Newtown Public Schools
Weekly Update - September 8, 2025
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.
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.
Anne
September Calendar
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
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
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!
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
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!
The Athletic Leadership Council
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!
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!
Meal Charging and Account Management with MySchoolBucks
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
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:
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View your child’s bus schedule.
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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.
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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.
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.