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Tag Archives: elem
Safe Routes to School yard sign contest – deadline extended!
Massachusetts Safe Routes to School has extended their deadline to May 1st for their annual yard sign design contest. This year’s theme is eliminating distracted driving, especially in and around school zones. The contest is a way for students to use their creativity to help promote safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians in their communities. Winning entries will be made into yard signs – signs from prior years are on display around Newton.
Signs may be hand drawn or created digitally. Either way, please submit them digitally; also, a school signature is no longer needed unless your student’s design is selected as a winner.
The contest is open to students in grades 2-8. Guidelines and more details here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/yard-sign-design-contest-signups-and-guidelines-2020/download. Direct questions to NewtonSafeRoutes@gmail.com.
Newton Schools Foundation grants $85,500 to NPS for student access to online learning
Newton Schools Foundation this week approved a grant of up to $85,500 for the Newton Public Schools to purchase 300 Chromebooks for students who need access to online learning during school closures. NSF is committed to closing gaps in achievement and opportunity as part of its mission to advance educational excellence and equity in the Newton Public Schools. When the schools closed unexpectedly, NSF committed to working with school administrators to make available the balance of unrestricted NSF grant funds for this year for emerging system needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The district has already distributed more than 400 Chromebooks to families. As additional requests for Chromebooks continue to come in, this NSF grant will help the Newton Public Schools fulfill the need to support remote learning for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to educational opportunities online. For more information or to donate click www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org.
Student Volunteer Group for COVID-19
Learn about the Greater Boston hub of Students Against Corona, a worldwide student volunteer organization. This organization works to connect low-risk volunteers to at-risk people to help them with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, walking the dog, etc.
Recently, the worldwide organization has been getting media attention such as the Oxford branch appearing on a BBC News article. Let’s help to spread awareness to better help our community during this crisis. Please click here to see the flyer with additional information.
Feedthefight
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Newton, FeedthefightBoston was founded to support local restaurants by feeding healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. Within the first week of operation, FeedthefightBoston raised enough to feed more than 1,000 healthcare workers in 4 major hospitals with healthy meals purchased from local Newton restaurants.
Donations of $500.00 or greater allow donors to select a favorite restaurant for a meal delivery donation.
Please visit www.feedthefightbos.com or Facebook at FeedthefightBoston or Instagram at FeedthefightBoston
Virtual Guitar Teacher for Beginners
Check out a great opportunity for kids/parents sheltering at home. You just need a guitar and desire to have fun and learn some chords and songs. Half hour lessons. Max Greenberg can get you started and advance your level.
It’s lots of fun. Mandolin beginners too. Please contact him at Max_Greenberg@yahoo.com for more information.
Food for Newton Families
Food for Families: You can find the free bags of non-perishable food at new locations:
- Fire Station 2: 1750 Commonwealth Ave., Auburndale
- Fire Station 4: 195 Crafts St., Nonantum
- Fire Station 7: 144 Elliot St., Newton
- Fire Station 10: 755 Dedham St. Newton
- American Legion Nonantum Post 440: 295 California St., Newton
These food supplies are for families experiencing hardship to have extra food for the children in their homes. Please remember to maintain proper social distancing when picking up a bag (allow a person who is in the POD to exit before entering).
Please limit 2 bags per family to allow for more families to access bags. For more information on other resources for families related to COVID-19 please visit the website at www.newtonma.gov/socialservices
Bidding for the NECP Online Auction is ALMOST OVER!
First off, THANK YOU for everyone who has supported the auction so far! The NECP is thankful to our Newton community and the support it has shown for our city’s youngest learners.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT! The auction ends this coming weekend – April 4th at 9:00 pm. So don’t wait until the last minute (unless that’s part of your strategy)!
Visit https://32auctions.com/necp
Don’t miss out on the hundreds of prizes still available, including spas, gyms, summer camps, restaurants, and so much more. Thank you again for your strong showing of support, and good luck!
Update from the School Committee
Dear Friends,
This update is for the 3/16/2020 and 3/19/2020 Newton School Committee meetings. We have combined these two meetings into one newsletter as they were both regarding the proposed 2020-2021 Annual Budget.
Overview:
- Our projected enrollment for the 2020-21 school year is 12,596 students, a projected decline of 15 students.
- The FY21 Superintendent’s Proposed Budget is $244,645,343, and includes an $8.3 million increase.
- The proposed budget aligns with the current goals including Academic Excellence, Educational Equity, Social and Emotional Wellbeing, School Facilities, Technology Infrastructure, Transportation, Diversity of Faculty, Staff and Leadership and Community Goals.
Instructional Areas:
- Elementary Education:
- A reduction of 7.0 FTEs in elementary classroom teachers.
- A reduction of 1.7 FTEs in specialist teachers in proportion to the adjustment in enrollment.
- Middle School Education:
- Multi-team teachers are increased at Day by 0.5 FTE, 1.25 FTEs at Brown, and 1.22 FTEs at Oak Hill.
- Reduction of 1.2 FTEs in middle school literacy.
- Reduction of 1.4 FTEs in middle school special education teachers.
