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First Friday Prayer Service for Parents and Caregivers: Fri. Oct. 4 at 7:30am
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 7:20am. Prayer will begin promptly at 7:30am and conclude by 7:45am. All are welcome to stay for coffee afterwards.
ADMISSION EVENTS
Prospective Parent Coffee: Fri. Oct. 4 from 8:30-9:30am
Admission Open House: Sun. Nov. 3 from 1-3:30pm
Tell your friends and neighbors about these upcoming Admission events!
- Open House Volunteers: We are 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 sign up here or 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.
- Yard Signs: Display a yard sign or a car magnet to help spread the word about Newton Country Day’s Open House! Yard signs and car magnets will be available at the front desk and at Homecoming.
- 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.
Join us for Homecoming 2024! Fri. Oct. 4 & Sat. Oct. 5
Please join us for terrific athletics, food (trucks!), and family fun as Newton Country Day squares off against rival Dana Hall for Homecoming 2024!
- Fri, Oct. 4 from 3-6pm: Upper School athletics, food trucks
- Please note: there is no MS After School program during US Homecoming
- Sat. Oct. 5 from 9am - 1pm: Middle School athletics, games & activities, breakfast available
Volunteers are needed! See the Parents' Association section to sign up.
Prayers from the Heart: Fri. Oct. 18 at 7:45am 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 Fri. Oct. 18 from 7:45-8:15am in the Blue Room for all those who are interested in praying together.
Family Mass: Sun. Oct. 20 at 4:30 pm
We invite all families to join together for a Family Mass held in the NCDS Chapel. Please contact Sara Milone (x4727) with any questions.
Dads' and Pals' Drop Off: Thu. Oct. 24 at 7am
Join us for this annual tradition! An invitation will be emailed.
Halloween Celebration: Thu. Oct. 31
Both the Upper and Middle School have Halloween activities during assembly times. Students are invited to come to school dressed in their costumes as long as they do not inhibit their ability to participate in classroom activities.
Feast of All Saints: Fri. Nov. 1
The school celebrates the Feast of All Saints at Trinity Chapel. Students should dress appropriately for the occasion.
Mass of Remembrance: Sat. Nov. 2 at 4:30pm
We invite families to a Mass of Remembrance held in our school Chapel. We will gather together to honor the memory of all deceased alumni, family, and friends.You are welcome to submit names of deceased alumni, family, and friends using this link. All names submitted will be brought forward during the offertory and remembered throughout the month of November.
School Picture Retakes: Thu. Nov. 7
Students who were absent on Picture Day, or who wish to have their school pictures re-taken, can do so on Nov. 7. If you ordered copies of your original picture and you are having your picture retaken, you need to bring in the original pictures to give back 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.
Family Conferences: Mon. Nov. 25 & Tue. Nov. 26
Grades 5-12 students will participate in Family Conferences. This year, we are offering both in-person and virtual conference options:
- Mon. Nov. 25: In-person conferences only from 1:30pm to 8pm
- Tue. Nov. 26: Virtual conferences only from 8am to 4pm
Sign-up information will be emailed to parents and caregivers in October.
Livestreamed Athletic Games
Livestreamed games are coming to Newton Country Day! Starting in the next week we will be livestreaming all levels of fall soccer, field hockey, and volleyball! All videos will be shared on Newton Country Day's YouTube channel.
Parking on Campus
Please note: on school days, starting at 7am, the lined parking spaces around campus (by Arches Gym, College Guidance, the Facilities building, Barat House, and the Martin Center), as well as the area along the left side of the driveway and in front of the main building, are reserved for and assigned to our Faculty and Staff. Please be mindful of this when dropping off your daughter in the morning if you are parking on campus for an extended period of time. Visitor spaces are available directly to the left of the main entrance; if all visitor spaces are occupied, please park in the student parking lots by the upper or lower fields.
Sacred Heart Commission on Goals (SHCOG) needs your memories!
