On December 2, the Newton School Committee voted to support the transition of the high school learning model to hybrid HyFlex. Please visit this page for details and timelines: High School Transition to HyFlex Learning Model page.

November 20 - Email Update

Please see this Nov. 20 email message to families. It includes details on the proposed HyFlex hybrid model, as well as a possible timeline for implementation. The School Committee will vote on the proposed recommendation on December 2.

November 17 - Email Update - Draft Recommendation

Please see this Nov. 17 email message to families. It includes a summary of the draft recommendation for expansion of in-person learning at the high schools. Here is the presentation of the draft recommendation to the School Committee from November 16. 

November 13 - Email update

Please see this Nov. 13 email message to families. The update includes information on research on other districts, as well as information on the School Committee meeting on Nov. 16 at which a draft recommendation will be presented for discussion.

November 6 - Email Update

Please see this Nov. 6 email message to families. The update includes preliminary survey results, a description of student focus groups, and overview of research on other districts.

October 30 - Email Update

Please see this Oct. 30 email message to families for the most recent update from the working group. Work this week included survey distribution, student focus groups, preliminary research on other districts, and obstacle assessment. 

October 26 - Email Update

Please complete the family survey sent via email on Oct. 26th to provide feedback on in-person learning at both high schools. The survey links can be found in this link: Oct. 26 email message to families. The survey is due by 11:59 p.m. on November 1. If you did not receive a survey link, please email community@newton.k12.ma.us to receive a link to the survey.

October 23 - Email Update

On Oct. 23, the High School Planning Working Group shared an update email. Please watch your email for a survey that will be sent to families. The full email can be found by following this link: Oct. 23 email message to high school families. 

October 16 - Email Update

On Oct. 16, the High School Planning Working Group shared an email with information on its process to date. You can find the email here. A full update on the work of the committee was shared at the October 19th School Committee meeting. The presentation is linked here.

SURVEY DATA

Newton Public Schools conducted surveys both in the summer and this fall to gauge educational models and in-person learning. Below are links to this survey data. 

November 6, 2020 - Preliminary Survey Results/report

October 2020 Survey Questions

October 2020 Districtwide Survey - Families, NPS Faculty/Staff, Students (Survey was open from October 26 - November 1. Survey is now closed)

September 2020 Student Survey - North: Link to North Student Survey Data

September 2020 Student Survey - South: Link to South Student Survey Data

August 2020 Districtside Survey: Link to August Survey Presentation

July 2020 Districtwide Survey: Link to PDF of Survey Data

FOCUS GROUPS

During the week of October 26, student focus groups were conducted at both North and South. Participants represented a diverse group in terms of grade level, background, identity groups, range of course selection, participation in activities, ELL, Boston students, and IEPS. Groups were desigend to reflect the composition of the student body.

Groups were held on the following dates:

South - 10/27 and 10/30 - Report from South Student Focus Groups

North - 10/27 and 10/30 - Report from North Student Focus Groups

North - 11/17 - Report from North Student Focus Groups

Additional focus groups were held with staff and a student affinity groups. 

Report from Staff Focus Group

Report from Special Educator Focus Group

Report on focus group with BSU (Black Student Union) and the ASO (Asian Student Organization) at South.

Students were asked a series of questions about the school year. Here are the questions:

Questions from Student Focus Groups

Toby Romer - Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education

Claire Sokoloff - Facilitator, Former School Committee Chair

Emily Prenner - School Committee Representative

Henry Turner - Principal, NNHS

Mark Aronson - Interim Principal, NSHS

Lisa Langone - Director of Secondary Special Education

Janna Lacatell - NNHS PTSO Representative

May Chiu - NSHS PTSO Representative

Leslie Gant - METCO Family Representative

Rajeev Parlikar - SEPAC Representative 

Melinda Brown - Distance-Only Family Representative

Isaac Tang - NNHS Student Representative

Jayla Reilly - NSHS Student Representative

Beth Cronin - NNHS Faculty Member Representative

Joe Golding - NSHS Faculty Member Representative

Meaghan Martin - High School Administrator Representative

NTA Representative invited (declined)