Category: Newton Schools

Everything you want to know about the Newton Public School System in Newton, MA.

Summer Pre-College Program Scholarship Opportunity

If you are a mom of a high school student who has an interest in drama, this one is for you.

Summer Pre-College Program Scholarship Opportunity

Two years ago my daughter Morgan attended the Summer Pre-College program at Marist College. The course was such a positive experience for Morgan, our family has maintained close communication with Marist ever since. Last year, Marist gave me scholarships to share with my friends.

Yesterday, Marist again offered me a handful of scholarships to the Theatre Pre-College course starting on June 25th, exclusive to my friends – and any moms you might know with a drama kid. The scholarship is for $825 and covers 25% of the total cost of attendance.

I have quite a bit of experience with sending my children to pre-college programs. Although the cost is typically $3,000-$5,000, I can tell you that the experience is well worth it. My children were far more confident about going off to college when they graduated from high school. They learned to live in a dorm, do their own laundry and get along with roommates and as a bonus they earned college credits.

This course offers high school students the opportunity to “test-drive” a college theatre course while living on campus for two weeks. Upon successful completion of the Summer Theatre Institute, each student earns three transferrable college credits for the Marist course ENG 150 Introduction to Theatre. The program also includes seeing live theatre, both locally and with a trip to Broadway with a backstage tour (last summer’s Theatre Institute toured “The Book of Mormon” and had a private talk-back with the cast of “Jersey Boys”.) Best of all, they keep the program small so that the student’s experience is an intimate and rewarding one.

Space and scholarships are limited. If you are interested in learning more, contact program director, Brian Apfel, at 845.575.3996 or precollege@marist.edu.

Program Website | Video | Printable BrochureI really don’t want to waste these scholarships as I know there are moms out there who will be paying full price or will decide not to send their child to a pre-college program because of the cost. Please feel free to forward this offer to anyone you know who might be interested.

I hope 2017 is off to a great start for you.

Best,
Maria Bailey

MomSelect Moms

January 18, 2017
Threat to NNHS Not Credible

January 12, 2017

North Families,

Last evening, we received report of a social media post making a threat to Newton North. We reported the post to the Newton police and they responded immediately. The specific post was reviewed and the source was identified. After a thorough investigation, the Newton police have determined that the threat is not credible.

Based on the advice of Newton Police, we will go forward with a normal school day today (Friday.) Our strong partnership with Newton police, as well the results of the investigation, give us confidence in our decision to hold school. Please know that your student will arrive at a safe and secure building this morning.

We take the safety of our students, our staff, and our entire school community very seriously. As use of social media grows, we must remain vigilant. We thank you for your understanding and support as we ensure a safe school environment for all.

Sincerely,

Henry J. Turner, EdD

Principal

Newton North High School

January 15, 2017
Massachusetts Schools Score Highest

Nation’s Schools Get Middling Grade on Quality Counts Report Card

As a new political and policy era dawns in Washington, the status of the nation’s schools remains stable, though still earning a grade of C fromQuality Counts 2017, the 21st annual report card issued by the Education Week Research Center.

The C corresponds to a score of 74.2, which is nearly identical to the 74.4 the nation posted in 2016, when it also received a C. The steadiness of national results, notwithstanding, a handful of states saw their scores increase or decline by a full point or more.

Quality Counts grades the states and the nation on educational performance across a range of key indicators, issuing overall A-F grades based on a traditional 100-point scale.

Massachusetts (85.2) ranked first for K-12 Achievement, posting the only B. It has been the leader in the rankings for nearly a decade. New Jersey (81.0), the only other state with a grade higher than a C-plus, earned a B-minus. Mississippi (60.0) and New Mexico (61.8) received the nation’s lowest grades at D-minus.

Massachusetts takes first place among the states for the third year in a row, with a B and a score of 86.5. It’s followed by five states earning grades of B: New Jersey (85.6), Vermont (83.8), New Hampshire (83.4), Maryland (82.8), and Connecticut (82.7).

At the other end of the spectrum, Nevada is at the bottom of the list as it was in 2016, receiving a D and a score of 65.0. Mississippi (65.8) and New Mexico (66.3) also receive grades of D. Grades and scores for those three states remain relatively unchanged from last year’s outcomes. from EdWeek

January 15, 2017
Navigating the Cyber World

Navigating the Cyber World
Tuesday, January 24 from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
(Snow date on Wednesday, January 25)
Brown Middle School Auditorium

This is an informative Parent Workshop sponsored Brown Middle School and the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. Geared for parents, this workshop reviews the challenges that may arise through use of the Internet, social media and smart phones.

