Parentsquare Logo

  • FY26 Budget Meetings (March & April, 2025)

    Public budget hearing, 6pm on March 19th, 2025 , online or at the education center, 100 Walnut Street, Newton. Other key dates: March 19 – Public Hearing - FY26 Budget and Regular School Committee meeting (FY26 Continued Budget Discussion–straw vote) March 24 – Discussion March 27 – Community Budget Meeting, 6:30pm ( note: date upd ated ) Dates listed above are posted on the district digital calendar. All meetings are also available to attend with remote access at the following link/information: Meetings and agendas are posted on the City's Electronic Posting Board or the School Committee Calendar . To attend meetings virtually, the public may log into Zoom via the following link: School Committee Zoom Meeting Room (link is available for all meeting) Call-in information:  1-646-558-8656 Call-in meeting ID: 390 017 072    Other Important City Budget Dates April – Date TBD   Mayor’s presentation of the FY26 City Budget  April 17 – City Council Meetings Schools with Programs & Services and Finance Committee Late April – Final approved budget book is printed, distributed and electronically posted. April – FY26 Budget + Presentation to City Council (date TBD) * Meeting dates and topics may be subject to change. *

    Monday, Mar 17 2025

  • District News | March 17, 2025

    Dear Newton Families, I share a few updates with you today, particularly the start of our budget season. This  kickoff   signifies the beginning of budget discussions that will take place over the next six weeks. What is the current budget situation ? At this time, the city allocation for the school budget requires cuts to school services and staff (3.65%--less than level service budget –the red bar on the ‘Tale of Five Budgets’ slides). I am recommending a Level Service + Budget (yellow) which still does not meet what my expectations are for our true needs but works to address city budget issues and the national and state funding challenges.   Please visit us for our public budget hearing, 6pm on March 19th, 2025 , online or at the education center, 100 Walnut Street, Newton.  A school budget is a statement of our values within the community.  This is very important to the ability of the school district to thrive, innovate and serve children and educators well. Other key dates: March 19 – Public Hearing - FY26 Budget and Regular School Committee meeting (FY26 Continued Budget Discussion–straw vote) March 24 – Discussion, straw vote or Possible Final Vote March 27 – Community Budget Meeting, 6:30pm ( note: date upd ated ) All meetings are also available to attend with remote access at the following link/information: Meetings and agendas are posted on the City's Electronic Posting Board or the School Committee Calendar . To attend meetings virtually, the public may log into Zoom via the following link: School Committee Zoom Meeting Room (link is available for all meeting) Call-in information:  1-646-558-8656 Call-in meeting ID: 390 017 072  Other Important City Budget Dates April  Date TBD   Mayor’s presentation of the FY26 City Budget  April  17   City Council Meetings Schools with Programs & Services and Finance Committee Late April   Final approved budget book is printed, distributed and electronically posted. April  FY26 Budget +Presentation to City Council (date TBD)   Half Day Makeup: May 8, 2025 Due to the snow day called on February 6, 2025, we are rescheduling the half day. May 8th, previously scheduled as a half day for PreK and Elementary, will now be a half day for all students. Please see our district digital calendar for the update and release times.   Summer school (Summer Success program) The Summer Success Program has run in Newton for some years to support our most needy students who demonstrated academic needs at the mid-year of each school year.  This grant funded program was supported by COVID era recovery grants and Title federal funding and, at the end of last year, it was known that last summer would be the last summer the district could afford to offer this service free of charge to our students. Flash forward to this school year:  federal and state grant funding is certainly in a volatile state and the school district budget is running a $4.5 million deficit to run school for the school year only.  For this reason, the Summer Success program will not be funded to run this year.  We will continue to seek alternatives for this program.   It's important to note that Summer Success is not Extended School Year (ESY) s ummer programming that is offered to eligible special education students. The Extended School Year summer program will continue as it must per student IEPs and federal and state expectations.   METCO Advocacy Day on March 20, 2025 From its earliest years, the state of Massachusetts has allocated funding to METCO’s partner districts for transportation, staffing, and programming, as well as administrative and program costs at METCO Headquarters and Springfield.  