Newtown Public Schools
Weekly Update - October 6, 2026
Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, honoring the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Throughout the month, we celebrate the many individuals and communities whose achievements, stories, art, music, traditions, and leadership have helped shape our nation. It is also an opportunity for our students to learn more about the diverse cultures and experiences that enrich our schools and communities.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we encourage our students to learn, explore, and appreciate the many cultures, traditions, and stories represented throughout our community. Together, we celebrate the diversity that makes our schools such special places to learn, grow, and connect.
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. To that end, warnings will be issued to violators starting September 15. 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.
October is National Principals Month, and we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the dedicated leaders at our Newtown Public Schools.
Our principals do so much more than lead their buildings. They welcome students each morning, support and encourage staff, celebrate successes big and small, connect with families, and work every day to create schools where students feel safe, supported, and inspired to grow.
Their leadership, compassion, and commitment help shape the culture of each of our schools and make NPS such a special community.
To our incredible principals, thank you for the countless ways you show up for our students, staff, and families each and every day. We are so grateful for all that you do! 💙
Our NHS Hope Squad was asked to help decorate a lamp post at Fairfield Hills in collaboration with Newtown Cares Suicide Prevention Partnership! Our lamp post is located infront of the Newtown Community Center if you'd like to take a look in person and I've attached a picture to this email (we still have a few finishing touches to make). We had a great turnout of Hope Squad members who came to help yesterday (and some members had to leave before we took our group picture)! We are excited for another great year!
CONGRATULATIONS to NHS Varsity Cheer Coach, Susan Bridges, on her selection to the CHSCA Hall of Fame!
Coach Bridges, along with 10 other coaches from across Connecticut, was introduced this weekend at the UCONN vs. Syracuse football game. We are so proud to celebrate this incredible honor and Susan’s 19 years of dedication to Newtown Cheer!
A formal Hall of Fame celebration will be held in May at the Aqua Turf.
Proud to be a Nighthawk!
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
