Newtown Public Schools

For those who celebrated Easter and Holy Week, and for those who are currently observing Passover, I hope this has been a meaningful time of reflection, tradition, and time with family and loved ones. As we head into the week before break, we are beginning to enjoy more hours of daylight and warmer weather—albeit somewhat fickle, as spring in New England typically is. I also want to remind everyone that Friday is a 3-hour early dismissal for all students and staff.

Last week, the Legislative Council supported the Board of Education’s Requested Budget without modification. The budget is now set at a 4.6% increase and will go to the voters on April 28th. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to follow the process and better understand what the proposed increase represents. I also want to remind everyone that now that the budget has been approved by the Legislative Council, the referendum is legally considered “pending,” and advocacy restrictions are now in place. For more information regarding the budget, please see the Budget Happenings section below.

This Wednesday, the Board of Education Ad Hoc Newtown Public Schools Planning Committee will hold its first meeting. In addition to Board of Education representation, the committee includes members of the Board of Finance and Legislative Council, as well as the First Selectman. School and parent representatives round out the group. The committee will begin its work to fulfill the Charge approved by the Board of Education at its March 3rd meeting.

You may have recently received an email regarding a legal settlement involving the PowerSchool Naviance platform used by our district. In some cases, this notice was sent directly to student email accounts as part of the court-approved notification process; because only high school student email accounts are accessible outside the district’s network, only high school students would have received such an email. I sent a separate communication to families shortly before this update to provide context and clarify the situation. I want to reiterate that this matter did not involve a data breach, no student information was compromised, and our district systems were not accessed or exposed. The notice is informational in nature, and I encourage you to review my earlier message for additional details and next steps should you wish to take any action.

As schools will be closed next week for spring recess, the next edition of the NPS Weekly Update will be April 20th. I wish you all a wonderful break from the daily routine and hope you have the opportunity to spend time with family and recharge for the final nine weeks of the school year. Time is flying by!

Our full district calendar can be found here

Superintendent's Proposed Budget Video

Superintendent's Proposed Operational Budget Presentation

Board of Education Requested Operational Budget

Legislative Council Discussion of The BOE Budget (1:33 mark)

Budget Referendum Guidelines

Click the link to view the agenda for tomorrow's Board of Education meeting.

To view this meeting, the livestream link is: https://vimeo.com/event/729428

To make a public comment, the call in number is (US) 1 573-559-1310 PIN: 312 199 871#

We recognize and celebrate Orthodox Christianity as an important faith tradition within our community and around the world. With rich history, meaningful customs, and deeply rooted spiritual practices, Orthodox Christianity offers a time for reflection, renewal, and celebration.

Important upcoming observances include Holy Friday on April 10, Orthodox Easter on April 12, and Bright Monday (Easter Monday) on April 13. We extend our warm wishes to all who celebrate and encourage our community to take this opportunity to learn more about and honor these meaningful traditions.

April is National Volunteer Month, and we are so grateful for our incredible PTA and all of the dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and heart to support our school community. Your commitment helps create meaningful experiences for our students and strengthens the connection between school and home. Thank you for all that you do, we appreciate you today and every day!!

This week, we celebrate Assistant Principals Week and recognize the incredible impact our assistant principals have on our school community each and every day. From supporting students and staff to keeping our schools running smoothly, their dedication, leadership, and care do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do to create a positive, safe, and supportive environment for everyone!

Please click here to purchase tickets!

Please click here to purchase tickets!

We are excited to share that our sister school in Madrid, Spain is looking forward to continuing our exchange program for the 2026–2027 school year! April 20th is the final deadline to sign up. Please review the information below.

The Connecticut State Department of Education is pleased to share an exciting opportunity for certified teachers interested in expanding their impact through adult education. Connecticut Adult Education is seeking instructors for subjects including General Education Development (GED) Preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), Career Readiness, Digital Literacy, and high school credit completion with flexible scheduling options available.

Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), in collaboration with Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) is hosting the Inclusive School Safety Practices for Students with Disabilities - Parent & Caregiver Dinner Event on Monday, April 27, 2026, at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). This free event will bring together families, educators, disability advocates, and school and community leaders to discuss practical strategies that support safe and inclusive learning environments for all students.

