The arrival of the spring season brings us more daylight as well as many school activities for families to attend. We sincerely hope that you enjoy visiting our schools during these days and watching our students in action, learning about our programming, or celebrating the end of a productive year.

As you know, it is also budget voting season. The referendum/vote on the Board of Education and town budgets will occur on Tuesday, May 20 at your usual polling places. Your vote is an important way to provide input to the community.

I hope that you will take a careful look at all of our wonderful district activities and events throughout these pages to see the range of opportunities we offer and how our students and staff succeed through their efforts and dedication. Here's to a productive and enjoyable month of May for all of us!

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students and our schools.

Janet P. Parlato, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Teaching-talk about an underappreciated profession! Without teachers, we wouldn't have doctors, lawyers, CEOs, engineers, authors . . . the list goes on. Teachers go through additional schooling, work nights and weekends, and somehow have a knack for holding on to their sanity while dealing with other people's kids.

• May 15th - Early dismissal - PD
• May 20th - BOE Budget Referendum 6am-8pm
• May 26th - Memorial Day (SCHOOLS CLOSED)
• June 10th: Early dismissal for all students; Last day of school for students at HPS, NES, SNIS, and NMHS
• June 10th: SMS Promotion, 6pm (rain date > June 11th)
• June 11th: Early dismissal for SMS students; Last day of school for SMS students; Last day of school for staff at HPS, NES, SNIS, and NMHS
• June 12th: Last day of school for SMS staff
• June 14th: NMHS Graduation ~ 10:00am @ NMHS Joe Wiser Stadium🎓

Dr. Chris Abildgaard from the Social Learning Network spent time Monday afternoon with our paraprofessionals. The topic was "Neurodiversity in our Schools." Dr. Chris shared not only a better understanding of what neurodiversity is but tools in which we can help our students. In the evening Dr. Chris met with our parents at the Maxx for an evening of continued conversation. Thank you, Dr. Chris, and thank you to our dedicated paraprofessionals and supportive families!

Mr. Raymond Manka, Principal

Mr. Kevin Best, Assistant Principal

Dr. Megan Dwyer, Assistant Principal

Mr. Anthony Blake, Assistant Principal

We need your help -- and invite you to be a part of something special! Please join us for a fundraising screening of Out There: A National Parks Story, as we raise funds to send four NMHS teachers on an incredible professional development experience. These educators will spend five days immersed in environmental education and stewardship, thanks to our partnership with STEAM in the Parks.

Out There is an award-winning documentary created by filmmaker Brendan Hall and NMHS Assistant Principal Anthony Blake. It follows their 10,000-mile journey through the National Parks, highlighting the inspiring human stories within these treasured landscapes.

Watch the trailer (link here) and learn more about the film by visiting the website (link here).

Event Details

Date: Thursday, May 15th

Location: NMHS Theater

5:30 PM - Environmental Opportunity Fair

Come explore the amazing sustainability work happening in our school and community, including projects by students, staff, community members, and our Environmental Impact Club!

7:00 PM - Screening of Out There

8:30-9:00 PM - Panel discussion with the filmmakers and special guests (to be announced)

Tickets: $12

All proceeds directly support our teachers’ participation in this enriching professional development opportunity.

Use this link to purchase tickets

If you have questions or are interested in showcasing your work at the Environmental Fair, please contact Assistant Principal Anthony Blake at blakea@newmilfordps.org.

Thank you for your support -- we look forward to seeing you there!

On April 24th, NMHS hosted its annual Career Expo in the Arena. 28 vendors promoted their businesses while over 1,100 students and staff came through to ask questions, peruse, and get some swag. Both vendors and students had great feedback. We're looking forward to growing the Expo next year!

During the week of March 31st - April 8th, the New Milford National Honor Society collected over 100 health and hygiene items that were donated to the Women's Center in Danbury. Over 48 NHS students participated and the drive was coordinated by members Kendall Evans and Ahmed Afifi who helped to collect, sort and deliver the items.

The Science National Honor Society inducted 26 new members on March 26th. The purpose of this organization shall be to encourage participation in and recognition of scientific and intellectual thought. It is to advance the students’ knowledge of classical and modern science, to communicate with the scientific community, and to aid the civic community with its comprehension of science. It is to encourage students to participate in community service and, in turn, encourage a dedication to the pursuit of scientific knowledge that benefits all mankind. Mr. John Boothby, one of our engaging science educators was the keynote speaker. He encouraged our students to continue to pursue truth and knowledge about the world around them by analyzing scientific data without bias or emotion and so stay curious.

The French Department at NMHS successfully completed an unforgettable trip to France. Twenty-two students were able to practice first hand their skills in the target language and experience the French culture staying in host families and in Paris.

From April 2nd to April 20, 14 students went on a trip to Germany. They spent a week with host families in Dallgow-Doeberitz, on the outskirts of Berlin, then spent three nights in Nurnberg, where they visited the site of the Nuremberg trials and the medieval village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Finally, they spent five nights in Munich, which included highlights a day trip to Neuschwanstein and a visit to the BMW museum.

The SNIS Walking Project kicked off on April 23rd. Students will count their steps in the name of the 4 E's: Exercise, Eating Well, Environment, and Emotional Health! Thank you to our generous community sponsors for supporting this SNIS tradition! Great to see our NMHS athletic council students speaking to our 5th graders as well !

The 2025 Jazz Fest was a big success! Congratulations to all of our jazz students from SNIS, SMS and NMHS for their outstanding performance at the concert on April 22, 2025. Thank you to Mrs. Anderson (SNIS), Mr. Polhemus (SMS) and Mr. Syzdek (NMHS) for your work putting the event together for our students.

