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Admission Curriculum Night: Thu. Jan. 8, 6:30-8:15pm
Newton Country Day is hosting a Curriculum Night for prospective families. Some of our current students have been asked to participate as we show applicants and their parents/caregivers what makes our school unique among Boston area independent schools. Current Grade 8 families are also invited to attend if they are interested in learning more about our US program and can sign up here through Jan. 7.
First Friday Prayer Service for Parents and Caregivers: Fri. Jan. 9, 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 Ms. 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.
Dance Fairies Goods Drive: Mon. Jan. 12-Wed. Jan. 28
Our Dance Team is leading a school-wide clothing drive in support of Dance Fairies, a nonprofit organization that provides free dancewear to young dancers in need. From Jan. 12-28, students in both US and MS are encouraged to donate gently used dance clothing, including leotards, tights, skirts, shoes, and warm-ups, that they no longer use. Thank you for helping our dancers share the joy of movement with others.
Network HEART Projects 2026: Applications due Fri. Jan. 16
Network HEART Projects are collaborative, immersive summer service-learning travel experiences offered across the Sacred Heart Network providing opportunities for NCDS students to learn and serve alongside students from other Sacred Heart schools. These programs will take place in Summer 2026 at Sacred Heart schools across the country and are open to eligible students from Grades 6-11, depending on the project. Students may apply to participate in multiple projects. The online application is due Fri. Jan. 16, and decisions will be announced by Wed. Feb. 25. For more information, reach out to Ms. Maxeiner (MS) x4812 or Dr. Potter (US) x4757.
No classes: Mon. Jan. 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and Tue. Jan. 20 (Faculty/Staff Work Day)
Our day off on Tue. Jan. 20 provides time for faculty to work on their Narrative Comments to accompany students' semester reports. Classes will resume on Wed. Jan. 21.
Winter White Out: Fri. Jan. 23, 3:15pm
Mark your calendars for one of the most spirited days of the season—our annual Winter White Out, a Homecoming-style celebration showcasing the excellence of Falcon Athletics. We will welcome local rivals to campus for an exciting afternoon of basketball and squash, highlighted by performances from our Varsity Dance Team. The ice hockey games will also be streamed live. Competition begins on the Martin Center courts at 3:15pm, with Varsity/JV Basketball tipping off at 5:30pm. Families can enjoy raffles and giveaways, school store merchandise, and student challenges for Blue-Silver points. We look forward to seeing you at this community-wide celebration!
Dads' & Pals' Drop Off: Thu. Jan. 29, 7-8am, Martin Center
Join us for this annual tradition! An invitation and RSVP will be emailed.
Help Wanted! Science & Engineering Fair Judges: Wed. Feb. 25, 3-6pm
Many thanks to those who have responded! The Science Department is still looking for 16 more parents, alumnae, and friends of NCDS who have a background in science, mathematics, engineering, medicine, or related fields, to judge grades 7-8 and US student projects at the 31st annual NCDS Science and Engineering Fair. If you are able to help, please visit the Science and Engineering Fair webpage or contact Dr. Webster at x4926.
Help Wanted! Host a Senior for an Unpaid, In-Person Internship or Job Shadow: Apr. 27-May 22
We are seeking alumnae, parents/caregivers, and former parents/caregivers to host our senior students for an unpaid, in-person internship or job shadowing experience from Apr. 27-May 22 for the Senior Project initiative, which aims to provide students with real-world experience, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional development. We are seeking hosts from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. If you’re interested in providing this valuable experience for one of our seniors, please contact Dr. Baines-Walsh.
Prayers from the Heart (new website!)
Let the Prayers from the Heart community pray for your special prayer intention by submitting a prayer request via the Newton Country Day School website, 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 also located on the website.
CharlieCards
Student discount CharlieCards are available to all students in the Academic Office. If you are a Boston resident and your daughter (grade 7-12) has not yet received a CharlieCard, please complete and submit this form to Ms. Dingivan.
Attendance Policies
If a student is going to be absent or tardy, parents/caregivers should notify the school before 9am by submitting an attendance note on the Veracross Parent Portal or calling the Academic Office directly (MS: (617) 559-4750, US: (617) 559-4747). In the event of a foreseeable absence, a student should communicate with her advisor and teachers to formulate a plan for meeting academic expectations during her absence.
