Courage and Confidence since 1880

Newton Notes: February 2024
Use this link to translate this message. Select a language at the top of the page.

To access a specific section of Newton Notes, click below:

All-School Announcements

Re-enrollment for the 2024-25 school year begins Feb. 1
Parents and caregivers will receive an email with instructions about how to re-enroll through Veracross. Re-enrollment will also be available through the Veracross Parent Portal. The deadline to re-enroll for next year is Feb. 15.

First Friday Prayer Service for Parents and Caregivers: Fri. Feb. 2 at 7:30 am
We invite all parents and caregivers to gather in our chapel, the heart center of our school, for a brief guided prayer led by Sara Milone, Director of Mission and Ministry. Join us in carving out some time for contemplation and community. Reflective organ music will begin at 7:20 am. Prayer will begin promptly at 7:30 am and conclude by 7:45 am. All are welcome to stay for coffee afterwards.
Save the Date! First Friday Prayer Service for Parents and Caregivers: Fri. Mar. 1 at 7:30 am

Family Mass: Sun. Feb. 4 at 4:30 pm
We invite all families to join together for a Family Mass held in the NCDS Chapel. Fr. Terry Devino, SJ will be presiding. Please contact Sara Milone (x4727) if you are interested in participating in the mass.

Network Summer Service Projects: Applications due Feb. 11
Each year, Sacred Heart Schools throughout the United States offer immersive Network Summer Service Projects that integrate community service, justice education, and meaningful community engagement on a particular theme during summer break. These opportunities are available to rising 6th -12th graders. This year, there are four opportunities open to MS students and seven opportunities open to US students. The Student Application Packet is now available online, and it includes descriptions of each project, eligibility, costs, and FAQ. Costs vary depending on each project and do not include flights/transportation. Financial assistance is available. The application is completely online and must be completed by Feb. 11. If students or families have questions that are not addressed in the application packet, please reach out to Mr. Schusterbauer in the MS at x4755 or Dr. Potter in the US at x4757.

Prayers from the Heart: Fri. Feb. 16 at 7:45 am and online
“Aim unceasingly at becoming a soul of prayer.”- St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. Let the parent community pray for your special prayer intention by submitting a prayer request via the Veracross Parent Portal, with the option to request confidentiality. Parents who are interested may also volunteer to pray for the intentions of the community by subscribing to the Prayers from the Heart community located on the Parent Portal. There will be an in-person gathering on Fri. Feb. 16 from 7:45-8:15 am in the Blue Room for all those who are interested in praying together.

Presidents' Day - No School: Mon. Feb. 19

Head of School Holiday - No School: Tue. Feb. 20 (Varsity teams practice)

Science and Engineering Fair: Wed. Feb. 28 from 3-7 pm
The 29th annual Science and Engineering Fair is held in the Arches Gym and Duchesne Hall. This is a dress event for all students in Grades 7 and 8, and Upper School students participating in Independent Research. Students stay at school through the awards ceremony. Judging of projects occurs between 3:30-6 pm, during which parents and caregivers are not admitted into the gym. Parents and caregivers may visit the exhibits after judging is complete, around 6 pm. The awards ceremony in the Theatre begins at approximately 6:15 pm and concludes by 7 pm.

The Science Department seeks judges for the Fair. If you have a background in science, mathematics, engineering, or medicine, and are interested in volunteering, please visit the Science and Engineering Fair webpage, or contact Tamas Molnar at x4961 or sefair@newtonSH.org.

Mission and Ministry Parent Book Circle (virtual): Mondays (2/12, 2/26, 3/4) OR Wednesdays (2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/6) from 12-1 pm
Join with other parents to mark the season of Lent by participating in a virtual small group discussion to read, reflect and build community. Weaving together excerpts of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’ (Care for our Common Home), we will reflect on the “three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbor, and with the Earth itself” (Laudato Si’ 66). Space is limited. In order to foster community, we ask participants to be present for all of the virtual sessions. Please sign up for Mondays OR Wednesdays. Sign up here.

Save the Date! Braiding Sweetgrass In-Person Gathering: Wed. Mar. 27 from 12-1 pm
All those who read Braiding Sweetgrass during Lent, either independently or as part of a parent book circle group, are invited to gather in person for connection, conversation, and community.

Summer Sports Clinics and Course Offerings
We will offer summer sports clinics the weeks of June 10-14 and June 17-21. During our 4-day clinics, girls work with our enthusiastic Varsity coaching staff to learn and develop fundamental skills and a better understanding of the game. All levels are welcome. Sports Clinic offerings will include:

  • Field Hockey (US and MS)
  • Soccer (US and MS)
  • Volleyball (US and MS)
  • Crew (for students entering grades 8-10)
  • Cross Country (for students entering grades 8-12)

Other summer program offerings, offered throughout the month of June, will include:

  • Computer Science I (open to NCDS students entering grades 9-12)
  • Software Engineering (open to NCDS students entering grades 10-12, prerequisite CS1)
  • SAT Prep (open to NCDS students entering grades 11-12)
  • Summer Painting (open to NCDS students entering grades 9-11)
  • Creative Writing (open to NCDS students entering grades 9-12)
  • Rhythm & Flavor Fusion: Hip Hop Dance and Wholesome Cooking (open to students entering grades 5-8)

Information regarding dates, costs, and registration for all summer programs is forthcoming.

