Family Information Night Newton Public Schools

Newton Public Schools Family Information Night

March 10, 2021

Webinar

1

Agenda

■ Welcome, Introductions and District GoalsDavid Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools

■ Newton Elementary Schools and Registration Eva Thompson, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Elementary

■ The Kindergarten ProgramElementary Principals

■ Registration/Screening ProcessElementary Principals

■ Next Steps

Schools and Departments Represented

Becca Brogadir (Ward)Ayesha Farag (Williams)Diana Beck (Zervas)

District Leaders:Maura Tynes, Student Services Director of Elementary Special EducationLisa Gilbert-Smith, METCO Director

Ruth Hoshino, School Health Services Director Allison Levit, ELL Director

Principals:Orla Higgins-Averill (Angier)Diana Guzzi (Bowen)Mindy Johal (Burr)Eric Sprung (Cabot)Beth Herlihy (Countryside)Jennifer Shore (DLA)Dana Bennett, Interim (Franklin)Mark Nardelli (Horace Mann)Danielle Morrissey (Lincoln-Eliot)Jake Bultema (Mason-Rice)Tom Morris (Memorial-Spaulding)Mark Chitty (Peirce)Suzie Talukdar (Underwood)

Goals of the Newton Public Schools

■ GOAL 1: Academic Excellence

■ GOAL 2: Educational Equity

■ GOAL 3: Social Emotional Learning, including Health and Wellness

Elementary School by the NumbersSchool Year - Typical (10/1/19 Enrollment Information)

■ 15 elementary schools serving over 5600 students from Newton and Boston

■ Students in grades Kindergarten through Gr. 5

■ 271 elementary classrooms

■ 825 kindergarten students in 42 classrooms

■ Average elementary class size is 20.8

■ Average kindergarten class size is 19.6

Newton METCO Program

METCO is a state-funded, seat-availability, voluntary integration program

Goal: Increase diversity and reduce racial isolation

■ 400 METCO students K-12, 3% of student population

■ Approximately 3000 students statewide participating in 33 suburban school districts serving from Boston and parts of Springfield

Student Services: Special Education

Inclusion is a belief that everyone belongs and everyone benefits. This educational model challenges schools to meet the needs of all students by educating learners with disabilities alongside their non‐disabled peers.

~NPS Guide to Special Education Programs

■ If a child is already on an IEP, a spring transition meeting will be scheduled

■ Elementary Point Person: School-based Team Specialist

English Language Learner Program

■ Over 50 languages represented within NPS

■ Students who qualify will be enrolled

■ Services delivered in classroom and/or in ELL room

■ We value bilingualism! A strong foundation in the home language supports all students in learning English

Kindergarten Program

■ K teacher and full time teaching assistant support the development of each child

■ Nurtures curiosity and love of learning

■ Focuses on developmentally appropriate academics as well as social and emotional development of child

■ Structure of full day program allows time for playful learning throughout the day

The 4 Pillars of Health

At NPS, we have 4 pillars that support our health:

1. Physical Distancing -

○ 3 feet in class and other areas

○ 6 feet when eating or singing

2. Face Coverings - adults & students

3. Hygiene- frequent and thorough hand washing and cleaning

4. Avoid Exposure○ Every morning, an adult at home

should check to make sure children do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

○ Stay home if feeling sick

Symptoms of COVID-19

● Cough● Difficulty breathing● Fever over 100 degrees

Fahrenheit (use a thermometer to check)

● Chills● Muscle aches● Sore throat● New loss of taste or smell

Less common symptoms:● Nausea● Vomiting● Diarrhea●

K-5 School Year, Arrival and Dismissal 21-22 (exact times to be announced on March 15)

Day of the Week Arrival Dismissal

Wednesday Typically 8:20am TBA(early release, orig. 12:30)

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Typically 8:20am TBA

Health Department

Role of school nurse

■ Forms:○ Health History○ Health Report○ Immunization Record○ Allergies/Medication

Food Service and Lunch Sign-up

■ Whitsons runs our food services program ■ Once registered, students receive food service account ■ Students eat in a cafeteria with lunch monitors■ Students can bring their own lunch or receive a lunch

Resources:■ MySchoolBucks Account Creation - apply funds to

and/or monitor student activity ○ Kindergarten students accessible after August 18th.

■ Free or reduced price meals application ***■ Menus & Nutritional information ■ Questions: Contact Food Service Director, Christina

Flutie @ 617-559-6319 or [email protected]

How Will My Child Get to School?

■ Walk whenever possible

■ Bike with an adult

■ Bus, if an option

■ Drive - although convenient, contributes to

congestion around schools

Bus Registration

● School transportation and sign-up information can be found on the Transportation webpage at: www.newton.k12.ma.us/transportation

● Elementary students ride the bus free of charge● Information will be sent out to families

Kindergarten Registration Timelines

NEXT

STEP

https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/

Registration - For More Information

On-Line Registration Materials

Registration:❏ Registration Checklist❏ Registration Form

Medical Forms/Information:❏ Immunization

Requirements❏ Medical Registration Form❏ Physical Exam Form

For Fall Screening:❏ Parent Interview Form

Residency and Occupancy:❏ Proof ❏ Certification Form

BUFFER ZONESA defined area for which individual addresses may be assigned to one of two elementary schools.

■ Parents/guardians of students residing in a buffer zone must request either one of the two designated elementary schools in the zone.

■ Requests will be granted based on space availability.

■ Students in these zones do not have a designated home school until the district assigns them one.

■ Your online registration will automatically note if you are in a buffer zone and provide an opportunity for you to state a preferred school.

Parent/Guardian Information Session & Kindergartner Play at Home Schools

● Kindergartners gather with classroom teachers for games, story and play in late spring

● Parents/guardians visit with principal

Next Steps

■ Visit our webpage at www.newton.k12.ma.us to register your child using our online system

■ Sign up for your school’s PTO newsletter

■ Placement notifications:Late August for class assignments

What can you do to help your child be “ready” for Kindergarten?

■ Encourage your child’s independence○ Self-help skills such as dressing, bathroom, and

opening snacks

■ Encourage your child to advocate for his/her own needs

■ Read with your child

■ Count with your child

■ Visit your school’s playground

■ Remember: Transitions can be HARD for children and adults!

Parent Resources - Kindergarten Readiness

❏ School Calendar SY21-22

❏ Bus Transportation and School Meals

❏ Kindergarten Book List

❏ Kindergarten Readiness Articles from NAEYC:

❏ Ready or Not Kindergarten, Here We Come!

❏ Readiness: Not a State of Knowledge, but a State of Mind

❏ Knights and Princesses: Anti-Bias Work in PreK Classrooms

After School Care Options

NASA Website (links to all ASP's): newtonafterschool.org

Newton After School Association (NASA) is a a formal association, made up of Newton's after school program directors, that meets regularly, collaborates as education professionals, and works united in our goal of intentional social & emotional education and quality childcare.

Newton's after school programs are individual non-profits, each governed by a board of directors made up of parents and members from their individual programs to best serve the unique situations within each school community. While we are individual programs, we are a collective under NASA.

NASA programs are not part of Newton Public Schools, but maintain a collaborative professional relationship with the system and rent space in many Newton Public School buildings. Our goal as a partnership is to best serve our collective students and families.

Thank you for joining us!