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  • Public Notice: Destruction of Student Google Account...

    Public Notice: Destruction of Student Google Accounts Records This notice is to inform you that the Newton Public Schools’ Department of Information Technology and Library Services intends to destroy the Google records on  February 1, 2025,  of all students who exited from any Newton Public Schools between July 1, 2018, through June 30, 20 19 .  Your child's/your student transcript will, however, be maintained by the District for at least (60) years following your child's/your graduation, transfer or withdrawal from the District. The Massachusetts Student Record Regulations authorize public school districts to destroy temporary student record s, including electronic records such as those contained within student Google Accounts, including but not limited to emails and Google documents, within seven years of a student's graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from the school district. The district is authorized to periodically review student records and to destroy misleading, outdated or irrelevant information contained within a student's temporary student record. 603 CMR 23.06 Massachusetts regulations require that the district provide you with 60-day prior written notice of its intent to destroy special education student records, and that you be given an opportunity to obtain copies of all records to be destroyed. If you would like to be provided with copies of the Google account records to be destroyed, please contact the Newton Public Schools IT Department  by February 1, 2025,  using  this  Google Form .  Contact the IT Department at 617-559-6190, if there are any additional questions concerning the destruction of student Google accounts for your child/you. If no student, parent or guardian responds to this public notice, the school district will assume consent to destroy the entire record as outlined in this notice specific to the student. Department of Information Technology and Library Services, Newton Public Schools, 100 Walnut St., 3rd floor, Newtonville, MA 02460

    Friday, Nov 22 2024

  • Seventeen Newton Students Selected to Participate in...

    Seventeen Newton students were selected to participate in the  2024-2025 Mass. Music Educators Association, Eastern District Music Festival . These students were selected through an audition process, and we're thrilled to congratulate them! See below for the list of students who will be participating in the music festival. Chorus: Clare Cho *. Soprano Anisha Chowdhury, Soprano Matthew Gaddipati, Bass David Rosemberg* Tenor Bomi Woo *. Soprano Band: Emily Han, Clarinet Kevin Heffron* Bassoon Silas Schenker* Clarinet Tobin Schenker* Trumpet Brendan Lew, Trumpet Jazz: Max Stober * Guitar (First Chair) Orchestra Olivia Hong* Viola Steven Hu*. Cello Zen Zen Loo*, Violin Joseph Manna, Violin Leila Mostaghimi*, Clarinet Gordon Wei* Trumpet (First Chair) *= All State Recommendation

    Saturday, Nov 16 2024

  • Public Notice: Destruction of Student Records

    Public Notice: Destruction of Student Records  This notice, dated  November 15, 2024,  is to inform the public that the Newton Public Schools intends to destroy all  temporary student records  on  February 1, 2025,  of all students who exited from any Newton Public Schools between  June 30, 2000,  to  June 30, 2010.   Your child's/your student  transcript  will, however, be maintained by the District for at least (60) years following your child's/your graduation, transfer or withdrawal from the District. The  temporary record  consists of all information in the student record which is not contained in the transcript but which is of importance to the educational process, such as standardized test results, class rank, extracurricular activities, and evaluations by teachers, counselors and other school staff.  The  transcript  consists of the administrative records that constitute the minimum data necessary to reflect the student’s educational progress and to operate the educational system, including name, address and phone number of the student; birthdate; name, address and phone number of the parent/guardian/caregiver; course titles, grades or the equivalent when grades are not applicable; course credit, grade level completed and the year completed. Massachusetts student record regulations, which authorizes public school districts to destroy temporary student records after a student’s  graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from the school district.  The regulations  require that the district provide you with 60-day prior written notice of its intent to destroy special education student records, and that you be given an opportunity to obtain copies of all records to be destroyed. If you would like to be provided with copies of the records to be destroyed, please fill out this  Record Request Google Form .  If you have any additional questions concerning the destruction of student education records for your child/you, please email  registration@newton.k12.ma.u s. Additional information regarding your child’s/your rights in regard to student records and summary of the Massachusetts statutory laws and regulations governing student records can be found  Student Records: Questions, Answers and Guidelines - Education Laws and Regulations  and the full regulations, here,  603 CMR 23.00: Student Records - Education Laws and Regulations .  

    Friday, Nov 15 2024

  • Newton North Students Win Top Awards in MassDOT Vide...