The SHCOG provides a system of accountability for living the Sacred Heart mission. Its mandate from the provincial is to design a reflective process whereby a school community holds itself accountable for living according to the Goals and Criteria. As a part of our year of self-study, Newton Country Day's SHCOG Steering Committee needs your help in creating a narrative of our school's history from the past 7 years. Learn more and submit your memories here.
Private Music Lessons
Newton Country Day is proud to continue our partnership with Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio to offer private music lessons on our campus. Ms. Bordner, the studio director, and her faculty share a passion for teaching music, composition, and performance skills to students of all ages and abilities, on every instrument. Private lesson students have the opportunity to perform in a recital in May. Please complete this form if you are interested in signing up for private lessons. If you have any questions about this program, feel free to contact the Director of Music, Dr. Corey Everly
Absence Policy
If a student is going to be absent or tardy, parents should notify the school before 9am. Parents may submit an attendance note on the Veracross Parent Portal or call the Academic Office directly: MS: (617) 559-4750, US: (617) 559-4747.
Lateness Policy
If a student arrives late to school (after 7:45am for MS, 7:55am for US), she is 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 her parents entering it directly via the Veracross Parent Portal or by calling the Academic Office directly: MS: (617) 559-4750, US: (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.
Middle School Experiential Education Day: Wed. Oct. 9
- Grade 6 trip to Christa McAuliffe Center: The 6th graders are going to Mars! The entire 6th grade will head to the Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning located at Framingham State University. The Challenger Learning Center mission simulator offers MS students a totally immersive, hands-on STEM education experience. The mission scenarios will put students in charge of a simulated space flight to the red planet. For two hours, students are transformed into astronauts, scientists, and engineers with a single common purpose – the success of the mission. Teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are put to the test. Fear not, the girls will return home safely from their journey into space. Bagged lunches will be provided.
- Grade 7 trip to the New England Aquarium: This enrichment opportunity serves as a culminating experience for the Evolution Unit in Science 7. Through hands-on, experiential learning, students will observe the unique adaptations that allow aquatic species to thrive in diverse environments. By collaboratively exploring various exhibits, students will make scientific observations and build community with each other. Students will consider our position as stewards of our planet’s resources and our responsibility for protecting these remarkable aquatic species. Students should bring a reusable water bottle, a pen or pencil, and a jacket. Bagged lunches will be provided.
- Grade 8 Capstone Workshop: During the 8th grade capstone workshop, students will engage with teachers as subject experts who will provide insights and guidance as students develop their project proposals. This process will offer valuable feedback to help students refine their ideas and ensure their projects are aligned with the curriculum and Sacred Heart goals. The 8th grade capstone project fosters critical thinking, creativity, and independent problem-solving, allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills to individually designed projects driven by the student’s interests.
Grade 5 Voyagers Excursion: Oct. 9
Cradles to Crayons volunteering, Sacred Heart history lesson
The day’s activities will foster connection to Goal III: a social awareness which impels to action, and Goal I: a personal and active faith in God. Students will spend the morning volunteering at the Newton branch of Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit focused on ending childhood clothing insecurity. In the afternoon, they will return to campus for a deep dive into the history of our school and our Network sister schools.
MS Grandparents' Day: Wed. Oct. 16
Grandparents and Grandfriends will join students for an afternoon that will include a community service activity, Mass, and goûter. An email invitation will be sent.
Grade 5 Voyagers Excursion: Oct. 23
Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers
This celebrated group of musicians, educators, and artisans from tribal communities of Massachusetts will conduct an in-house workshop for the grade 5 Voyagers. As part of their Dance and History classwork, students will examine artifacts, make their own musical instruments, and learn a traditional dance.
MS Athletics: Winter sports tryouts begin the week of Nov. 12
Winter MS sports offered: Basketball, Ice Hockey, and Squash. All practice and game schedules can be found in the athletics section of the website. The tryout schedule can be found here.Students will sign up in school for their winter sport. Please read the MS team policies before the beginning of tryouts.
