This Week In School News

By Winson Ye and Brian Yoffe
Managing Editor of School News and Editor-in-Chief

September 2 – Newton Teachers Association Ratifies New Teacher Contracts (Developing)

On Wednesday, September 2, Newton teachers and faculty gathered in Newton South’s field house and voted in favor of ratifying the new teacher contracts. The vote to ratify the contracts came shortly after the Newton Teachers Association and School Committee reached a tentative agreement on the new contracts in August.

According to Jamie Rinaldi, chair of the Newton Teachers Association negotiation team, the new contracts granted Newton teachers an average of a 7 to 8 percent salary increase along with more favorable benefits. The new contracts are in effect from 2015 to 2018.

Despite the ratification of these new contracts, Newton teachers may continue to discuss the terms of this agreement with the School Committee as the school year progresses.

September 11 – PSAT Schedule Changes For 2015

The College Board announced that the PSAT is only going to be offered to sophomores and juniors on Wednesday, October 14 and Wednesday, October 28 this fall while the usual Saturday test dates will not be offered.

According to the College Board, this new policy is implemented only for the year 2015.

Because the test is administered at Newton South High School, Freshman will have a late arrival schedule while seniors have this day off from school as an opportunity to plan college visits or attend career planning sessions outside of school.

September 17 – Senior Parents’ Night

To help guide the Class of 2016 through its last year of high school, the South administration held Senior Parents’ Night this Thursday.

Guidance Director Dan Rubin, along with several other administrators and guidance counselors, informed parents about the college process and other options for students after high school.

The senior class attended a similar session during B Block on Friday with guidance counselors and administrators.

September 18 – South Administration Announces Lottery For Juniors To Buy Parking Passes

The Newton South administration announced today that the junior class will have the opportunity to purchase parking passes this year by entering a lottery.

Friday, September 25 will be the last day for seniors to buy parking passes. From now until September 25, juniors can enter their names into a lottery for the remaining parking passes by filling out this form.

Names will be drawn on on Monday, September 28 and juniors will receive an email if they have been selected. Those who are selected in the lottery will have until Friday, October 2 to submit the paperwork and payment to the main office or their passes will be released.

The announcement comes after many members of the junior class have expressed discontent with the new school policy this year prohibiting them from purchasing parking passes.