Everything you want to know about the Newton Public School System in Newton, MA.
The Newton North Boys Basketball Team has been selected to play in the “Hoop Mountain Good Sports Invitational Game” at the TD Garden vs Waltham High School.
Advance ticketing for $12 at NNHS in the athletic office, at all lunches and at boys basketball games prior to the January 8th game date.
Tickets will be available on game day for $15.
There has been one confirmed case of pertussis (whooping cough) in the 11th grade and one in the 12th grade at Newton North High School.
At this time, there are no recommendations for antibiotics. We inform you only so that you are aware of the signs and symptoms of pertussis in the unlikely event that you see them in your child.
Pertussis Advisory
What is pertussis? Pertussis (also called whooping cough) is a disease caused by bacteria that spreads from person to person with close contact. Pertussis is often mild in older children and adults, but can cause serious problems in infants.
Who gets pertussis?
In MA, pertussis is most common among people 10-20 years old who have lost the protection they got from childhood vaccines. Infants are also likely to get the disease since they are often too young to have full protection from the vaccine.
What are the symptoms?
Pertussis is a cough illness whose symptoms can range from mild to severe. It usually begins with cold-like symptoms, with a runny nose, sneezing and dry cough. After two weeks of cold-like symptoms, the cough slowly gets worse. The next stage, which may last from four to six weeks, may be marked by coughing spells that are uncontrollable and may be followed by vomiting. Between spells, the person may appear to be well and usually there is no fever. These typical symptoms are more common in infants and young children. Vaccinated children, teens and adults may have milder symptoms that can seem like bronchitis.
How is pertussis spread?
The germs that cause pertussis live in the nose, mouth and throat and are sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. Other people can then inhale the germs in the droplets produced by the person with pertussis. Touching a tissue or sharing a cup used by someone with the disease can also spread the disease. The first symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days after a person is exposed, although sometimes people do not get sick for up to 21 days after their last exposure.
How is pertussis diagnosed?
A doctor may think a patient has pertussis based on their symptoms, however, a culture or blood test are the only ways to be sure. The culture is taken by swab from the back of the nose if the patient has been coughing for two weeks or less. In people 11 years and older who have not received a Tdap in the last 3 years, a blood test can be done when the cough has persisted for longer than two weeks.
How can pertussis be prevented?
Although DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) usually provides protection against pertussis to children, the effects of the vaccine wear off over time, leaving most teens and adults at risk of the disease. However, there is a vaccine for teens and adults, called Tdap that is now recommended to give protection against pertussis in these age groups. Tdap is given as a single “booster” dose. If your child or adolescent (10 years of age or older) has not yet had a dose of Tdap, contact your healthcare provider to discuss receiving this vaccine. If your child is less than 7 years of age, they should be up to date (check with you provider if you are unsure).
What should I do?
Watch your child for symptoms that may develop over the next 2 weeks. If your child develops symptoms suggestive of pertussis, he/she may need to be tested for pertussis by your family’s health care provider. Please contact your health care provider and bring this advisory with you.
If you have any questions about this advisory, please call the Vaccine-Preventable Disease Epidemiologist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at (617) 983-6800 or the Newton Department of Health and Human Services at (617) 796-1420.
If additional cases are confirmed, further recommendations may be made.
Out_of_Assigned_District_
Each year, the Newton Public Schools considers applications for students to transfer to a school outside of their home (assigned) district. Out-of-Assigned district placements are limited and made on a space available basis. Newton residents, as well as members of NTA Units A, B, C, D, E, NESA, and the Custodial Union, may apply for placement of their children in a Newton Public School.
Impact on enrollment, staffing and space availability, for both the requested year and for future years, are key considerations in the application process. Class, team and school sizes will be based upon current projections by the School Department. Applications for the 2017-18 school year are available beginning November 14, 2016 and should be submitted between March 1 and May 1, 2017.
Forms are available at the Education Center (100 Walnut Street) and online at www.newton.k12.ma.us/
Applications received after May 1 but before Labor Day may, under special circumstances, be considered for placement after all other placement decisions have been made. Out-of-assigned district decisions will be announced as close to June 1 as possible. Students approved for out-of-assigned district placement should understand that the course assignment process has begun prior to June and that they may not receive their first choice in course selection. Parents are responsible for their child’s transportation to and from the out-of- assigned district school.
Interested families may contact the Elementary Education Office (grades K-5) at 617-559-6105 and the Secondary Education Office (grades 6-12) at 617-559-6115 for additional information.
