businesses who share the belief that strong public schools are essential to the quality of life and future well-being of the City. Through these grants, educators at all levels have developed new curricula, generated innovative teaching methods that have been used throughout the system, enhanced their professional skills, and augmented the learning opportunities available to all NPS students."
To learn more about the Newton Schools Foundation's work to support the Newton Public Schools, please visit the NSF website where you can subscribe to their email list.
School Sustainability News - No Idling
With colder temperatures, we are seeing an increase in vehicles idling at school arrival and dismissal. Idling is leaving a vehicle’s engine running while the vehicle is not in motion. Drivers are sometimes forced to idle in traffic, but in most situations idling is not necessary.
Exhaust from idling vehicles is linked to increases in asthma, allergies, heart and lung disease and even cancer. Children are especially at risk because their lungs are still developing and they inhale more air per pound of body weight.
Do your part to keep your kids and their classmates healthy: if you'll be waiting more than 10 seconds, turn off your engine. This simple step can dramatically reduce children's exposure to pollutants, save you a little money, and help the environment. Massachusetts also has an anti-idling law.
Learn more at idlefreenewton.org, and watch the video and take the pledge at iturnitoff.com/schools.
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Looking to get involved in sustainability work or add a Green Captain to your school? Reach out to Green Newton School Connections at schoolconnections@greennewton.org to learn more! This supportive group of educators, students and parents/caregivers meets monthly to share ideas and meet with City and NPS staff to advance shared goals.
Click HERE to take Action 4 Our Future! Did you know Newton has its own Energy Coach?
Kindergarten Census
To assist us with planning for the coming year, we ask that families with students eligible to enroll in kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year, please complete this short online survey to let us know your plans for your child’s school registration.
Providing this information now helps us to plan for staffing and support in your child’s potential school for the upcoming school year. Even if you will not be registering your child to attend kindergarten in the Newton Public Schools or are unsure, information about your plans is incredibly helpful for our planning for the year ahead.
Below please find a timeline for kindergarten registration:
November 7, 2023: Kindergarten Census Survey open. Please complete.
February 29, 2024: New Kindergarten Parent/Guardian Information Night virtual webinar for all families enrolling a student for the first time in the Newton Public Schools. Links to the webinar will be posted on our kindergarten registration page in late February.
March 1, 2024: Our online registration system will be open for kindergarten registration. Please register your kindergarten-age child by March 22, 2024, so that we can plan staffing and programming for the year ahead.
Invoices
Please check your MySchoolBucks (MSB) account for any outstanding invoices.
You can pay directly online on MSB (please keep in mind, you are not allowed to use your lunch account balance to pay for invoices.) Check payments are also accepted by mailing your payment with your statement to:
Newton Public Schools
Attn: Business Office
100 Walnut Street
Newtonville, MA 02460
Visit this webpage for additional information about the fee policy and instructions to request a waiver, if needed.
If you have any questions regarding Chromebook invoices, please contact the IT department at 617-559-6190. If you have questions regarding your library or textbooks invoices, please contact your school.
25 Years of the Brown Middle School Gift Drive!
On Tuesday students from throughout the school brought their wrapped gifts down to the front driveway to load up a moving van. All presents were delivered to the Brookview House in Dorchester. We have done this special event every year for 25 years! Thank you to all students, teachers and families that participated in this important community service! A special "THANK YOU!" goes out to Chaffe Toulmin, 8 Indigo science teacher, and Mary Radonich, ELL teacher, for all of their efforts to continue this year after year!
NECP Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week!
To celebrate Inclusive Schools Week, all NECP classrooms read Masterpiece by Alexandra Hoffman. Since the theme for this year was "Draw Me In!" As shared on Amazon:
Masterpiece is an inclusive story featuring Samuel, a boy on the autism spectrum who sees the world differently than his peers. When Samuel's teacher asks his class to create a piece of art, it quickly becomes apparent that his beautiful way of looking at the world makes him a true masterpiece! Throughout the story, the other students in his class learn lessons of empathy, understanding and acceptance.
In honor of the Masterpiece, each NECP student created their own artistic masterpiece that was then joined with other student's art for a whole NECP community masterpiece. This is just one of the ways that NPS provides disability awareness curriculum and programming in schools throughout the district. See the masterpiece below!
Art at Newton South - See ME.
Students at Newton South High School in Ms. Choi’s and Ms. B-G’s AP Art, 2D and 3D Explorations work with their culture, identity and reflections. Check out some of our essential questions we ask viewers to wonder with us.
What does it look and feel like to have an invisible disability?
Culture & hair, what’s the connection?
How can we celebrate work that has been excluded from a fine arts category because of its associations with women’s work?
Newton South Eastern District Music Selections
The following NSHS students were accepted into 2023-2024 Eastern District Music Selections (denotes All-State Recommendation*)
Band
Emily Han Clarinet
Leila Mostaghimi * Clarinet
Silas Schenker Clarinet
Tobin Schenker * Trumpet
Chorus
Sophie Chang * Alto
Claire Cho * Alto
David Rosemberg * Tenor
Jazz
Adam Sheena * Trumpet
Gordon Wei * Trumpet. (First Chair)
Orchestra
Olivia Hong * Violin
Steven Hu * Cello
Hannah Lim Viola
ZenZen Loo* Violin
Joseph Manna * Violin
Abigail Shin * Violin
Middle School Basketball Visits BU
The Newton MetroWest 6th Grade Girls Basketball teams attended the December 9 Boston University v. Harvard Women’s Basketball Game and played on the court. About twenty-five 6th grade girls from Newton (representing Day Middle, Bigelow, Oak Hill and Brown) who make up three different teams watched the pre-game warm ups from the bench and played a scrimmage on the Boston University court at half-time.
Newton-Jingshan Exchange Program
Embarking on a new chapter of cultural exchange and intellectual collaboration, the Newton-Jingshan Exchange Program joyously marked its restart with a documentary premiere of Reaching Across Borders. The event brought together strong supporters over the 40 years span, including former and current NPS administrators, the first group of exchange students from Beijing Jingshan School, as well as teachers and host families from the past and for the future. Held at the Wilson Chapel, the celebration signaled the beginning of lasting friendships, academic partnerships, and a renewed dedication to building bridges across cultures.
Enrollment Open at NECP
NECP is enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year! Come and join the fun! Find the application on our website under application process.
Openings at Newton South Preschool
The Newton South Preschool program has openings for the 2024-2025 school year. If you are looking for a high quality preschool program or if you know someone who is, please reach out.
Here is our New Parent Packet, which contains information about our program, an application and links to our website and Facebook page.
Full and Part-Time Educators
We are currently recruiting for open positions and would love to hear from you. Visit our JOB POSTINGS page for detailed information and application instructions.
Become an NPS Substitute!
NPS is in need of substitutes. NPS is in need of substitutes - both classroom teacher and other support roles. The district will provide training to help applicants understand the expectations and feel comfortable in the role. Opportunities to shadow teachers, as well as relevant training, will be provided prior to assignment.
Apply online at: Precision Substitute Services (our substitute staffing agency.) You can also call: Sandra Andrade at 617-245-8575. Your application will require a CORI check, which can be done through NPS in our Human Resources Department.
School Nurses Needed
We need School Nurses! Join the City of Newton Health and Human Services Team as a School Nurse to support the health and well-being of Newton Public School (NPS) students. The City is hiring full-time and part-time Nurses. School Nurses work during the school year, have summers off, and follow the NPS school year calendar. Substitute School Nurses (part-time) work as needed, with a minimum commitment of ten (10) hours per week.
To learn more and to apply, click on the link below or scan the QR code.