A provider note must be presented to the Academic Office for any missed time in the school day. If a student returns to school after an early dismissal for an appointment, she must check back in at the MS Office (MS) or Front Desk (US) and present a note from a medical provider.
Grade 5 Voyagers Excursion to McNamara House: Wed. Jan. 14
Grade 5 will visit McNamara House, a senior citizen center in Allston. This voyage connects to both Art and English. In Art, fifth graders are working on a portrait unit that will culminate in each student creating a portrait of their senior citizen partner. In English, students will use stories from their visit as inspiration for upcoming writing assignments. Through this voyage, students will practice depicting life experiences through both art and writing. Later in the year, students will return to McNamara House to present their finished portraits to their partners.
SpongeBob Rehearsals: Important Calendar Reminders
Cast and crew of The SpongeBob Musical do have rehearsal on Jan. 20 (a Faculty Workday) from 3-4:30pm, as well as on Feb. 9 (a Professional Development Day) from 3:10-6pm. Extended Technical and Dress Rehearsals begin on Feb. 6 and run through the closing night of the show on Feb. 13. The rehearsals listed below are all mandatory. In addition, cast and crew stay after school through the show in order to warm up and prepare themselves for their evening performances. Dinner will be provided for cast/crew on both show days.
Important rehearsal dates and times:
- Tue. Jan. 20: 3-4:30pm (No classes, rehearsal as scheduled)
- Fri. Jan. 30: 2:40-5:30pm (Rehearsal w/Orchestra)
- Fri. Feb. 6: 2:40-5:30pm
- Mon. Feb. 9: 3:10-6pm (No classes, Tech/Dress as scheduled)
- Tue. Feb. 10: 3:10-6pm (Tech/Dress)
- Wed. Feb. 11: 2:40-6pm (Tech/Dress)
- Thu. Feb. 12: 3-8:30pm (Show Day)
- Fri. Feb. 13: 2:30-8pm (Show Day)
MS Basketball Tournament: Sat. Jan. 24, 9am, Martin Center
We’re excited to host a MS Basketball Tournament, with our A team facing off against Rectory, Nobles, Fay, and Austin Prep! Games tip off at 9am, with the championship game at 12:30pm. Come cheer on our Falcons and enjoy a great morning of basketball!
Save the Date! Grade 7 Parent/Caregiver Visitation Day: Mon. Feb. 2, 8am-12pm
Grade 7 parents and caregivers are invited to join their daughters at NCDS during the morning and for lunch in the Dining Commons. Due to space constraints, we ask that only one parent/caregiver attend at a time. If both wish to participate, you are welcome to switch at 10:30am, allowing the second parent/caregiver to attend the second half. More details and RSVP link to follow.
Save the Date! Grade 5 Voyagers Excursion to the Boston Public Library: Wed. Feb. 11
Grade 5 students will travel to the Boston Public Library. To build on their lessons about storytelling and visual representation in their art, grammar, and English classes, they will participate in a bookbinding workshop and view the library's famous John Singer Sargent murals.
Save the Date! The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition: Thu. Feb. 12 and Fri. Feb. 13
Our MS spring musical production will take place on Thu. Feb. 12 at 7pm and Fri. Feb. 13 at 6:30pm in the Sweeney-Husson Theatre. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 starting Feb. 1. The link to purchase tickets will be made available in our Feb. edition of Newton Notes. We hope to see you there!
Save the Date! Grade 8 Service Activity with St. Sebastian's: Thu. Feb. 26
Grade 8 students from Newton Country Day and St. Sebastian's will participate in an evening of service and community building at NCDS. Students will have a pizza dinner and work together on a service craft project. Please contact Ms. Barber at x4932 with any questions.
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 buses 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/caregivers 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.