    In October, Newton North High School students were awarded both the Freshman/Sophomore Grand Prize Award and the Freshman/Sophomore Runner-Up Award for the 2024 Safe Trips/Smart Tips   High School Video Contest . The students and their instructors, Scott Dunlap and Amanda Mazzola, were presented with their awards at the MassDOT Moving Together Conference in Boston on October 23.   We share the winning videos ,  which are available on the MassDOT YouTube channel.   See People As People (Grand Prize, Freshman/Sophomore Category) Freshman/Sophomore category: Ryan Costello, Yossi Danzig, Parker Durken, and Sasha Selivan, from Newton North High School I Give You the Wheel (Runner-Up, Freshman/Sophomore Category) Freshman/Sophomore category: Levi Rosenberg-Van Gameren, John Akgun, Gus Gregg Rodriguez, Will Hartzog, and Cillian Moroney, from Newton North High School

    Thursday, Nov 14 2024

  • District News | Nov 8, 2024

    Celebrating Veteran's Day Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. This year, it will occur on Saturday, November 11th.  In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day. For me personally, Veteran's Day is a significant day. One of my grandfathers served in Korea and one served in WWII. My father and godfather served in Vietnam. My sister and brother-in-law served in Afghanistan in more recent times.  I want to say thank you to all of our Newton veterans and acknowledge their important service to the city, to the United States, and to our personal freedoms as Americans. Please talk to your children about the reason we pause and do not hold school on this day. Congratulations to the Angier School! As reported earlier this fall, the Angier School has been nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. We share this picture of Angier Principal, Orla Averill-Higgins and Assistant Superintendent Ayesha Farag at the national awards ceremony.  Congratulations to all the staff and leaders at Angier for their hard work in this truly special accomplishment. The students, of course, are the real winners, as their teachers have produced the kinds of gap-closing results that helps every child thrive! THRIVE Professional Development Day We wanted to share with you that our first full day of professional learning held on election day was very successful. Here's a snapshot of what we studied and learned throughout the day .  Feedback from staff is still coming in, but early feedback is indicated in the graphic and information below: Number of Attendees: 2,350 Number of Personal Schedules: 2,226 Average Schedule Size: 4.07 Average Session Rating: 9.1 (on a scale of 10 possible points!) Feedback Collected (as of 11/8/24): 384 School Update to City Council Committee Liam Hurley, CFO and I presented a brief school update to the Programs and Services committee of the City Council, inclusive of financial and visioning backdrop for the upcoming budget season and an update on EV busing research and feasibility. You can view the presentation . Newton Alumni, Save the Date! The Newton Alumni Breakfast happening on November 27th at 9am at the Newton Education Center in Room 210, and we want to see you there! This day of return is hosted by the district and serves as an opportunity to catch up with old classmates, connect with fellow alumni, and reminisce about those good ol' days back in school. The breakfast will be a casual and relaxed gathering, as a first step for the district to begin supporting alumni initiatives.  It will also be a perfect for swapping stories and sharing laughs. Plus, there will yummy food and refreshments available to enjoy while you mingle.  Mark your calendars and make sure to  RSVP today ! Have a lovely long weekend, Anna

    Friday, Nov 08 2024

  • Save the date for Newton's 5th Annual Newton Pumpkin...

    Green your Halloween: 5th Annual Newton Pumpkin Smash Date and Time: Saturday, November 2, 1pm–4pm (Rain date: November 3, 1pm–4pm)   Location:  Newton City Hall  War Memorial Circle 1000 Commonwealth Ave. Pre-registration for the event is highly encouraged.  On-site registration (and a longer line) is required if pre-registration is not completed. What will you do with your pumpkin after Halloween?  You could put it in with your yard waste, but how much more fun would it be to “green your Halloween” and smash it? Pumpkins will be flung, tossed and smashed in various ways, including with machines made by the Newton LigerBots, Newton’s high school robotics team. All smashed pumpkins will be composted. By composting, you can reduce waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help return nutrients and water back to the earth.     Stop by to smash your pumpkin, visit touch-a-truck and other fun activities, donate excess candy or costumes, and grab a bite or drink from a local food truck, while also learning about composting and all the work that Newton’s Department of Public Works does!   Don't forget to remove any candles or decorations from your pumpkin, and to bring any excess candy and costumes.  Donated costumes will be available to take home at our pop-up costume swap!   It's going to be a smashing good time!

    Monday, Oct 28 2024

  • Save the Date: Join us at the Alumni Breakfast on No...

    Calling all Newton Alumni! Join us at the Alumni Breakfast on Nov 27 @ 9am The Newton Alumni breakfast happening on November 27th at 9am at the Newton Education Center in Room 210, and we want to see you there! This day of return is hosted by the district and serves as an opportunity to catch up with old classmates, connect with fellow alumni, and reminisce about those good ol' days back in school. The breakfast will be a casual and relaxed gathering, as a first step for the district to begin supporting alumni initiatives.  It will also be a perfect for swapping stories and sharing laughs. Plus, there will yummy food and refreshments available to enjoy while you mingle.  So mark your calendars and make sure to RSVP so we can save you a spot at the table. See you there!

