Newtown Public Schools
Weekly Update - September 14, 2026
Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, honoring the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Throughout the month, we celebrate the many individuals and communities whose achievements, stories, art, music, traditions, and leadership have helped shape our nation. It is also an opportunity for our students to learn more about the diverse cultures and experiences that enrich our schools and communities.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we encourage our students to learn, explore, and appreciate the many cultures, traditions, and stories represented throughout our community. Together, we celebrate the diversity that makes our schools such special places to learn, grow, and connect.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith. It is a time for reflection, forgiveness, prayer, and renewal. Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sunday, September 20, and concludes at nightfall on Monday, September 21.
As members of our community observe this meaningful day, we recognize the traditions of reflection, compassion, and renewal that are at the heart of Yom Kippur.
We wish all of our students, staff, families, and community members who observe a peaceful and meaningful Yom Kippur.
As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining welcoming, safe, and inclusive learning environments, new nondiscrimination signage has been installed at the entrances of all Newtown Public Schools. At our elementary schools, the wording has been modified to provide a developmentally appropriate, yet still meaningful, message to our youngest students and their families. Across all of our schools, the signs reinforce our commitment to ensuring that every student, staff member, family, and visitor is treated with dignity and respect.
To prevent dangerous driving and improve enforcement, all school buses in our district will now be equipped with safety cameras that automatically record vehicles that illegally pass when the stop-arm is extended. Each potential violation is reviewed by local law enforcement before a citation is issued.
Our priority is to reduce illegal bus passing. To that end, warnings will be issued to violators starting tomorrow, September 15. As of October 19 - coincidentally, the first day of National Bus Safety Week 2026 - tickets in the amount of $250 will be issued to anyone illegally passing a school bus.
For more information, you can now visit the Newtown Public Schools Bus Patrol Webpage or the Newtown Police Department's Page. There will you will find both general information, rationale for the program, important dates for the launch, bus safety laws for drivers as well as FAQs
As partners in student safety, we also ask that you take a few moments to talk to your child about safe school bus habits:
- Stay alert at the bus stop and avoid distractions
- Always wait for the driver’s signal before crossing the street
- Never walk behind the bus or in the driver’s blind spot
- Follow the driver’s instructions while boarding and riding
We’re grateful for your support in helping make our roads safer for students. Together, we can build a stronger culture of safety for every child who rides a school bus.
Hello, Newtown!
I am so excited to be joining the Newtown community and wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I bring 21 years of experience in education, teaching and leading in Fairfield, and most recently spent four wonderful years serving as the Assistant Principal at Weston Intermediate School.
Throughout my career, I have learned that relationships are at the heart of a successful school. I am deeply student-centered in my decision-making and care deeply about student success. I believe in getting to know students as individuals, partnering with families, and supporting teachers so that every child feels known, valued, and able to thrive.
As I get settled in, I look forward to meeting more of our students, staff, and families. Please know that I believe in an open-door policy and welcome your thoughts, questions, and ideas. I am excited to listen, learn, and work together to make Newtown an amazing place for our students.
A little bit about me outside of school: I am a proud mom of four children—two in college and two in high school—so there is always something happening in our family! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, and I am also an avid runner. Running is one of my favorite ways to recharge, although with four kids, finding that spare time can be an adventure!
I am so grateful for the warm welcome I have received and cannot wait to continue getting to know this wonderful community. I look forward to a fantastic year together!
Warmly,
Leslie Ford
On National IT Professionals Day, we recognize the dedicated technology professionals who work behind the scenes to keep our schools connected, secure, and running smoothly each day.
From supporting staff and students and troubleshooting technology issues to maintaining our networks, devices, and systems, our IT team plays an essential role in supporting teaching and learning throughout our district.
Thank you to our incredible IT professionals for your expertise, patience, and commitment to our schools. We appreciate all that you do to keep Newtown Public Schools connected and moving forward!
'Book a Nighthawk' is a new program connecting NHS student-athletes with our elementary school students!
NHS student-athletes are taking their Nighthawk pride beyond the playing field and into our elementary classrooms! Through our Book a Nighthawk program, elementary teachers can invite a student-athlete to visit their classroom on designated Wednesdays or Fridays. Our Nighthawks will read with students, lead fun discussions, and answer questions about school, sports, teamwork, and goal setting. It’s a great way for our student-athletes to serve as positive role models while building connections with our youngest future Nighthawks!
Teachers....if you're interested, click HERE and we will send you more info.
The Newtown High School Athletic Department is teaming up with In A Heartbeat, a CT-based nonprofit organization, to host a free ECG screening event in the Newtown High School main gymnasium on October 22nd from 1:00 - 5:00 pm.
An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a way to measure the heart’s electrical activity and can detect abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. ECGs are quick, painless, and easy, and can save lives! These arrhythmias that the ECG detects are
missed with just a stethoscope and may not cause any symptoms, which is why these screenings are so important to keep children safe!
This free event is open to all Newtown Public Schools students (K-12). The event will be staffed with volunteer technicians who will answer any questions you may have, and parents will receive ECG results from In A Heartbeat within two weeks. The event is voluntary and pre-registration is encouraged. Click here to register your child for this screening.
At Newtown Public Schools, we want every student to have access to a nutritious meal each school day. In accordance with our Board-approved Meal Charging Policy, students will not be denied a meal because of an outstanding meal account balance.
Families are encouraged to regularly monitor and maintain their child’s meal account. MySchoolBucks provides a convenient and secure way to manage school meal purchases from anywhere.
Through the website or mobile app, families can:
- Add money to a student’s meal account
- Set up automatic payments
- Check account balances and review purchase history
- Receive notifications when an account balance is low
If you haven’t already, we encourage families to create a MySchoolBucks account at www.myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app. Keeping track of your child’s account and maintaining a positive balance helps make mealtimes simple and seamless.
For additional information about the district’s Meal Charging Policy, please visit the Newtown Public Schools website or contact your child’s school.
Our PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) is a group made up of parents, teachers, and sometimes community members who work together to support our schools. The primary goal of our PTAs is to build a strong connection between families and schools to create a positive learning environment for students. PTAs often organize activities and events that benefit students, such as fundraisers, family nights, and volunteer programs. These events help raise money for classroom supplies, field trips, or other school needs that may not be covered by the school budget.
In addition to fundraising, the PTA acts as a bridge between parents and school administrations. They advocate for students by addressing concerns or providing feedback to school leaders. PTAs also host meetings, or informational sessions to keep parents informed about important issues, such as curriculum changes, testing schedules, or educational policies. By fostering collaboration among parents, teachers, and administrators, our PTAs plays a crucial role in enriching the school community and supporting student success.
You can find a link to each school's PTA by clicking on this link