It is important for parents to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences from cyber bullying, sexting and revealing identifying information to strangers.

January 10, 2017
FA Day Principal Search

Update on Principal Search Process: Ways to Be Involved

Superintendent David Fleishman joined us last month to talk about the upcoming principal search process. The School Department seeks parental input in a few different ways:

1) Complete the online survey about F.A. Day school
2) Apply to be considered for the Selection Advisory Committee (see below)
3) Meet finalists at F.A. Day school visits on February 9 & 10, 2017 (Note: you do not have to be on the Selection Advisory Committee to be part of the finalist visits.)

To be considered for the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC):

The F.A. Day PTO Board will select two F.A. Day parents/guardians for the SAC on the basis of on several factors, including a well-balanced representation across different constituencies at F.A. Day. Interested parent/guardians should visit HERE to learn more about the SAC and fill out an online form if interested in serving.

Note that the deadline for applying to participate on the SAC is Wednesday, December 14th at 5:00 pm.

Please know that there are ways to be involved in the process should you not be able to serve on the SAC. Questions about the principal selection process? Contact Dana Hanson.

January 7, 2017
Newton Public Schools Snow Policy

Dear Families,

With the first snowfall earlier this week, it is time to review our process for determining school closings or delays, as well as our notification system.

Closings

The decision to close or delay school is made by the superintendent, in consultation with the Police Department and the Department of Public Works. Safety is our number one priority as we consider the weather forecast, as well as street, sidewalk, and school parking lot conditions. We are very sensitive to the childcare challenges that you face when schools are closed and only do so if our analysis indicates we should.

Delayed Openings

In addition to school closings, we may use a delayed opening. The delayed opening means the school start time will be delayed either one or two hours (whichever is deemed appropriate.) Should there be a delayed opening, students will be expected to go to their bus stop or leave their homes (if they walk) one or two hours after their regularly scheduled time. The bus company and crossing guards will know of the delay and will be there to transport and assist students.

Before and After School Care Programs

When school is canceled due to inclement weather, Before and After School Care Programs are also canceled. If the opening is delayed, Before School Programs are canceled, but after school programs continue as scheduled. During vacation weeks, if school buildings are closed due to inclement weather, childcare programs will also be canceled.

Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP)

In the case of a two-hour delay, all preschool classes and therapy sessions at the Newton Early Childhood Program will be canceled. With a one-hour delay, only therapy sessions before 10:00 a.m. will be canceled.

Storm During School Day

If a storm occurs during a school day, school will typically remain in session. Please see our website for additional details. (www.newton.k12.ma.us)

Notification System (Phone/Email, Social Media, Website, TV/Radio)

Typically, you will be notified of a school closing or delay by 6:00 a.m. of the day in question. There may be occasions when a decision can be made the previous evening, but usually it will not be made until the day of.

As soon as a decision has been made, you will be notified through the following methods:

Phone/Email – We will call the phone number(s) designated by you in Skyward Family Access. Please make sure this phone number, and all of your child’s emergency information, is kept up to date at all times. A link to Skyward Family Access can be found on the district and school websites. If you decide that you do not want to receive early morning automated calls, please notify the main office at your child’s school. In addition, when phone messages are sent to parents, an email with an audio link to the phone message is also sent. You may also call (617) 559-9699 for a prerecorded message.

Social Media/Website

Notification will be posted on the district website (www.newton.k12.ma.us) as well as the following social media channels:

Facebook – www.facebook.com/newtonps

Twitter – @newton_ps

Instagram – newton_ps

TV/Radio

Notification will be sent to WBZ Channel 4, WCVB Channel 5, WHDH Channel 7, Fox25 Channel 25, 1030 AM (radio) and WRKO 680 AM (radio).

Enjoy the winter and I hope you won’t be hearing from me too often in the early mornings.

