Courage and Confidence since 1880

Newton Notes: September 2024

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Opening Week Schedule

Tue. Sep. 3

  • 10:30-11:30am: Honors Dance and Schola (rehearsal for Mass of the Holy Spirit)
  • 12:30-3:30pm: Senior Mentors for Gr. 9 and 10
  • 2:30-3:30pm: Student Government (Senior Mentors are excused) and Gr. 12 Opening Day Greeters
  • 4-6pm: US athletics and musical rehearsal
  • 5:30-7pm: Grade 9 Family Picnic (students in athletics or the musical arrive at 6pm after practice)

Wed. Sep. 4: Opening Day
Students are involved in Orientation and Class Activities.
School pictures for US students.
Boston Bus service begins.
Note: MS After-School Supervision Program starts Mon. Sep. 9. MS students who need to wait for the bus the first week of school should do so in the MS Commons.

  • 7:45am: Gr. 12 Opening Day Greeters and Senior Mentors for Gr. 9 and 10 arrive
  • 8:30am: Arrival for Gr. 5-11
  • 11am: Gr. 12 students who are not Opening Day Greeters or Senior Mentors arrive
  • 12pm: MS dismissal (no lunch served)
  • 2:30pm: US dismissal
  • 3-5pm: US athletics and musical rehearsal
  • 6:45pm: Boston Bus departs

Thu. Sep. 5: First Day of Classes
This is a regular school day. Students arrive by 7:45am.
MetroWest Bus service begins.
Note: MS After-School Supervision Program starts Mon. Sep. 9. MS students who need to wait for the bus the first week of school should do so in the MS Commons.

  • 3pm: MS dismissal
  • 3:30pm: US dismissal
  • 3:10-4:10pm: MS athletic tryouts
  • 4-5:30pm: US athletics (see details on athletics website)
  • 4-6pm: US musical rehearsal
  • 4:45pm: MetroWest/Southern Corridor Bus departs
  • 6:45pm: Boston Bus departs

Fri. Sep. 6
This is a regular school day. Students arrive by 7:45am.
Note: MS After-School Supervision Program starts Mon. Sep. 9. MS students who need to wait for the bus the first week of school should do so in the MS Commons.

  • 2:30pm: MS & US dismissal
  • 2:40-3:40pm: MS athletic tryouts
  • 3:30-5pm: US athletics (see details on athletics website)
  • 3:00-5pm: US musical rehearsal
  • 4:45pm: MetroWest/Southern Corridor Bus departs
  • 6:45pm: Boston Bus departs

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Welcome Lisa Winick, Chief Advancement Officer
We are delighted to announce that Lisa Winick has joined Newton Country Day as Chief Advancement Officer. A graduate of Northwestern University, Ms. Winick has worked in academic fundraising for 35 years, including her alma mater, Barnard College, and Arizona State University. She spent the last two decades in boarding schools, leading the Peddie School through four building campaigns and Milton Academy through its historic $175M comprehensive campaign. Ms. Winick is excited to work in an organization devoted to developing Courage and Confidence in young women. Ms. Winick's office is located next to the Blue Room; please join us in extending a warm welcome to the Newton Country Day community.

New Family Breakfast: Sat. Sep. 7 from 9-10:30am
New Families and their Host Families are invited to attend the New Family Breakfast. There will be a short program at 9:45am. See more information and RSVP here.

Mass of the Holy Spirit / Head of School Installation: Tue. Sep. 10
The school celebrates the Mass of the Holy Spirit at Trinity Chapel, which will include the installation of Jessica Hooper as the Head of School. Students should dress appropriately for the occasion.

Safety Day: Tue. Sep. 24
In partnership with the Newton Police Department, Newton Country Day will be devoting time this fall to practicing our emergency protocols. On Tue. Sep. 24, students, faculty, and staff will exercise these drills on “Safety Day”. It will be led by Sergeant Dan Valente, the supervisor of NPD’s Special Operations Bureau. Our Safety Protocols are outlined in the Student Handbook. Any questions can be directed to the Safety Committee Chair Mr. Rosovsky.

