Newtown Public Schools

I hope that you all had a chance to decompress and enjoy some family time during last week’s break. Looking ahead, we have just about 8 weeks of school remaining. While those 8 weeks are often filled with a multitude of extracurricular activities and celebrations, a great deal of important learning time remains. Please be sure to continue reinforcing routines that help our students come to school ready to learn!

Over the next few weeks, we will be administering our annual school climate surveys. Please look for an email with more information from Assistant Superintendent Frank Purcaro in the coming days. The email will include information regarding how to participate in the family survey as well as information about the surveys administered to students in grades 3 through 12, including the questions. In addition to family and student surveys, both our certified and non-certified staff also complete surveys to help create a full picture of climate within our schools. The results of each of the surveys are then analyzed by administrators as well as school-based leadership teams in order to identify goals for improvement for the following year. I do hope everyone will all take a few minutes to complete the surveys once they open.

Lastly, I would like to remind all families that the town’s budget referendum is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 22nd, from 6:00 am to 8 pm at Newtown Middle School.

Have a great week!

Anne

The full district calendar can be found here.

Newtown Budget Referendum

Date: Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 22nd

Time: 6 am to 8 pm

Location: Newtown Middle School

You must be a registered voter in Newtown to participate.

Tomorrow is Bus Driver Appreciation Day!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible bus drivers who safely transport our students each and every day. Their commitment, patience, and care do not go unnoticed. They are often the first smile our students see in the morning and the last at the end of the day—and they play a vital role in our student's school experience.

Please take a moment to thank your driver tomorrow for all they do to support our schools and families!

Each year on April 22, Earth Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of protecting our environment and to take meaningful steps—big and small—toward a more sustainable future. In classrooms and across our schools, students are learning about environmental conservation, exploring ways to reduce their ecological footprint, and participating in activities that promote care for the planet. Earth Day is more than a single day—it’s a chance to inspire lifelong habits that help preserve our natural world.

On Administrative Professionals Day, Wedneday, April 23rd, we proudly celebrate the dedicated individuals who keep our schools running smoothly behind the scenes. Whether answering phones, managing schedules, supporting staff and families, or ensuring day-to-day operations stay on track, our administrative professionals are the heartbeat of our buildings. Their organization, kindness, and attention to detail make a lasting difference in the lives of students and staff alike.

Thank you for all that you do—we are grateful for you every day!

Thank you for your interest in the Newtown Public Schools Preschool Program. The program offers quality educational services to children who have disabilities and to typically developing peers, referred to as Play Partners. Play Partners are role models to their disabled peers and benefit from instruction aligned to Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards.

If you are interested in having your child participate as a Play Partner, please complete the Play Partner Questionnaire 2025 - 2026 (LINK) by February 15, 2025. Play Partners are required to be three years of age on or by September 1, 2025 and be toilet trained before they are admitted to the program. You are still encouraged to complete the questionnaire if your child turns three shortly thereafter. We accept play partners throughout the year, accordingly. Children five years of age by September 1, 2025 are kindergarten eligible and will not be considered for participation as Play Partners. Kindergarten eligible children may not remain enrolled as a student in the Newtown Preschool Program.

Following submission of your questionnaire, the preschool team will contact you to invite your child to participate in a Play and Meet the Teacher activity scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, March 14, 2025 at Newtown Preschool Program located at Sandy Hook School. A preschool staff member will email you prior to the play session to confirm the details of the activity. Only one adult may accompany the child for the play activity.

You will receive notification through email by April 4, 2025 regarding your child’s Play Partner status. Parent confirmation of Play Partner participation will be due on April 25, 2025.

Newtown Public Schools Preschool Program Details are as follows:

Program Days: Mondays through Thursdays

Program Hours: Morning sessions run from 9:00 to 11:45

Afternoon sessions run from 12:45 to 3:30

Location: Newtown Preschool located at Reed Intermediate School

Rate: $2,400.00 for a full year four half day program

If you, a caregiver or an educator have any questions or concerns about your child’s development in any of the aforementioned developmental domains, rather than moving your child’s application forward as a Play Partner, it may be more appropriate to discuss your concerns and provide you with specific information regarding early childhood development or consider an evaluation. Please feel free to call Ms. Laura Pellerito, School Psychologist, at (203) 426-7683, if you have any questions about your child’s development.