Sincerely,

David Fleishman

Superintendent of Schools

January 6, 2017
Let’s Talk about Marijuana…
Let’s Talk about Marijuana…

Some parts of the state’s new recreational marijuana law take effect this month. Here are a few things to know about it, and some tips for talking with your kids.
- The new law legalizes recreational marijuana use in small amounts for adults age 21 and older beginning Dec. 15, 2016. Other provisions including large-scale cultivation, manufacturing and retail sales don’t start until 2018. It’s important for teens in particular to understand marijuana use for them remains illegal.
- Young people model adult behavior, so it is important to be thoughtful about what they hear adults say or see them do.
- Research suggests that when young people ask their parents about past experience with drug use, sharing details may undercut the message that parents don’t want teens to use drugs or alcohol.
- Marijuana negatively impacts learning and memory, coordination and judgement. Some effects can last for days, especially in regular users.
- Because teens brains’ are still developing, regular use of marijuana may impair brain development, lower IQ, and increase risk of mental illness in those who are predisposed.
Information adapted from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens. See www.newtonma.gov/marijuana for links to resources.
January 4, 2017
F.A. Day School “Report Card”

December 2016

Dear Parent or Guardian:

We are pleased to enclose a 2-page overview of our school’s “report card”. Report cards answer important
questions about a school’s overall performance and contain specific information about student enrollment and
teacher qualifications, student achievement, accountability, how a school is performing relative to other schools in
the district and the state, and the progress made toward narrowing proficiency gaps for different groups of
students.

The 2016 complete school report card for Day can be accessed here.

Cover letter for report: Day 2016 Report Card Cover letter.pdf

The PDF Overview file here: Day 2016 Report Card Overview.pdf

In this report you will find the following important information about our school:
Student enrollment and teacher quality: This section of the report card provides information about the students
and teachers in our school as compared to the district and the state.
Assessment results: This section of the report shows how our students are performing on the Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) for Science and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers (PARCC) tests for English Language Arts and Mathematics as compared to the district and
the state.

School and district accountability information: This section of the report contains three important pieces of
information:

· Accountability and Assistance Levels: Schools and districts are placed into one of five accountability and
assistance levels (1-5), with the highest performing in Level 1 and lowest performing in Level 5. Our
school has been placed into Level 2 because although we met our proficiency gap narrowing target for all
students, we did not meet our target for high needs students.
· School Percentiles: A school percentile between 1 and 99 is reported for most schools. This number shows
the overall performance of our school relative to other schools that serve the same or similar grades. Our
school percentile is 94. This means that our school is performing higher than 94 percent of the middle
schools in the state.
· Progress and Performance Index (PPI): The PPI is a number that indicates our school’s progress toward
narrowing proficiency gaps, or, in other words, helping all students reach proficiency and be prepared for
success after high school. Massachusetts has set a goal of reducing proficiency gaps by half between the
years 2011 and 2017. For a group of students to be considered to be making sufficient progress toward
narrowing proficiency gaps, its cumulative PPI must be 75 or higher.

To improve student achievement in our school, a few of the ongoing strategies that we are pursuing
are:

· Day has a Response to Intervention model that identifies three levels of support services for
students. Level 1 supports all students and ensures each child receives high-quality instruction
and curricula during the normal course of any given school day. Level 2 is an additional layer of
support for students who need interventions in order to succeed academically. Level 3 is yet
another layer of more intense supports for students who need the most assistance.
· Interdisciplinary teams of teachers meet once per six-day cycle to identify students who are not
meeting academic expectations, to identify targeted supports and interventions for these students,
and, when needed, to develop action plans for individual student improvement.
· Grade level department teams of teachers meet twice monthly to develop curriculum, specifically
identifying essential standards of learning and common, formative assessments that help
determine whether or not students are meeting academic expectations.
· We strive to maximize team extension time, identifying students who need extra help during the
school day with their team teachers.
· All teachers are involved in professional development projects that are focused on reducing
achievement gaps.
· A Literacy Instructional Coach works closely with Day’s teachers to improve our students’
literacy levels.
· The Mathematics Instructional Coach works closely with Day’s mathematics teachers to improve
our students’ performance outcomes.
· The “Calculus Project” program provides assistance in math for eligible students. This intensive
math program meets daily for four weeks in July and provides ongoing math support throughout
the school year for participating low income and students of color.
· Day has Literacy Lab courses and Math Lab courses at each grade level that are specifically
designed to meet the needs of students who need additional support in reading or math.
· During the third and fourth academic terms, we provide afterschool extra help in mathematics for
students who are struggling in mathematics.
· We offer homework club and a variety of study groups for struggling students.
· We have an Afterschool Academic Assistance (AAA) program for students who consistently
submit unsatisfactory homework or classwork. AAA provides another layer of support for
students who need to improve academically. In AAA, students complete their homework and
classwork under the tutelage of Day educators.

