Superintendent's Newsletter

Dear Newtown Community,

During this holiday season, I hope that you have the opportunity to reunite with friends and family, embracing traditions that provide wonderful memories.

To you, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for your loving and devoted approach to our students. Without this, Newtown would not be the special place it is. What a privilege it has been to work in Newtown. I am grateful for all of your help and your patience. The experience of working with an outstanding staff and dedicated families is always rewarding, and never more so than this year. Your unwavering support is appreciated and it has not gone unnoticed.

This is the time of year for rejoicing and rededication. May the warmth of this season fill your heart with joy! I hope that during this time of reflection, you set your goals with enthusiasm as we approach the new year. I hope that you have the opportunity to rest and enjoy the lights, family, and food during this festive holiday season. Sometimes the greatest gift of all is the gift of time.

It is with great joy I send you warm holiday greetings and best wishes for a bright new year.

Sincerely,

Chris

On December 5th and 6th, the Newtown Middle School Chorus and Band performed at Newtown High School. The students and staff displayed a fabulous performance. I was also impressed with the large crowd in attendance for the show! It’s good to have these social events again!

As schools across the nation regain their cadence with the return to in-person learning and the reduction in mandates, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation is pleased to celebrate the list of Best Communities for Music Education (BCME). Now in its 23rd year, the 2022 Best Communities for Music Education program has recognized Newtown Public Schools for the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders and their support for music education as part of a well-rounded education for all children.

"The 2022 Best Communities for Music Education is an opportunity to celebrate music programs and honors the resilience and dedication to keeping music as part of a well-rounded education as we all adapt to a new educational landscape," says Christopher Johnson of the Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. “If there was one common theme to be taken from all submissions, it’s that schools and districts found ways to sustain music education and student engagement in even the most challenging of circumstances.”

On December 8th the Head O' Meadow PTA sponsored Gingerbread Decorating Night. Over 180 families participated in this event. Families were supplied with a gingerbread man and cake-decorating supplies. There was holiday music playing from the DJ and hot chocolate flowing for everyone to enjoy! Some students and parents came dressed in PJs, while others wore their winter outfits inside.

On December 14th our faculty and staff were visited by some furry friends. Newtown Police Department and the Tri-State Canine Response Team offered therapy dogs to our staff. They offered unconditional love to our team and provided comfort where and when it was necessary. I am grateful for the support given by NPD and TSCRT. It was very much appreciated.

Emerging research suggests that the food we eat can affect our mental well-being. To help students

learn what foods are may help them feel their personal best, Chartwells is launching a new

program…Mood Boost. Students at the Newtown Elementary schools will soon be able to help kids learn that healthy eating patterns can give them an emotional boost. This initiative is another way that

Newtown Public Schools and its food service partner Chartwells K12 is ensuring students leave the

cafeteria happier and healthier than they came.

Designed by chefs and dietitians for elementary- and middle-school students, Mood Boost is a seven-week program that features interactive experiences, tasty new menus, and fun characters that focus on six moods: Strong, Alert, Happy, Calm, Smart, Confident, and which foods can boost them and why. “Our goal is to create and cook healthy foods kids love to eat and create a space where they can connect and recharge,” said John Morris DDS NPS. “The new Mood Boost program brings even more fun and education to lunchtime and helps students connect what they eat to how they feel which can only positively impact their well-being at school and beyond.”

Chartwells will kick off the Mood Boost event on January 10, 2023 - Here’s a taste of what’s on the menu:

• 1/10 – 1/13 Week 1 Strong: Beets – Apple, Beet, Carrot, Citrus Mint Vinaigrette
• 1/16 – 1/20 Week 2 Happy: Pineapple – Red Cabbage, Pineapple, Apple salad
• 1/23 – 1/27 Week 3 Alert: Melon – Fresh Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Pineapple and Watermelon
• 1/30 – 2/03 Week 4 Confident: Kiwi – Fresh Kiwi Slices
• 2/06 – 2/10 Week 5 Calm Broccoli – Broccoli and Raisin Salad
• 2/13 – 2/17 Week 6 Smart: Sweet Potatoes – Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• 2/22 – 2/28 Week 7 Strong: Cranberry – Spinach and Cranberry Salad

About Chartwells K12

Chartwells K12’s goal is to make sure students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in, by serving food kids love to eat and creating custom dining programs. With more than 16,000 associates in 4,500 schools, ranging from large public institutions to small charter and private schools, Chartwells K12 is built on decades of food, education, and operational experience driven by top culinary, nutrition, wellness, and sustainability talent. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsK12.com.

Thank You,

John Morris

Director Dining Services

John.morris2@compass-usa.com

O – 203 426 7637

M – 203 232 2828

The third-grade team at Hawley School developed a kindness project this holiday season. This project provided students and staff the opportunity to give back to those in our community who may be less fortunate. Giving back to our community is much more than a school project. It's an incredibly rewarding, and life-changing experience. The fulfilling feeling of giving back and contributing to society is unparalleled. Giving back is also a great way to get to know the Newtown community. Working alongside individuals who also care about improving their surroundings will allow our students to broaden their network of friends and also help them to be effective and empathetic citizens.

Our district has been participating in instructional rounds. These protocols allow teachers and administrators to view teacher practice, discuss what was observed, and highlight what was observed as a means to improve practice. Instructional rounds are a scientifically researched based process that has been proven to improve teaching practices and student outcomes. To date, we have visited over 80 classrooms and we are just thrilled with what we are seeing. Students are happy to be in school and are engaged in their learning. There's a lot of learning going on in Newtown!

The Newtown Public Schools Board of Education recently launched a strategic planning process, creating a committee with representation of the Board of Education, administration, staff, families, and community members. The purpose of the committee is to work within the guidelines of the Newtown Board of Education to engage stakeholders in (1) conducting a needs assessment of the district, (2) refining or crafting essential artifacts for telling the improvement story of Newtown Public Schools, and (3) identifying a small number of priorities for the coming years.

After the holiday vacation, we will be inviting all of you to community focus groups. These meetings are tentatively scheduled on the evenings of January 18th, January 26th, and January 30th. We look forward to receiving your feedback that will assist us in creating goals, deciding on actions to achieve those goals, and mobilizing resources to achieve those actions. There will be more information on this in January.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS

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A REWARDING CAREER AWAITS YOU!

Driving a school bus is a rewarding job for anyone who loves children. Parents can bring their children on the bus with them to save on daycare expenses while enjoying school holidays and vacations off with their children. It is a great job for retirees and anyone who likes to drive.

Paid training classes are starting January 17, 2023. 25 to 30 hours per week. No experience is necessary. A clean driving record is required. Paid holidays, dental, life insurance, PTO, and 401(K) available. Please apply in person to get more information on this

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31 Pecks Lane

Newtown, CT 06470

# 203-266-7352