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Newtown Public Schools

Weekly Update - September 8, 2025

NewtownPublic Schools Weekly Update - September 8, 2025

Message from the Superintendent Message from the Superintendent

Dear Newtown Families, Faculty and Staff,

With our first full week of school underway, students are finding their stride—whether that means revisiting expectations, completing early assessments, or beginning meaningful classwork. At home, this is a great time to build simple routines that support the school day, like setting aside time for homework, meals, and sleep. These don’t have to be identical every night; what matters is creating a rhythm that helps your child stay grounded and ready to learn. Most important of all is consistent attendance—our students thrive when they’re present, and our schools are stronger when they're filled with engaged learners. If attendance is a challenge, please don’t hesitate to connect with your child’s principal or school counselor. We’re here to partner with you.


As we support student success inside the classroom, we’re also committed to maintaining safe and welcoming school environments. In that spirit, I am launching a School Security & Safety Survey to gather feedback from parents, faculty and staff, and interested community members about our current security practices and potential future enhancements. As I shared last week, one area currently under consideration is the proposed installation of a weapons detection system at Newtown High School.


Your input will play an important role in informing the Board’s upcoming discussions regarding school safety. Survey results will be considered alongside operational needs, student well-being, best practices in school safety, and long-term budget planning. Please note: this survey is not a vote; rather it is an opportunity for both the Board of Education and I to better understand:


  • Perceptions of our current school safety measures

  • Community priorities that will help guide future decisions about safety and security investments across the district


In addition to gathering feedback on our broader safety and security features, the survey also includes a question about the restricted donation recently made by the Sandy Hook School Foundation. This donation is designated specifically for the purchase and installation of a CEIA OpenGate Weapons Detection System at Newtown High School. The Board has conditionally approved this donation, and has charged me with the following prior to final approval:


  • An initial implementation plan

  • Seeking school community participation and feedback

  • An assessment of potential mental health impacts on students

  • A review of possible alternatives


It is anticipated that the Board will review the information I present and make its decision at its October 7th meeting.


To help you make an informed response to the question on the survey regarding the CEIA OpenGate system, we encourage you to review this resource: FAQs: CEIA OpenGate Weapons Detection System at NHS.


We invite all parents, staff, and interested community members to take a few minutes to complete the School Security & Safety Survey and share your perspectives. Your feedback is an essential part of shaping both immediate decisions and future investments in school safety.


Click here to take the survey


The survey will remain open through September 19th.


Thank you for taking the time to share your input and for your continued partnership in supporting the safety and well-being of all students in Newtown Public Schools.


Warmly,
Anne

September Calendar September Calendar

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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.

Meet the Leaders ~ Reed Intermediate Meet the Leaders ~ Reed Intermediate

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At Reed Intermediate School, we begin the year with a strong and familiar leadership team. Principal Matt Correia, who has led Reed since 2019, is joined by Assistant Principal Carla Tischio, who returns to the school community in a new leadership role.


Ms. Tischio spent many of her teaching years at Reed before becoming Lead Teacher at Hawley Elementary in 2021. Her appointment follows the selection of former Reed Assistant Principal Jenna Connors as Principal of Middle Gate School earlier this summer.


A long-time member of the Newtown Public Schools family, Ms. Tischio is known for her deep institutional knowledge, collaborative spirit, and steadfast commitment to student success. She has contributed meaningfully to numerous district and school-level initiatives, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues across the system. Her return to Reed is both well-earned and warmly welcomed.


Together, Dr. Correia and Ms. Tischio bring a strong sense of continuity, care, and purpose to their work with students, staff, and families.

"ALL IN" at Newtown Middle School "ALL IN" at Newtown Middle School

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As part of the school’s Rise Up campaign, on Friday, September 5th, Newtown Middle School hosted Gian-Paul Gonzalez - motivational speaker to address the students and staff. Gian-Paul is famous for his “ALL IN” rally cry message that he delivered to the New York Giants. His “ALL IN” message to the team is now widely recognized as having inspired the New York Giants to their Super Bowl victory and was featured on ESPN on Super Bowl Sunday, and has had notable appearances on Fox News, ABC and CNN. He has traveled across the nation as a motivational speaker for the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers, to the Army Cadets at West Point, United States Air Force, Anheuser-Busch, Sam’s Club, Patch.com, PNC Bank, DSW Shoes as well as many other corporate, athletic, government agencies, and educational institutions.

NHS Athletics are Back! NHS Athletics are Back!

This Week's Schedule This Week's Schedule

The Nighthawks are ready for an exciting Fall season. Mark your calendars and come out to support our athletes as they compete on their home turf. We look forward to seeing our fans pack the stands and cheer on the Nighthawks throughout the season.


Monday September 8th

Girls Volleyball vs Greenwich

JV- 4:30pm

Varsity-6:00pm


Boys Varsity Golf vs Stratford

3:00pm


Tuesday September 9th

Girls Swimming vs Weston

4:00 pm


Boys Soccer vs Masuk

JV-5:00pm

Varsity-7:00pm


Wednesday September 10th

Boys Soccer vs Masuk

Freshman-4:00pm


Football vs New Canaan

Freshman- 5:00pm (Treadwell Park)


Field Hockey vs Immaculate

JV-5:30pm

Varsity-7:00pm


Volleyball vs Notre Dame

Freshman-5:30pm


Thursday September 11th

Girls Soccer vs Brookfield

Varsity-4:00pm (Treadwell Park)


Friday September 12th

Girls Volleyball vs Fairfield Ludlowe

Freshman-4:30pm


Football vs New Canaan

Varsity-7:00pm


Saturday September 13th

Boys Soccer vs Fairfield Prep

Varsity-6:00pm

JV-4:00pm

Hawk's Nest Themes for 2025 Hawk's Nest Themes for 2025

We are excited to announce our new Student Section leaders. Jamie Piccuillo, Michael Johnson, Quinn Kull & Teddy Moxham have some big plans for this year!

These energetic leaders will bring school spirit, pride, and positivity to every game and event. Their role is to unite the crowd and make sure our student section, also known as the Hawksnest, is the loudest and most supportive around. We can’t wait to see them in action this season!

The team has put together a theme schedule for Football games. If you're coming to a game, join us for the fun!

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The Athletic Leadership Council The Athletic Leadership Council

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The Athletic Leadership Council consisting of Senior leaders from various Sports teams has created a new PSA to be read before games, reminding fans of the importance of sportsmanship, respect, and school pride. Their goal is to promote a positive environment for athletes, coaches, officials, and fans, ensuring that every game reflects the values of our community. This initiative highlights the council’s commitment to leading both on and off the field.


Click HERE to watch the new PSA!

Get Involved, Be Connected, Have a Voice - Join a Newtown PTA! Get Involved, Be Connected, Have a Voice - Join a Newtown PTA!

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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.

Head O'Meadow's PTA Welcomes Back Students With an Ice Cream Social! Head O'Meadow's PTA Welcomes Back Students With an Ice Cream Social!

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Meal Charging and Account Management with MySchoolBucks Meal Charging and Account Management with MySchoolBucks

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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.

Introducing Stopfinder: A New Transportation App for Families Introducing Stopfinder: A New Transportation App for Families

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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.


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 have any questions, please contact Stopfinder Support at stopfindersupport@all-startransportation.com for assistance.

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Join One of Our Teams & Make a Difference! Join One of Our Teams & Make a Difference!

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.

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Newtown Public Schools
www.newtown.k12.ct.us
3 Primrose Street

Newtown, CT 06470

(203) 426-7600

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