Newtown Public Schools

We had a strong and positive start to the school year last week, with few issues and lots of joyful moments as students returned to our buildings. The beautiful weather added to the energy and excitement. I hope the long weekend gave you a chance to relax — and for those in town, an opportunity to enjoy Newtown’s fantastic Labor Day Parade. A big thank-you to all the staff and community members who helped make it such a great event!

As we head into Week Two, here are a few important updates:

StopFinder App Update

We’ve received a great deal of positive feedback from families about the StopFinder app—thank you for taking the time to share your experiences. One issue has emerged that we are actively addressing: when a bus route is served by a replacement vehicle (for example, due to a mechanical issue), the app may not display real-time tracking. All-Star is aware of this glitch and is working to train their staff on ensuring that the necessary equipment is transferred to the replacement bus so the app functions as expected.

Weapons Detection System Donation: Background & Next Steps

You may have heard about a recent donation to Newtown Public Schools for a weapons detection system. I’d like to clarify the facts and current status of this matter, as some of the information circulating in the community has been incomplete or inaccurate.

At the July 8th Board of Education meeting, the Board received a proposed donation from the Sandy Hook School Foundation for the express purpose of purchasing and installing CEIA OpenGate weapons detection systems at Newtown High School. This proposal was first reviewed by the District’s Security and Safety Committee—a multidisciplinary team in place since 2013 that includes school administrators, the First Selectman, the health director, as well as representation from the Board of Education, Newtown Police Department, dispatch and the parent community. The committee agreed that this system has the potential to enhance safety at Newtown High School, particularly during school hours and at large public events held on the NHS campus.

This system is already in use in school districts across the country, not only in high-incident or urban areas, but in communities seeking to strengthen their layered approach to school safety.

At its July 8th meeting, the Board of Education conditionally accepted the donation, with the understanding that acceptance was contingent upon a thorough implementation plan that included meaningful public participation and feedback and an analysis of potential mental health impacts and alternative safety measures. This matter is scheduled to return to the Board for further discussion and possible action on or before October 7, 2025.

It’s important to emphasize that the Board’s conditional acceptance did not indicate immediate implementation. From the very beginning, I have been clear—with both the Foundation and the Board—that the donation would only proceed if a comprehensive feasibility review confirmed that implementation is appropriate, responsible, and logistically sound. If our analysis determines that the system is not a good fit for Newtown High School, the donation will be returned in full.

We are currently in the midst of that review. Our original plan—which remains unchanged—was to conduct a thoughtful communication and feedback process involving students, families, and staff only if we determine the system is viable for our school environment. Until then, it would be premature to seek input on a proposal that may not ultimately move forward.

My commitment remains—as always—to provide clear and accurate information, to answer questions with transparency, and to invite feedback in a respectful and inclusive manner. This situation is no different.

You can expect a summary of our logistical findings by next week. If we determine that implementation is feasible, we will then launch a broader engagement process with the community.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support.

Warm regards,

Anne

Our full district calendar can be found here

Open House Dates

Elementary: Sept. 9 & 10

Reed Intermediate: Sept. 4

Middle School: Sept.2 gr. 8, Sept. 8, gr. 7

High School: Sept. 11

Schools will be Closed on September 22nd for Staff Professional Learning and Closed on September 23rd for Rosh Hashanah.

The Newtown Board of Education is comprised of seven community members and its collective role is to provide oversight and governance of the school district while supporting its mission and vision. Other primary responsibilities include setting educational policy, approving the annual school budget, hiring and evaluating the superintendent and overseeing curriculum and programmatic implementation. Board members serve as liaisons between the school district and the community and their contributions are essential to ensuring the future success of Newtown Public Schools.

Typically, the Board holds its regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Newtown Municipal Center Council Chamber. Board members also devote time to the Board’s subcommittees in order to increase the efficiency of their operations.

Here is a link to tomorrow's Board of Education Agenda.

Please Note: This meeting is not being live-streamed and access by phone is not available. However, it is being recorded and will be posted on the Town website.

Click on the link to visit the Newtown Board of Education webpage and learn more about our members.

