by Jaesuh Lee, News Editor
Graphics by Emily Cheng
Annual Holiday Gift Drive
Every December, the South community comes together to participate in a holiday-themed charity effort to bring gifts to children in need. This year, 25 groups including advisories, classes and departments are helping families at the Bromley-Heath Housing Project in Jamaica Plain. Participating groups “adopt” a child, meaning that students and educators gather gifts, ranging from clothes to toys to books.
“The gift drive is a great way to give back to those in need. Giving back to the community is always amazing.”
Tom Shimoni, Senior Class President
“Participating in the gift drive allows us to take stock of all we have, as individuals and collectively as a community … [It’s] a small way for me to remind myself that I am really fortunate as I intentionally spend money for someone else’s joy.”
Michelle Caine, biology teacher
Dudley Estate Up for Sale
Owners of a 15-acre property across from South recently put up the land for sale, offering the city of Newton an opportunity to buy the estate for $24 million. The majority of the land, between Brandeis and Dudley Roads, is currently zoned to be a single-family residence, however Mayor Ruthanne Fuller hopes to develop the land into affordable housing units. The city has issued an Expression of Interest request to potential partners to jointly develop the property.
“They wish to give the City of Newton and Newton Conservators the opportunity to purchase the property … to see [if] the property could be used for purposes like the expansion of open space, the school district, recreation or other municipal uses.”
David A. Rosen, chairman of LandVest Real Estate via The Boston Globe
“The city’s interests includes the provision of affordable housing in excess of the city’s requirements and reserves [space] for future school or recreation facility needs.”
Ruthanne Fuller, mayor of Newton via community update
Healey Elected as Governor
Attorney General Maura Healey’s decisive victory in the November 8 state election marked a momentous occasion in state politics: she became the first woman in Massachusetts history and the first openly lesbian candidate in the country to ever be elected governor, the highest position of power in the state. Members of the South community praised the milestone as a step in the right direction toward diversity in gender and sexual-orientation.
“It’s the first woman here, LGBTQ [person] there, we need to celebrate these victories, but we also have to understand we have a long way to go. [There’s lots of work] until this becomes the norm.”
Lisa Linde, music teacher
“I know that there are lots of young people who are hesitant to get into politics, whether it’s because of gender, race or sexual orientation … Now they have someone who says [that] you can.”
Matthew Wilson, English teacher
