Newtown Public Schools

After several weeks with shortened schedules due to holidays and professional learning days, the next four weeks will be full five-day weeks for all students. Our next day with no school will be Election Day, which will serve as a professional learning day for staff. Following that, schools will hold shortened days for parent-teacher conferences. This change in scheduling reflects feedback from both families and teachers. Parents and guardians who rely on older siblings for childcare on shortened days shared that this adjustment would be helpful, while many teachers expressed that conferences are more meaningful when they have additional time and data to discuss each student’s progress.

As I mentioned briefly in last week’s update, I wanted to share a little more information on a topic that’s been central to our leadership work this year. Since the summer, our leadership team has been working together to draft a set of three-year goals that will guide curriculum and instruction as well as district operations. This has been a significant but important undertaking for several reasons. First, clear goals help ensure that every part of our district—classrooms, schools, and departments—is working toward a shared vision of success for students. Second, multi-year goals promote coherence and accountability by outlining not only where we are headed, but also how we will measure progress along the way. Finally, this work strengthens our collective focus, ensuring that decisions about programs, resources, and initiatives are strategic, sustainable, and aligned with the values of the Newtown community.

At tomorrow’s Board of Education meeting, I will present an overview of the 3-Year Strategic Goals developed through our collaborative leadership work. In addition to serving as a roadmap to guide our efforts, this document will also provide the foundation for setting budget priorities in the year ahead. As we prepare to share these goals publicly, there is a strong sense of optimism and excitement about the direction we are heading and the opportunities the next three years will bring for our students, staff, and schools. Following my presentation, over the next three meetings, each principal, as well as our Director of Teaching and Learning and Director of Pupil Service, will share how their school or department goals align with these priorities to advance student learning and enhance the overall educational experience.

There are countless things that can happen in a school district over the course of a year that have the potential to pull us away from our core mission of providing an exceptional educational experience for the children of Newtown. Beyond all the other reasons why goals matter, they serve to ground us by helping us stay focused on what truly matters. Most importantly, they remind us of what unites us as members of the Newtown school community.

I hope you enjoy what may be the last summerlike days of the year.

Warm regards,

Anne

Our full district calendar can be found here

Click on the link to view the agenda for this week's Board of Education meeting.

To view this meeting, the livestream link is: https://vimeo.com/event/729428

To make a public comment, the call in number is (US) 1-702-941-0531 PIN: 738 984 662#

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.

Make early detection a priority—schedule screenings, know your body, and speak up about prevention. Your awareness and encouragement can inspire others and help save lives.

This month, we join schools across the country in celebrating National Principals Month! Our principals work tirelessly to inspire learning, support staff, and build welcoming communities where every student can succeed. Please take a moment to thank your school’s principal for the countless ways they make a difference

This year, Middle Gate welcomes two new leaders—both familiar faces in Newtown. Principal Jenna Connors assumed the role of interim principal last March, giving her the opportunity to get to know the Middle Gate community and build strong relationships with students, staff, and families before officially being named principal in early summer. Assistant Principal Sonia Raquel, who previously served as Elementary Supervisor of Special Education, is thrilled to now work in a school environment on a daily basis where she can connect with students and partner closely with teachers and families. With these two dedicated leaders at the helm, Middle Gate is poised for an exciting year of growth, collaboration, and continued excellence!

On October 2nd, we celebrated a group of individuals whose hard work often takes place behind the scenes, yet whose impact is seen and felt every single day.

Our custodians are more than just the people who clean and maintain our buildings. They are the ones who create safe, welcoming, and comfortable spaces for all of us to learn, work, and grow. Long before most of us arrive, and long after we leave, they are here making sure classrooms, hallways, restrooms, and offices are ready for a new day.

Their work often goes unnoticed, but it should never go unappreciated. Custodians handle some of the toughest, most demanding tasks with pride and professionalism. They are problem-solvers, helpers, and quiet heroes who keep everything running smoothly.