METCO Advocacy Day Details Date: March 20, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm Registration & Breakfast from 9:15 to 10 am Location: Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02123, 2nd Floor, Great Hall of Flags Light refreshments and pizza will be provided METCO HQ will be hosting preparation sessions to provide all participants with the information about day's agenda and messaging. Register for one of the following: Tuesday, March 18 at 9 am Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30 pm   Lincoln-Eliot Project Update & Video Tour We are thrilled to report that the Lincoln-Eliot School Project is right on schedule and within budget! Our dedicated crews are putting in their all, and the progress is truly remarkable. Almost all of the building systems have been successfully installed, and the painters have begun transforming the school, starting with the auditorium today. The flooring team has made their way from the third floor down to the first, and ceilings are now in place in many areas of the building. With the arrival of warmer weather, we are gearing up to tackle even more work on the site in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for exciting updates as we continue to bring this project to life! Check out the latest video tour of the  Lincoln-Eliot School Project .    Principal Search Updates for Burr, Memorial-Spaulding, and Zervas: We had an enormous national candidate pool for our three open principalships and I am very pleased with our process which involved the following: Screening interview with the Superintendent, Director of Human Resources, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Superintendent Advisory Committees for each school composed of parents, building level staff, central office and other principals from across the district. Each committee sat for panel interviews of 10 candidates each and the Burr and Zervas panels sat for an additional 3 candidates after the first round as added candidates had emerged.  A site visit day, which included semi-finalist candidates meeting with every grade level, meeting with students and all staff and joint observations so we could observe how they assess and give feedback on classroom instruction, and two to three semi-finalists visited each building. Central office interviewed all the candidates (the assistant superintendents, superintendent, Director of ELL, Director of Technology). The interview included with scenarios and performance based questions, as well as more traditional questions that were crafted around our district goals and our current data-driven needs in SEL, academics, and student and family connectedness. A family forum was held for each finalist. Reference checks and more reference checks were conducted. We thank all Burr, Memorial-Spaulding, and Zervas community members and colleagues who participated in these search processes. See below to learn more about each new principal joining our learning community! Learn more about Dr. Simone Kotraba Learn more about Ms. Jamie Yadoff Learn more about Ms. Katherine O'Leary Anna Have you heard? Spread the word! News You Can Use FREE Tutoring!! For Your Student (grades K-12) through Varsity Tutors Are you looking for enrichment for your elementary or middle school student?  Does your family need SAT/ACT prep support for your high school student? The NPS partnership with Varsity Tutors can help. Varsity Tutors provides live and on-demand tutoring resources to all students from kindergarten through grade 12.  Sign up and use our free tutoring for your student(s)!! Learn more about this exciting partnership by reading the full announcement and begin your academic planning for your student.   Newton Community Education (NCE) Looking for Summer Programs for Your Students?  Find Your Next Adventure with Newton Community Education! Explore Newton Community Education ’s wide range of classes and programs for kids and adults, from after-school activities and summer camps to cooking, Zumba, pottery, improv, and more. Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet, a way to stay active, or a chance to learn something new, NCE has something for everyone! Bring a friend to a class, enjoy a cooking or improv class on date night, or surprise someone with a customizable NCE gift certificate —perfect for any class or camp. Don’t wait—browse our Winter ’25 catalog, plan ahead with our amazing summer camps lineup, or grab a gift certificate to make learning part of your holiday giving! Explore Classes and Camps Now! Family & Community Engagement Resources Visit the new webpage for the NPS Office for Family & Community Partnerships. This page will be the hub of information and connection to resources for parents, families, the community. Please note that the page and resources are in ongoing development, so check back frequently to see what's been added! Looking for help? Our  Family Basic Needs Resource  list can help! (Check it out today!) Guides and Articles to Read Reesources Why Family Engagement Matters for Student and School Success  ( audience : Parents across all grades ) Family Fun at Home: Play and Learn Together!  ( audience : Preschool and Early Elementary Parents ) Benefits of Reading Aloud to Children  ( audience : Elementary and Middle School Parents ) Attendance Matters in Newton!  ( audience : Parents across all grades ) Slide deck shared at the 12/12/24 Healthy Kids forum Smartphone Suggestions & Resources Low/No Tech Family Activity Guide Community Notices Interested in keeping up with various activities happening throughout the city? Check out our  Community Notices  page today! [Monday, Mar 17 at 5:53 PM] Hello Newton Families, Please note that the date for the Community Budget Meeting was updated to reflect the corrected date of March 27, 2025, at 6:30pm. Please see the original post (attached to this update) for full information. Thank you for your attention and continuing partnership in this process.

