Newtown Public Schools
Weekly Update - October 19, 2026
This week, Newtown Public Schools is proud to recognize National School Bus Safety Week! School bus safety is a shared responsibility, and we are committed to ensuring that every student travels to and from school safely each day.
A special thank you to our dedicated bus drivers and transportation staff who go above and beyond to keep our students safe. Their patience, care, and commitment make a difference in the lives of our students and families every day!
As we celebrate this important week, we encourage everyone to do their part by staying alert, slowing down in school zones, and always stopping for school buses with flashing red lights.
Together, we can help keep our students safe, one bus ride at a time! 🚌
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. 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.
The stadium was in full Pink Out mode Friday night, it was a BIG night at Blue and Gold Stadium!
Our annual Pink Out Game was extra special as we welcomed Newtown Youth Football & Cheer, and youth dancers to the stadium! At halftime, we introduced our youth athletes and enjoyed a special performance from our youngest dancers.
A special thank you to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue for joining us and being part of such a special night! We always appreciate your support of our Nighthawk community!
Our Pink Out fundraiser included T-shirt sales and donations, with all proceeds donated to the Healing Hearts Bereavement Program at Regional Hospice. Thank you to everyone who supported this important cause and helped make a difference in our community.
And to top it all off… OUR NIGHTHAWKS GOT THE WIN!
On October 22nd, Newtown High School is sponsoring a cardiac screening event from 1:00-5:00. This event is sponsored by In a Heart Beat. This is a free event for all Newtown Public School students. October is Sudden Cardiac Death Awareness month. In A Heart Beat has screened around 12,000 students and saved 83 lives.
SIGN UP TODAY! Screening should take 10 painless minutes!
Questions?
Doug Michlovitz MS, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer at NHS
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