On behalf of the Newtown School Community, I want to express our deepest gratitude. Thank you for your dedication, your work ethic, and your unwavering commitment to keeping our spaces clean, safe, and inviting. You make a difference every day, and we truly couldn’t do what we do without you.

To our custodians—please know that you are seen, you are respected, and you are appreciated more than words can express. Happy National Custodian Day, and thank you for everything you do.

The Newtown Middle School Garden is thriving! Thanks to the hard work and care of students, staff, and volunteers, the outdoor classroom is now bursting with life. What began as an idea has grown into a vibrant space for learning, wellness, and connection with nature. The efforts of everyone involved are truly paying off—and the garden continues to be a source of pride and inspiration for the entire NMS community.

In order to help families avoid the accumulation of large negative lunch balances, the district will be implementing the following steps:

• At $25 or more: Parents/guardians will be notified by email.

• At $50 or more: School personnel will contact you directly.

• At $75 or more: A formal letter will be mailed home from the school.

• If balances continue to grow without an effort to reconcile: Families will be contacted by the Central Office.

Please note: Students with a negative balance are not permitted to purchase a second lunch or snacks until the account is brought current.

Our goal is to support families in staying up to date with lunch accounts and to prevent larger debts from accumulating. By connecting families with school personnel, we hope to assist you in making online payments or, if eligible, applying for free and reduced-price lunch.

Click on the link for instructions on how to set up a MY SCHOOL BUCKS account so you can keep your account current.

Monday October 6th

Boys Soccer vs Bethel

Freshman-3:30 pm

Tuesday October 7th

Boys Fall Golf vs Masuk

3:30 pm

Girls Volleyball vs Bethel

JV-4:00pm

Varsity-5:30pm

Boys Cross Country

Varsity-5:00pm

Girls Swimming vs New Milford

6:00 pm

Boys Soccer vs Weston

Varsity-7:00pm

Wednesday October 8th

Field Hockey vs New Fairfield

JV-5:30pm

Varsity-7:00pm

Girls Volleyball vs Brookfield

Freshman-5:30pm

Thursday October 9th

Field Hockey vs Trumbull

JV-4:00pm (Treadwell park)

Varsity-5:30 (B&G Stadium)

Girls Volleyball vs Bunnell

JV-4;00pm

Varsity-5:30pm

Girls Soccer vs Bunnell

Varsity-7:15pm

Saturday October 11th

Boys Soccer vs Xavier

JV-1:00pm

Varsity-3:00pm

Girls Soccer vs Woodland

Varsity-11:00am

CONGRATULATIONS!

A huge Congratulations goes out to Matt Memoli, NHS Athletic Director and the athletics department on being selected for the CIAC-Fred Balsamo Award for Sportsmanship. This annual award is presented to CIAC athletic programs to support new and innovative initiatives which promote sportsmanship and ethics in our member schools.

The award acknowledges our school's commitment to providing a sound, educationally-based athletic program. Well done Nighthawks!

Congratulations to all schools receiving this award

Academy of Aerospace and Engineering

Academy of Computer Science and Engineering

Academy of International Studies

Academy of Science and Innovation

Bloomfield High School

Danbury High School

Lakeview High School

Naugatuck High School

Newtown High School

Stamford High School

Westbrook High School

Wilton High School

The Newtown boys soccer team spent the afternoon working with the high school and middle school unified teams at Blue and Gold Stadium. It was a great opportunity for the athletes to connect and share skills. The afternoon was filled with laughter, teamwork and a true sense of inclusion.

Newtown Girls Volleyball will be hosting 2 clinics for anyone in grades 5-8.

Clinics will be held at Newtown High School

Dates:

Saturday October 11th-12:00-2:00

Sunday October 12th- 2:00-4:00

Newtown Dance Team will be hosting a clinic for Grade K & up on November 2nd.

Registration will close on October 14th.

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.

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.