    Monday, Mar 17 2025

  • Katherine O'Leary Announced as Finalist for Zervas E...

    Dear Zervas Colleagues and Community Members: I am pleased to announce that Katherine O’Leary has been invited to advance as a finalist for the position of principal at Zervas Elementary School. Ms. O’Leary brings a wealth of experience in educational leadership and a strong connection to the Newton Public Schools community. Most recently, she served as a full-time assistant principal at Dunning Elementary School in Framingham, where she played a pivotal role as the 504 Coordinator, MTSS Co-Leader, and a member of the Instructional Leadership Team. Her current principal describes her as a co-leader who interchangeably leads the school and its day-to-day operations and change work. Prior to that, she served as a part-time assistant principal at Zervas Elementary School, where she chaired the School Improvement Team and was a member of the instructional leadership and curriculum development teams and served on the school council. With over a decade of experience teaching elementary schools, Ms. O’Leary previously taught at Newton's own Williams Elementary School while also taking on leadership roles such as Principal Intern, Teacher in Charge, and CARES Team Leader. Her dedication to fostering inclusive environments and building strong school communities has made her a trusted leader among colleagues, families, and students. Ms. O’Leary holds a Master of Organizational Management in PreK-8 Leadership from Endicott College, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education from Lesley University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Fairfield University. Her commitment to education is further demonstrated through her extensive experience as a coach, tutor, and content developer. Ms. O'Leary's deep understanding of the Newton community, combined with her leadership skills and dedication to addressing issues of student achievement, make her an exceptional candidate to lead Zervas Elementary School. Her recent leadership in another diverse and complex district has widened her repertoire and allowed her to lead key programs that Newton is also looking to foster (new structured literacy curriculum and multi-tiered systems of support—MTSS—to name two key areas of her experience). The Zervas School community will have opportunities to meet with Ms. O’Leary at an upcoming community forum on  Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Zervas as part of the selection process. We hope Zervas parents and staff will join us for this open community interview of this finalist.  Newton Public Schools looks forward to the final stages of this selection process and appreciates the community’s participation in welcoming and evaluating prospective leaders for Zervas Elementary. ### About Newton Public Schools:  Newton Public Schools is committed to providing an educational environment that promotes academic excellence, supports the social and emotional growth of all students, and fosters a strong sense of community. Serving over 11,000 students across 22 schools, 24 special education programs, a Career/Vocational Technical High School and a vibrant array of clubs, international exchanges and athletic teams, NPS prides itself on its inclusive practices and innovative programs that prepare students to thrive in a diverse and dynamic world.

    Wednesday, Mar 12 2025

  • NSHS Jazz Musician's accepted into world wide compet...

    Congratulations to the NSHS Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble (pictured below), led by Music Director Lisa Linde and Ian Ashby, respectively, for their recent achievements!  The Jazz Ensemble has been named a finalist in the 30th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival, in New York City - making them one of the top 30 high school bands in the world! Both groups have been invited to compete in the prestigious 17th Annual Charles Mingus Festival and High School Competition also in New York City, marking the eighth consecutive year for NSHS. This has been a significant few months for the Jazz program, with Lisa Linde honored as the 2025 John Laporta Jazz Educator of the Year, recognizing her exceptional contributions to jazz education. These accomplishments highlight the extraordinary talent and dedication of our students and educators, showcasing the excellence of the Newton South Music Programs.

    Tuesday, Mar 11 2025

  • Celebrating a Great Winter Season with Newton South ...

