Parents/Guardians of Juniors:

Junior Night is Tuesday, January 31 from 7:00 - 9:45 pm, beginning in Newton North's auditorium.  To allow you time to decide which presentations you would like to attend that evening, see the two-page agenda attached below.

In the event that the evening is canceled due to inclement weather, the snow date is the next night, Wednesday, February 1.

The Counseling Department looks forward to seeing you all there and to provide an informative and eventful evening. 

Please contact Beth Swedeskas, Counseling Department Chair, Newton North High School if you have questions.

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Coffee for new Newton North parents/guardians
Wednesday, February 1, 7:45 a.m.-9 a.m., Principal's Conference Room
Stop by or stay the whole time!  
 

New to North? Know someone who is?  Bring them to this new parent coffee!
Been around for a while but have questions?
Curious about the new building?

Join Principal Jen Price, Counseling Department Chair Beth Swederskas, and PTSO representatives for coffee and a chance to learn more about the inner workings of Newton North.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Sophomores,
As a follow up to the letter that was sent last month, the Newton North Counseling Department is facilitating 4 Sophomore Parent Groups on the following Thursday mornings:
January 5
January 12
January 19
February 2
All groups will be held at Newton North in the International Cafe from 8:00 - 9:30 am.  Please know that I realize that having the groups during the day is not convenience for many parents/guardians who work.  Because we are bound by contractual obligations, the groups being facilitated by counselors and interns need to be held during the school day as opposed to the evening.

Some of the topics may include:
How is sophomore year going?  Is it different than freshman year?  What is in store 2nd semester?
Keeping the balance between academics, extra-curriculars, and social life
Computer and phone overuse - facebook, video games, texting, etc.
Ground rules and consequences
Emotional concerns such as stress, anxiety and depression

If you are available and interested in attending the group, please respond to me directly at beth_swederskas@newton.k12.ma.us.  If you can only make some but not all of the groups that is perfectly fine.

Beth Swederskas
Counseling Department Chair
Newton North High School
617-559-6230
beth_swederskas@newton.k12.ma.us

PTO minutes   November 8, 2011

Sally Brickell, Lynne LeBlanc, Michele Weinfield, Martha Hadeler, Deborah Holman, Maureen Sullivan

Northside Dining: Fri Nov. 18^th 2011

The PTO will cover the costs of all paper products

Class liaisons will do an outreach to families about the event.

Co- President Update:

The PTO agrees to pay $25.00 for 6 hrs of work to add the PTO to a community link; ournewton.org. This link will provide information about happenings in Newton.  This cost is added to line item #31 in the NNHS budget

First two PTSO meetings: 

• College and Career Night: very well attended.  The PTSO website will provide more information regarding college and career by having a FAQ’s and college time line links.  A potential future idea includes veteran parents mentoring /supporting parents with no/little experience in this area.
• New Parent Gathering: with librarians held in the Learning Commons to acquaint parents with the structure and purpose of the Library Commons.

Directory/Back to School Night: addendum to Directory will be added with additions and corrections.

This will be sent to families in a secured format.

November 30^th: teacher Appreciation dinner before and during parent conferences.

An Outreach Coordinator has been identified.  She will email families about volunteer opportunities.

We are still looking for a SPED PAC rep.

Parent Conferences: Virtual Paragon has been set up for Tuesday Nov 15th. Information will be included with report card mailings and on NNHS website.  There will be an instruction sheet that defines the limits of the conferences.

Budget:

Michele and Martha are proposing the PTSO become an incorporated entity. In order to do so, the current bylaws will be amended and the officers (president, treasurer, and clerk) must be named.  The advantage to this is for protection in the event if a law suit.  There will be an initial $ 35.00 filing fee followed by an annual $ 15/yr upkeep fee.

Membership is at 653 families with a current income of $ 35,931.27

Directory expenses came in under the budget amount by nearly $1,000.00

Northside Dining: to date was at $5,000.00

The class of 1956 recently held their 55^th reunion.  They would like to make a donation to the NNHS.

Project and Grants: Forms for projects and Grants are found on the PTSO website.

Teacher Appreciation event coming up!
 
Please help us create a delicious Italian feast to show our appreciation to our teaching staff before the evening parent/teacher conferences, Wednesday, November 30 which are schedeuled from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
 
Here are two ways to help.
 
1. Donate food: Italian-themed appetizers, entrees, or desserts
2. Donate time: Take a one-hour shift doing set up, serving, or clean up
 
Too busy to do either?
Consider making a $10 donation to the North PTSO to fill in the menu.
 
Questions: Contact Teacher Appreciation co-chairs Sharon Diamond and Laurie Gershkowitz.