Newtown Public Schools

I don't know about you, but for me "springing ahead" is always tough! Not only do we lose an hour of sleep but the mornings are dark again when most of us getting ready for work or school. However, this month marks a significant increase in daylight hours. In Newtown, the sun will be above the horizon for about 80 to 100 minutes longer by the end of the month compared to the beginning, and I think everyone welcomes that!

The 25-26 Board of Education budget continues to be at the forefront of our work at NPS. Last Thursday evening, the Board of Finance voted to reduce the proposed budget by $900,000. This is a significant sum and will not be easy to absorb. Although they do not have the authority to tell the Board of Ed what to cut, the BOF referenced K-6 Spanish (which had been reduced in the Superintendent’s budget but then added back by the BOE) as well as the school district’s non-lapsing account, perhaps indirectly suggesting that these two could be combined to get to the $900,000 reduction. This however, is not as simple as it may seem.

Connecticut General Statutes include a provision for districts to create "unexpended education funds accounts” by giving local boards of education the authority to deposit unspent funds into non-lapsing accounts. The amount deposited into these accounts cannot exceed 2% of the prior fiscal year's education budget. However, it's crucial to understand that these funds are strictly designated for "educational purposes” and the intent is generally to use these funds for non-recurring or extraordinary educational needs, rather than routine, recurring expenses. I do not believe it would be prudent to use these funds in order to lower the Board of Education budget even though that is what the Board of Finance suggested. Instead, we will likely be looking at programmatic and staffing cuts to make up the $900,000 reduction that has been applied to the proposed budget.

Also during the BOF meeting, reference was made to the school district’s increasing costs in the face of a declining student population over the past 10-15 years. It’s important for our school community to understand that while a declining student population might suggest potential savings, the rising costs of essential services, particularly special education, ever increasing state mandates and the need to maintain existing infrastructure often outweigh any reductions. Most school expenses are relatively fixed. Regardless of student numbers, schools still need to heat and light buildings, maintain facilities, and employ a base level of staff. Furthermore, Newtown Public School's cost growth is not unique or exceptional. For the 23-24 school year, the district’s per pupil expenditure was $21,714 which is very close to the state average of aound $21, 310 while our performance far exceeds the state average due to wise investments in staff, curriculum, instruction and programming.

The next step for the BOE budget, along with the Board of Selectmen budget, will be a review by the Legislative Council who will ultimately set the final number.

I want to express my thanks to all who attended the BOF meeting in-person, joined virtually and/or sent emails expressing your opinions to your elected officials. I am grateful for your interest and support and encourage you to stay engaged in the next step, which is the final one before the budget is put to the voters. I will continue to advocate for this budget to stay intact so it can ultimately be approved by voters on April 22nd.

Have a great week!

Anne

The full district calendar can be found here.

On Thursday, March 6th, the Board of Finance (BOF) voted to recommend to the Legislative Council that the Board of Education proposed budget be reduced by $900,000. The Board of Education Budget, along with the Board of Selectmen Budget, now move forward to the Legislative Council (LC) as the Recommended Board of Finance Budget.

According to the Town Charter, the LC has the power to reduce any item with 6 affirmative votes or increase any item or add items above those included in Recommended budget with 8 affirmative votes. The Board of Education will not take action to determine where the $900,000 will be trimmed from until the final number is decided by the LC. The LC must hold a public hearing on the budget no later than the last Wednesday in March each year which for this year would be no later than March 26th.

The date of the Legislative Council’s public hearing on the budget will be posted here when it becomes available.

BOARD OF FINANCE MEETINGS

Agendas and Minutes

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Agendas and Minutes

Recognizing the diverse holidays and celebrations that shape our students' lives and experiences.

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, our school district extends warm wishes to all our Muslim students, families, and staff. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, prayer, and community for Muslims worldwide. During this month, many observe a daily fast from sunrise to sunset, focusing on acts of charity and strengthening their connection to their faith. We recognize the importance of this observance and are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for our students and staff who are participating. We encourage everyone to learn more about Ramadan and to respect the traditions of our Muslim community members during this sacred time.

As the vibrant festival of Holi approaches, our school community joins in celebrating the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Known as the "Festival of Colors," Holi is a joyous occasion marked by playful throwing of colorful powders and water, symbolizing unity, forgiveness, and the shedding of negativity. We recognize and honor the diverse cultural traditions within our school, and we extend warm wishes to all our students, families, and staff who celebrate Holi. May this festival bring you happiness, laughter, and a renewed sense of community.

The application portal for tuition assistance awarded by the Newtown Scholarship Association is LIVE! The deadline to apply for our flagship award, the Hertberg Family Scholarship ($10,000/year) is Friday, March 28th. The deadline for the general pool (awards from $500 to $7,500 traditionally) is Friday, April 11th. Students who graduate from NHS (or live in Newtown but attend school elsewhere, ie. Immaculate) are eligible.

Link to the homepage: newtownscholarship.org

Link to the application form: newtownscholarship.smapply.io/

On behalf of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT), students in grades 7-12 and their parents are invited to join the Department of Transportation on March 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual panel discussion on Transportation Engineering. Whether students are curious about the latest technology or passionate about making a difference in the community, this is the perfect opportunity to dive into a dynamic field that shapes our everyday lives.

