Courage and Confidence since 1880

Newton Notes: November 2023
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All-School Announcements

Dads' and Pals' Drop Off: Thu. Nov. 2 at 7 am
Join us for an annual tradition! All dads and pals are invited to join us for coffee, hot chocolate, and breakfast with their daughters in the Martin Center before classes begin. Please park anywhere near the Martin Center entrance.

School Picture Retakes: Thu. Nov. 2
Picture retakes are available for students who were absent on Picture Day or who wish to have their school pictures re-taken. If you ordered copies of your original picture, and you are having your picture re-taken, you must bring in your original pictures to return to the photographer. If you would like to order photos and have not already done so, please visit the Coffee Pond website and click the “Order School Portraits” button.

First Friday Prayer Service: Fri. Nov. 3 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 Pastoral 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.

Admission Open House: Sun. Nov. 5 from 1-3:30 pm
Prospective Parent Coffee: Wed. Nov. 29 from 8:30-9:30 am
Tell your friends and neighbors about these upcoming Admission events!

  • Open House Volunteers: We are still recruiting volunteers to help at Open House and hope that you will consider spending the afternoon with us. If you would like to volunteer, please call the Admission Office. In addition to parents/caregivers, all current students are encouraged to participate, as well. Thank you for your help in building our school community.

  • Calling all siblings: If you have a daughter who will be applying to Newton Country Day this year, please call the Admission Office to schedule her tour and interview.

Veterans' Day Observed (No School): Fri. Nov. 10

EIL Tournament: Fri. Nov. 10 and Sat. Nov. 11

New England Cross Country Championships: Sat. Nov. 11

MS and US Winter Athletic Team Tryouts Begin: Mon. Nov. 13

Anastasia: The Musical: Thu. Nov. 16 at 7 pm; Fri. Nov. 17 at 7 pm; Sat. Nov. 18 at 2 pm
Our Upper School production of Anastasia: The Musical will take place in the Sweeney-Husson Theatre. Please purchase your tickets in advance as we anticipate this show to sell out. Links to purchase tickets online are listed below:

Prayers from the Heart: Fri. Nov. 17 at 7:45 am and online
“Aim unceasingly at becoming a soul of prayer.”- St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. A community that prays together, stays together. 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 Thu. Nov. 17 from 7:45-8:15 am in the Blue Room for all those who are interested in praying together.

Family Conferences: Mon. Nov. 20 (Early Release) and Tue. Nov. 21 (No School)
Students in grades 5-12 participate in virtual Family Conferences. Families will be notified with directions to sign up for Family Conferences through Veracross.

  • Mon. Nov. 20: Early Release at 12:30 pm. US varsity teams practice; MetroWest bus departs 12:45 pm, Boston bus departs 3:45 pm
  • Tue. Nov. 21: No Classes. US varsity teams practice; No buses

Thanksgiving Vacation (No School): Wed. Nov. 22 - Fri. Nov. 24

Christmas Basket Service Project
In late Nov. and early Dec., student TAG & Advisory groups will be collecting store gift cards and decorating simple gift boxes to provide families at Harbor Point in collaboration with Sr. Joyce McMullen of Project Care & Concern. Every MS and US student is invited to participate. Cardboard banker boxes will be distributed to decorate and fill with nonperishable food and basic household gifts. In addition, students are encouraged to include gift cards to any of the following four stores: Star Market, Stop & Shop, Target, or TJ Maxx. Please make sure to indicate the value of the gift card in writing on the card sleeve or directly upon the card itself! All students are asked to bring in their donations by Fri. Dec. 8. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Potter at x4757 (US) or Mr. Schusterbauer at x4755 (MS).

Save the Dates!
Parent/Caregiver Book Circle: Mondays during Advent (Dec. 4, 11, 18) 12-1 pm (virtual)
Join with other parents to celebrate the season of Advent by participating in a virtual small group discussion over three weeks based on a daily devotional developed by Kate Bowler, professor at Duke Divinity School. In the midst of a season often characterized by its hustle and bustle, make some time for contemplation and journey with other parents as we “bless the Advent we actually have.” Space is limited. In order to foster community, we ask participants to be present for all three weeks. Please sign up here.

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.

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Middle School Announcements

Grade 8 Families: Open House on Sun. Nov. 5 at 1:45 pm
Grade 8 families are invited to the Open House to attend the US Program and Panel in Duchesne Hall. Hear from US administrators, faculty, and students about the US experience at NCDS.

Grade 5 Voyagers Excursions: Nov. 8 and 29

  • Nov. 8: Guild Hall - The English and Technology classes will visit Guild Hall for a three-hour program of designing and building robots from scratch, which students will then use to battle against each other with repeated iterations and redesigns.

  • Nov. 29: Harvard Natural History Museum - With particular emphasis on the glass flowers, forest ecology exhibits, and vertebrate collections, students will explore the museum through the lens of their Science and Roots of Language classes by utilizing food webs, data collection, parts of language, and storytelling.

