May Newsletter 2019

NNHS May Newsletter 

Sophomore Family Chromebook Feedback Survey

If your student is a sophomore, please take this survey regarding the Chromebook Pilot. This survey was designed by the NNHS School Council.

https://forms.gle/jqh1ohYtrVz2aR7E8

Newton North Mission

When I entered Newton North as principal in 2016, North experienced some significant tension within our school. In the Spring incidents of racial and anti-semitic comments occurred and rightfully upset many students, staff, and families. Then in September, a group of students drove around Tiger Drive waving the Confederate Flag which added to this tension. Of the different ways that we responded to these incidents, it was clear that we needed to come back to our Mission Statement. If you remember some of my newsletters from 2016, I spent a lot of time talking about "who we are as a community", "coming back to the Mission of our School", and "Prioritizing our Social and Civic Expectations". We have a strong Mission Statement at Newton North, and walking through this building there are many examples of how we live up to our mission...

"The Newton North High School community believes that learning sustains the human spirit.

We strive for excellence in academic, vocational, athletic and artistic endeavors. We celebrate the dignity of all people, teach and learn to the depth and distance of our abilities, take responsibility for our actions and conduct ourselves with integrity and civility.

Recognizing that we are a small world within a much larger one, we create opportunities for open-minded, honest communication about the broad range of human experience to foster social awareness, generosity, and compassion.

Newton North High School provides all members of the community with the opportunity and freedom to discover and reach their potential as individuals while taking responsibility for the common good."

However, when you walk around our building the actual language of our Mission Statement is not present. In the winter of 2016, I reached out to Sue Brooks and the students in our Design Program to help make our Mission Statement come alive and become more visible in the building. I thought I was proposing a small project and expected to see small posters created with our Mission Statement. However, Sue and our creative design students dove into this project and committed to the idea that making our Mission Statement more visible can help shift our culture and strengthen our community.

Over the past 2 1/2 years, the students have been working hard on developing a public art project to be displayed as a permanent fixture on Main Steet. Over that time several grades of students have participated in this project.



















The students in the Design Program have been the driving force of this project throughout the past 2 1/2 years. In addition to the benefit that this project will have on Newton North, Design students have engaged in learning activities that have helped them to develop real-world skills. Their work has included, conducting market research, presenting sketches and prototypes to students, educators and community members, fundraising, and collaborating with 3-D imaging vendors. One of the recent highlights was a recent donation of $10,000 from Village Bank after a presentation by our students.

This project is a great example of the learning opportunities we want to continue to see at Newton North, where students are taking on civic-oriented challenges and developing skills that prepare them for their future. Through problem-solving, collaboration and creativity, these students have participated in an incredible learning opportunity while also helping to strengthen the community of Newton North. To follow the 2 1/2 year project please go to the NNHS Design Website.

Making Caring Common: Turning the Tide

In connection to our focus to Social and Civic learning, this year Newton North has participated in the Making Caring Common (MCC) project at Harvard University. MCC works with school communities with the hope to foster social skills among our students, such as empathy, care, and service. Now more than ever these skills are vital as we continue to work with how we engage with people with different backgrounds and different beliefs.

Recently, MCC published a report, Turning the Tide, that seeks to make the college admissions process "to elevate ethical character, especially concern for others and the common good, to increase access and equity for economically disadvantaged students, and to reduce excessive, damaging achievement pressure in many communities." As part of this report, MCC received endorsements from 50 college admissions deans.

I encourage you to take a look at the report (at the very least the executive summary). In this report, you will find recommendations for schools as well as families. If you take a look at the report you may find some areas that are very relevant for Newton North. We are thinking about hosting a couple of evening events for a school community discussion around the findings of this report.


Art Morning--All Day

Thank you to the Art Department for a very successful Art Morning--All Day on Friday, May 9.