March in Review

On March 23, the High School Democrats of America and American Civil Liberties Union chapters hosted Civics Day for the first time since the spring of 2019. During each period of the school day, different panels of community leaders, teachers, students and professionals discussed civic engagement opportunities in professional practice, local government, non-profit work and local activism. 

“Each student has so much potential to impact the community based on things that they want to change.”

Wasan Rafat, senior

“The whole point of Civics Day is to make students understand that their voice matters and that they can be engaged in the process.”

Michael Kozuch, History Teacher, HSDA Advisor

Photo by Ines Koci

On March 28, Newton’s School Committee held a public hearing at North to discuss a petition proposed by parents. This petition called for an Academic Principles Advisory Committee composed of fivee petitioners, who would recommend alterations to the Newton Public School’s Mission Statement, curriculums and classroom instruction. During the nearly six-hour hearing, over 90 residents shared their opinions with the committee.

The petition was unanimously rejected.

“Everybody here wants the same thing, which is we want to meet our children where they are and enable them to become the best versions of themselves. I think we are doing that.”

Marcia Okun via the public hearing

“NPS has to better engage with families and address its overall approach towards education. This should be uncontroversial”

Micheal Cumin via the public hearing

Photo by Emily Schwartz

On March 15, Governor Maura Healy announced that the COVID public health emergency will end on May 11. This coincides with President Biden’s Jan. 30 announcement of the end of the federal public health emergency. In addition, Executive State Department employees will no longer be required to be fully vaccinated, as a decision is based on the belief that we now have tools to keep COVID at bay. 

“Thanks to the hard work of our healthcare providers and communities, we’ve made important progress in the fight against COVID-19. We know that we have the tools to manage this virus.”

Maura Healy via public statement

“Three years on from the start of the pandemic, we are now in a very different place. We can now incorporate the tools to manage this virus into our standing response.” 

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh via the Boston Globe

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Globe