Please click here to RSVP for the Parent Event.

The Western Connecticut Superintendents Association (WCSA) annually recognizes outstanding students from the region through its Student Recognition Awards Program. This program honors students who demonstrate excellence in three key areas: community service and service to others, academic prowess relative to ability, and leadership service to the school and community.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s honorees: Lillian Grossman and Petra Petkov from Newtown Middle School, and Michayl Wilford and Gabriella DeNicola from Newtown High School. We are so proud of their accomplishments and the positive impact they have made within our school community!

In celebration of Paraeducator Day, our NCP students proudly delivered cookies to each school as a small token of appreciation for the incredible paraeducators who make a big difference every day. We are so proud of our students for recognizing and honoring these everyday heroes!

Thank you to everyone who attended the NMS Cultural Fair! It was a wonderful evening filled with connection, celebration, and learning. Families shared meaningful traditions through an incredible variety of dishes, highlighting the richness and diversity that make our school community so special. We were amazed by the performances and presentations, each one thoughtful, engaging, and truly inspiring.

In the second year hosting this event, it was exciting to see it grow, with over 20 countries represented and more than 150 attendees. Students, families, and staff came together to experience new cultures, try delicious foods, and celebrate the unique backgrounds that shape our community.

Please click here to enjoy more photos from the evening!

On April 1, the Reed Music Department hosted their annual Chamber & Club Concert for fifth and sixth grade families. The concert highlighted students who participated in morning Chamber and Club groupings, including Bucket Band, Jazz Band, Show Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Chorus, and more. It was a great night to showcase the many talents of our intermediate students!

The Reed PTA shared their annual paint night with all Reed Families. This year, more than 300 people attended this night event hosted by the Giggling Pig Art Studio. Thank you, Laura Reef and Meghan Weaver for putting together this free night for families!

Students from the NHS English Honor Society visited Middle Gate to share their love of reading with our kindergartners! They read A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon and followed it up with a fun coloring activity. It was a wonderful opportunity for our younger students to engage with a great story while building connections with our high school readers!

The students who visited were: Ava Geiger, Ainsley Stott, Sarah Smith, Rachel Hugo, Logan Lerow, Isabella Malitsky, Kathryn Lynders, Lily Caston, Lahja Kurjiaka, Lia Suarez, Eleni Roussas

The Newtown High School Chess Club has won the Danbury Area Scholastic Chess League championship this year! Not only did we win the league championship, but we had eight players also compete in an individual tournament with three other high schools in Middlebury, Connecticut. Newtown players won first and second place in that tournament.

Sophomore Henry Laughlin (right) won first place among players of all four schools, and sophomore Brennan Cameron (left) won second place. Congratulations to all!!

A Big Shout Out to Sandy Hook's Chess Club on finishing their session of classes! Way to Go!

Be sure to visit the Municipal Center between March 30 and April 9 to see this year’s District Art Show 2026! You will see the imagination of our talented artists come to life in the creative pieces they have made over the course of the year!

On Saturday, April 11th, please join us for a great night of NHS Boys Lacrosse as we welcome Simsbury to town.

This game will help raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer. We will be collecting donations and hosting raffles throughout the night.

Let’s fill the stands, wear teal, and come together to make an impact.

JV-4:00

Varsity-6:00

Please click here for the Highlights from March

In order to help families avoid the accumulation of large negative lunch balances, the district will be implementing the following steps:

• At $25 or more: Parents/guardians will be notified by email.

• At $50 or more: School personnel will contact you directly.

• At $75 or more: A formal letter will be mailed home from the school.

• If balances continue to grow without an effort to reconcile: Families will be contacted by the Central Office.

Please note: Students with a negative balance are not permitted to purchase a second lunch or snacks until the account is brought current.

Our goal is to support families in staying up to date with lunch accounts and to prevent larger debts from accumulating. By connecting families with school personnel, we hope to assist you in making online payments or, if eligible, applying for free and reduced-price lunch.

Click on the link for instructions on how to set up a MY SCHOOL BUCKS account so you can keep your account current.

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.

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.