Please answer the Spring Sports Survey  by Wednesday, March 31.  If you have more than one middle school student, please submit one response for each student.

As part of our re-opening on April 28 for full in-person learning five days per week, the Newton middle schools are planning to offer a limited program of after school sports to interested students.  Each sport would probably meet two afternoons per week for practice and contests against other Newton middle schools, and the cost would probably be half of the current user fee (approx. $90).  All sports will follow COVID protocols for safety and NPS guidelines for participation.

To help us with our planning, we would like to do a preliminary Spring Sports Survey to gauge the interest for each sport.  Please answer by Wednesday, March 31.  If you have more than one middle school student, please submit one response for each student.

Please note: Final details are still being worked out about spring sports. All sports may not end up being offered; they are dependent upon interest and coaching availability.

Grade 6 Basketball Club will continue to be offered on Fridays until further notice. Sign Up: https://forms.gle/PDMEWKWFAQqNQzmL7

From the NPS Office of Secondary Education: 

Dear High School Hybrid Families,

As you may know, Newton Public Schools is transitioning to full in-person learning for high school students on Monday April 26th. All students who wish to do so will be able to attend classes in the school building. Students who wish to remain in distance-only are allowed to do so as well.

Students currently in the hybrid model will automatically transition to full-time in-person learning (four days per week for most students). However, given the change to the learning environment, we are providing the option for students to transfer from hybrid (in-person) learning to distance-only. Below you will find the form to request a transfer from in-person learning to distance-only.  Note that your student’s learning model on April 26 will be their learning model for the remainder of the school year. We will not make additional learning model changes later.

THE FORM TO REQUEST A TRANSFER FROM IN-PERSON TO DISTANCE-ONLY IS DUE ON APRIL 4TH AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT.

Please note: You should only complete the transfer request form if you no longer wish your student to attend school in-person.

TRANSFER REQUEST FORM: ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfa9FgJknGleL0TfHoYDSbeJqeasMBe_Tw3cVffcEnnenKjqw/viewform?usp=pp_url&entry.386432054=Dyett,+Thomas&entry.869127702=201601549&entry.149297374=Newton+North+High+School&entry.2060219398=11)

You must complete one form per student. If you would like to continue attending school in person in the school building, you do not need to do anything.

Your student’s high school will reach out with more information about the full in-person learning model shortly.

Sincerely,

NPS Office of Secondary Education

Please view translations below:

Simplified Chinese: 简体中文

Japanese: 日本人

Korean: 한국어

Portuguese: Português

Russian: русский

Spanish: Español

From NPS Math Department

Dear families and caregivers,

This school year, in response to the pandemic and in an effort to be more equitable, we adapted our grading system to its current form.  In response to lessons learned from this year’s grading system, the likely continuing effects of the pandemic, and our collective ongoing learning about equitable grading practices, a working group of educators in grades 6-12 has been formed with the ultimate goal of making a recommendation for a grading system for the 21-22 school year.

Feedback from families is an important part of our process and will help inform next steps as we consider potential improvements to the grading system used in our middle and high schools. We are providing this video for additional information: https://youtu.be/k7MsjlscHOg.

Please complete this short survey (https://forms.gle/iJPq8Z4ANmpac9qy7) to help us capture your experience with the current grading system. Thank you in advance for your time.

Translations:

• Simplified Chinese: 简体中文 – https://forms.gle/DFEr2dN5xdkbRhFfA
• Japanese: 日本人- https://forms.gle/89W7yJfaEkz7Gy6A6
• Korean: 한국어 – https://forms.gle/DSgBQ62rhaLp3iK97
• Portuguese: Português – https://forms.gle/g9LJmyBjvT5nM2hZ9
• Russian: русский – https://forms.gle/NYkry8cfzAB3Ngj38
• Spanish: Español – https://forms.gle/fHeaUKeFDX6VAJJe6

Jennifer Letourneau
(she/her/hers) Why I include these

Math Department Head

A message from the Newton Public School Health Department:

Dear NPS Families,

The Newton Public Schools is launching a free weekly COVID-19 testing for all students and staff. 

The district has partnered with JCM Analytics to conduct the testing. Tests are “pooled” together to increase the number of students that can be tested at one time and reduce costs. JCM uses a shallow nasal swab test to collect the sample. Test kits will be distributed at school to be taken home by students. The sample will then be obtained at home and returned to school to be sent to the lab for testing. Test results will be returned within 48 hours. You will only be notified if your student’s test results are positive or if your student is deemed to be a close contact of a positive case.

Detailed information on this COVID-19 testing program can be found in this Frequently Asked Questions document. You can also visit our webpage at: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/3826 for details on sample collection and testing process.

This testing is VOLUNTARY and there is no requirement to participate. 

Should you wish for your student to participate, please complete the consent form as soon as possible. The consent form can be found in the Aspen Family/Student Portal. Instructions for finding and completing the consent form can be found here. Translated consent forms and paper consent forms are available from your student’s school.

PLEASE NOTE: if you previously completed a consent form for the Abbott Binax NOW symptomatic testing via the Project Beacon website, you MUST complete this new consent form.