Registration link can be found here and closes March 19, 2025.

Contact Katherine.Yale@ct.gov with any questions.

The Newtown High School College & Career Fair will be held on Thursday, March 20 from 6- 7:30pm in the Gym at NHS. We have more than 60 colleges and post graduate programs confirmed, and more signing on every day. FREE for students and families to attend.

Come out and support Newtown Unified!

Thank you for your interest in the Newtown Public Schools Preschool Program. The program offers quality educational services to children who have disabilities and to typically developing peers, referred to as Play Partners. Play Partners are role models to their disabled peers and benefit from instruction aligned to Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards.

If you are interested in having your child participate as a Play Partner, please complete the Play Partner Questionnaire 2025 - 2026 (LINK) by February 15, 2025. Play Partners are required to be three years of age on or by September 1, 2025 and be toilet trained before they are admitted to the program. You are still encouraged to complete the questionnaire if your child turns three shortly thereafter. We accept play partners throughout the year, accordingly. Children five years of age by September 1, 2025 are kindergarten eligible and will not be considered for participation as Play Partners. Kindergarten eligible children may not remain enrolled as a student in the Newtown Preschool Program.

Following submission of your questionnaire, the preschool team will contact you to invite your child to participate in a Play and Meet the Teacher activity scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, March 14, 2025 at Newtown Preschool Program located at Sandy Hook School. A preschool staff member will email you prior to the play session to confirm the details of the activity. Only one adult may accompany the child for the play activity.

You will receive notification through email by April 4, 2025 regarding your child’s Play Partner status. Parent confirmation of Play Partner participation will be due on April 25, 2025.

Newtown Public Schools Preschool Program Details are as follows:

Program Days: Mondays through Thursdays

Program Hours: Morning sessions run from 9:00 to 11:45

Afternoon sessions run from 12:45 to 3:30

Location: Newtown Preschool located at Reed Intermediate School

Rate: $2,400.00 for a full year four half day program

If you, a caregiver or an educator have any questions or concerns about your child’s development in any of the aforementioned developmental domains, rather than moving your child’s application forward as a Play Partner, it may be more appropriate to discuss your concerns and provide you with specific information regarding early childhood development or consider an evaluation. Please feel free to call Ms. Laura Pellerito, School Psychologist, at (203) 426-7683, if you have any questions about your child’s development.

Sincerely,

Laura Esposito

Supervisor of Special Education

Tel (203) 426-7626 • Fax: (203) 270-6185

Please ensure your child's lunch account is up to date so they can enjoy nutritious meals at school. If your family is facing financial challenges, we’re here to help! Reach out to your child's counselor or principal for assistance and resources. Every student deserves a healthy meal!

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey on school meals from Chartwells.

On April 1 the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) will hold their 30th Annual Outstanding Arts Awards Banquet at the Aqua Turf Club. This annual event honors two outstanding high school visual and performing arts students. The Connecticut High School Outstanding Arts Awards annually honor two seniors from each CAS member high school who excel in the performing or visual arts and possess qualities of scholarship and leadership. Newtown High School is honored to announce this year’s awards recipients: Emily Metzger (excellence in visual arts) and Sadie Baimel (excellence in performing arts). They will attend a dinner to celebrate with their peers representing towns throughout the state. Congratulations to Emily and Sadie!

Artists on the Rise Student Exhibition is a collection of works from students grades 9-12. The exhibition includes works from over 130 students in a wide range of media including photography, ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber arts, digital art, sculpture, jewelry, and printmaking. The inspiration for their work comes from their own experiences reflecting a diverse exploration of creative endeavors. This juried event provides young artists the opportunity to have their work shown in public in a professional environment. Awards are given across media for best-in-show. 17 pieces were included from Newtown High School with Emily Metzger receiving 1st Place for Ceramics and Violet Assante-LaBash receiving 1st Place for Painting. Congratulations Emily and Violet! The exhibit runs through March 30 at the Brookfield Craft Center.

The Newtown High School Band program sponsored their annual winter home show on March 8 in the NHS gym featuring Winter Guard and Winter Percussion. The day was action packed with performance and competition among 10 winter percussion ensembles and 32 guard units from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, including the UCONN, University of New Haven Guard, and CT Tigers Winter Guards. All teams performed engaging and energetic programs. Everyone carried out intricate choreography and guard units expertly handled their colorful flags and rifles. Judges are provided through the Musical Arts Conference (MAC) to score students on design, movement, music, visual and execution of drill. Congratulations to both the Newtown Varsity Combined Schools WG and Newtown Winter Percussion for earning 1st place!

Enjoy the Newtown Varsity Winter Guard Performance!