    Newton South student-athletes had an absolutely phenomenal winter season, representing our district with excellence and pride! Their hard work, dedication, and team spirit led to incredible achievements across multiple sports. Let’s celebrate their outstanding success: Girls Alpine Skiing won the Mass Bay West Alpha division and raced to an impressive 2nd place finish in the State Tournament! Girls Nordic Skiing dominated, winning the **Mass Bay East League Championship**, while the Boys Nordic team secured a strong 2nd place finish! Boys Basketball conquered the DCL Thorpe Division title and made an exciting run to the Round of 16 in the State Tournament! Girls Indoor Track claimed the DCL Thorpe Division Championship, with the 4x800 relay team finishing 3rd at New England's and qualifying for Nationals, while the boys team secured the DCL Thorpe division 2nd place. Wrestling ruled the mats, winning the **DCL Foley Division title**, while sophomore Nick Genin earned a spot at New England's the 144lb weight class! Diver Jasmine Green*delivered a spectacular performance, finishing 2nd at the MIAA Division 1 State Meet! Boys Ice Hockey secured a thrilling victory in the annual showdown against Newton North and qualified for the State Tournament for the first time since 2023 defeating Agawam in the first round. Sending huge congratulations to all the incredible winter athletes and their dedicated coaches! Their passion and perseverance continue to make Newton proud!

    Tuesday, Mar 11 2025

  • PSA: Newton Public Schools to Undergo Standard Tiere...

    NEWTON –  On April 8 & 9, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Newton Public Schools.  The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and record keeping. In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines with. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report. Parents and other individuals may call Judith R. Magloire, M.Ed., Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3571 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements. Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The  report   will be available to the public. ###

    Friday, Mar 07 2025

  • Simone Kotraba Announced as Finalist for Burr Elemen...

    Simone Kotraba Announced as Finalist for Burr Elementary Principal Position Newton, MA – March 2025  – Newton Public Schools is pleased to announce that Dr. Simone Kotraba has been named a finalist for the position of Principal at Burr Elementary School. A seasoned educator and results-driven leader, Dr. Kotraba brings extensive experience in instructional leadership, social-emotional learning (SEL), special education and student behavior trends and needs and how to create systems of support to . meet the needs of individual learners of all needs Dr. Kotraba currently serves as a District PK-12 Social Emotional Learning Coach in Arlington Public Schools, where she leads district-wide initiatives focused on student resilience, culturally responsive teaching, and equity-centered programming. With a deep commitment to creating positive school climates, she has been instrumental in integrating SEL into curriculum and instruction while providing professional development to educators and school leaders. Throughout her career, Dr. Kotraba has held leadership roles, including Vice Principal at Jackson-Mann PK-8 in Boston Public Schools, where she spearheaded initiatives in Universal Design for Learning (UDL)--which is a curriculum design method that seeks to individualize learning for students–, restorative practices, and data-driven instruction. She has also worked extensively in special education, serving as a district-wide program director and a consultant in behavior analysis and inclusion practices. Her dedication to fostering strong family and community partnerships has been a hallmark of her leadership. Dr. Kotraba holds a Doctor of Education in Special Education from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Science in Special and Childhood Education from Touro University, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the City University of New York. Her professional expertise is complemented by her certifications in school leadership, applied behavior analysis, and trauma-informed education. As a finalist for the Burr Elementary principalship, Dr. Kotraba will participate in an upcoming community forum on March 11, 2025 at 7:30pm, at Burr , where parents, staff, and students will have the opportunity to engage with her and learn more about her candidacy and leadership experience. Newton Public Schools looks forward to the final stages of this selection process and appreciates the community’s participation in welcoming and evaluating prospective leaders for Burr Elementary.

    Friday, Mar 07 2025

  • Reminder: Newton South Grade 8 Open House on Thursda...

