Tag Archives: mid

School Committee Update

Dear Friends,

This update is for the 4/24/2019 Newton School Committee meeting:

Superintendent Update:

  • Recently, students from Day Middle School had the chance to speak with U.S. Senator Martha McSally from Arizona.
  • Last Friday, students from NNHS had the chance to hear from U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy.
  • Last Tuesday, Newton hosted a state board meeting for the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE.)
  • Announcement that Newton North senior Maya Matthews has been serving as the student representative to the DESE Board. Additionally, former School Committee member Matt Hills was recently appointed to the DESE Board.

New Business

  • Members of the Newton Youth Commission reviewed data from a year-long endeavor to study student stress: Youth Commission Presentation.
  • Members of the STSG presented information on policy work and new initiatives to improve transportation: School Transportation Steering Group Update
  • The Food Service Evaluation team provided an update on the vendor selection process. Within the updated Food Service Contract it was announced that Whitsons Culinary Group has been recommended as the new vendor for NPS. The School Committee will vote on the recommendation at our next meeting (May 13.)
  • A new Recycling Policy was introduced and discussed.

Old Business

  • CFO Liam Hurley and Director of Business and Planning, Julie Kirrane, presented the FY19 Fiscal and Operational Update, as well as an Updated Facilities Report, which included several summer projects.
  • The Equity Working Group provided an Initial Update about outreach and work towards the idea of a centralized fund for certain Parent Teacher Organization funds.

Consent Agenda

Next Meeting

On Monday, May 13 at 7:00pm, we will review Long and Short Term Space Needs, summer maintenance projects, and Capital Improvement Projects for 2019-2020.  We will also get an update on the Arts program and plans for Full Day Kindergarten, as well as vote on the Food Services Contract.

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

Support equity in student travel at the Jennifer Price Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF) Dinner!

The Jennifer Price Global Education Leadership Fund (GELF) provides financial aid to low-income Newton high school students to participate in life-changing educational travel opportunities through the Newton Public Schools. Join the GELF dinner and help make educational travel a reality for students at Newton North who would not otherwise be able to participate. The annual dinner features a 5-course gourmet meal paired with fine beer and wine, an auction, live band, dancing, and table service by the Newton mayor, superintendent of schools and school principals.

The annual GELF dinner raises more than $50,000. This allows 20-30 low-income students to participate in the 15-20 different international programs offered every year through Newton Public Schools. The educational travel opportunities open doors that would otherwise be out of reach and help students to become more engaged, global citizens.

This school year, GELF has already awarded nearly $60,000 in scholarships to support
students on nearly every international program offered by the schools. Help make sure we can continue this level of financial aid!

Do join for dinner and a night of events! If you cannot join, please consider
donating to support a teacher to attend the event or make a tax-deductible donation here. For questions, please email Samantha Mandel at Samantha_mandel@newton.k12.ma.us.

Payment by check: Make checks ($150/per person for dinner tickets) payable to Newton
Schools Foundation with GELF dinner in the memo line, and mail to Newton Schools
Foundation, 100 Walnut Street, Newton MA 02460.

Click here for tickets https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/2289

Thank you for your support!

Teacher Appreciation Week May 6th – 10th

#thankateacher and support Newton Schools Foundation

If you are looking for another way to say “Thank You!” during Teacher Appreciation Week, please consider Newton Schools Foundation’s Honor Thy Teacher campaign. This special program, established more than 20 years ago, provides an opportunity for families to thank teachers or other school personnel by giving a gift to NSF in their honor.

NSF is a non-profit organization that raises funds to enhance educational excellence throughout Newton’s public schools. Your gift will support professional development that gives teachers new tools and strategies, as well as new and promising curricula for middle school students. Click here to see a video or read more about the grants that NSF has funded in our schools, including programs in art, civics, math, music, science, social and cultural studies, literature and writing instruction, and social-emotional learning.

After receiving your donation, NSF will:
· Notify the honored teachers and staff of your gift at the end of the school year
· Share the honoree names with the Superintendent and Principals
· List each of those honored on the NSF website and in the Newton TAB

You can make your tax-deductible donation online at www.newtonschoolsfoundation.org, or mail it to Newton Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 590020, Newton Centre, MA 02459. Please be sure to include the names of the teachers and/or staff that you are honoring. If you have children in NECP or elementary school, check your student backpacks for a flyer in the coming weeks, or the U.S. Mail at home if you have middle or high school students.

Community coming together to create something wonderful.

Joe Landry’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play turns one of the most beloved Christmas stories of the twentieth century on its head as a group of radio actors bring George Bailey and his fellow citizens to life. With a cast featuring 36 members of the Newton community, this show is a stunning example of a community coming together to create something wonderful. Don’t miss your chance to see Newton’s teachers, clergymen, parents, and mayor onstage! The play will also serve as a fundraiser for Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ), a Newton-based non-profit that helps families generate understanding and curiosity about differences in our society, and helps people work together towards racial equity.

Free Admission, with a Suggested Donation to FORJ
Presented in part by the Harmony Foundation and the Newton Human Rights Coalition. This event is part of the 2019 Linda Plaut Newton Festival of the Arts.

Check it out here: https://www.newtontheatrecompany.com/

May 3rd, 7:00 pm
Brown Middle School Auditorium

Join Families Organizing for Racial Justice for a panel discussion

Join FORJ – Families Organizing for Racial Justice for a panel discussion on “Exploring the Experiences of Asian American students in Newton”

FORJ’s May workshop will focus on learning more about the history and demographics of the Asian American community, and exploring the experiences of Asian American students in Newton. This event will include a panel of students, a Q&A, as well as an opportunity to learn more about the history of the Asian American community. This workshop is for parents/adults only.

RSVP here: May panel discussion

May 8th, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Angier Elementary School

Food Recovery in Schools: Why is it important?

Join Green Newton for the Earth Day presentation ‘Food Recovery: Why is it important?’

Americans waste as much as 40% of the food produced each day – enough to fill the Rose Bowl Stadium. Yet, one in seven Americans are food insecure. Wasted food expends precious resources and contributes to climate change. The Town of Wellesley is developing partnerships and programs to address the food waste problem.

Ellen Korpi, previously the Chair, and then Vice Chair, of the Sustainable Energy Committee in the town of Wellesley, and Marybeth Martello, Wellesley’s Sustainable Energy Administrator, will present on food waste diversion and food rescue programs involving Wellesley residents and schools, area colleges, the Wellesley Food Pantry, and the Cambridge-based non-profit, Food For Free.

Former Newton City Councilor, Amy Mah Sangiolo, will also present, and describe exploratory efforts to develop a similar program in Newton. The goal is to work with the Newton Public Schools and its food service vendor, and other non-profits, to expand food recovery networks throughout the Greater Boston Area.

April 22nd,  7:00 pm
Druker Auditorium of the Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street

A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens – talking to your kids about things that freak you out

Talking to Your Kids about Sexting, Drinking, Drugs and Other Things That FREAK YOU OUT.

The Health & Human Services Department is hosting a speaker on parenting teens. This is part of a joint effort with the school department to help parents in the community understand and set boundaries around issues of concern including: vaping, alcohol, substance use, and other risky behaviors. Presented by: Joani Geltman, MSW, Local Expert on Parent-Teen Relationships

Tickets are Free and available HERE. Flyer is available HERE.

May 1st, 7:00 pm
Newton South High School Lecture Hall

Hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services