From the Sports Director of Newton South High School

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Our sports facilities are ready to accept 450 students on Monday!

Due to the weather conditions, the trial runs on Monday may change. Please keep an eye out for emails from team coaches or visit the Athletics page for updates. The golf rehearsal for Monday has been canceled and will start on Tuesday, August 24th at 7.30am on the Newton Commonwealth Golf Course. In addition, the girls’ volleyball trial games were rescheduled. Please see below for more information. The complete trial plan for all autumn sports can be found here.

COVID logs:

Our coaches are preparing to work with all of you in a safe and fun way and we are delighted to have a full season of play with the precautions and safety procedures.

I would like to share with you the following COVID logs for NPS sports activities, developed by the district headquarters and sports departments of both high schools under the guidance of the NPS Medical Advisory Group, Newton Health and Human Services, and NPS leadership teams.

This document is also published on our athletics website for your convenience.

Your child’s coach will also send you the Fall 2021 CV-19 daily attendance form to review daily symptoms (self-assessment tool) prior to training. The form will also be posted on our sports page for your convenience.

Please read the following information carefully and let us know if you have any questions.

Newton Public Schools High School Athletics

Covid protocols

Exercises and Games – Back to School 2021

The protocols for athletics at NPS high schools will align with the big ideas of the NPS 2021-22 Back to School Health and Safety Plan. As we know, the COVID landscape is changing rapidly. The NPS Medical Advisory Group, Newton Health and Human Services, and the NPS leadership teams will continually review new data to make adjustments to health and safety protocols as necessary. The high school’s sports program is also subject to all guidelines developed by the EEA, MIAA, and / or our sports leagues. We expect these guidelines to change over the course of the year.

NPS encourages ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES to get vaccinated before our athletics season begins.

In accordance with the NPS 2021-22 Back to School Health and Safety Plan, everyone in the building must wear an appropriate mask (no gaiter) at all times. This includes athletes, coaches, officials and, if allowed, spectators. This applies to “at home” and “away from home”.

Exercise protocols:

Preliminary exercise:

  • NPS HS trainers will ask each player to complete the COVID self-assessment form below by 12 noon on school days. (The time will be adjusted for the preseason and school-free days.) Click here for the online form.
  • Sharing food or drinks is currently not allowed (no cakes, cupcakes, pizza, fruit, seeds, etc.)
  • NPS will offer a multi-step testing process, including routine (weekly) COVID Pooled Testing: This protocol will be used for anyone who chooses to participate in the weekly COVID testing program. The test is done once a week.
  • Earlier in the year, NPS is currently investigating the requirement that students either provide evidence of vaccination or participate in the NPS’s weekly COVID testing protocol for participants in middle and upper school interschool activities and extended theater productions.

During practice:

  • Team water bottles are not provided as each athlete is expected to bring their own water bottle
  • Team water coolers are provided for each team’s practice rooms. Teams using the same training facility are prohibited from using another team’s drinking area.

After practicing

  • Equipment shared by the team must be cleaned (using the spray and paper towels provided) before storing it. This must be done by the team that is using it. Athletes can help with cleaning if they are properly supervised by the team coaches.
  • Students are encouraged to take equipment home and clean it before their next workout, when appropriate. Changing rooms may be used, but they are supervised and a distance is kept as far as possible.
  • Sharing food or drinks is currently not allowed (no cakes, cupcakes, pizza, fruit, seeds, etc.)

Match protocols:

transport

As per instructions from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the following health and safety protocols apply to all bus and van transportation in Newton Public Schools:

  • Masks are required on all means of transport at Newton Public Schools.
  • The windows are open all the time, unless this is not possible due to the weather.

Away games:

Before the game:

  • NPS HS trainers will ask each player to complete the COVID self-assessment form by 12 noon. (The time is adjusted for the preseason and school-free days.)
  • Covid trainers and / or team coaches will check the self-assessment forms by 1:00 p.m., consult with the school nurse if necessary and, if necessary, prevent a student from traveling. (The time is adjusted for the preseason and school-free days.)
  • Team water bottles are not provided as each athlete is expected to bring their own water bottle
  • Team water coolers are available before the bus leaves. It is the responsibility of the trainer / athlete to collect and return water dispensers to and from the athletic training room

Home games: Back to school 2021

Before the game:

  • NPS HS trainers will ask each player to complete the COVID self-assessment form by 12 noon. (The time is adjusted for the preseason and school-free days.)
  • Covid trainers and / or team coaches will check the self-assessment forms by 1:00 p.m., consult with the school nurse if necessary and, if necessary, prevent a student from participating in the game.
  • NPS HS employees or trainers greet the visiting team – forward them to the appropriate field if necessary
  • The visiting team’s head coach is responsible for screening for COVID-19 of all of their team members and other coaches who will be in attendance.
  • NPS HS Staff Greet Referees; asks the NPS HS COVID coach or another employee questions about the COVID-19 screening.
  • Team water bottles are not provided as each athlete is expected to bring their own water bottle.
  • Team water coolers will be available on the home side and on request for the away team.

Viewers:

Indoor events:

    • Indoor spectator guidelines will be developed prior to our first regular season home games. The guidelines for indoor spectators follow the guidelines of the EEA, the MIAA and the league, as well as the NPS guidelines for large gatherings.
    • Indoor games are streamed live.
    • Indoor events include: Girls Volleyball, Unified Basketball, Cheer, Dance, Girls Swim, and Dive

Outdoor events:

    • There are currently no restrictions for viewers. However, good health practices should be followed.

During the game:

  • NPS HS staff will provide any game assistance required by the referees / coaches / spectators if required.

After the game:

  • The NPS HS staff will ask those present to leave as soon as possible; support the guest team to their bus if necessary
  • The quick exit guide is not only to limit the possibility of close contact with Covid-19, but also to maintain a positive relationship with the Newton community regarding the use of stadium lights
  • Game administrators collect game sheets and payouts from referees.

Notification of film recordings

One of the good things we learned from the experience over the past few years was that our families really enjoyed the chance to see our games streamed. Numerous families shared with us the joy of sharing their children’s games with relatives from near and far. Many grandparents got to see their grandchildren doing sports for the first time! We will continue to live stream some of the games with indoor and outdoor cameras. The events are streamed via platforms such as YouTube. Films of some sports are also exchanged with other schools, which are required by the MIAA.

Newton has signed a contract with HUDL for the delivery of the cameras and the storage of the recorded films. As a Newton Athletics participant, you / your child are likely to appear on recorded and / or live video.

Newton takes all reasonable precautions to protect privacy, but makes no guarantees or assurances regarding the use of your / your children’s website by third parties on the Internet or on other platforms.

Please review the filming notification notification form, sign your consent and return it to your coach on August 30th after teams have been selected. If you have any questions, please contact the sports office.

The form linked above is also available under Announcements on the Athletics page.

Revised training plan for girls’ volleyball

Due to changes in the coaching staff, the trial periods for volleyball have been adjusted as follows:

Can’t see the table below? Click here to view the original story.


This press release was produced by the Newtown South High School parent-teacher-student organization. The views expressed here are your own.

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