Save the Dates! Homecoming
US: Fri. Oct. 4
MS: Sat. Oct. 5

Dance Classes
All students enrolled in a dance elective will need a pair of canvas flesh-toned ballet slippers for their dance class. Their dance teacher will communicate all specific dance attire needs at the first class meeting and answer any questions related to dance class dress code. Students will have until Sep. 16 to acquire all required dance class attire.

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.

Open House Yard Signs now available!
Yard signs promoting our Nov. 3 Open House are now available! Ask for one at the front desk if you would like to help the school advertise this important admission event.

Calling All Siblings!
If you have a daughter who plans to apply to Newton Country Day for Fall 2025, please let the Admission Office know. Tours and Interviews will begin the week of Sep. 23.

Designating a primary parent/caregiver contact
Please fill out this form to designate a primary parent or caregiver contact for each student. The primary contact will be contacted by the school first for any individual email or phone call communication. There is a field for comments for explanation if multiple parents/caregivers should be contacted at the same time.

Veracross
Please take a moment to review and update your contact information in Veracross. Veracross is a comprehensive school information management system that enables families to monitor students' schedules, academics and activities. Please familiarize yourself with the information and tools available in order to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of this application.

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/guardian. 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.

Transportation

  • Carpool List: If you are interested in carpooling with other families for the 2024-25 school year, please fill out the Carpool form. Please note that Newton Country Day does not create carpools; the form is used to compile information for interested families. The list is available will be updated with new responses on the Veracross Parent Portal -- please note that as families sign up, the list will be updated, so check back often!
  • Register for the Bus: It's not too late to sign up! Newton Country Day is pleased to offer one-way and round-trip daily transportation from locations in Boston, Needham, and Westwood, for a fee. See more information and register for the bus here. Boston Bus service will begin on Wed. Sep. 4 and MetroWest/Southern Corridor service will begin on Thu. Sep. 5.
  • CharlieCards: MBTA Student Value CharlieCards are available through the school. The S pass, open to all Newton Country Day students, is a stored value card that only charges the student fare each time it is used. Students will load the card themselves with funds at CharlieCard machines at MBTA stations. Loading the card with $30 will provide unlimited trips for that particular month. Therefore, if you would like your card to become an unlimited ride card for a particular month, do not load that card until the first day of that month. The M7 card, available to 7th-12th graders who reside in the City of Boston, is an MBTA pass that comes preloaded for unlimited travel on the bus, subway, Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2, and the East Boston Ferry. Contact Ms. Dingivan with questions. Students can pick up their cards from Ms. Dingivan in the Academic Office during pre-season or on Opening Day.

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MS Phone Policy
In order to help our students be fully present and engaged during the day, student phones, smartwatches, and earbuds/headphones are collected during homeroom and returned to students at the end of the day. If you need to reach your child during the day, please call the MS Office at (617) 559-4750.

MS After School Program: begins Mon. Sep. 9
The MS After School program begins on Mon. Sep. 9 and is available for all MS students until 5:30pm each day. Students who take the Boston bus are supervised until bus departure. Students are expected to be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of their school day. Students are required to sign into the After School program if their parents/caregivers plan to pick them up more than 15 minutes after school or sports dismissal. Please text the After School number (617) 631-0535 when you arrive to pick up your child; they will then be dismissed from the After School program to meet you at the Arches. Please note: there is no After School program during US Homecoming on Friday, Oct. 4.

MS Picture Day: Mon. Sep. 9
Coffee Pond Photography takes photos of all students at the start of each school year. To order photos, please visit the Coffee Pond website and click the “Order School Portraits” button. Select Newton Country Day School using the drop-down menu, enter your child’s information, and select your packages. To order photos for more than one child, click “Order for Another Child” and repeat the process.

MS Back to School Night: Tue. Sep. 10 at 7pm
A reception for parents and caregivers will begin at 6pm.

