School Committee Update

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 2/10/2020 Newton School Committee meeting:

Superintendent Update

  • School teams used the early release on Thursday, February 6th for Professional Development in the following areas:
    • Elementary worked on Social Emotional Learning and Culturally Responsive Classrooms.
    • Middle worked on departmental frameworks and content.
    • Newton North worked on Race and Achievement.
    • Newton South worked on Social Emotional Learning.
  • On Wednesday, February 12th at 7 PM the NNHS Chinese Program and the Jingshan Exchange Program will co-host a fundraiser to benefit Jingshan School and to buy medical supplies for Wuhan University Hospital to help battle against the outbreak of Coronavirus.  Newton North alum, comedian Jesse Appell, will perform a comedy show followed by a NNHS student performance. Purchase tickets and make donations here: http://bit.ly/2vSkeFL.

Discussions/Updates

  • Information Technology and Library Department Goals – Director of IT, Steven Rittendi, presented an update that included information on the 1:1 Chromebook Initiative, Data Analytics planning and Infrastructure.
  • Mid-Year Superintendent Goals and Systemwide Goals Update – This update included a look at three specific areas of work:
    • Administrative Council: working towards projects aligned with existing district goals.
    • District Data Team: Using data to improve instruction.
    • Middle School Content Teams: Teams within all 5 major content areas working on professional development and data-driven student learning and performance focused inquiry cycles.
  • Fiscal/Operations – Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, presented our second Fiscal and Operations Update of the school year. The district has spent 50% of the annual budget and our financial outlook was described as a “good news story” at this time.
  • Facilities Report – Chief Financial Officer, Liam Hurley, reviewed several projects currently underway including:
    • Cabot – Completed and will be coming off Facilities report.
    • Lincoln-Eliot/NECP – School Building Project – Bidding to start in May and estimated to be completed by 9/2021.
    • Horace Mann – Improvements including modular classrooms and a new playground.
    • Phase 3 Solar Panel Updates.
    • Oak Hill – construction of 3 additional permanent classrooms.
  • Discussion: Policy Update FA (Facilities Goals) and Policy Update ADF (Wellness) – Added language that reflects our transportation and sustainability initiatives.

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting

  • On Monday, March 16th at 7:00 PM the School Committee will have a Special School Committee meeting.  We review the budget in the instructional areas of Elementary, Secondary and Teaching & Learning.

We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all SC meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching a School Committee meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org. We also offer “Virtual Office Hours” once a month using Facebook Live to provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts with members of the School Committee. Videos of past “Virtual Office Hours” are archived on the district Facebook page.

As always, we are very happy to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us via the email address below.

Sincerely,
The Newton School Committee

Big Night 2020: Auction Items Needed!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We need 60 items for the Big Night 2020 silent auction. We are asking every grade to donate 20 items.

Can you donate a vacation house getaway, a gift certificate from your favorite restaurant, sports tickets? Can you host a party or BBQ at your house or ask a business for an item or monetary donation?

Please contact Chairpersons, Cheryl Abramson (cherylzabramson@gmail.com) or Alexia Giannakopoulos (alexiag5@yahoo.com) if you have any questions.

Also, you can go to www.bigelowpto.org for Big Night 2020 donation forms, ticket information and more!

ps – Tickets will be on sale soon! Please watch out for a message about it this week. 

Super Cupcake Tuesday!

Calling all 8th grade parents and caregivers! Can you help out with the upcoming Bake Sale on Super Tuesday – March 3rd?

The polls will be teeming with people casting their ballots and the proceeds will go towards lowering the cost for all 8th graders end-of-year celebration event. Last year the 8th graders went on the Boston Odyssey Cruise for their end-of-year celebration.

Right now we need a few parents to lead & organize this event. Can you help? Let us know at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com. The PTO has a tried and true process for this type of event but we need parents to take the lead. Please consider being a leader.

A sign up sheet will be posted closer to the date for shifts and items needed. Kids are encouraged to help with their parents.

Postural Screening: please return the opt-in form by Friday

The Postural Screening Program will be the week of March 2nd for students whose parents choose to have the screening.

This year, postural screening will be done for students whose parents/guardians sign them up for the program. If you would like your child to be screened for scoliosis by the school nurse, please download form and return it by 2/14/2020.

Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L. c.71, s.57) require that all public school students in grades five through nine be screened annually for the early detection of spinal problems. This is not a diagnostic service but a screening program to identify children who should have further medical evaluation.

The screening consists of observations of the student’s back when standing and bending forward and will be done by a school nurse or Physical Education, Health and Wellness teacher. Boys and girls are screened separately and privately. The results are recorded in the confidential school health record. If your child has any unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to have your child seen by a health care provider.

Students are asked to remove their shirts. Girls should wear a bra or halter top to permit more accurate observation of the back. If students do not have the type of clothing that permits observation of the back or refuse screening, they will not be screened and a notice will be sent to parents/guardians that screening was not done. Follow up should be with the student’s health care provider with documentation submitted to the school nurse.

Please feel free to contact the school nurse with any questions about postural screening.

Sue Schy, RN
Bigelow Nurse
(617) 552-7746

7th Grade Program: “I’ll Never Do That”

On Wednesday, Feb 12th, the Improbable Players will come to Bigelow to perform and talk with Grade 7 students. The age-appropriate play, “I’ll Never Do That”,  focus on substance use. The  25-45-minute long performance is followed by a talkback/Q&A, giving students the space and tools to combat social pressures and find coping strategies that work for them.

This program is solely funded by the PTO, thanks to your contributions! PTO funding allows Bigelow to act swiftly to address issues that are directly affecting our kids. This show is being fine tuned for our school to emphasize the issue of vaping.

Tech time impacts development

Come to a viewing of the documentary “Screenagers” followed by a discussion on technology and our children.

Learn more at www.screenagersmovie.com. From 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.”

February 11th, 7:00 pm
Newton North High School Auditorium

Sponsored by the Newton PTO Council. Hosted by Horace Mann, Franklin, Lincoln-Eliot and Peirce elementary schools

Provide your input on the Open Space & Recreation Plan

Newton is required to update its Open Space & Recreation Plan every five years. The City is in the midst of updating it now. To learn more about the Open Space Plan visit http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/conserv/area/default.asp

The on-line community survey will allow everyone an opportunity to provide insights and personal priorities regarding open space and recreation. You can access the survey using this link: https://forms.gle/YDChrou3ZJUp8M4g8 until February 13th.

The second public meeting (date TBD) will serve as an opportunity for residents to provide feedback and comments on a full draft of the OSRP. Please check the website link listed above in the Survey section, to check for announcements regarding the date, time, and location.

Do you want to improve sustainability in Newton schools?

Join parents, educators and students who are working together to promote sustainability in Newton schools.

If your school does not yet have a Green Team, they can help you to establish one. Representatives of the group participate in discussions to improve food quality and sustainability in school cafeterias. They are also advocating for more in-depth climate science to be taught in our schools, as well as setting up textile recycling collection containers outside of each school building. All are welcome to participate and share experiences and ideas.

For more information contact schoolconnections@greennewton.org or visit www.schools.greennewton.org

February 13th,  3:45 – 5:00 pm
Third floor arc area of the Newton Free Library

Comedy for a Cause 武汉加油!

Jesse Appell 艾杰西 Newton Fundraiser for Wuhan

Help a good cause and learn about life and comedy in China! Jesse is a comedy star in China, performing for millions on TV. Jesse’s one-man-show about life in China and the situation in Wuhan is a one-of-a-kind event. (Attached is the flyer)

NNHS Chinese Program and Jingshan Exchange Program invite you to enjoy Newton North alum Jesse Appell’s comedy show, along with the NNHS student performance. Buy tickets and make donations here http://bit.ly/2vSkeFL

This performance will be in English. All ticket sales will be donated to Jingshan School and to buy medical supplies for Wuhan University Hospital.

February 12th, 7:00 pm
Newton North auditorium

Jesse Appell is a Fulbright fellow alumnus based in Beijing who researches and performs Chinese comedy. He is the disciple of Cross-talk Master Performer Ding Guangquan. Jesse’s TV and Internet performances have reached hundreds of millions of viewers in China and around the world. He aims to use comedy to bring people together.

Below are some media coverage of Jesse:

CBS Evening News with Seth Doane
Jesse on the front page of the Boston Globe
The Chinese standup routine from a major TV show (with subtitles)