Dear Newton Families,
This fall, we have been conducting extensive community outreach to gather feedback on the potential changes to a later high school start time. Thank you to all who attended the community forum, participated in PTO meetings, and sent emails. We appreciate the time you have taken to provide us with your thoughts on the potential impact of this change to your family and/or organization.
Many of you have already provided feedback on the six scenarios currently under consideration. Your feedback has been received and documented. For those who have not yet weighed in, or for those who would like to provide additional feedback, I ask that you please visit our website at: www.newton.k12.ma.us/
Thank you for your patience as we consider this significant change and the implications it may have in our district. We appreciate your participation and will continue to keep you updated on the process.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools
Reaffirming Our Social and Civic Expectations
The divisive rhetoric and hateful acts that have occurred across the country during and since the election have been appalling. Unfortunately, Newton North is not immune. And while we have experienced instances of hurtful comments and disrespectful acts, we know that this does not define us as a community. During a time when bigotry, hate and division have been so public, now is the moment for us to establish, pursue, and reinforce meaningful social and civic expectations for our students.
To begin, we need to identify ways in which our students will meet these Social and Civic Expectations and what meeting these expectations looks like in the future. As I described in my opening day speech, I would also like to identify the social skills, both face-to-face and digital, that we think North students should possess upon graduation. As we reflect on who we are as a school, I would like us to identify ways that our students meet our Social and Civic Expectations and what meeting these expectations looks like in the future. Our Social and Civic Expectations are part of the Newton North Mission Statement.
Civic Expectations
Newton North graduates will:
1. Take responsibility for their own actions
2. Contribute positively to the school and larger community
3. Understand the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democratic society and be thoughtful, reflective, active citizens.
Social Expectations
Newton North graduates will:
1. Treat others respectfully
2. Show self-respect and self-advocacy.
It is clear to me that we are already a culture that emphasizes these values. Soon we will be looking for volunteers to help identify areas in which we can grow with these expectations and offer specific proposals at a faculty meeting
Please remember that as we work to reaffirm our Social and Civic Expectations that….
YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Strengthening Our Community
Here are several different ways in which our students are living up to these expectations already:
The Peace Action Club is showing THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, which will be followed by a discussion.
Twenty members of the Future Business Leaders of America Club volunteered at the Celtics game last night to help the Shamrock Foundation. Students sold 50/50 raffle tickets, together raising more than $9,000. One group raiseD $1,000 which was the highest of the 18 teams that participated.
Animal Rights Club Worked to create flyers and help educate people about Massachusetts Ballot question # 3- Containment of Farm Animals.
The Animal Agriculture Education Club spent time talking about Question #3
Cake Decorating Club is just getting started. However, they will be making and decorating cookies to be shipped to our Military via student Molly Devine for the holidays.
The Hiking Club had its first hike of the year on November 6, and almost 20 students showed up for a few hours of fall foliage and camaraderie in the Blue Hills. While a number of the students were already friends and active outdoor enthusiasts, we had a good number of students new to the group and new to the activity. Club Presidents Tobin Gevelber and Adela Miller were welcoming and friendly and focused on jovial and supportive group dynamics and made a hot snack of camp-cooked mashed potatoes at the end of the trail.
In response to recent events, the Leadership in a Diverse Society has continued to be one space of many in the building where students have been able to process their feelings and reactions. After the Confederate flag incident, many students in the class were part of a larger school-wide student-led, faculty-supported response. Students in the class organized a respectful protest/speak out for the student body, in addition to having conversations with the principal, other school administrators, and the mayor’s office.
Members of the Leadership class also worked with the television production program to produce a video highlighting issues around gender identity and sexual orientation, which they shared with the faculty.
North’s Asian Culture Club devoted one of its weekly meetings to helping students process their reactions to recent events, and is continuing to provide students a safe space to explore issues of Asian American identity.
North Cares, the committee for mental health and well-being welcomed students and faculty/staff on Tiger Unity Day with 500 mini-muffins. They are planning a Depression Awareness Day with a panel from Families for Depression Awareness. In addition, there will be a screening of “If Only” about the opioid epidemic, followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Alison Malkin, Prevention/Intervention Social Worker and Maureen Pursley. Both these on-campus presentations will be in mid-December.
The LigerBots Robotics Team hosted a very successful First Lego League (FLL) competition on Saturday. FLL is for students 6-13 years old and requires teams to build a robot and create a community project around this year’s theme, Animal Allies. The event, which included a Maker Faire, drew more than 500 attendees.