We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. Some of the ways you can become
involved are:

· Encouraging your child’s learning at home
· Attending parent-teacher meetings and other special meetings
· Serving as a volunteer in our school or district
· Encouraging other parents to become involved

Newton’s district overview and complete report card can be accessed online at
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/reportcard/districtreportcardoverview2015.aspx?linkid=106&orgcode=02070000&fyc
ode=2016&orgtypecode=5& and
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/reportcard/rc.aspx?linkid=38&orgcode=02070000&fycode=2016&orgtypecode=5&,
as well as on the district website. Print copies can be viewed at the Superintendent’s office, Newton City Hall, or
the Newton Main Library.

For more information about our school’s report card, please feel free to contact us at 617-559-9100.

Sincerely,
Mark Aronson
Interim Principal
F.A. Day Middle School

January 3, 2017
NNHS “Report Card”
Newton North High School

Henry J. Turner

Principal

office: 617-559-6200

fax: 617-559-6204

Henry_Turner@newton.k12.ma.us

December 2016

Dear Parents or Guardians,

We are pleased to enclose a 2-page overview of our school’s “report card”. Report cards answer important questions about a school’s overall performance and contain specific information about student enrollment and teacher qualifications, student achievement, accountability, how a school is performing relative to other schools in the district and the state, and the progress made toward narrowing proficiency gaps for different groups of students.

The 2016 complete school report card for Newton North can be accessed through this link http://bit.ly/2hja2wu.

.In this report you will find the following important information about our school:

Student enrollment and teacher quality: This section of the report card provides information about the students and teachers in our school as compared to the district and the state

Assessment results: This section of the report shows how our students are performing on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) assessments as compared to the district and the state.

School and district accountability information: This section of the report contains three important pieces of information:
- Accountability and Assistance Levels: Schools and districts are placed into one of five accountability and assistance levels (1-5), with the highest performing in Level 1 and lowest performing in Level 5. Our school has been placed into Level 1 because we met our proficiency gap narrowing targets for all students and for high needs students.
- School Percentiles: A school percentile between 1 and 99 is reported for most schools. This number shows the overall performance of our school relative to other schools that serve the same or similar grades. Our school percentile is 87. This means that our school is performing higher than 87 percent of the high schools in the state.
- Progress and Performance Index (PPI): The PPI is a number that indicates our school’s progress toward narrowing proficiency gaps, or, in other words, helping all students reach proficiency and be prepared for success after high school. Massachusetts has set a goal of reducing proficiency gaps by half between the years 2011 and 2017. For a group of students to be considered to be making sufficient progress toward narrowing proficiency gaps, its cumulative PPI must be 75 or higher.
We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. Some of the ways you can become involved are:
- Encouraging your child’s learning at home
- Attending parent-teacher meetings and other special meetings
- Serving as a volunteer in our school or district
- Encouraging other parents to become involved
Newton’s district overview and complete report card can be viewed through each of the links below as well as on the district website. Print copies can be viewed at the Superintendent’s office, Newton City Hall, or the Newton Main Library.

http://bit.ly/2hbMHKR

http://bit.ly/2hf4gKh

For more information about our school’s report card, please feel free to contact us at 617-699-6200.

Sincerely,

Henry J. Turner, Ed.D.

Principal

NNHS School Report Card Overview
January 2, 2017
NNHS Principal Newsletter: Dec 2016

Principal’s Newsletter-December 2016

As part of my entry to Newton North High School I invited you to complete a survey where I asked “what are the three most important strengths of Newton North HS?”, “What are the three priority areas where Newton North HS can improve or grow?”, and “What does ‘Tiger Pride’ mean to you?” It was my hope that by gathering information on these three questions I would be able to begin to understand the priorities and values of this community. About 500 of you responded to the survey. Thank you for taking the time to do so.

With the help of school council I have completed my preliminary analysis of the responses. Many of the themes that have emerged connect to some of the recent events that have occurred at Newton North High School and more broadly, such as a renewed focus on anti-bias work and civility.

