Newtown Public Schools

Dear Newtown Families, Faculty and Staff,

This week we welcome back our high school department leaders and extend a warm welcome to our new elementary assistant principals. Having these extra few days to work within their leadership teams enables them to get caught up on changes that have happened over the summer, prepare and plan for the year ahead, and receive any training integral to their roles. Additionally, this week we welcome our new certified staff to our New Staff Orientation. This robust 5-day program provides information designed to help support these educators as they embark on their career in Newtown Public Schools.

As I visited the buildings today, I was again reminded of the important work that happens quietly over the summer to set the stage for a great school year. In our front offices, staff have been carefully finalizing schedules, preparing welcome-back information for families, and confirming addresses and bus routes. Custodial and maintenance teams have been hard at work refreshing classrooms and completing important projects, while hiring teams have welcomed new colleagues to our district. Security protocols have been reviewed and strengthened to ensure the safety of our schools. Although much of this effort goes unseen, it is deeply appreciated—it reflects the dedication, teamwork, and care that make our schools ready to welcome students on the very first day.

In keeping with Newtown’s long-standing practice, bus routes will be published in The Newtown Bee on Friday, August 15. Please note that the district is required to submit these routes to the Bee roughly 10 days prior to publication, and adjustments are often made after that submission. For the most up-to-date information, use the published routes as a general reference and confirm your child’s assigned stop through the Parent Portal. During the first two weeks of school, it is not unusual for buses to run up to 30 minutes behind schedule. We will continue to track significantly delayed buses and share updates with families as soon as possible and encourage you to download the Stopfinder app that we will be rolling out at the start of the school year (see article below). We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we get the year underway.

As a reminder, all staff will return to their schools on Wednesday, August 20th. Opening information will be sent to out district staff tomorrow. K-12 students will return to school on Monday, August 25th; Monday and Tuesday will be 2-hour release days for students. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be full days. The first day for PreSchool will be Wednesday, August 27th for both AM and PM sessions.

Warm regards,

Anne

Our full district calendar can be found here

We are pleased to announce that Newtown Public Schools, in partnership with All-Star Transportation, is launching the Stopfinder app — a secure, parent engagement and school bus tracking tool that provides real-time updates on your child’s bus location and estimated arrival time.

This initiative comes in response to advocacy from our PTA Presidents last year, and we are delighted to make it available to our families.

Stopfinder will allow parents and guardians to easily access bus route details, receive timely notifications, and stay informed about their child’s transportation status.

More information, including instructions on how to get started, will be shared in the coming weeks.

The Newtown Early Learning Center (NELC) at Reed, which provides daycare for our district employees, will be greeted with an exciting playground makeover when they return. Over the summer, the play space was expanded, a brand-new playscape was installed, and ADA-compliant surfacing was added to ensure fun and safe play for all. This vibrant new playground will also be enjoyed by our Preschool program, which has now joined the Reed Intermediate School community.

This summer brought some big improvements to our school roofs—and a few temporary traffic detours along the way! At the high school, roof replacement work caused some changes to parking and traffic patterns, but the project wrapped up on schedule. The old roof had reached the end of its life, with large sections lifting and frequent leaks during rain and snowmelt. Now, NHS can look forward to dry, comfortable learning spaces for years to come.

Head O’Meadow also received a brand-new roof in preparation for the installation of solar panels. By completing this work first, we’ve ensured a solid foundation for the panels and prevented potential issues down the road.

A big thank-you goes to our Director of Facilities, John Barlow, and his dedicated team, whose careful planning and coordination kept both of these major projects on track. These upgrades are a great example of how behind-the-scenes work leads to lasting benefits for our students and staff.

The Parent Portal opens Monday, August 18th! Families can log in to see teacher assignments and class schedules. We know students are eager to check for friends in their classes, but please remember—placements are made with great care to create the best learning environment for each child.

If your child is feeling unsure about their schedule, take a moment to talk with them about meeting new classmates and building new friendships. These experiences help students grow in confidence, adaptability, and resilience.

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.

Message from the Superintendent Message from the Superintendent

Dear Newtown Families, Faculty and Staff,

August Calendar August Calendar

Kindergarten Bus Runs and Student Walkthrough Schedule Kindergarten Bus Runs and Student Walkthrough Schedule

NPS Partners with All-Star to Launch the Stopfinder App NPS Partners with All-Star to Launch the Stopfinder App

New and Improved Playground for NELC and NPS PreSchool New and Improved Playground for NELC and NPS PreSchool

Two Schools, Two New Roofs—And Brighter Days Ahead! Two Schools, Two New Roofs—And Brighter Days Ahead!

The Countdown Is On—Parent Portal Set to Open August 18th! The Countdown Is On—Parent Portal Set to Open August 18th!

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