Sincerely,

Laura Esposito

Supervisor of Special Education

Tel (203) 426-7626 • Fax: (203) 270-6185

The Rotarian commitment is a pledge to live a life of service, guided by ethical principles, and dedicated to building a better world through fellowship and understanding. It's a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others and contributing to the betterment of society.

The Newtown Rotary Student of the Month recognition is a program run by the Newtown Rotary Club to honor and celebrate outstanding students in the Newtown community. This award recognizes and awards students who demonstrate exceptional qualities in academics, character, leadership, and community involvement.

Cluster 7 Orange is proud to announce Robert “Bobby” Leone as our Rotary Award recipient for April. Bobby is a kind, respectful, and hardworking student who consistently gives his best effort with a positive attitude. He is always punctual, prepared, and focused in class, setting a strong example for his peers. His honesty, dependability, and willingness to help others make him a valued member of our cluster. Outside the classroom, Bobby brings the same dedication to his baseball and soccer teams, earning the respect of his coaches and teammates alike. His commitment to school, sports, and community truly sets him apart. We are proud to recognize Bobby for his many accomplishments and all he brings to our school community. Congratulations, Bobby!

Daniella's dedication to the Latin language, culture, and history has been truly exceptional. She recently earned the Seal of Biliteracy for Latin, achieving the highest possible score on the ACTFL Interpretive Reading Assessment—a remarkable accomplishment.

Daniella is a co-founder of the Latin Club and a committed tutor through both the World Language Honor Society and the C.H. Booth Library. Her academic excellence is reflected in her performance on the National Latin Exam, earning Cum Laude as a sophomore and Gold Summa Cum Laude as a junior. She was also honored with a Student Award for Excellence in Latin by the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers.

Beyond her personal achievements, Daniella actively promotes the value of world languages, speaking to incoming students about the benefits of studying Latin. She’s also deeply involved in the Newtown community through Families United in Newtown.

Daniella is a kind, intelligent, and hardworking student. We wish her all the best as she continues her studies at the University of Virginia this fall!

The Newtown High School Band and Guard program is celebrating an outstanding winter season across all three of its competitive indoor ensembles. From February through early April, the Newtown Varsity Color Guard, Junior Varsity Color Guard, and Winter Percussion Ensemble competed as part of the Musical Arts Conference (MAC), achieving outstanding results and setting a high bar for future seasons.

Newtown Junior Varsity Color Guard, made up of students in grades 5–8, brought home first-place finishes at two regular-season competitions in the Scholastic Middle School Division. Their season culminated in a silver medal finish at MAC Championships on March 29th. Their show, “Tale of the Trees,” was inspired by The Lorax, highlighting environmental themes through performance.

The Newtown Varsity Color Guard (grades 8–12) had an outstanding run of their own, presenting “Clue”, a dynamic and theatrical show based on the iconic board game and cult-classic film. With three regular-season victories and a First Place finish at MAC Championships in the Scholastic A Division, the Varsity Guard earned their first championship title since 2022—and only the second title on record since at least 2013.

Not to be outdone, the Newtown Winter Percussion Ensemble delivered a stunning season with “The Library of Life,” a powerful show that carried them to an undefeated streak from early March through championships. The ensemble won the Scholastic PSA Division at MAC Championships, earning the top percussion score in the entire conference this season. This marks only the second championship title ever for Newtown Winter Percussion and the first since 2018.

The winter programs are led by an exceptional team of staff and educators: Becca Tobin, director and designer for both Varsity and JV Color Guard; John Esposito, JV Guard coach; Tayloranne Turecheck, Percussion Director; and Nick Ruel, designer and co-director for Winter Percussion. The programs are additionally supported by Liz Dandeneau, Director of Bands at Newtown High School, and the Newtown Band Parent Corporation. Through the Band Parent Corporation, Newtown High School was able to host their yearly Winter Extravaganza - a winter percussion and guard competition - this past March, an event that featured over 40 different groups from across the state.