Used Textbook Donation
The NCDS library gratefully accepts donations of gently-used Upper School textbooks. Donations can be dropped off with Mrs. Cedrone at the front desk.

Snow Day Protocol
In the event of a snow day, all classes and activities are canceled. No classes will meet, and no additional work will be assigned. Students may choose to work on long-term assignments and previously assigned work; they may also find it beneficial to organize the school materials they have with them or read a good book.

Should the conditions merit a school closure for more than one day in a row, the subsequent day(s) will be structured as distance learning days. On distance learning days, all scheduled classes will meet at their appointed times. Homeroom and assemblies will not be held to allow screen breaks throughout the day. Students will use the Google Meet link posted in the Google Classroom for each course. If a student experiences a power outage or other weather-related complication, a parent/caregiver should notify the Academic Office.

Buses for Delayed Starts
If NCDS has a delayed start due to weather, the Boston and MetroWest Buses will depart from each of their respective stops 15 minutes later than the regularly scheduled time. This allows students an extra few minutes to get to the bus, and it allows the bus to travel at a safe speed.

Absence Policy
If a student is going to be absent or tardy, parents/caregivers should notify the school before 9 am. Parents/caregivers may submit an attendance note on the Veracross Parent Portal or call the Academic Office directly: MS at (617) 559-4750, US at (617) 559-4747.

Lateness Policy
If a student arrives late to school (after 7:55 am), they are to report immediately to either the MS Academic Office or to the Front Desk if in the US to be recorded present before going to class. Late arrivals may only be excused by a note from a medical professional.

Early Dismissal Policy
Students may not leave before the end of the school day without permission from a parent/caregiver. Any student who has an appointment that necessitates being dismissed early must have this information noted in Veracross either by their parents/caregivers entering it directly via the Veracross Parent Portal or by calling the Academic Office directly: MS at (617) 559-4750, US at (617) 559-4747. Students must sign out at the Front Desk when they leave. Please make every effort to align early dismissal times with the end of class period time to reduce distraction to classroom learning.

Back to Top

Middle School Announcements

Curriculum Night Recording
Grade 8 families who were unable to attend Curriculum Night on Jan. 11 can watch a recording of the event here. Although this was an admission event for prospective Upper School families, current families may also find it of interest as they approach Grade 9.

Voyagers (Grade 5) Excursion: Feb. 7
As a collaboration between their Art and Chorus classes, students will explore Harvard Square in Cambridge. Beginning at the Harvard Art Museums, students will visit the museum’s extensive collections, including Christian iconography, sculptures by Bernini, and Impressionist painting. After the museum, they will attend Mass sung by the St. Paul’s Choir School, the only Catholic all-boys choir school in the United States, to learn about singing chant and liturgical music. Students should dress in Mass attire that is appropriate for the weather.

Middle School Musical: Feb. 15 and 16
Our Middle School musical production of Cats: Young Actors Edition will take place on Thu. Feb. 15 at 7 pm and Fri. Feb. 16 at 6:30 pm in the Sweeney-Husson Theatre. Please purchase your tickets in advance as we do anticipate this show to sell out. Tickets can be purchased at this link.

Spring Sports begin the week of Mar. 4
Middle School sports: Lacrosse, Softball, and Tennis
Students will sign up in school for their spring sport. The tryout schedule is posted on the athletics website. Please read the Middle School team policies before the beginning of tryouts. All practice and game schedules can be found on our website under athletics.

MS After-School Program
The MS After-School Program is available for all students until 5:30 pm each day. Students who take the Boston or MetroWest buses will be supervised until bus departure. Students should be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of the school day, or after school activities (sports or musical). Any student unattended for more than 15 minutes after school/sports/musical dismissal is expected to sign in to the After-School Program on the third floor. Once a MS student leaves campus at the end of the day, the assumption is that she has left campus for the day. The After-School Program elective offered this term is Chess skills. Please remember to text the After-School number (617) 631-0535 when you arrive to pick up your child. Please reach out to Ms. Kumi, the director of our After-School Program, at x4909 with questions.

Back to Top

Upper School Announcements

Honors Global Studies Field Trip: Feb. 5
Honors Global Studies students (grade 10) will take a class field trip to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. Students will explore the Yin Yu Tang House and engage with the museum's collections relating to Japanese, Chinese, and Indian history.

Upper School Retreats
Attendance on overnight retreats is a requirement of the Religious Studies curriculum. More information is available from class deans or your student’s Religious Studies teacher.