Network Exchange Program 2026-2027 Introduction: Tue. Jan. 13, 6:30pm in Duchesne Hall
The Network Exchange Program will present an introduction to Exchange for the 2026-2027 cohort. This is an experience available for rising sophomores and juniors, and includes travel over Mar. break and hosting at a time negotiated with visiting families. Come learn about the philosophies and goals of the program, the current exchange partner schools, the logistics behind hosting and international travel, and an overview of the application process. This is a mandatory information session for students interested in exchange, as well as at least one family member. For any questions, please email Mr. Stephenson.
Grade 12 Sophie's Place: Sat. Jan. 24
Grade 12 will be hosting Sophie's Place, a program in which we welcome residents from Hearth, a Boston-based residential non-profit organization with a mission to end homelessness for elders. NCDS students will plan, prepare, and serve a meal and host activities with our guests from Hearth in the school’s dining commons. For more information, contact Dr. Potter x4757.
Additional Sophie's Place dates are as follows:
- Grade 9: Sat. Mar. 7
- Grade 10: Sat. Apr. 25
We will be reaching out to students in each grade level in the month prior to their class commitments. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Tremarche.
New Freedoms Program: Tue. Jan. 27
Seniors from NCDS and Belmont Hill participate in an all-day wellness program focused on skills needed for the college transition. The day will feature a combination of speakers and small-group discussions. Please contact Ms. Roy at x4921 with questions.
Save the Dates! Upcoming Retreats
Attendance on overnight retreats is a requirement of the Religious Studies curriculum. All students are expected to attend in full. Students should not bring schoolwork, laptops, or other devices or materials that would distract them from full participation in the spiritual retreat. Students will receive more information about what to pack in the weeks leading up to the retreats.
- Tue. Feb. 3-Fri. Feb. 6: Grade 11 Kairos Retreat: Grade 11 students will travel to Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT, returning Fri. evening. Basic bedding is provided, but students can bring sleeping bags, pillows, towels, and/or blankets to supplement. Contact Ms. Regan at x4918 or Dr. Potter at x4757 with any questions.
- Thu. Feb. 5-Fri. Feb. 6: Grade 10 Retreat: Grade 10 students will travel to Wisdom House Retreat Center in Litchfield, CT, returning to school by 3pm on Fri. All bedding and linens are provided. Contact Mr. Mylroie x4927 or Ms. Hurley at x4842 with questions.
- Thu. Feb. 5-Fri. Feb. 6: Grade 9 Retreat: Grade 9 students will travel to Camp Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH, returning to school by 3pm on Fri. Bedding is not provided, so students should bring sleeping bags, pillows, towels, and/or blankets. Contact Ms. Hurley at x4842 or Ms. Regan at x4918 with questions.
- Thu. May 28-Fri. May 29: Grade 12 Retreat: Grade 12 students will travel to the Craigville Retreat Center in Centerville, MA, returning to school by 3pm on Fri. Bedding is not provided, so students should bring sleeping bags, pillows, towels, and/or blankets. Contact Dr. Potter at x4757 or Mr. Stephenson at x4964 with questions.
Save the Dates! Upcoming Social Opportunities
Throughout the year, Newton Country Day sponsors several opportunities for students to socialize with students from other local schools. Additionally, we often receive invitations for our students to participate in social events sponsored by other schools. While we expect additional invitations to come in as the year progresses, below is a list of the current offerings and invitations for the 2025-2026 school year:
- Fri. Mar. 6: Grades 9 & 10 Catholic Memorial Semi-Formal Dance, hosted by Catholic Memorial
- Sat. Apr. 11: Grades 9 & 10 Belmont Hill Semi-Formal Dance, hosted by Belmont Hill
- Sat. Apr. 11: Grades 11 & 12 Prom, hosted by NCDS
- Fri. May 29: Grades 9 & 10 Semi-Formal Dance, hosted by NCDS
The Learning Center is Open!
We are proud to offer students additional support through the Learning Center. The Learning Center will be available to all students during afternoon W.I.N. blocks or by appointment.
- What can we help with?
- Study skills (studying, note taking, reading comprehension, reading speed, etc)
- Executive functioning skills (organization, time management, planning, etc)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Academic Support Coordinator, Ms. Tonge.