Grade 8 Families Washington DC Meeting: Wed. Nov. 8 at 7 pm
Our 8th grade students will once again travel to Washington, D.C. as a culminating educational excursion linked to their study of American History. The dates of the trip are Tue. May 28 - Fri. May 31, 2024. NCDS partners with educational travel experts Grand Classroom to offer our students a teacher-led trip exploring a wide range of experiences including, but not limited to, visits to the African American Museum of History and Culture, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, tours of various historical memorials and a curated visit to the Smithsonian Museums.

To learn more about this trip, join us for a virtual informational meeting on Wed. Nov. 8 at 7 pm. Representatives from the Grand Classroom will discuss details about the trip including the itinerary, registration process, costs, insurance, etc. Our faculty will also be available to answer any other questions you may have. The link for the meeting will be emailed to families on the day of the meeting.

Grade 7 Field Trip to the New England Aquarium: Thu. Nov. 9
This enrichment opportunity is offered in coordination with Grade 7's study of evolution in science. Students should bring a reusable water bottle, pen or pencil, and jacket. Bagged lunches will be provided.

Postponed: Grade 8 Service and Social Event with St. Sebastian's
The grade 8 service and social event with St. Sebastian's, originally scheduled for Nov. 13, has been postponed until the winter. Details forthcoming!

MS Winter Athletics Tryouts begin the week of Nov. 13
MS winter sports offered: Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Squash. All practice and game schedules can be found in the athletics section of the website. Students will sign up in school for their winter sport. The tryout schedule has been posted. Please read the MS team policies before the beginning of tryouts.

MS Affinity Group Community Meal: Tue. Nov. 14 at 4:30 pm
The MS affinity group will come together for a community meal highlighting the recipes and cultures of two of our families.

MS Musical: Cats: Youth Edition: Auditions begin Mon. Nov. 27
We will hold auditions for the MS Musical, Cats: Youth Edition, from 3:10-4:30 pm on Mon., Tue., and Thu. and from 2:45-4:15 pm on Wed. and Fri. Audition materials will be provided. All students that audition will receive a role in the production. Performances will take place on Thu. Feb. 15 and Fri. Feb. 16.

Save the Date!
Middle School Vespers: Tue. Dec. 19 at 5 pm
All of our MS students participate as dancers, musicians, and lectors in our MS Advent Prayer Service. Students must provide their own ballet slippers and flesh toned tights. A standard Vespers outfit will be provided for them. All rehearsals leading up to this event will take place during regular school hours.

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.

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Upper School Announcements

Honors Portfolio Preparation
The US Art program has added a new course: Honors Portfolio Preparation, taught by Pat Hadfield. This is a course designed for seniors who have finished AP Drawing and AP Design by their junior year. These students seek to further develop their portfolios for the supplemental portfolio process in college applications. Work executed in this course will likely be submitted to the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Award Competition.

Grade 9 Prevention Solutions Workshop: Mon. Nov. 6
As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellness, we have invited prevention specialists from Prevention Solutions within the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to work with our ninth grade students. Prevention Solutions provides alcohol, nicotine, and other drug education to schools and communities around the world. The workshop will take place from 1-3:30 pm. Please contact Ms. Spelman at x4848 with questions.

Parent/Caregiver Exchange Info Session: Tue. Nov. 7 at 7 pm
Families of students traveling on exchange this year have been sent an email with a link to the meeting. Please note that this is for students already registered for this year's exchange program; an informational session for those interested in applying for exchange for next year will take place later in Jan. 2024.

Junior Rings: Orders and Deposits due Fri. Nov. 10
The Class of 2025 received order forms for class rings. Please email kate.toman.office@jostens.com with any questions.

US Athletics Tryouts begin the week of Nov. 13
US winter sports offered: Basketball, Dance Team, Ice Hockey, and Squash. All practice and game schedules can be found in the athletics section of the website. Sign ups for tryouts will be emailed to students by the end of Oct. Please sign the US Team Policies form before the beginning of tryouts.

Grade 9 Pie in the Sky Service Project: Sat. Nov. 18 from 11 am - 1 pm
Grade 9 girls bake 50 apple pies to donate to Community Servings' Pie in the Sky fundraiser. Pie proceeds help Community Servings provide healthy meals to critically ill and homebound people in Massachusetts. This service project provides a great opportunity for students to live Goal III and grow new friendships during this season of giving thanks. Students are asked to bring a bag of apples, a mixing bowl, an apple or vegetable peeler, and an apple corer (if you have one). Lunch will be served. Grade 9 parents and caregivers who are interested in volunteering to help with this annual service project should contact Grade 9 Dean Dr. Baines at x4911.