Grade 5 Voyagers Excursion: Wed. Sep. 11
As part of their English and History classes, students will visit Jackson Homestead to learn about Native Americans in the area, study how historians and archaeologists uncover the past, and practice using descriptive language. As this is an outdoor excursion, students should dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Grade 5 Voyagers Excursion: Wed. Sep. 25
Students will travel to the EcoTarium in Worcester to explore exhibits that highlight the diversity of living organisms and the non-living factors that support them. During this excursion which connects their Science and Religion classes, students will observe the intricate relationships between animals and their environment, reflect on our role as stewards of the Earth's resources, and consider how connections between all living things inspire a deeper appreciation for creation. Students should wear comfortable shoes for walking and dress for the weather, as some time will be spent outdoors.

Grade 8 Families Washington, D.C. Meeting: Wed. Sep. 25 at 7pm
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 Wed. May 28 - Fri. May 30, 2025. Newton Country Day 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. Sept. 25 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.

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Student Leadership Meetings: Tue. Sep. 3
Leadership meetings will continue through Tuesday, September 3 before athletics practices and musical rehearsals. The schedule for those meetings is as follows:

  • 10:30-11:30am: Honors Dance Composition and Honors Schola Cantorum (rehearsal for Mass of the Holy Spirit: Mrs. Davenport and Dr. Everly will contact students via email with rehearsal location and more details)
  • 12:30-3:30pm: Senior Mentors for Gr. 9 and 10
  • 2:30-3:30pm: Student Government (Senior Mentors are excused)

Grade 9 Family Picnic: Tue. Sep. 3 from 5:30-7pm
Members of the Class of 2028 and their parents/guardians participate in the Grade 9 Family Picnic, during which the students gather with their advisory groups and parents meet their daughter’s advisor.

  • 5:30-6pm: Parent program
  • 6pm: Students join parents and advisors for dinner in Advisory Groups

Students involved in fall athletics or the fall musical will be dismissed by 6pm to attend. As the picnic is casual, students come directly from practice. Students not involved in fall athletics or the musical arrive at 5:30pm and participate in their own activities during the parent program.

Tuck Everlasting Callbacks: Tue. Sep. 3 from 4-6pm
Callbacks for Tuck Everlasting will take place on Tue. Sep. 3 from 4-6pm. All cast members will receive a role in our production! Stage crew members will work during the same assigned hours as all cast members. Our regular practice schedule starts on Sep. 4. Weekly rehearsals typically run from 3:45-5:45pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and from 2:45-4:45pm on Wednesday and Friday. We have extended hours during Tech Week, as well as two scheduled Saturday rehearsals to prepare for Tech Week. Students will receive a detailed rehearsal calendar. Please direct audition related questions to the Musical Director, Dr. Everly, and stage crew related questions to the Technical Theatre Director, Mr. Farreh.

US Sports Continue
The schedule for preseason athletic practices and musical rehearsals before Opening Day finishes today, Tue. Sep. 3, 4-6 pm.

US Picture Day: Wed. Sep. 4
Coffee Pond Photography takes photos of all students at the start of each school year. US students will have their pictures taken on Opening Day. To order photos, please visit the Coffee Pond website and click the “Order School Portraits” button. Select Newton Country Day School using the drop-down menu, enter your child’s information, and select your packages. To order photos for more than one child, click “Order for Another Child” and repeat the process.

US Fall Trips
To facilitate Goal IV, “the building of community as a Christian value,” days have been set aside during the second week of school for grade-level programming. These overnight trips are core to the US experience, and all students are expected to attend in full. Students should not bring schoolwork, laptops, cell phones, or other electronic communication or entertainment devices. All students must have up-to-date medical forms on file in Magnus Health in order to go on these trips.