If you have questions regarding the COVID-19 Pool Testing Program please email the district at community@newton.k12.ma.us.

TIMELINE for Testing Roll Out

Week of March 1

Testing for all NPS staff in buildings or at the Education Center. Test kits were distributed to high school students who have opted-in.

Week of March 8

Testing began for high school students who have opted-in.

Week of March 22

Testing begins for Pre-K and elementary students who have opted-in.

Week of April 12: Testing begins for middle school students who have opted-in.

It is time for 8th grade students to start the process of registering for high school courses. Here are some important dates regarding Newton North High School’s course registration process:

• Monday, March 8 – Monday, March 29
  Teachers begin entering course recommendations into Aspen.
• Thursday, March 18
  Virtual 8th Grade Student and Family Night. You can access a recording here.
• Friday, March 19
  Newton North High School Opportunities books are available online. This book contains Newton North course descriptions and elective choices. You should begin to read this catalog with your student!
• Wednesday, March 24
  During the school day, Jessica Pierce (Grade 8 Counselor) will present information regarding the registration process for Newton North to 8th grade students.

• Thursday, March 25
  Grade 8 Parents/Guardians are invited to a virtual “Coffee” with NNHS Principal, Henry Turner and Kathleen Duff, Career Technical Education Department Head (9:00 AM -9:30 AM). Zoom Link: https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/89655020927?pwd=dnlZeFYxU1pKano2MEVvZS9xVEcydz09 – Passcode: 650548

• Monday, March 29 – Sunday, April 11
  8th Graders enter their elective choices into Aspen. Individual teacher recommendations will be available in Aspen to Bigelow students starting at 5:00 PM. You will also be able to log into Aspen to view the course recommendations and selections your student has made, however, classes can only be entered through the student portal. Please review this information with your student.
• Sunday, April 11
  Course requests MUST be entered into Aspen by 8:00 PM. Counselor will be checking all student course registration requests in Aspen.
• Months of March and April
  Special Education Courses will be determined with you and your student at the scheduled IEP/Transition meetings. Your student will participate in his/her meeting and you will be notified of the time and date. Please do not cancel this appointment- we are not on a flexible schedule.

From the Principal’s Office

On Monday, March 22, 2021, during advisory, the attached message was communicated to all students.  Powerpoint Message.   Powerpoint Message in Mandarin. 

On March 23,  staff gathered on the front steps before school with  a banner that denounces racism and supports our AAPI community.  We will be gathering again on Thursday and Friday mornings this week and invite students to sign the banner and to join the staff in a show of unity.  If your child is a distance student, they may stop by before school or during lunch to sign the banner outside, or they can contact their school counselor to sign for them.

In addition, we are developing lessons for our advisory program which will give students an opportunity to channel their energies into making a positive difference for the community, and we are also planning a celebration of Asian-American culture during AAPI Heritage Month in May, similar to our past Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.

We  abhor the recent violence against Asian-Americans in Atlanta and the rise in racism against people of Asian and Pacific Island descent during the pandemic, and we stand united in fighting against it.  As always, our approach is to educate our students,  to help them deepen their understanding of the harm that racism in any form can cause, to give them venues to express their voices and feelings,  to connect with and support one another, and to be pro-active in reflecting and making a difference,

If you have concerns about your own child, please contact  your child’s school counselor. Asian-American students are also welcome to attend our Asian-American Affinity Group, led by ELL teacher Stacy Zheng, on Tuesday afternoons. Information and links for this group can be found on our website.

We thank the Bigelow FORJ Chapter for sharing information in their recent email about opportunities for families to get involved.  I have reprinted their list of online resources below.

Stand strong, Bigelow.

Best regards,

Todd

Bigelow is excited to announce a 6th Grade ONLY Basketball Club on Fridays in the gym from 3-4:00pm. Students will be organized into short cross-court games of 4 on 4. All COVID protocols for playing sports will be followed; students must wear a mask while playing. If you are interested in signing up your sixth grade child, please complete the google form below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc255-5ZdJsgHG5THz1eaGUA_QbicK7bZQqiVue8F7Kv0dpvQ/viewform

If you have any questions, please contact our EEE After School Coordinator, Stefanie Dalfior, at dalfiors@newton.k12.ma.us

From Todd Harrison, Bigelow Principal:

Our planning for the full return of all in-person students, beginning April 28, is now in high gear.  We look forward to having all in-person students back in the building soon!

If you are interested in changing your child’s learning model for this final phase of the school year, you may do so.  You will receive a google form with a personalized link for each middle school child early next week to indicate if you want to make a change.  This form is totally optional.  You only need to return it if you want to change your child’s learning model from distance to in-person, or from in-person to distance.  The deadline to return this optional form is Sunday, April 4.  We will hold an optional information meeting for all parents on Tuesday evening, March 30, about the plan for having all in-person students in the building. More details to come.

There has been a change in the schedule for hiring the next principal of Bigelow Middle School.  The visitation days to Bigelow for the finalists will now occur on March 31 and April 1.  During these two days, parents will have an opportunity to meet the final candidates and to give feedback on them.  Superintendent Fleishman will email you with more information in the next few days.