Grades 11&12 Semi-Formal Dance: Fri. Dec. 1 from 8-10 pm
Members of the classes of 2024 and 2025 are invited to a semi-formal dance in Duchesne Hall. Students must arrive no later than 8:30 pm. The cost of attending the dance is $10 per person, and tickets can be purchased online. To attend the dance, students must submit their signed permission and guest information form (ticket purchase link within) and payment by Fri. Nov. 17.

In addition to faculty chaperones, parents also help chaperone the dance. We are looking for volunteers! If you are interested in being a parent chaperone or have any questions, please contact Ms. Spelman at x4848.

Save the Date!
Blessing of US Winter Athletes and Team Intros: Tue. Dec. 5 at 5:30 pm
We invite families of US winter season athletes to a blessing led by Fr. Devino followed by team introductions. The event will take place in the Library Silent Reading Room immediately after practices. Dress is casual.

Save the Date!
Upper School Vespers: Wed. Dec. 20 at 7 pm
All students enrolled in a dance or music course participate in our US Advent Prayer Service. Students will receive directions regarding performance attire from their individual teachers. There is one mandatory after school rehearsal on Mon. Dec. 18 from 3:30-5:30pm. All other rehearsals leading up to this event take place during regular school hours.

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College Guidance

College Applications
In mid Nov. students will submit a draft of their Regular Decision list. They will receive feedback, to help ensure that their lists are sufficiently safe. Early in Dec. seniors will submit to College Guidance the final list of Regular Decision colleges where they intend to apply. Seniors know that it is their responsibility to complete and submit their portion of the application by all appropriate deadlines. Seniors are responsible for sending SAT/ACT scores directly from either organization, if they are submitting scores. The College Guidance Office will send out the transcript, letters of recommendation, school profile, and school report by Dec. 21 for all regular decision schools.

Early Action/Early Decision
Many seniors have sent or are sending applications for Early Action or Early Decision deadlines. Seniors were given specific instructions on how to submit their applications and on their responsibilities.

Financial Aid Information
Students seeking financial aid for college should determine as soon as possible whether colleges where they will submit an application require the CSS Profile. Go to each college’s financial aid website to determine if the CSS Profile is required. If so, seniors and their parents should immediately complete the CSS Profile available here. Although not all colleges require the CSS Profile, all colleges require the FAFSA. Some colleges also have their own financial aid forms; families should read the colleges’ websites carefully to determine what the requirements are for each school.

SAT Administration: Dec. 2
Registration Deadline: Nov. 2

ACT Administration: Dec. 9
Registration Deadline: Nov. 3

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Parents' Association

Parents' Association Meeting: Tue. Nov. 7 at 7:45 am

Parents’ Association Fall Service Project
Thanksgiving Baskets, Gift Cards, and Volunteer Opportunities
For more than 30 years, the Parents’ Association has assisted Sr. Joyce McMullen of Project Care and Concern in serving the families of Harbor Point through the Thanksgiving Basket/Box Project. Sign up here. Ways you can help:

  • For families who have put together a basket/box: Return filled boxes Mon. - Wed. Nov. 6-8 between 7-8 am at the Arches.
  • Support the project by purchasing a gift card from a local Dorchester market, Stop & Shop, Target or Star/Shaws. Gift cards should be for $25 or less (clearly marked) and can be dropped off with Ms. Cedrone at the front desk until Fri. Nov. 10.
  • Volunteer for the pick-up and drop-off days (see above) as well as delivery of the filled boxes to Harbor Point on Mon. Nov. 13. Slots are available on the Sign-up.

Please direct questions to Service Committee members: Grace White, Liz Grimes, Sheelah Sullivan. As always, we are grateful for the amazing generosity of the NCDS community.

Parents' Independent School Network Meeting: Tue. Nov. 14 at 12 pm (on Zoom)
A Healthier Admissions Process for Secondary Schools and College, featuring Bryan Gross, VP for Enrollment Management at Hartwick College, Tim Murphy, Director of Secondary School Counseling at The Fessenden School, Bill Southwick, Educational Counselor at McMillan Education, and Peter Wilson, Dean of College Admissions at University of Chicago. Registration is required. After you register, you will receive a Zoom link for the event.

Moms Night Out: Wed. Nov. 15, 7-9 pm
Please join your fellow NCDS moms for an auction kick-off party! The auction chairs need your help in making this event a success. Come meet other NCDS moms and learn how to get involved in this year's auction. Please consider bringing a bottle of wine (minimum $30 value) for the auction wine pull! RSVP here.

Jingle Ball Ticket Raffle
Take a chance to win 4 tickets for the Jingle Ball! Sun. Dec. 2 at 6 pm. Loge, Row 16, Seats 7-10. Enter now.

2023-24 Leadership

  • President: Mary Moriarty P'25
  • Officer: Rachel Busby P '23 '26 '29
  • Officer: Brian Hanson P '26
  • Officer: Angela Winchenbaugh P '20 '21 '26

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