Newtown Public Schools

As we enter the homestretch of the 2024–25 school year, it’s hard to believe there are just 10 school days remaining. This last few days are typically filled with well-earned celebrations, including field days, field trips, and other special events—and Newtown is no exception. While these moments are joyful and meaningful, the shift from regular routines can be challenging for some students, occasionally leading to impulsive or disruptive behaviors. We kindly ask for your partnership in reminding your children that expectations around kindness, respect, and positive behavior remain the same, even during these less structured times. A simple conversation or gentle reminder at home can go a long way in helping students finish the year on a strong and positive note.

Tomorrow evening’s Board of Education meeting will be a special one. We will celebrate the top 5% of the Newtown High School Class of 2025—an extraordinary group of students whose academic excellence and perseverance have distinguished them as leaders among their peers and exemplars of our district’s commitment to high achievement. We’ll also recognize our CABE Student Leadership Award recipients, along with several exceptional educators who are retiring after years of dedicated service to our students and community.

All of these recognitions are a great reminder of what makes Newtown Public Schools such an excellent district—amazing students, dedicated staff, and a supportive community. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to support the important work happening across our district each day.

Enjoy the wonderful days ahead!

Anne

The full district calendar can be found here.

To all in our school community who will be celebrating later this week and weekend, we extend warm wishes for a joyful and peaceful Eid al-Adha. This important holiday is a time of reflection, generosity, and community, and we honor the values it represents for our Muslim students, families, and staff. May this Eid bring you and your loved ones blessings, happiness, and togetherness.

The Rotary Club of Newtown is looking for a host family or families, for the 2025/2026 Spring semester.

One to two families are needed to host a young lady from Japan, who will be entering Newtown High School as a sophomore for the 2025-2026 spring semester (January – June). If you would like to host part of all the spring semester or would like more information, please contact David Freedman 860-372-1596 or newtowndad@hotmail.com

Rotary clubs channel their commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity:

• Youth Service, one of the five, recognizes the importance of empowering youth through leadership development programs. Rotary Youth Exchange is one of many youth leadership development programs offered by Rotary.
• Living in a foreign country is a powerful way to gain global understanding and promote peace.
• Through Youth Exchange, students learn a new language, discover different cultures and customs, and make friendships that last a lifetime.
• The objectives of the Rotary Youth Exchange program include: • Instilling international understanding and goodwill in students • Creating positive change by empowering youth • Making lasting connections for host clubs, host families, communities, and the students involved Rotary districts administer the Youth Exchange program in collaboration with local Rotary clubs.
• A Rotary district is a group of Rotary clubs in a specific area or region.
• Rotary has approximately 530 districts worldwide. Unlike many exchange programs, Rotary Youth Exchange is managed by volunteers, resulting in relatively low administrative costs and a strong support network of engaged Rotarians.
• Rotary’s youth protection policies and district Youth Exchange certification program ensure that the safety of our youth is the highest priority.

We want to alert families and staff to a concerning social media trend circulating on TikTok that encourages students to tamper with school-issued Chromebooks in ways that can cause them to overheat or catch fire. This behavior is extremely dangerous, posing serious risks to student safety, school property, and the learning environment. Such actions may lead to disciplinary consequences and potential legal ramifications.

We urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the hazards of participating in viral online challenges. While these trends may appear entertaining, they can result in real harm and long-term consequences.

To our staff, if you notice any unusual behavior or signs of device tampering, please contact your school administrator immediately.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and focused on learning.

Click here for more information and to apply.

On May 30th, Alina Bolf (9th grader) was recognized for her submission to the 6th annual Lt. Governor's Computing Challenge. Her project, Happy Tails, was coded in Violette's Honors Python class. It is a creative program that instructs the user on how much to feed your dog based on breed and weight. Kristin Violette was also recognized as a Challenge Champion based on the number of submissions by Newtown students.

Kristin Violette originally proposed the idea of a statewide Computer Science Challenge to Lt. Governor Bysiewic in 2018 and has been part of the steering committee since its inception. It is officially offered as part of the Governor's Council on Women and Girls: Subcommittee on Education and STEAM, and our Lt. Governor has been a strong advocate since the beginning. All CT students (grades 3-12) are encouraged to submit to the challenge. It typically opens in October and closes in April. If you have questions, you can email Kristin at violettek@newtown.k12.ct.us

On May 23rd, Mrs. Cambareri's and Mrs. Olmos-Valeri's Spanish classes celebrated a Quinceañera, a very meaningful cultural event in the Hispanic community.

During the celebration, students had the opportunity to enjoy traditional foods, participate in a cultural craft activity, and dance! They also learned about the customs and significance of this important tradition.