Student and faculty leaders are busy planning the next steps for One School, One Question. Plans include an opportunity for faculty to examine each resource and discuss ways in which to integrate the question into their classroom practice and to connect the question to the already planned cultural days (e.g. BLAC day and ToBeGLAD day). They will also explore opportunities for whole school anti-bias activities framed by this question.
Marijuana Laws
Massachusetts Ballot Question 4, legalized marijuana for people over 21 years old. Please note that this ballot question does not change Newton Public Schools policies for marijuana use, possession or being under the influence.
Principal’s Newsletter-November 2016
Harry Turner
Dear Families,
I hope this letter finds you well after an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. Over the break, I took some time to reflect upon national events and their impact on our community here at Day. I wanted to share with you efforts we are making both with staff and students to ensure Day continues to be a welcoming, supportive, and safe community for all.
As a teacher and administrator in Newton for the past 35 years, I do not recall a time as challenging and confusing for our students leaving them with many questions. The current political climate seems to have exacerbated the divisions in our community, increasing the instances of hateful and hurtful speech. The lack of civil discourse means folks are talking at each other instead of to each other. Those with legitimate points of view do not feel comfortable sharing their opinions for fear of being labeled and judged. I believe this is especially true for those in our community who may not share the majority viewpoint. However, if we are not able to come together and discuss differing viewpoints in a civil manner, it will be difficult for us to understand and learn from each other.
I have always appreciated working in a district that encourages and expects its staff to examine their belief systems and strive to understand different perspectives. One of the ways this is accomplished is to create safe spaces where we can speak honestly without fear of being labeled or judged. If we as adults can model conversations in which we are asking questions in effort to understand another’s point of view, we will be helping our students to learn how to engage with others in a productive manner.
I have been meeting with our students to talk with them about civility and our expectations for our school community. I have made it clear that we cannot have hateful or hurtful language or behaviors at F.A.Day. For any student who is feeling targeted because of race, sexual orientation, social class, ethnicity, religion, physical and mental ability, I am encouraging them to trust the adults in the building and report incidents when they occur. Our students are going to make mistakes just as we adults sometimes make mistakes that cause hurt and pain to others. When we respond to a hurtful or hateful incident, we must always remember we are first and foremost a place of education and our responses must be reflective of this mission.
We want Day to be a place in which students feel safe, both physically and emotionally. Through our commitment to understanding different viewpoints and life experiences, engaging in meaningful discussions, and caring for others, we will succeed in creating a community at Day we are proud to be a part of.
As always, thank you for your support,
Mark
Image from The Newtonite
Dear Newton North Community,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Ty Vignone, longtime history teacher at Newton North, passed away on Saturday, November 26, after a battle with cancer. Ty began his career at Day Junior High School in 1965. In 1983, Ty moved to Newton North and continued teaching here through this fall. Ty’s impact on people goes beyond Newton North’s walls as he was a mentor and friend to so many students, teachers and parents throughout the Newton Public Schools. Newton North is where Ty left his greatest influence and will be best known for creating the Close Up program as well as the Prague Summer Trip.
School counselors will be available to support students who are impacted by Mr. Vignone’s death. Additionally, History and Social Sciences Department Chair Jon Bassett will contact students currently enrolled in Close Up and their families regarding the plans for the course for the rest of the school year.
Ty will be sorely missed. I have copied the obituary for Ty that has more information about his life and plans for honoring Ty.
All the best,
Henry Turner, Ed.D
Principal
Newton North High School
View the online memorial for Ty VIGNONE
Published in The Boston Globe on Nov. 27, 2016.
Leave tributes here at Lasting Memories.
Save the date: “Screenagers” coming to NNHS on November 29
The Newton North PTSO and the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education are pleased to bring “Screenagers” to Newton North on Tuesday, November 29, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., in the auditorium. “Screenagers” is a documentary about struggles over social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction.
According to the website, “Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, ‘Screenagers’ reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.”
The movie will be followed by a panel discussion. Panelists will include Henry Turner, principal of Newton North High School; Joani Geltman, MSW, child development and parenting expert; and one or two students. Parents/guardians, middle schoolers, and high schoolers are invited and encouraged to attend this free event.
Learn more about the movie at http://www.screenagersmovie.com.
R.s.v.p. for “Screenagers” on Facebook!
Copies of Ms. Geltman’s recent book, A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens: Talking to Your Kids About Sexting, Drinking, Drugs, and Other Things That Freak You Out, will be available for purchase at a price of $17 (cash, check, or credit card) after the program.