MS After School Program
The MS After School program is available for all MS students until 5:30pm each day. Please text the After School number at (617) 631-0535 when you arrive to pick up your child; she will then be dismissed from the After School program to meet you at the Arches. Students who take the Metrowest or Boston bus are supervised until bus departure. Students are expected to be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of their school day. Please note, students are required to sign in to the After School program if their parents plan to pick them up more than 15 minutes after school or after sports dismissal. Any questions regarding the After School program should be directed to Ms. Kumi.
Please note: there is no After School program during US Homecoming on Friday, Oct. 4.
Experiential Education Day: Oct. 3
All Grade 9 and 10 students will participate in Experiential Education Day on Thu. Oct. 3. Guided by teachers of a particular discipline, they will take an off-campus educational trip incorporating relevant resources from the greater Boston area into their classroom learning.
- Grade 9: As an introduction to experiential education in the US, 9th grade students will explore the resources of the Boston area in small groups, with each group focusing on a particular academic discipline: the mathematics of Fenway Park, the “Hero’s Journey” in Boston, a walking tour of Chinese and Japanese connections to Boston, an analysis of water quality at the Waterworks Museum, a cross-cultural exploration of the Worcester Art Museum, drawing from the Masters at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and an interreligious study tour of the Abrahamic religions.
- Grade 10: Drawn directly from their Global Studies curricula, Grade 10 students will visit either the Boott Cotton Mills Museum to expand their understanding of the Industrial Revolution or the Museum of Fine Arts to hone the art history skills they have practiced in class. These trips stem directly from their classroom studies of the Industrial Revolution and the Romantic movement, providing a valuable opportunity for students to solidify their learning through experience.
All Experiential Education Day trips will take place during regular school hours. Students should plan to be punctual to school and to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
Grade 9 Service Day: Wed. Oct. 9
Grade 9 students will divide into groups to give life to Goal III by performing community service at several local non-profit organizations focused on care of the elderly. All students should wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, and closed shoes such as sneakers. Students will spend the morning volunteering and then return to campus for lunch, reflection, and grade level activities in the afternoon. Please contact Ms. Hurley at x4842 or Dr. Potter at x4757 with any questions.
Parent/Caregiver Volunteers needed! We are looking for parent/caregiver volunteers to help drive students to and from service sites. We greatly appreciate parent/caregiver volunteers to transport students as the day would not be possible without! Please note, the service component itself is just for students. Parents/caregiver volunteers are asked to drive students from Newton Country Day (approx. departure: 8:45am) to their service site and return students to school between 11:45am-12:30pm. Specific timing is based on individual service sites/locations. If interested, please email Grade 9 Dean, Ms. Hurley, at churley@newtonsh.org with the following: your name, cell phone number, and the number of seatbelts beyond the driver's in your vehicle.
PSAT for Grades 10-11: Wed. Oct. 9
The PSAT/NMSQT is co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. By taking the test, students will have a preview of the SAT that all juniors may take later this school year. The PSAT/NMSQT is also the qualifying test for juniors wishing to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Juniors are entered into the contest just by taking the test. For sophomores, the PSAT is a great opportunity to practice bubbling in answers, budgeting time, and following instructions in this type of setting. We hope students do their best because the results can show areas of strength and opportunities for growth, but there is no cause for stress or extra practice.
Students should arrive at school by 7:45am well-rested and having eaten breakfast. Students will be instructed on where they should report for attendance. Students should bring several #2 pencils and a working calculator. We will not have extra calculators. There is no need to do specific preparation. Testing will end by 12pm.
- Grade 10 remains at school for class activities until 2:30pm. Athletics follow a regular schedule. Buses run at the regular time.
- Grade 11 is dismissed at 12pm.
Other Grades:
- Grade 9 students will participate in a Service Day (see details above).
- Grade 12 students do not have classes on Wed. Oct. 9. We encourage seniors to visit and/or interview at local colleges or to work on essays and applications on this day. However, they are expected to report for any games, rehearsals, or practices that afternoon. Grade 12 students who serve as Grade 10 Mentors are expected to arrive at school by 12pm to facilitate the Grade 10 activities.