    Monday, Oct 21 2024

  • District Update on Current Transportation Concerns

    District Update Dear Newton Public Schools Community, Our community–specifically parents and our most vulnerable students–were all dealt a hard blow with the news about the indictment of the van driver who was employed through our contracted transportation provider, JSC Transportation. As a mother and educator, I feel the pain and worry this type of incident brings to us all–eroding our sense of safety and security. It is a true trauma, and it is angering that the bad actions of one person can harm so many–and egregiously target our youngest learners.   For those new to hearing about our transportation, we have four vendors, and JSC provides in-city van specialized transport for the district. JSC has been in business for 48 years, and they have never experienced an incident like this until this past week. The issues reported in the indictment are believed to be limited to the Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) preschool special education after school transportation drop-offs. JSC took children from NECP to private childcare venues (and not directly to their families) upon completion of their daily NECP school session. How do we ensure safe rides for students? JSC vans have a camera filming while a ride is occurring, and the camera remains on while the van is on. After the van is turned off, the cameras run for an additional 15-minutes. Real-time GPS and student-ride time tracking are on at all times, even when the vehicle is off. Last year, the cameras were not set to be running upon the shut-off of the vehicle. We insisted on this change last spring, and JSC immediately made this change without hesitation. I also note that drop-offs to private programs like this are not the norm for all preschools/school programs because there is the very potential for what we experienced with this driver: less end-to-end ride accountability. With no parent or NPS employee on the receiving end of the transport, the possibility of a driver breaking protocol that goes unnoticed increases, which are the circumstances of the cases in this indictment. I could recommend a change to this process, but doing so impacts working parents and their capacity to have their children receive special education services and extended-day care without having to leave work midday. This transport practice in Newton has been occurring for over 40 years.   I think it is important to mention that on our yellow buses (which were not involved in this indictment or with this driver) we have four security cameras per bus. The cameras remain on at all times and for five minutes after the vehicle is turned off. Additionally, GPS tracking and ride time tracking are on at all times while the vehicle is running. Why isn’t the district sharing details about the investigation? We have been questioned about the scope and reach of the DA/police investigation and, unfortunately, we cannot answer because we have limited access to information. During an active investigation with law enforcement or with the District Attorney’s (DA) office, we may be called upon to share information, but are not given details about the investigation. Since May, we have provided requested information for the investigation when and where necessary. Specific details, however, will be shared as part of the court proceedings for this case—we do not know any additional details. New expectations from JSC and other contracted vendors: As a leader still learning the complex organization that is NPS, I continue to peel away the layers of tradition and practice, while examining what we and our vendors do and why. For example, I was shocked to find, through this case, that JSC did not have a formal method for documenting and sharing parents’ concerns or issues about drivers with our transportation office. This created an information gap for the NPS transportation department to inform me and our team, which then allows us to support our parents and students. We have corrected this moving forward. Complaint Documentation and Record Keeping System As of this week, we have now designed and implemented a system at JSC in which complaints will be shared with NPS on an immediate basis as concerns are lodged and are placed in driver files for documentation purposes. In our NPS community, a handful of prior complaints about the indicted driver are now being shared with us by families of former and current riders. These complaints (and those made to the police) about the indicted driver do not have any resemblance to the criminal activity now before us. However, we recognize that the past handling of complaints has further eroded parent confidence. Trust cannot exist when parents know they have called JSC to report strange behaviors (or check on something a driver said or did) and NPS have no record of the complaint. We believe that we have now addressed this information sharing gap; JSC has been flexible and adapted to this request immediately. A Return to COVID Tracking Protocols As of Tuesday morning (10/15/24), JSC additionally offered to restore their COVID contact tracing protocols and practices. This change means that any time a driver covers a route (or there is a driver change) there is a set of students associated with the driver and the log of any changes will be kept for the length of our transportation contract. This will ensure tighter tracking of drivers and their student interactions. Previously, there was no practice of keeping these records or storing them for a period of time. In the past, any documented records did not include student lists associated with drivers. These are now required and saved for future possible needs. Who was notified and why? It should also be said that we notified the impacted families whose routes fit the now discovered break in protocol because that is all the evidence we had in May and have presently. In the absence of confirmation about the indicted driver’s conduct, we could not in May, and cannot now, simply put an all-call out to anyone who had ever had contact with or was driven by the driver to find additional issues. I share this because individuals are now reaching out to find out if the indicted driver transported their children or if they could report other behaviors. Any concerns regarding this driver (or any other drivers) and possible criminal conduct should be shared with Newton Police (NPD); complaints about driver behavior that is not criminal should be shared with NPS and JSC. At this time, we have no knowledge of other breaks of protocol, nor of any other conduct incidents. Certainly, like all of you, we contemplate the possibility of others. What happens in a police investigation When we detected the driver’s break from protocol and reported it to the police last May, we authorized JSC to turn over all the van ride videotape to the police for their review, per our information sharing memorandum of understanding with the NPD. JSC immediately terminated the driver and turned over the recordings to law enforcement.  After the records were turned over to law enforcement in May, there was no further discussion with the district. Last week, we were informed with embargo that the DA would make an indictment announcement sometime that week. We have fielded questions about “how far back and how deep” the DA/police investigations go, and these are questions that only the police and DA can answer. I have no information on this, although we know that JSC did not have more than a few months of video and two years of end-of-year rider list documentation. The NPD has been very helpful and responsive to our questions, but continue to warn that they have insufficient information and evidence for any additional charges or investigations on this driver at this time. It is our hope that, when possible, the DA can provide community meetings to update families whose child may have been transported by this driver or for a family who was directly affected by this driver’s actions. Law enforcement are the only parties who can explain more about this investigation, its scope and execution. My understanding is that during an active case, more sharing is unlikely. Lastly, there have been calls for our staff to reach out to victims and to tell the community what that outreach looks like. We do not know who the victims are, that information is not shared with us by the police or DA. The victims and families may opt to stay anonymous and, as a caring community, we want to respect their privacy. Of course, this is the hardest part for us as educators, who spend our whole lives caring for students and wanting to ensure the trust and safety of our students’ families. We know that beyond the directly affected victims, this affects everyone’s sense of safety. After listening sessions and many meetings regarding the investigation, we wanted to come to you with more information on this matter. Please know that anytime we are able to communicate more, we will always do so.  The school committee has added discussion of this incident to its meeting agenda for Monday, October 21, 2024. Thank you, Anna