September 3 – (Wednesday - Reed School)

September 16

October 7

October 21

November 5 (Wednesday – Reed School)

November 18

December 2

December 16

January 13, 2026

January 27, 2026

Each year, as part of our Emergency Operations Plan, every school conducts emergency drills shortly after the start of the school year to ensure students are familiar with the procedures we would follow in the event of an emergency. In addition to fire drills, students and staff will practice Safe School Mode, Shelter-in-Place, Evacuation, and a modified version of a Lockdown drill.

Over time, we’ve found that it’s best to complete these drills early in the year since unexpected situations can arise at any time. Our goal is to ensure students and staff are prepared and confident while also being mindful of their well-being. We work carefully as a team to design these practice sessions so students know what to do without causing unnecessary stress or anxiety.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to maintain a safe and supportive environment for our entire school community.

Newtown Middle School is the only school in the district whose leadership team remains unchanged this year, and we’re excited to welcome back Principal Jim Ross and Assistant Principal Brian Walsh. Now entering their fourth year leading NMS together, Mr. Ross and Mr. Walsh have fostered a stronger sense of community, built positive relationships with students and families, and supported a thriving school culture.

With their continued dedication and collaborative leadership, NMS is well-positioned for another year of growth, engagement, and success!

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.

Over 300 students and their families, along with many staff members, came together for the Middle Gate PTA’s Welcome Back Ice Cream Social! The evening was filled with smiles, laughter, and plenty of scoops and toppings to go around. It was a wonderful way to kick off the new school year and celebrate our MGS community. A big thank-you to the MGS PTA for your incredible support and for creating such a sweet start to the year!

Our youngest learners arrived at Reed School, now the new home of our preschool program, ready to begin their journeys! While a few little ones were understandably hesitant to separate from moms and dads, most entered with calm and confidence — thanks in large part to the caring, dedicated adults who were there to greet them and support their social, emotional, and academic growth from the very first day. It was a joyful start filled with smiles, laughter, and endless possibilities ahead!

Yesterday, thousands of residents and visitors lined Main Street to celebrate Newtown’s annual Labor Day Parade, one of our community’s most cherished traditions. This year’s “Pets on Parade” theme brought an extra layer of fun and creativity, featuring costumed pets, festive floats, marching bands, and smiling faces everywhere. The parade was a wonderful reminder of the pride, spirit, and sense of belonging that make Newtown such a special place to live and raise a family. We extend our sincere thanks to all of the organizers, participants, and volunteers who made this year’s event such a memorable success.

Newtown Public Schools follows a Board-approved Meal Charging Policy that ensures all students have access to a healthy meal each school day, regardless of their meal account balance. While we encourage families to keep their child’s account in good standing, students will not be denied a meal due to a lack of funds.

To support families in managing their child’s school meal account, we offer MySchoolBucks, a secure online payment system that allows parents to:

• Add funds to their student’s account
• Set up automatic payments
• Monitor account balances and purchase history
• Receive low-balance notifications

We encourage all families to sign up for a MySchoolBucks account at www.myschoolbucks.com or through the mobile app. By staying informed and maintaining a positive balance, you help ensure a smooth and uninterrupted meal experience for your child.

For more information about the district’s Meal Charging Policy, please visit our website or your child's school.

We’re excited to announce that Newtown Public Schools will be launching Stopfinder, a new app designed to keep you informed about your child’s bus schedule in real time.

Stopfinder is a secure, easy-to-use, all-in-one app that gives you access to the most accurate transportation information—anytime, anywhere. With the app, you can:

• View your child’s bus schedule.

• Set up GeoAlerts to receive notifications when the bus arrives or departs from specific locations, such as your home, school, or other points along the route.

• Customize Alert Zones for individual students based on their unique route.

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An email invitation will be sent this week from no-reply@stopfinder.com to the primary parent/guardian email we have on file. The way the system is configured, one contact is designated as the primary Stopfinder contact—this individual will receive the initial invitation and will then have the ability to invite additional contacts (e.g., the other parent, grandparents, caregivers, etc.).

Once you receive the invitation, download the Stopfinder app for free from the App Store or Google Play, and follow the instructions to register. Please note: You must complete the registration process using the district’s invitation before you can access your student’s transportation schedule.

If you do not receive your invitation by Friday, please contact Stopfinder Support at stopfindersupport@all-startransportation.com for assistance.

Several of our schools are in need of student support services staff. If you enjoy working with kids, we encourage you to visit our employment opportunities page.