Newtown Public Schools
Weekly Update - September 15, 2025
At Newtown Public Schools, we remain dedicated to creating an environment where every student and family feels welcomed and included. From September 15 through October 15, we recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month. This annual observance honors the rich history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans, whose roots trace to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
This observance has a meaningful history of its own. First established in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson, it was later expanded to a month-long recognition by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The start date of September 15 is significant, marking the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following on September 16 and 18. Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, also falls within this commemorative period.
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.
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.
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.