Support Dreamfar High School Marathon program: bring athletic wear to “Screenagers”
Help Newton student runners achieve their goals when you bring a donation of running socks or running gloves to the “Screenagers” program.
To support Dreamfar High School Marathon program, please bring donations of any of the following items for all genders:
Dreamfar’s mission is “To challenge high school students to reach their full potential – physically, socially, emotionally – through a mentor-supported marathon training program.” Read more at dreamfarhsm.org.
Raphael Keller-Go, owner of VINOdiVINO and a current EDP parent, has graciously partnered with our Program to donate 10% of any purchases you make between now and Thanksgiving to the Peirce Extended Day Program!
It’s simple: Buy Wine, Support PEDP (we also carry beers and spirits)
For any purchase you make between now and Thanksgiving, vinodivino donates 10% of your purchase to PEDP.
We’d like to make it as easy as possible for you to get the wine, beer or spirits that you desire. No matter which way you decide to purchase, we can always deliver to you or you can pick up from our Newton store. Your options are listed below; pick the one that’s most convenient for you.
Delivery: We deliver every day from 6-9pm, the delivery fee is just $1.95 with a 2-bottle minimum!
Option 1: Visit our store at 899 Walnut Street in Newton Highlands, right across from Whole Foods.
– Our Newton store team Michaela, James and Karylyn will happily help you pick out your beverages
– Just mention that you’re shopping to benefit PEDP and vinodivino will donate 10% of your purchase directly to PEDP.
– They’ll help you carry your beverages to the car as well!
– We can also deliver the wine to you
Option 2: Call us and order for pick-up or delivery
– Call our Newton store at 617-527-8466 and our Newton team (see above) will happily assist you.
– Order for pickup or delivery
Option 3: Order online for pick-up or delivery
– Go to vinodivino.com
– Order and set-up an account as with any other website
– On the check-out screen just type “PEDP” into the Order instructions/Comments box.
– Order for pick-up or delivery
Dear Families,
Over the past 48 hours, I have heard from principals and faculty who have reported a wide range of student reaction to the election results. One veteran middle school guidance counselor wrote the following to me,
“I spoke to many students yesterday who had varying issues resulting from the election results. Never in my career would I ever imagine that there would be a need to respond to students due to election results in a similar way that I would respond to them as a result of a crisis.”
I wanted to share with you a message I sent to NPS faculty and staff yesterday. I share it with you because I want you to know that the teachers and staff in our buildings are deeply committed to supporting your children as we all seek the path forward from the contentious election.
Everyday, our schools work hard to create communities that are welcoming, inclusive and supportive for all. It is our mission to prepare students to be active and engaged citizens of this country and world who appreciate diverse perspectives. We remain steadfast in this commitment.
In the coming days, should you have any concerns or need additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact your school directly.
Sincerely,
David Fleishman
Superintendent of Schools
Letter to Faculty/Staff
______________________________
Dear Colleagues,
I know many of you are physically and emotionally exhausted after this long and contentious election. I have struggled with what to write since 3:30 this morning. The election has had an impact on many people in a way that none of us could probably have ever imagined.
I recognize that many of you had to process the results very quickly in order to be prepared for discussion with and reaction from your students. This could not have been an easy task as it has been difficult to talk about so many aspects of this election with students.
Given the polarizing nature of the election, many of our students do not know what to expect. There are students who express fear, dismay and concern for their future and we need support them. Others may be enthusiastic about the result and we need to protect their right to express their views.
One of my concerns about our national discourse is that we have lost our ability to engage in thoughtful dialogue about serious issues in a respectful manner. While we do not have control over what happens at the national level, we can create a culture in our schools that is respectful and supportive. Hopefully, the work we are doing now will help our students to be prepared to participate in a less divisive world. Given where we are right now, I recognize this is a tall order.
I know these conversations will continue in the coming days as we process the historic nature of what we have just experienced. I appreciate the magnitude of the challenge we face as both educators and citizens.
Best,
David
And I share this letter from Vanity Fair that Aaron Sorkin Wrote His Daughter After Donald Trump Was Elected President
November 9, 2016 8:52 pm
Sorkin Girls,
Well the world changed late last night in a way I couldn’t protect us from. That’s a terrible feeling for a father. I won’t sugarcoat it—this is truly horrible. It’s hardly the first time my candidate didn’t win (in fact it’s the sixth time) but it is the first time that a thoroughly incompetent pig with dangerous ideas, a serious psychiatric disorder, no knowledge of the world and no curiosity to learn has.