College Admissions for US Parents and Caregivers: Tue. Oct. 15 at 7pm
Location: Theatre
Kayte Hager, Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Boston College, will speak to parents about the landscape of college admission in 2024.
School the World Information Session: Tue. Oct. 22 at 6:30 pm in Room 119
Many Newton Country Day students and parents have partnered with School the World, a Boston-based non-profit organization that seeks to transform global poverty by providing access to education. School the World is currently recruiting US students to serve as volunteers for a service trip to Central America during March break in 2025. They also offer service trips in Summer 2025 that rising Juniors can use for their Hesed projects. For more information, please contact Dr. Potter at x4757.
Exchange Families Information Session: Thu. Nov. 7 at 6pm
Families of current Newton Country Day students going on exchange in March 2025 are asked to attend a family information session on Thu. Nov. 7 at 6pm in Room 119.
US Athletics: Winter sports tryouts begin the week of Nov. 12
US 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 October. The tryout schedule can be found here. The up-to-date schedule will be posted on the athletics section of the website. Please sign the US Team Policies form before the beginning of tryouts.
Students should continue to meet with College Guidance to refine their lists of schools and to work on essays, supplements, mock interviews, and applications. Seniors will also continue to meet as a group several times in October. College admissions representatives have been visiting NCDS regularly throughout the past few weeks, and many more visits are to come. The schedule of visits is on Naviance, and students are also notified of these visits in their Google Classroom.
Early Action / Early Decision: Many seniors may choose to send in applications for an Early Action or Early Decision deadline. Seniors will be given specific instructions on how to submit their applications and what their responsibilities are. Students should submit an Early Action/Early Decision Intent Form to the College Guidance Office at least two weeks before the college's deadline. All Intent Forms will be available in the College Guidance Google Classroom.
Financial Aid and Applying Early Decision: The FAFSA Financial Aid Form is being revamped, so it won’t be available until later in the year. This has the potential to impact Early Decision applicants who need financial aid. However, students who need aid can still choose to apply ED, but they should discuss this decision with the College Guidance Office before proceeding.
Most colleges will still estimate Federal Student Aid using a different form—the CSS Profile. It is important that students who need aid fill out this form. The student would then complete the FAFSA in December once it’s available.
Now more than ever, it’s important for families to:
- Contact financial aid offices for ED schools under consideration to get details on the process and commitment to offer at the time of ED admission.
- Get a pre-read of their financial aid, especially since many Net Price Calculators are still not updated with the new FAFSA eligibility formula.
- Ask about the potential differences between a preliminary and final award given a college’s institutional aid policy and commitment to meet need.
- Reach out to admissions to understand the nature of binding and options if a preliminary or final award isn’t enough.
- Please contact the College Guidance Office for further clarification on any of this.
ACT Administration: Oct. 26
SAT Administration:
- Oct. 5
- Nov. 2, Registration Deadline Oct. 18
The Parents' Association encourages all families to get involved in our community. If you would like to volunteer, please visit the Parents' Volunteer Opportunities on the website.
Volunteers needed for Homecoming 2024! Fri. Oct. 4 & Sat. Oct. 5
Sign up to volunteer at US Homecoming on Fri, Oct. 4
Sign up to volunteer at MS Homecoming on Sat. Oct. 5
Parents' Association Meeting: Tue. Oct. 8 at 7:45am in the Blue Room
Join us to discuss community service opportunities and to hear from Tina Lim, Director of Marketing and Communications.
2024-25 PA Leadership
- President: Mary Moriarty P '25
- Officer: Rachel Busby P '23 '26 '29
- Officer: Angela Winchenbaugh P '20 '21 '26
- Officer: Emily Venanzi P '26
- Officer: Kelly Woolbert P '21 '23 '31
Thank you for reading this edition of Newton Notes!
Please contact communications@newtonSH.org with any questions or comments.