860-354-2204
Ms. Linda Scoralick, Principal
Mr. Michael Boucher, Assistant Principal

Ms. Shannon Surreira, Assistant Principal SMS/NES

Mrs. Jennifer Powers, Assistant Principal

Students explore the world around them through projects! In French, students learned about the French-speaking countries in West Africa. Students worked collaboratively to show their learning by creating maps, no longer a long lost skill! They are continuing their explorations of French West Africa through the use of stories that integrate their map learning with the French language itself. Students in Spanish 1 had the opportunity to plan the trip of a lifetime to three different cities in the Spanish speaking world. Students worked collaboratively to use authentic resources to investigate the weather forecast and select activities to do in each city. Then students created a visual itinerary of their dream trip. Students enjoyed applying their language skills in exploring the authentic world.

860-210-4020
Mrs. Anne Bilko, Principal
Mrs. Jennifer Chmielewski, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Jennifer Meyers, Assistant Principal

NMCT America 250 is our local committee organizing the state's commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which will be in 2026. We were excited to welcome them back to teach our students about the Culper Spy Ring during the American Revolution!

Congratulations to the 35 amazing fourth-grade students who successfully completed the

inaugural Grade 4 Math Mavericks club! Over the course of 10 weeks, these young

mathematicians challenged themselves with creative problem-solving activities designed to

strengthen number sense, build flexible thinking, and spark a true love of math.

Sponsored by the NMPS Talented and Gifted Enrichment Program, the club also emphasized

essential life skills such as collaboration, perseverance, and clear communication. Through

teamwork and resilience, students grew not only as mathematicians but as confident learners

ready to tackle new challenges.

Mr. Delia and Mrs. Ziu-Pires are incredibly proud of each student for their enthusiasm,

commitment, and growth. We can’t wait to see where their math journey takes them next!

860-355-3713

Mrs. Gwen Gallagher, Principal

Ms. Shannon Surreira, Assistant Principal SMS/NES

Our potential "community friends" for our Excel program were invited to visit a classroom on March 26th. They enjoyed toys, activities and interacting with their peers as well as our teaching staff. They came to see what happens in our Excel classrooms!

Townwide "Dress to Impress" day was a hit! The kids enjoyed dressing in formalwear and sharp duds.

Second grade students loved their visits from FLANDERS NATURE CENTER. On two separate days, instructors went through lessons relating to soil composting, composition and erosion. The Flanders Nature Center program was called "Worms for Lunch." Students enjoyed the activities and asked lots of questions. They planted seeds and will incorporate their knowledge and understanding of soil science into their activities at the Plant Patch. The program was paid for by PTO. Thank you to our wonderful PTO!

The ALL PRO DADS group met in the Library for their monthly meeting. Coffee, coloring crafts, and some helpful parenting talks and tips are shared among the group of dads with children at NES. All Pro Dad Korey Linder leads the group.

We are looking forward to our Mini-K experience which will be held on Wednesday mornings in April and May. This is an opportunity for fully registered Kindergartners to come to the school and enjoy play time as well as interaction with peers and teachers. Parents will separately attend a Kindergarten informational session while students enjoy K readiness activities and interactive play. The sessions culminate in a 20 minute school bus ride!

On April 10th, students in all grades enjoyed a visit from author Melissa Shapiro who presented a "Piglet Mindset Educational Program." This assembly supported Literacy Enrichment while promoting Kindness initiatives. The students loved meeting piglet, Ms. Shapiro's special needs dog who is the inspiration for her program.

The Gaga pit was installed on the playground and the kids are loving it! Thanks PTO!

On April 23rd and 24th, the second graders enjoyed a trip to the New Milford Library! They learned about the importance of reading, library science and the public library as a community resource.

On April 7th the second graders traveled to the Ridgefield Playhouse to see the Peking Acrobats. They listened to traditional Chinese music and learned about another culture to support our social studies curriculum. They enjoyed the exciting, high energy show and were on their best behavior!

On April 7th we hosted "We Love our Support Staff" day and had coffee and goodies for all our stellar para professionals and other support staff at Northville. Our support staff are highly regarded at NES and do so much with and for our students with various special needs.

Also on April 2, our First Graders went to see a performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Warner Theater in Torrington. The first grade teachers reported how proud they were of their classes for putting into practice the NES CARES expectations while on the field trip!

Our plastic collection continues! Thanks LHTC for helping us recycle plastic for our soon to be upcycled bench.

Where am I going? I don't quite know. Down to the stream where the king-cups grow- Up on a hill where the pine-trees blow- Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.

Where am I going? The clouds sail by, Little ones, baby ones, over the sky. Where am I going? The shadows pass, Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.

If you were a cloud, and sailed up there, You'd sail on the water as blue as air. And you'd see me here in the fields and say: "Doesn't the sky look green today?"

Where am I going? The high rooks call: "It's awful fun to be born at all. Where am I going? The ring-doves coo: "We do have beautiful things to do."

If you were a bird, and lived on high, You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by, You'd say to the wind when it took you away: "That's where I wanted to go today!"

Where am I going? I don't quite know. What does it matter where people go? Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow- Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.

860-354-5430
Mrs. Catherine Calabrese, Principal

Mrs. Kerri Adakonis, Assistant Principal

All classes have visited Barkley’s Backyard Garden! The garlic, mesclun, and snap peas are just a few plants that have started growing. Tulips have bloomed too. Students participated in scavenger hunts, learned about a plant’s life cycle, and much more…

We are almost to 1,000 lbs to earn a Trex Bench! Please help us get our last bit…

Thanks to the students and teachers at Litchfield Hills Transitional Center for their help!

Congratulations to the 8 NMHS Student Athletes who will continue their athletic career at the college level!

📅 Updated March 28, 2025 📅