- High School Education:
- The projected enrollment for FY21 is two students less than projected enrollment for FY20 and therefore matches current general education staffing levels.
- Starting in FY22, high school enrollment is projected to grow each year through FY25.
- Teaching and Learning:
- Review current curriculum materials and instructional strategies to ensure cultural responsiveness.
- Continue the process of revising curriculum in History, Science and Tech/Engineering, Digital Literacy and Computer Science, and the arts.
- Continue implementation of Illustrative Mathematics.
- Continue to support system-wide professional development for administrators on factors that contribute to narrowing achievement/opportunity gap.
- Begin the implementation of new elementary reading programs.
- Continue core training in the Responsive Classroom approach.
- Continue the focus on interdisciplinary literacy in middle schools through diagnostic assessment and intervention, and use of common language.
- Expand our analysis and use of data using the power of Google Data Studio.
- English Language Learning:
- A 0.5 FTE English Language Learning teacher position is decreased in the operating budget due to continued decreases in ELL enrollment.
- Information Technology and Library Media Services:
- Continue funding for critical major capital technology and equipment including replacing aged network equipment, servers and switches, and improvements to our cybersecurity and recovery capacity.
- Continue funding for conversion of our telephone systems to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
- Continue funding for the High School One Student: One Device initiative.
- Elimination of stipends added in FY20.
- Reduction of 0.4 FTE from Instructional Technology Specialist staffing and 0.4 FTE from Assistant Technology Coordinator staffing.
- Student Services (including Special Education):
- Shift of 1.0 FTE special education teacher from the Lincoln-Eliot and Franklin Elementary Schools to Angier and Peirce Elementary.
- Shift of 1.0 special education teacher from FA Day to Oak Hill Middle School.
- Reduction of 1.4 FTEs elementary psychologist staffing.
- Reduction of 1.4 FTEs middle school special education teachers.
- Reduction in high school special education staffing (TBD) due to a decrease in the number of IEPs.
- Increase of 0.5 FTE Social and Emotional staffing to the end of grant funding.
- Out-of-District Tuition:
- Increase of $280,810 due to a projected rate increase of 3% for day and residential placements.
- Increase of $350,000 due to a reduction in Circuit Breaker carry forward funds for FY21.
- Decrease of $345,367 due to a projected increase in State Circuit Breaker funding for FY21.
- Per Pupil Allocation:
- The FY21 budget for per pupil allocation is $1,275,019 and is level-funded for all schools.
Non-Instructional Areas
- Facilities: 96K added for maintenance.
- Sustainability: New position created for Director of Planning and Sustainability.
- Food Service: Overall participation up 2% across district.
Consent Agenda
- Unanimously approved Policies ADF (Wellness); FA (Facilities) ADF (Wellness), FA Facilities.
- Unanimously approved NTA, NESA & Custodian MOA’s.
- Unanimously approved Minutes 1-27-20 & 2/10/20 Draft Minutes.
Next Meeting
On Monday, March 23th at 7:00PM the School Committee will have a VIRTUAL School Committee meeting.
We hope you found this summary useful. You can access all School Committee meeting documents via the NPS website (www.newton.k12.ma.us/schoolcommittee). Additionally, if you are interested in watching an SC meeting from home or a recorded meeting, you can obtain access via www.newtv.org.On the district Facebook page, you can find videos of past “Virtual Office Hours,” which are held once a month and provide the community with the opportunity to ask questions through the FB Live format.
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
Newton COVID-19 Care Fund
Newton COVID-19 Care Fund
The Mayor’s Office just announced the launch of the Newton COVID-19 Care Fund. Its focus is on basic needs and critical services, but we recognize that this crisis is evolving quickly. The priorities of this fund may change as the needs of the Newton community evolve. The funds will help pay for rent, food, utilities, internet connectivity for families with school-aged children, childcare, medications and other basic needs.
HOW CAN I GIVE TO THE NEWTON COVID-19 CARE FUND?
You can give to the fund by clicking the GIVE button at Unitedwaymassbay.org or visiting https://unitedwaymassbay.org/covid-19/newton-covid-19-care-fund/. All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of the proceeds (net credit card fees) will go to individuals seeking assistance. You may also give via your Donor Advised Fund by including “The United Way Newton COVID-19 Care Fund” in your recommendation details. The fund’s tax ID number is 04-2382233.
You can also send a check to United Way of Massachusetts Bay, PO Box 51381, Boston, MA 02205-1381. Please include “Newton Covid-19 Care Fund” in the memo of your check.
All donations will be collected by United Way and distributed by an established Newton nonprofit organization with a track record of administering assistance funds. These funds will pay for rent, food, utilities, internet connectivity for families with school-aged children, childcare, medications and other basic needs. City of Newton First Responders who incur new childcare expenses or other expenses as a result of the crisis will also be eligible.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED ASSISTANCE?
The Newton COVID-19 Care Fund is a coalition of Newton-based care providers coming together to serve those who are in need in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. In the coming days, visit the United Way web page for more detailed information on fund eligibility requirements and information about how to submit your application. Until next week, if you need immediate help, please contact United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline which will provide immediate guidance.