  • Grade 11 Kairos Retreat: Tue. Feb. 6 - Fri. Feb. 9 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT
  • Grade 9 Retreat: Thu. Feb. 8 - Fri. Feb. 9 at Toah Nipi Retreat Center in Rindge, NH
  • Grade 10 Retreat: Thu. Feb. 8 - Fri. Feb. 9 at LaSalette Retreat Center in Attleboro, MA
  • Grade 12 Retreat: Thu. May 30 - Fri. May 31 at Craigville Retreat Center in Centerville, MA

Gr. 9&10 Winter Dance with Roxbury Latin: Sat. Feb. 3 from 7-9:30 pm
NOTE: UPDATED DATE!
The Roxbury Latin School invites students in Grades 9 and 10 to a winter dance on Sat. Feb. 3 from 7-9:30 pm at Roxbury Latin. Treats and hot chocolate will be served. Please contact Dr. Baines-Walsh at x4911 or Mr. Szilvasy at x4843 with questions.

Blood Drive: Tue. Feb. 13
Student Government will host the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital Blood Mobile on Tue, Feb. 13. To donate blood, students must be at least 17 years old and 110 lbs. They should also remember to bring a valid photo ID and to eat breakfast that morning. Contact Ms. Spelman at x4848 with questions.

Engineering Design & AP Computer Science Field Trip: Feb. 26
Students in the Engineering Design and AP Computer Science A courses visit Boston Dynamics to tour their facility in Waltham and learn about their past and present robots such as Spot, Stretch, and Atlas. Students meet with current engineers and programmers to learn about their jobs and paths into the field of robotics. This is a particularly special experience for students to engage with female engineers and computer scientists in a typically male-dominated industry. While Boston Dynamics is not open for tours to the public, their mission of encouraging currently underrepresented populations, such as girls, to pursue careers in these fields makes them kindly welcome us for our fifth year.

Spring Sports tryouts begin the week of Feb. 26
Upper School sports: Crew, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, and Tennis
Sign-ups for tryouts have been emailed to the students. The tryout schedule is posted on the athletics website. Please sign the Upper School athletic team policies before the beginning of tryouts. All practice and game schedules can be found on our website under athletics.

Save the Date! Leadership Training: Jun. 7
All Upper School students elected to the following leadership positions for 2024-2025 are expected to attend a leadership training on Fri. Jun. 7 to prepare for the upcoming school year:

  • Student Government
  • Committee Heads
  • Affinity Group Heads
  • Honor Committee
  • Peer Education Committee
  • Senior Mentors for Gr. 9&10

Elections for these positions will take place this spring. Any student planning to run for office should mark Jun. 9 on the calendar to ensure she is available for the leadership training, if elected. Please contact Ms. Spelman at x4848 with any questions.

Back to Top

College Guidance

For Juniors:
Juniors should make an initial appointment as soon as possible to meet with a member of the College Guidance team. We encourage juniors to begin research on colleges during Spring Vacation. Families should note that whirlwind, cross country tours are not necessary; even visiting a variety of colleges in the Boston area might be a helpful place to start as juniors are just beginning to figure out the types of institutions that might interest them. Virtual visits are also an excellent option; travel is not mandatory at this point. Students can learn a lot about schools through online resources, college guidebooks, etc. Junior parents are welcome to call College Guidance throughout the remaining months of the spring semester with questions or to set up a meeting.

College Guidance uses Naviance to manage the college application process. Each junior has been given a username and a password and is expected to log onto the Naviance system. We rely on the program to help manage both the research and application process and have found it to be very efficient and helpful to both students and parents. Naviance can be accessed at naviance.com.

For Seniors:
Seniors should keep the College Guidance Office informed as they continue to receive admissions decisions from colleges. They should come by to share their news, but it is also important that they update Naviance as decisions come in. This allows us to keep statistics on the colleges to which our students apply, which is extremely helpful as we counsel students in future years. Seniors should also feel free to take full advantage of our office in the months to come, especially if they need guidance when making the big decisions that lie ahead!

Back to Top

Parents' Association

Teen Clothing Drive: Thank you!
Thank you to all the families who donated clothing to the Teen Clothing Drive to support the Boston Community Hub Schools.

PIN Meeting: Tue. Feb. 6 at 12 pm (on Zoom)
Promoting Health Eating: Nutrition, Benefits of Healthy Eating & Early Signs of Disordered Eating, featuring Cassy Taverna, LCSW of River & Stone Health & Wellness, and more! Register here.

Check your mailboxes! 50th Tres Bien Auction: Sat. Mar. 2
Join fellow parents for the 50th Tres Bien Auction! It will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, at The 521 Overlook, Fenway Park. It is sure to be a truly memorable evening. RSVP here.

2023-24 PA Leadership

Back to Top

Thank you for reading this edition of Newton Notes!
Please contact communications@newtonSH.org with any questions or comments.