Capstone is a project and graduation requirement that allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. They pursue a topic related to a personal interest, develop that over the course of a year, and present their completed work to the class. Many students use their passion for the arts as a topic. Cormac Elliott is very involved in music and theater and when he saw a need, he addressed it:

“The tool chest was a project for my Capstone that I built to benefit the theater program at the high school while utilizing my learned skills. The idea was to take what everyone wanted to see and give it my creative spin and bring it to life. I learned most, if not all my skills from my grandfather and used other resources for the finishing work on the chest itself. I decided on this as a way to showcase my skills while giving the theater crew what they needed. I saw the old one falling apart and wanted to leave something of my own with the program. I designed it based on input from people in the program that frequently use it. The construction took a long time, but was worth it in the end because it is now more secure, useful, and easier to move than the original chest. This connects to my plan for college majoring in mechanical engineering and how it is a passion of mine to create these projects from start to finish benefitting a group of my community. I have had lots of help in improving what I do and I plan to go through college and come out continuing to help others using my skills.

Fine Arts have been my connecting and continuing force in high school. The program gave me my friend group and values that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. I have put my heart into the Fine Arts program whether it be band or theater because of the environment and path it set me on. It has given so much and it was my turn to give back with this project.”

The theater program is very grateful to have this amazing gift - thank you Kormac!

Families, friends, and the Newtown community can enjoy the Unified Music class performance of their rap songs in the NHS Chorus Spring Concert on May 19. Here is a link to the district calendar: https://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/calendar as well as the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Calendar of Events: https://hiscavichm.wixsite.com/nhs-fine-arts/calendar-of-events

All four NHS Wrestlers who qualified for New Englands made the podium! Newtown placed 4th out of 178 teams from the 6 NE states.

CONGRATULATIONS

Kenna Gioffre 4th at 120 lbs

Antonio Arguello 2nd at 150 lbs

Jake Maddox 6th at 157 lbs

Marc Maurath 2nd at 165 lbs

Next Stop....VA Beach for HS Nationals!!

That's a wrap for Unified Basketball... Thank you Bunnell for hosting our last tournament! As you can see from the smiles, it was a great day!

Spring Season is still 12 days away.....

Lacrosse Captains, Jenn Socci and Brooke Bulkley, recently competed in the A shot for Life CT All star game last week. A Shot For Life (‘ASFL’) is a sports based non-profit organization that funds health and cancer research initiatives.

Congratulations ladies! Bring on Spring Sports!

The Rotarian commitment is a pledge to live a life of service, guided by ethical principles, and dedicated to building a better world through fellowship and understanding. It's a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others and contributing to the betterment of society.

The Newtown Rotary Student of the Month recognition is a program run by the Newtown Rotary Club to honor and celebrate outstanding students in the Newtown community. This award recognizes and awards students who demonstrate exceptional qualities in academics, character, leadership, and community involvement.

Barbara was named February's Rotary Student of the Month for her exceptional dedication to community, leadership, service, and resilience. She has made significant contributions to the school through her positive attitude, teamwork, and commitment to academics. Barbara is involved in several school clubs, including the International Cooking Club and the Debate Team.

Her passion for community service is equally impressive; from helping at food pantries to building cat houses for a local animal shelter. She even plans to volunteer at an animal shelter on her 13th birthday.

In a world that often asks us to choose between success and compassion, Barbara has found a way to embody both, through her contributions to the school, her volunteer work, and the courage she’s shown in overcoming personal obstacles. She is a shining example of what it means to be a dedicated student, a leader, and a servant to others.

Emily has been recognized for her outstanding contributions at Newtown High School. She first stood out in her CP English I class as a bright and engaging student. Over time, Emily has thrived both academically and personally, becoming a valued member of the school community.

Emily was nominated for this honor by her teachers, Mrs. English and Mr. Lye. Mrs. English, who taught Emily in Honors American Literature and Women's Studies, praised her for her insightful analysis, charisma, and sense of humor. She was a key member of the Girls Inspiring Girls club, where Emily currently serves as co-president. Her leadership has been instrumental in the club's success, including their role in fundraising for the Center for Empowerment and Education.

Mr. Lye, who taught Emily in the Writing Center Theory and Practice course, highlighted her leadership and ability to connect with others. As one of the few seniors in the class, Emily helped underclassmen feel comfortable and effectively shared her writing skills with her peers. Her ability to make others feel welcome and supported further underscores why she is deserving of this recognition.

Overall, Emily is celebrated for her leadership, academic excellence, and ability to positively impact those around her.

Did you know that joining your PTA offers several benefits for both you and our school community? Our PTAs do many wonderful things throughout the school year that support and enhance the educational experience for our students. In addition to raising funds for educational programs and classroom resources, members have the opportunity to have their voices and ideas heard, meet new people and build connections within the school and greater community, as well as gain leadership skills that can be both personally and professionally valuable. In addition, being involved in your PTA gives you a closer look at what is happening in your child’s school by participating in or organizing events that foster a positive school culture.

You can find a link to each school's PTA by clicking on this link.

Thank you for your support!

Being the parent of a student with special needs can be confusing, isolating and frightening. Newtown Special Ed PTA, or SEPTA, is a great way to connect with a supportive community. We look forward to you joining us!

For more information, please visit the Special Ed PTA's website by clicking on this link.

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.

All-Star is actively seeking drivers. Flexible schedules and a paid training program.

Consider calling today!