  • Grade 9 Orientation: Sep. 11-13. Orientation takes place at the Craigville Retreat Center in Centerville, MA. This retreat is designed to both help students get to know each other and familiarize themselves with the Goals and Criteria for Sacred Heart Schools. Orientation is a time when lasting friendships begin to form. Class moderators and other ninth grade faculty accompany the class. Students and faculty will travel by bus at 1:30pm on Wed. and return by 2:30pm on Friday in time for athletic practices and musical rehearsals. Contact Ms. Hurley at x4842 with questions.
  • Grade 10 Trip: Sep. 12-13. The Sophomore Outdoor Education program takes place at the Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in Shutesbury, MA. Programming is designed to help build understanding, respect, responsibility, and caring within the individual, between individuals within the group, between the groups, and between humans and the environment. Students and faculty will leave at 8am on Thu. and return by 2:30pm on Fri. in time for athletic practices and musical rehearsals. Contact Andrew Szilvasy at x4843 with questions.
  • Grade 11 Trip: Sep. 11-13. The junior class visits New York City. The purpose of the trip is to deepen a commitment to Goal III, “a social awareness which impels to action,” through service, and to visit historical sites that connect with the U.S. History curriculum. Buses leave Newton Country Day promptly at 7:30am on Wed. Students should arrive at school by 7:15am. Buses return to school around 7pm. on Fri. Students will update their parents about return time during the return trip based on traffic. Contact Kate Kenney at x4756 with questions.
  • Grade 12 Activities: Sep. 11-13. Seniors will participate in a “Love in Action” day of service and leadership programming on Wed. Sep 11, concluding in time for athletic practices and musical rehearsals. On Thu. Sep. 12 and Fri. Sep. 13, Grade 12 students will either be working with Grade 9 and 10 students as Senior Mentors or participating in on-campus college application workshops. Thu. and Fri. are great days to schedule off-campus college visits for students not involved in the Grade 9 or Grade 10 Mentors program. Contact Loren Cerami at x4936 with questions.

US Back to School Night: Tue. Sep. 17 at 7pm
A reception for parents and caregivers will begin at 6pm.

Senior Parent & Caregiver Reception: Thu. Sep. 26 at 6:30pm
Join us in the Dining Commons for hors d'oeuvres and refreshments as we celebrate the start of an unforgettable year!

Experiential Education Day: Thu. 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, 10th-grade 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.

Save the Date! 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.

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  • We have been helping many seniors throughout the summer with their college essays, applications, and lists. Please continue to encourage your daughter to reach out to us; we are happy to help with all aspects of the college process!
  • During the first semester, regular group meetings with seniors will be held to discuss all college application essentials. Seniors should schedule individual meetings with Mr. Rosenholtz, Mr. Blanchard, and/or Ms. Riobueno to finalize college lists, essays, and applications, especially for Early Decision or Early Action.
  • Seniors should update their Naviance account, including reporting new standardized test scores. College admissions representatives will visit Newton Country Day during the school day in September and October. These are information sessions, not interviews, and students are encouraged to attend.
  • Students should check the College Guidance Google Classroom and Naviance website weekly for updates and reminders.
  • Parents can also schedule meetings with College Guidance via phone, Google Meet, or in person.
  • SAT and ACT dates are available. Though most colleges won't require test scores, students interested in testing should register early.
    • ACT Administration:
      • Oct. 26, Registration Deadline Sep. 20
    • SAT Administration:
      • Oct. 5, Registration Deadline Sep. 20
      • Nov. 2, Registration Deadline Oct. 18
  • Seniors were given college guidance-related materials before they left for the summer; these can be found in their college guidance Google Classroom. Included were two assignments: complete a draft of the Common Application (at least the easy parts), and complete a draft of their college essay. These assignments are due on the first day of the fall semester! Summer assignments can be found here.
  • A Timeline of the College Application Process with embedded resources can be found here.

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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.

Parents' Association Meeting: Mon. Sep. 9 at 7:45am in the Theatre
Join us for the first Parents' Association meeting for the 2024-25 school year and meet our new Head of School, Jessica Hooper P '28, who will share about the journey that brought her to Newton Country Day and her commitment to Sacred Heart education. RSVP here.

2024-25 PA Leadership

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