Class of 2027 College Kickoff Event: Thu. Jan. 22, 6:30pm
- Who is expected: Grade 11 students and at least one parent/caregiver. There will be no assessments for the Class of 2027 the following school day to accommodate this evening commitment.
- Program details: The Deputy Director of Admission at the College of the Holy Cross and Senior Associate Director of Admission at Boston College will be joining us to share their insight on the college application evaluation. The College Counseling team, Ms. Kistner and Ms. Riobueno, will also share what is ahead in our work together as we support the Class of 2027 in developing and reaching their future aspirations.
More information about the College Counseling Office and programming for the Class of 2027 can be found in the “Welcome to College Counseling” email delivered on Dec. 17.
Financial Aid Information
- Grade 12 students seeking financial assistance for college tuition should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with a parent/caregiver as soon as possible. Some private colleges will require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. Visit each college's financial aid website to determine specific requirements.
- Parents/Caregivers of the Class of 2026 & 2027 can access the recording of our Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College presentation and FAQ page via the email delivered on Nov. 4 titled, “Recording & FAQ: Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College”
October 2025 PSAT Scores
- Students in Grades 10 and 11 should all be able to see the results of their PSAT scores by logging on to the students' College Board accounts. If you are unable to log in or view your score results, please contact College Board customer support for assistance.
Heads of School Panel featuring Mrs. Hooper, Wed. Jan. 14, 12pm
Parents’ Independent Schools Network (PIN) is hosting a virtual Heads of School Panel on “Current Topics in Caring for Our Communities.” Mrs. Hooper will be joined by the heads of school of Milton Academy, Roxbury Latin School, and The Chestnut Hill School. RSVP here to receive a Zoom link.
Dr. Susan Averna Speaker Event, followed by Winter Warm-Up Social: Thu. Jan. 15, 6:30pm, Sweeney-Husson Theatre
Join the PA for an evening of connection and conversation in partnership with the Health & Wellness Department. Dr. Susan Averna, an expert with decades of experience working with teen girls, will provide a discussion-based, interactive presentation on how to nurture confident, capable, and resilient daughters. Parents and caregivers are invited to stay after for a warm beverage and good company! RSVP here.
Winter White Out Event for Afternoon/Evening Games: Fri. Jan. 23, 3:15pm, Martin Center
Bundle up, wear your white, and bring your school spirit! All parents, caregivers, siblings, and friends are invited to cheer on our NCDS teams at the Winter White Out during afternoon and evening games. Enjoy halftime challenges, games, and lots of Falcon pride as we turn game day into a community celebration. More details are in the All School section, and parent/caregiver volunteer opportunities are coming soon. Let’s fill the stands, have some fun, and support the Falcons together!
Save the Date! Join us for Coffee and Info about Parent Involvement! Thu. Feb. 19, 8am, Blue Room/Solarium
Curious about how the parent community comes together at Newton Country Day? Join us for a coffee to learn about the Parent Association (PA) and how parents/caregivers partner with the school to build relationships, foster connection, and support our daughters throughout their NCDS experience. We’ll share more about the PA and the many ways parents/caregivers can participate, including Committee, Class Representative and Leadership roles. It’s a welcoming, no-pressure chance to learn more and ask questions about the PA. If you can’t make it but would like information, please reach out to Rachel Busby.
Save the Date! Faculty & Staff Appreciation Breakfast: Fri. Mar. 6 - Sign up to contribute!
Each year, parents and caregivers provide a special breakfast for our faculty and staff. It’s a small but meaningful way to say thank you for the care, dedication, and support they give our daughters throughout the year. Please consider signing up to drop off a breakfast item. Every contribution helps make our faculty and staff feel valued and celebrated! Sign up to bring breakfast items here.
Stay Informed! Add PA Events to Your Calendar
- Click on the gray RSS icon at the top right of the school calendar.
- Click on the green "iCal" button next to “Parents' Association Events”.
- Click "Add to your default Calendar app".
Questions? Reach out to the PA Leadership!
President: Rachel Busby P '23 '26 '29
Officer: Brie Allen P '26 '29
Officer: Jennifer Bekarian P '29 '30
Officer: Emily Venanzi P '26
Officer: Kelly Woolbert P '21 '23 '31
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