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Family Academy

The Newton Family Academy is a program that helps schools and families work better together. It brings together events, classes, and resources from the school and community in one place, making it easier for parents to find the information they need to help their kids do well in school and be happy. The academy focuses on six main areas to provide complete support.

  • District-Created Workshops: Facilitated by Newton Public Schools (NPS) staff using internal expertise to support parent learning and participation.
  • Partner-Offered Seminars: Providing access to workshops developed by community partners to strengthen the family-school partnership.
  • Self-Guided Access to Information: Offering extended access to district resources, including curriculum details, student achievement data, and resources for supporting learning at home.
  • Distance Learning Resources: A digital knowledge base that connects families to on-demand workshops, guides, articles, and videos.
  • Train the Trainer Sessions: Programs designed to empower parent and caregiver leaders to facilitate district-supported initiatives like Parent Cafés and Book Groups.
  • Annual Family Conference: A large-scale event (modeled after the Boston Public School Parent University Day) where families can learn in a multi-day or single-day conference format.

Key Goals and Programming

The primary goal is to increase family involvement and empower families to raise children who are successful both in school and in life. To meet these needs, programming is flexible and held at various locations, including schools, public libraries, and community centers like the YMCA or the Boys and Girls Club.
Specific activities and topics covered by the academy include:

  • Academic Support: Literacy and Math nights focused on curriculum and home-reading tips.
  • Parent Leadership: Parent Cafés (informal, parent-led discussions) and Family Ambassadors who act as liaisons between the school and other families.
  • Digital Wellness: Workshops on building healthy screen habits and holiday tech-buying guides.
  • Orientation: Dedicated sessions for families new to the district and Kindergarten orientation.

Removing Barriers to Attendance

To ensure the academy is accessible to all, the district provides wraparound services for many events. These typically include free dinner and childcare, allowing parents to attend workshops without the stress of logistical barriers. Additionally, the academy utilizes translation tools like Lexikeet and Pocket Talk to ensure communication is inclusive for families with diverse language needs.

NPS Family Academy Repository

The image features a colorful "Welcome to Kindergarten" text with a circular arrangement of diverse stick figure characters, including one with a wheelchair, against a plain white background. Below the text, there is information about a "Newton Public Schools Family Information Night" event scheduled for March 2, 2026 at 7:00 pm as a webinar.
Kindergarten Registration

March 2, 2026: NPS held a new Kindergarten Parent/Guardian Information Night virtual webinar for all families enrolling a student for the first time in the Newton Public Schools. This session included a general overview of the kindergarten registration and screening process, as well as other important topics that may be useful to new parents.

When watching the recording, click “Transcript” to see the full text of the presentation. You can translate the transcript using Google Translate if needed. 

  • Please note: you must reside in the City of Newton to enroll in the Newton Public Schools.

  • For general Elementary Education Inquiries, please email the office of Elementary Education.

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office of teahcing and learning 3/10/2026 gina flanagan ed.d assistant superintendent, jennifer shore k-12 director of math
8th Grade Math Placement Information Session 3/10/2026

Families who were unable to attend the March 10, 2026 8th Grade Math Placement Information Session can now view the full recording and presentation. During this session, district leaders shared an overview of the new middle school math pathways and explained the process for 8th grade math placement.

The presentation outlines the district’s goal of providing all students with access to rigorous mathematics opportunities, including the introduction of High School Math 1 (Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics) for all 8th-grade students, along with accelerated and compacted pathway options. The session also reviews the supports available to help students succeed, such as enrichment blocks, common assessments, and summer “Jump Up” or intervention programs.

Families are encouraged to watch the recording and review the slides to learn more about the pathways available and how placement decisions are made.

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hands holding a leaf on green background
“How’s My Child Doing?” Family Academy Education Sessions

Target Audience K to 5 families; the Star report overview may be helpful to parents grades 6 to 9 as well.

Newton Public Schools’ Family Academy February Engagement in Education Series featured a presentation led by Superintendent Dr. Anna Nolin as part of the “How’s My Child Doing?” education sessions.

These sessions were designed primarily for families with students in grades K–5, with STAR report information also helpful for families of students in grades 6–9. The district shared information about early literacy screening data for grades 1–3, winter STAR benchmark data for grades 1–9, and standards-based progress reports for grades K–5.

The presentation helped families better understand how to read these reports, what the data means, and how to interpret student progress and instructional expectations. The sessions were run jointly by the Offices of Teaching and Learning, Elementary Education, and Family Engagement and provided opportunities for families to deepen their understanding of student growth.

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first slide of Community math night november 12, 2025 presentation
Community Math Night Nov. 2025

On November 12, 2025 NPS shared where we’re headed in math, why it matters, and how families can be part of the journey. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us to learn, connect, and keep building trust and transparency as we support every student’s growth in math.

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Newton's new math pathways
Newton's New Math Pathways

By personalizing math experiences and offering multiple on-ramps to advanced learning, we ensure that all students get what they need, when they need it. Watch the video to learn more.

While viewing the linked video, choose 'Transcript' to see the written transcript. This transcript will translate with Google Translate.

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