    ​ ​ REMINDER: NSHS Grade 8 Open House! Thursday, March 6, 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm ​ ​ ​ ​ Dear Caregivers of Incoming Ninth Grade Students: We welcome you and your student(s) to Newton South High School next year! We want to remind you that our Grade 8 Family Night will be held soon, on Thursday, March 6: 6:00pm - 6:20pm: We will hold an early session in the Lecture Hall for families of students who receive special education services. 6:30pm - 7:00pm: We will officially welcome all families in the Field House starting at 6:30. You will hear from Principal Tamii Stras, our four deans, Vice Principal Jason Williams, and other members of the administrative team. 7:10pm - 8:30pm We will then have three breakout session periods where you can choose to visit a variety of offerings ranging from department and program info to information about student life on our campus. ​ ​ ​ ​ 6:00 - 6:20pm: Early Session for Special Education ​ Lecture Hall For families and students who currently receive special education services Come meet the special education department chairs and learn about the special education transition process to Newton South. ​ ​ ​ ​ 6:30 – 7:00pm: Welcome and General Information ​ Field House We will officially begin in our Field House with a welcome from Principal Tamii Stras and Vice Principal Jason Williams. You will have an opportunity to meet the leadership team at Newton South and learn more about the evening’s events. ​ ​ ​ ​ 7:10 – 8:30pm: Breakout Sessions ​ Various Locations—see map for more details On the map below, the blue circles represent breakout session locations, and the orange rectangles represent tables that you can visit. There are three tables that will be set up throughout the school: Booster Club—buy Newton South merch! Global Education Leadership Fund/Jingshan Exchange—learn more about international travel! Newton Community Education—learn more about Community Ed programming in Newton! See below for the flyer with all breakout sessions listed. ​ ​ ​ ​ Flyer With Breakout Sessions ​ ​ ​ ​ See below for our map—click on the map for a larger PDF version! The Field House is the large gym in the top-left corner of the map. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We look forward to seeing those of you who can come on Thursday evening and welcome you to the Newton South Family! Sincerely, Jason Williams (he/him) Vice Principal Newton South High School 140 Brandeis Road Newton, MA 02459 617-559-6700 ​ ​

    Monday, Mar 03 2025

  • Help Shape the Future of Math and PE/Health & Wellne...

    Help Shape the Future of Math and PE/Health & Wellness Education in Newton Public Schools!   NPS is dedicated to helping every student succeed in math and develop long term healthy habits. We invite all families to participate in our Math and PE/Health & Wellness Curriculum Survey by sharing your experiences, concerns, and ideas. Your feedback will help us improve our programs, tailor support for students, and ensure a strong foundation in these critical subject areas.  Take the survey today and help shape the future of learning in Newton Public Schools! (Survey link and QR code below)   Survey Link:   NPS Math, P.E., Health and Wellness Survey (2025) Survey QR Code:  (scan with the camera from your mobile device, if you are viewing this from another device) [Friday, Mar 7 at 2:00 PM] Hello Newton families! Please help us share the future of Math and Physical Education/Health and Wellness in the district by completing our survey. Your input in important and we want to hear from you. Complete the survey by visiting the page on ThoughtExchange: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/857092001/welcome. You can also scan using the QR code below. The survey is available in multiple languages. Thank you in advance for your honest and helpful feedback!

    Monday, Mar 03 2025

  • Six Newton High School Journalists Win All New Engla...

    The New England, the New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA) announced that six seniors from both Newton high schools are among the top high school journalists by naming them to its first ever All New England High School Journalism staff. This honor recognizes the top high school journalists working on newspapers, yearbooks, broadcasts, or literary magazines throughout the six New England states:  Marty Basaria , editor-in-chief of Newton South's online newspaper, Denebola (Adviser: Sam Lee).  Savannah Bond , co-editor in chief of Newton North's The Newtonite (Advisers: Tom Fabian and Derek Knapp) and an anchor, reporter, editor, and producer on Newton North TV (Advisers: Amanda Mazzola and Scott Dunlop).  Aoba Fujita , co-editor in chief of Newton South's yearbook, Regulus (Adviser: Brian Baron), and is one of the few (two) primarily yearbook journalists recognized throughout New England.   Mia Lahav , co-editor in chief of Newton South's yearbook, Regulus (Adviser: Brian Baron), and is one of the few (two) primarily yearbook journalists recognized throughout New England.  Dea Pance , co-editor in chief of Newton North's The Newtonite (Advisers: Tom Fabian and Derek Knapp).  Risha Sinha , co-editor in chief of Newton South's The Lion's Roar (Adviser: Ashley Chapman) who was also named a runner-up for the Massachusetts High School Journalist of the Year award.  To enter the contests, the students submitted portfolios of their work (see links above), a resume of their journalism experience, and a reflective essay. To be included on the staff, a panel of judges determined that the student's portfolio represented excellence in at least one area of journalism.  Seventeen total high school journalists throughout New England were named to the staff; no other school district had more than two students recognized.

    Monday, Mar 03 2025