These achievements speak volumes not just about the students’ dedication and talent, but about the program’s momentum. With only four seniors across all three groups, the future is bright for Newtown’s Band and Guard programs heading into preparation for their fall season.

As the program begins preparations for next year, the band and guard program is always looking to welcome new students. All students grades 7-12 are welcome to join the band and guard at Newtown High School and be a part of these programs, regardless of experience. With strong leadership, a talented and growing student body, and a track record of excellence, Newtown’s Marching Band and Color Guard and its winter programs are more than just successful—they’re an exciting opportunity for young performers looking to join something extraordinary. Anyone looking for more info about the band and it’s related programs - upcoming performances, community events like the Tag Sale on May 17-18, or looking to join or get involved should reach out to the NHS Band Director Liz Dandeneau at dandeneaue@newtown.k12.ct.us or email info@NHSBandGuard.com

Newtown Night of Jazz

May 1, 2025 at 7:00pm

The Wizard of Oz (Youth Edition)

Reed Intermediate School Drama Club

May 2-4

Newtown Public Schools Art Shows

Newtown Public Schools Spring Concerts

Here is a link to the district calendar: https://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/calendar as well as the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Calendar of Events: https://hiscavichm.wixsite.com/nhs-fine-arts/calendar-of-events

As part of our commitment to giving back to the community, We have organized an NHS Athletic Department food drive to support Faith food Pantry. With the help of each sports team, we can make a significant impact on families in need.

Each team was assigned a collection day as well as suggested items to donate. We tried to make this easy for everyone and also cover the many needed items on the FFP list.

If you're in the area, stop by a game and drop an item or two. Every box, bag and can will make a difference!

Boys’ lacrosse — Friday, April 25th during practice Suggested donation items: Kitchen cooking supplies, oil, spices, small size, salad dressing, pickles, brownie mix, taco kits, Condiments, BBQ, ketchup, baking supplies, flour, sugar, etc.

Baseball — Monday, April 21 beginning at 4:15 pm and during the game. Suggested donation items: Canned goods — broth: chicken, beef, veggie, cannellini beans, peas, carrots, tuna fish, baked beans, canned soup, rice, stuffing mix, pasta. Also, rice, jar sauce, peanut butter, jelly, and sun butter.

Softball — Monday, April 21 at 4:15 pm. Suggested donation items: Baby diapers size 3-6, wipes, kids lunch items, mac and cheese, lunch snacks, granola bars, individual fruit cups, applesauce, individually wrapped snacks.

Girls’ and boys’ track — Tuesday, April 22 at 4 pm (Blue & Gold Stadium). Suggested donation items: Household items, cleaning supplies, paper towels, TP, laundry detergent, dish detergent, trash bags, Zip seal bags, etc.

Girls’ tennis — Wednesday, April 23 at 3 pm. Suggested donation items: Toiletries — shampoo and conditioner, deodorants, bar soap, body wash, toothpaste and toothbrushes, disposable razors, feminine hygiene products.

Girls’ lacrosse — Thursday, April 24 at 4 pm (Blue & Gold Stadium). Suggested donation items include: Single serving lunch size snacks, granola, snack bars, goldfish, crackers, cookies, etc. Pancake mix, syrup. Paper products: Toilet tissue, paper towels, napkins.

Boys’ tennis — Monday, April 28 at 3 pm. Suggested donation items: Cereal, pop tarts, mini muffins, granola bars, coffee, and tea, peanut butter, jelly.

Boys’ volleyball — Monday, April 28 at 6 pm (NHS gym). Suggested donation items: Pet food items. Cat. Dog wet or dry, litter.

Girls’ golf — Monday, April 28 (NHS at 3 pm). Suggested donation items include: Pet food items. Cat and dog food (wet or dry), kitty litter.

Unified Sports — Date and location TBD. Suggested donation items: Canned fruit, salty lunch snacks, candy, sweet treats.

Congratulations to Girls Lacrosse Senior Captain and UCONN commit, Brooke Bulkley, reached a pair of career milestones during the past week, scoring her 100th goal while winning her 100th draw control.

Way to go Brooke!

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!