Families from Level 3 Spanish classes collaborated by bringing a variety of Hispanic dishes to share with the students.

It was a beautiful and enriching celebration!

Congratulations to the RIS Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Honors Band, and Jazz Band for earning a Superior rating in this year’s Trills and Thrills Music Festival. This was an opportunity for our ensembles to perform for adjudicators and receive feedback - both in writing and with a mini-workshop. The judges complimented Chamber Choir students on their exceptional attention to artistry, dynamics, and expression. The Chamber Orchestra was applauded for their wonderful technique, bow holds and bowing as well as their impressive intonation. Jazz Band soloists really impressed the judges. They appreciated their good intonation, tone development, and great balance. Honors Band students were congratulated for their clear attacks and releases, strong intonation, and stylistic performance. Students spent a day at Lake Compounce to celebrate their hard work.

It was a true, full-circle moment having Gus Osier, a graduating senior (NHS Wind Ensemble) and former Head O’Meadow student, return to play a recorder duet with the current 4th grade graduates, showing them what's in store for their musical future!

The Halo Awards was created by the Seven Angels Theater Artistic Director in 1993 to celebrate high school theater in the Greater Waterbury Region. As the program has grown, awards ceremonies were moved to the Palace Theater in Waterbury. Now in it’s 32nd year, over 90 schools participate from high schools throughout the state of Connecticut.

Newtown High School nominations were:

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A COMIC MALE ROLE IN A MUSICAL:

● Newtown High School: Warner Bacon as Barnaby in Hello, Dolly!

BEST SOUND DESIGN AND/OR EXECUTION:

● Newtown High School: Meghan Bailey, Emily Anderson & Dan Cruson for Hello, Dolly!

BEST SCENIC DESIGN AND/OR EXECUTION:

● Newtown High School: Cormac Elliot, Lucia St. Lorenzo, Mary Guion & Parker Mauri for Hello, Dolly!

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING MALE ROLE IN A MUSICAL:

● Newtown High School: Ashton Almeter as Cornelius in Hello, Dolly!

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING MALE ROLE IN A CLASSICAL MUSICAL:

● Newtown High School: Theo Anderson as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly!

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING FEMALE ROLE IN A CLASSICAL MUSICAL:

● Newtown High School: Gabriella Corona as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!

And the winner for Best Performance in a Leading Female Role in a Classical Musical goes to……

Gaby Corona, for her performance as Dolly!

Congratulations to all of our talented students that participated in this year’s show!

Baseball- Class LL

Nighthawks vs Southington

Monday 6/2

3:45 at Southington High School

Softball-Class LL

Nighthawks vs Glastonbury

Monday 6/2

5:00 PM at Newtown High School

Boys Tennis- Class L

Nighthawks vs New Canaan

Monday 6/2

4:00 at New Canaan

Girls Tennis- Class L

Nighthawks vs South Windsor

Monday 6/2

3:30 at South Windsor

Girls Lacrosse-Class L

Nighthawks vs Lyman Hall

Tuesday 6/3

5:00 at Newtown High School

Boys Lacrosse--Class L

Nighthawks vs Farmington

Wednesday 6/4

7:00 PM at Newtown High School

Boys Volleyball-Class M

Nighthawks vs Rockville

Wednesday 6/4

6:00 PM at Newtown High School

We are proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our student-athletes who have committed to playing their sport at the collegiate level!

We are excited for this new chapter in their athletic and academic journeys.

Congratulations to our future collegiate athletes—you make us proud!

Please ensure your child's lunch account is up to date so they can enjoy nutritious meals at school. If your family is facing financial challenges, we’re here to help! Reach out to your child's counselor or principal for assistance and resources. Every student deserves a healthy meal!

Did you know that joining your PTA offers several benefits for both you and our school community? Our PTAs do many wonderful things throughout the school year that support and enhance the educational experience for our students. In addition to raising funds for educational programs and classroom resources, members have the opportunity to have their voices and ideas heard, meet new people and build connections within the school and greater community, as well as gain leadership skills that can be both personally and professionally valuable. In addition, being involved in your PTA gives you a closer look at what is happening in your child’s school by participating in or organizing events that foster a positive school culture.

You can find a link to each school's PTA by clicking on this link.

Thank you for your support!

Being the parent of a student with special needs can be confusing, isolating and frightening. Newtown Special Ed PTA, or SEPTA, is a great way to connect with a supportive community. We look forward to you joining us!

For more information, please visit the Special Ed PTA's website by clicking on this link.

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.

All-Star is actively seeking drivers. Flexible schedules and a paid training program.

Consider calling today!