    Friday, Oct 18 2024

  • Next Week: Join Us | Newton South High School Presen...

    Newton South High School Presents:  Jazz Showcase  featuring NSHS Jazz Combo, Ensemble, and The Lighthouse Project October 10 at 7pm Join us for the Newton South High School's Jazz Showcase, featuring student ensembles and professional guest artists! Who will be performing: Newton South High School Jazz Combo Newton South High School Jazz Ensemble The Lighthouse Project, featuring: Ravi ColtraneGene PerlaRyan Devlin Adam Nussbaum Date and Time: October 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM Location: Newton South High School Auditorium 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton, MA 02459 Event Cost: Free and open to the public Event Details: Newton South High School proudly presents its Jazz Showcase, featuring performances by talented student musicians and concluding with a special appearance by The Lighthouse Project. This collaborative performance brings together acclaimed jazz artists with the school's young musicians, promising an evening of exceptional music and artistic growth. The event will showcase the skills of the school's Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble, followed by The Lighthouse Project's performance to close the show.   About the Lighthouse Project:  The Lighthouse Project is a distinguished jazz ensemble featuring some of the genre's most accomplished musicians. Grammy-nominated saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, son of jazz icons John and Alice Coltrane, leads the group with his profound musical insight and innovative spirit. He is joined by bassist Gene Perla, noted for his collaborations with jazz luminaries such as Elvin Jones, Sonny Rollins, and Nina Simone. The ensemble also includes up-and-coming saxophonist Ryan Devlin, known for his vibrant and expressive performances, and veteran drummer Adam Nussbaum, whose versatile skills have enriched countless jazz recordings and live shows. Together, The Lighthouse Project offers a captivating blend of classical jazz roots and modern creativity, ensuring an unforgettable musical experience. Photo/Video Opportunities:  Performances by student ensembles and professional jazz artists. Interactions between guest artists and student musicians. Media Contact: Talia Etedgee Brown Department Head for the Fine and Performing Arts Email: brownta@newton.k12.ma.us Phone: 617-559-6500 For more information, visit the  Newton South High School's Fine & Performing Arts programs  page.

    Wednesday, Oct 02 2024

  • Your Input is Needed: Help us define the Portrait of...

    Hello, Newton Public Schools Community! This year, Newton Public Schools is creating the Portrait of a Newton Graduate, a collective vision that articulates our aspirations for every student in our district. Our Portrait of a Graduate will serve as the North Star for our schools, bringing our community together with a shared vision for student learning. To inform the development of the Portrait, we are actively engaging a wide variety of individuals in Newton.  You are a valued member of our community, and I need your voice and perspective.  What do we need from you? We need you to complete the Portrait of a Newton Graduate survey by selecting seven core competencies that resonate with you as necessary for all Newton Public Schools graduates to have when they leave us. This is a brief, two-question survey that will close on October 15, 2024. Complete the Portrait of a Newton Graduate survey today! I hope that you’ll bring your unique perspective to this collaborative process by completing the survey today. Our shared aspiration is that all of our students have an educational experience that prepares them to be lifelong learners and productive contributors in our society, today and tomorrow. I look forward to working with you and inspiring our community with this collaborative vision for our young people. Anna   Additional information for taking this survey To learn more about each competency, please  view the definition list  in your preferred language.

    Wednesday, Oct 02 2024