A Message from Mr. Melillo
Welcome, Newtown families, staff, and community members, to the April edition of our newsletter! As spring blossoms around us, we're excited to share the latest updates, events, and achievements from within our vibrant educational community.
We encourage you to stay connected, stay informed, and join us in celebrating the many accomplishments of our students and staff. Together, we'll continue to build a brighter future for the children of Newtown.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to excellence in education.
Sincerely,
Chris
Budget News
Dear NPS Community,
I am informing you of a significant challenge facing our school district. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts totaling approximately $1.4 million, we are compelled to make difficult decisions that will undoubtedly affect staffing, programs, and class sizes across our schools. I want to be transparent with you; there is no way to sugarcoat the impact of these cuts. Our dedicated educators and support staff are the backbone of our schools, and reducing their numbers will undoubtedly affect the services we can provide to our students. This includes extracurricular activities and other initiatives that enhance the educational journey of our students.
I understand the concern and uncertainty that this news may bring to our community. Please know that we are committed to mitigating the impact of these cuts to the best of our abilities while maintaining the quality of education our students deserve. I urge each of you to exercise your voting rights on May 14th, as another referendum failure will likely lead to additional budget reductions for our school system.
Together, as a community, we will navigate through this challenging period and continue to prioritize the well-being and education of our students. Your support and understanding during this challenging time are greatly appreciated.
Head O' Meadow Math Carnival
On April 10th, the Head O' Meadow PTA hosted its Mathematics Carnival. Families were able to attend the event and play many different math games in the cafeteria. It was a pleasure interacting with faculty and families. Lead Teacher Karen Dreger did a great job supervising the event and Chrissie Pierce (Math/science specialist) and her math department were the true champions who planned and ran the event. Who would have thought that Math and Carnival would go together like chocolate and peanut butter?
Earthquake
Best Community for Music Education for the 16th Time!
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Newtown answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“On behalf of the Board of Education, allow me to send back to you, your teachers, and all the students, our deepest appreciation for setting the example of exemplary public school education,” said Don Ramsey. “It is so important for all of us to shine a light on our wonderful students as they experience the joy of learning and accomplishment on a grand scale. All the teachers and parents deserve equal recognition (as partners with students) to make that happen year after year.”
“Learning to play cello and read music in fifth grade has completely changed the trajectory of my life,” said NHS senior Jessica Zhang. “I've been able to work with many talented adults in the field, meet others who share the same interest in music, and grow as a person. Some of my closest friends are ones that I met in youth orchestra and chamber music camp. Through music, I've become better at communication, critical thinking, self-expression, and perseverance, and I know these skills will continue to help me throughout the rest of my life.”
Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.
70% of all students in grades K-12 participate in the Newtown Public School’s music program. Curricular offerings follow the national and state standards for music education and include General Music, Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation, Unified Music, Music Technology, Harmony and Composition, and AP Music Theory. Many of those students also participate in extracurricular ensembles including Jazz Band, Marching Band, Honors Band, Bucket Band, annual musical productions, Chamber Orchestra, Singers, Concert Choir, male and female a capella groups, Color Guard, Winter Guard, and Winter Percussion. Several students representing Reed Intermediate, Newtown Middle School, and Newtown High School were selected to participate in this year’s regional and state music festivals. Newtown’s program is recognized for its excellence through the CT High School Theater Awards, USBands (2023-24 state champions and national championship bronze medalists; the Color Guard received 1st place recognition at nationals), Fantastic Festivals, and various Jazz competitions. Younger students are benefitting from HEMMA (High School/Elementary School Music Mentoring Association) in which high school students tutor younger children in beginning instrumental lessons and music theory skills. The Tri-M Music Honor Society has inspired high school music students to participate in additional performances as well as support their peers throughout the district. NHS seniors are presenting a number of Capstone Projects that focus on music and the fine arts. Our students frequently perform for school and community events and have traveled throughout the country representing Newtown with their music making. The Newtown Music Department collaborates with regional and state universities to support student teachers as they learn to become the music teachers of tomorrow. Our music teachers have been recognized in various ways including Newtown Teacher of the Year, guest conducting in area music festivals, and writing curriculum for the College Board. Over the years, many Newtown graduates have gone on to be composers, music teachers, performers, conductors, musical theater performers and tech, and music therapists.
Michelle Hiscavich, Newtown’s Director of Visual and Performing Arts, is “proud to have the hard work and efforts of the music teachers recognized and appreciates that the Newtown community acknowledges the value of the arts in every child’s education. Our students are gaining tremendous educational, cognitive, social, and health benefits as they create and perform. Newtown’s students have fun making music while also developing discipline, perseverance, self-confidence, teamwork and communication skills - highly sought-after skills in today’s workforce.”
About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals worldwide. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
Matilda Jr. at Reed!
What a magical evening it was as the curtains rose and the spotlight shone on the talented young performers of Reed Intermediate School, who brought to life the beloved story of Matilda in their production of Matilda Jr. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation as family, friends, and supporters gathered to witness the culmination of weeks of hard work and dedication from the cast, crew, and faculty.
From the moment the first note was played, it was clear that this performance would be something special. The energy and enthusiasm of the cast radiated throughout the auditorium, drawing the audience into the enchanting world of Matilda Wormwood, a courageous and clever young girl with a passion for books and a heart of gold.
Under the direction of Stacey Coelho, Twyla Hafermann, Sue Vogelman and with the support of our dedicated parent volunteers, the students delivered a truly remarkable performance that captivated the audience from start to finish. From the spirited musical numbers to the heartfelt moments of friendship and triumph, each scene was brought to life with passion, precision, and an abundance of talent.
The cast of Matilda Jr. showcased not only their impressive acting abilities but also their incredible vocal and dancing talents, wowing the audience with show-stopping performances that left everyone in awe. From Matilda herself, portrayed with charm and charisma, to the larger-than-life characters of Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey, each actor brought depth and authenticity to their roles, creating an unforgettable experience for all who attended.
Behind the scenes, our dedicated crew worked tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of the production ran smoothly, from set design and costume changes to lighting and sound. Their hard work and attention to detail were evident throughout the performance, adding an extra layer of magic to the evening.
As the final curtain fell and the applause rang out, it was clear that Reed Intermediate School had once again succeeded in creating a truly memorable theatrical experience for our community. The cast, crew, and faculty involved in Matilda Jr. can be incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to every one of them.
Thank you to everyone who supported our production of Matilda Jr. Your enthusiasm and encouragement mean the world to us, and we look forward to sharing many more unforgettable performances with you in the future.