Many of you praised Newton North as “a diverse community where young adults continue an education in an open and accepting school” and as having “a culture of acceptance of diversity”. You also highlighted the “diverse programming [available at North] to suit individual student needs.” These are values that came through in responses from parents, students, and teachers. You also identified a need to develop a “better understanding of [our] diverse student body” and “to further address some of the racist/homophobic/anti-Semitic events that happened recently.” This aligns with the anti-bias work that the faculty has already begun and will continue. Many of you also identified “caring for all students” and “building community” as areas for growth. As one student put it, we need to “teach students what life if really like at a young age so we can prepare.” It is my hope that through a sustained focus on cultivating civility in our students alongside the strong academic education they receive at NNHS we can improve in these areas.

Over the next few months, in collaboration with the administration team, school council, and student groups, I will begin to lay out a plan for how we can continue to grow to meet the needs of all of our students.

Thank you for taking the time to introduce and welcome me to this rich community. I look forward to continuing learning more from all of you in the months to come.

Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices

Teens and parents/guardians are invited to the Just Think: Teens Making Smart Choices expo for participative, informative exhibits; student performances; and fun. 30+ exhibitors who help teens stay safe and healthy

Monday, January 23, 2017, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

World Language

On the afternoon of November 13, the World Language and Fine & Performing Arts departments collaborated to invited Italian blues guitarist, Robert Morbioli, accompanied by Newton North parent Paul Speidel, to speak with and perform for students of music and Italian. Students were enthralled as one of Italy’s premier blues musicians treated them to his prodigious musical talents. During his visit, Roberto engaged the audience with his fascinating stories of touring, growing up in Italy, performing in both English and Italian, and sharing advice to aspiring musicians. A thoroughly entertaining and inspiring time was had by all in attendance.

On November 16, Newton North held a school wide celebration of Hispanic Heritage. Organized and coordinated by Spanish teacher, Dr. Cristina Schulze, the celebration’s events included presentations by invited guests as well as current NNHS students. Mexican-American writer and scholar, Dr. Tino Villanueva, discussed his poetry in a hands-on workshop with students. Dr. Luis Selva (El Salvador) presented on his experiences as a member of the Calculus Project in Los Angeles and shared his career path that lead him to work for NASA. Ms. Sabrina Avilés, Director of the Boston International Latino Film Festival and NNHS parent, showed short films on the Hispanic experiences in the United States. A group of Newton North High School Seniors, from Newton and Boston, discussed their lives as Hispanics living in the United States, and also highlighted the support and resources they have at NNHS to pursue their dreams as first generation Americans. In addition, there was flamenco demonstration by Ms. Arielle Miles (chemistry teacher) and Ms. Carol Reichert (parent of a current NNHS student).

Career & Technical Education and Business

Newton North business students are working on a new, fundraising project: Newtonopoly. Newtonopoly will be similar to the famous board game, but it will represent many local businesses in and around Newton, such as Wegmans, Legal Sea Food, and The Village Bank. The Newtonopoly team has been hard at work preparing for the release, and we are happy to announce pre-orders are now available! As a special promotion, if you pre-order, you will receive FREE shipping. Games will arrive mid-January and all proceeds help support the NNHS School Store.

You can order the game here: http://newtonnorthschoolstore.com/products/newtonopoly

Are you on Twitter?

Follow the Career & Tech Ed and Business Department

@nnhsb

History & Social Sciences

Robert N. Driscoll, a noted conservative commentator and civil rights lawyer, spoke on the topic of police violence against African-Americans. The talk was sponsored by the Black Leadership Advisory Council and moderated by Jonathan Bassett, history department chair. Over 400 students attended and asked questions about police procedures, the relevant laws, and Mr. Driscoll’s ideas on possible steps to minimize such incidents in the future.

Special Education

All parents of students receiving special education services are welcome to come to discuss a variety of topics regarding Newton North Special Education on January 19th from 9 to 10 in the International Cafe. Department Head Kate McCarthy and Assistant Department Head Katie Stahl will be leading the discussion. Any questions about the event should be sent to Kate McCarthy through email katherine_mccarthy@newton.k12.ma.us. A night event for parents will also be offered in January. Details will be shared as they are finalized.
Happenings around NNHS

Students inviting others to sit with them as a random act of kindness; Students working on a skit in Sr. Alberg’s Spanish class; NNHS Robotics Competition; Counselors learning about the excitement of TV Production program; Welcoming students before school starts; Student created skateboard made from plastic shredded by a student invented plastic shredder in Green Engineering; Mrs. Shore and Mrs. Piantedosi talk to middle school parents about Calculus Project.

December 31, 2016