H-block will be extended to a full 55 minutes next week in preparation for the arrival of the accreditation committee from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The committee will be inspecting Newton South High School November 13 to 16.

“We really care about the results of this inspection, and we feel that our students need some preparation in order to achieve the best results,” said Acting Principal Brenda Keegan at a press conference Friday. Sources from South's administration say that the extended H-block time will be used to train students for interviews by members of the NEASC committee.

While the administration is secretive about the methods that will be used to train the students, one teacher admitted that the last early release day was dedicated to training teachers in “more forceful methods of instruction.”

The administration refused to comment on rumors of a connection between the “rigorous, but necessary” training sessions and the recent distribution of pliers to all classrooms.

“The accreditation committee will be focusing mostly on our mission statement, how well people understand it, and whether people are embracing it,” said Keegan. She went on to explain that “we [the administration] just don't believe that posters on every wall, an all-school assembly, forced discussions, songs, and skits about the mission statement have really gotten our message across.”

Keegan concluded her statement, saying “I have complete confidence that we're going to beast all over this inspection.”