And it wasn’t just Donald Trump who won last night—it was his supporters too. The Klan won last night. White nationalists. Sexists, racists and buffoons. Angry young white men who think rap music and Cinco de Mayo are a threat to their way of life (or are the reason for their way of life) have been given cause to celebrate. Men who have no right to call themselves that and who think that women who aspire to more than looking hot are shrill, ugly, and otherwise worthy of our scorn rather than our admiration struck a blow for misogynistic shitheads everywhere. Hate was given hope. Abject dumbness was glamorized as being “the fresh voice of an outsider” who’s going to “shake things up.” (Did anyone bother to ask how? Is he going to re-arrange the chairs in the Roosevelt Room?) For the next four years, the President of the United States, the same office held by Washington and Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, F.D.R., J.F.K. and Barack Obama, will be held by a man-boy who’ll spend his hours exacting Twitter vengeance against all who criticize him (and those numbers will be legion). We’ve embarrassed ourselves in front of our children and the world.
And the world took no time to react. The Dow futures dropped 700 points overnight. Economists are predicting a deep and prolonged recession. Our NATO allies are in a state of legitimate fear. And speaking of fear, Muslim-Americans, Mexican-Americans and African-Americans are shaking in their shoes. And we’d be right to note that many of Donald Trump’s fans are not fans of Jews. On the other hand, there is a party going on at ISIS headquarters. What wouldn’t we give to trade this small fraction of a man for Richard Nixon right now?
So what do we do?
First of all, we remember that we’re not alone. A hundred million people in America and a billion more around the world feel exactly the same way we do.
Second, we get out of bed. The Trumpsters want to see people like us (Jewish, “coastal elites,” educated, socially progressive, Hollywood…) sobbing and wailing and talking about moving to Canada. I won’t give them that and neither will you. Here’s what we’ll do…
…we’ll fucking fight. (Roxy, there’s a time for this kind of language and it’s now.) We’re not powerless and we’re not voiceless. We don’t have majorities in the House or Senate but we do have representatives there. It’s also good to remember that most members of Trump’s own party feel exactly the same way about him that we do. We make sure that the people we sent to Washington—including Kamala Harris—take our strength with them and never take a day off.
We get involved. We do what we can to fight injustice anywhere we see it—whether it’s writing a check or rolling up our sleeves. Our family is fairly insulated from the effects of a Trump presidency so we fight for the families that aren’t. We fight for a woman to keep her right to choose. We fight for the First Amendment and we fight mostly for equality—not for a guarantee of equal outcomes but for equal opportunities. We stand up.
America didn’t stop being America last night and we didn’t stop being Americans and here’s the thing about Americans: Our darkest days have always—always—been followed by our finest hours.
Roxy, I know my predictions have let you down in the past, but personally, I don’t think this guy can make it a year without committing an impeachable crime. If he does manage to be a douche nozzle without breaking the law for four years, we’ll make it through those four years. And three years from now we’ll fight like hell for our candidate and we’ll win and they’ll lose and this time they’ll lose for good. Honey, it’ll be your first vote.
The battle isn’t over, it’s just begun. Grandpa fought in World War II and when he came home this country handed him an opportunity to make a great life for his family. I will not hand his granddaughter a country shaped by hateful and stupid men. Your tears last night woke me up, and I’ll never go to sleep on you again.
Love,
Dad
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article overstated the amount by which Dow futures dropped on Wednesday morning.
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/aaron-sorkin-donald-trump-president-letter-daughter
My husband responds to our kids:
Please read, below, letter that a well-known Hollywood writer penned to his daughters after Trump won. He says everything that I want to tell you but have not the way with words. We will fight, we will win.
Only thing I will add is that when you pick a fight, have your facts spot on and never be the one to reach the gutter first, especially on social media. Always remember, your adversary is as passionate as you are, about their positions/beliefs. That does not make them a bad person – they are just misguided and wrong. 😉 The way to win and advance your position is to educate yourselves and know what you’re talking about – completely. And never initiate tirades involving profanity – you lose credibility by doing so. Build your arguments step by step, and kill them with logic.
It’s been difficult last few days. Your mom and I have been emotional as well. It’s been hard to watch our country reject what we (and most of our friends) believe and go down a path that will have long lasting consequences. Most of all, you are loved and are safe. We will do everything we can to keep you safe.
Dad
My response to our kids: if you are going to don a safety pin, make sure you keep your self defense skills sharp. Kids, we are going to be spending more time at the boxing gym!!