Newtown Public Schools

Well March certainly came in like a lamb and, if the saying is true, it may go out like a lion. Let’s hope not! To date, we have only had one school closure which means our projected last day is currently Monday, June 16th. Of course, March can be very unpredictable as this past weekend’s 30 degree temperature change demonstrated. The next two weeks look relatively calm so we will see how the rest of the winter and early spring play out. For those of you who have seniors or eighth graders, graduation dates are usually set once we get through the first few weeks of March and have more confidence in what the last day of school will be.

Speaking of calendars, last week the approved 2025-26 and 2026-27 calendars were emailed out to the school community and they are also available on our website. Many of you - families, faculty and staff - have requested having two years of calendars, so we made it happen. This should help with long range planning for everyone.

The Board of Finance did not discuss the Board of Education budget at last week’s meeting. It is presumed that it will be the topic of discussion at their meeting this Thursday, March 6th and I think it is likely that they will make their recommendation during that same meeting. I urge you to remain engaged during this important step in the process. Every meeting offers an opportunity for community members to share their opinions on the budget. For more details about the upcoming meeting schedule, see the Budget Happenings section below.

Warm regards,

Anne

The full district calendar can be found here.

If you were unable to attend the February 20th BoF meeting during which Superintendent Uberti, Board Chair Plante and Director of Business Gouveia answered questions posed to them, you can watch (or listen) by clicking on this link. One question asked by the BoF was what would be removed from the school budget if the recommendation was approximately 1.5% or 2% less than the current request. Keep in mind that one percentage point of the school budget is approximately $900,000 so that would mean anywhere from $1.3 to $1.8 million would need to be trimmed from the proposed spending package. Given the reductions made to be at a 5.99% increase, anything less will most certainly result in additional cuts to staff and reductions in programming.

The BoF has two remaining meetings on its schedule - this Thursday, March 6th and next Tuesday, March 10th before it must submit to the Legislative Council its Recommended Board of Finance Budget ahead of March 14th deadline. We expect that both the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen budgets will be discussed this Thursday and according to Town Charter, “[the BoF] shall revise the proposed budgets as it deems desirable” either then or at Tuesday’s meeting.

Your voice matters. Please consider attending the meeting and speaking in public session or emailing the Board of Finance with your thoughts (be sure to include your name and street address for the record).

UPCOMING BOARD OF FINANCE MEETINGS

Agendas and Minutes

Thursday, March 6, 2025

7:30 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, NEWTOWN MUNICIPAL BUILDING

The Board of Finance will continue its discussion of the twin budgets and may decide to make its recommendations or continue discussions at a later date.

Monday, March 10, 2025

7:30 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, NEWTOWN MUNICIPAL BUILDING

If the Board of Finance has not yet arrived at a recommended budget, it will likely take place at this meeting since it must make its recommendation to the Legislative Council by March 14th.

The Board of Finance must submit to the Legislative Council its Recommended Board of Finance Budget for the next fiscal year by March 14th.

Faculty will make appropriate accommodations for students who commemorate these and other special observance days, as schools are in session on many of these days.

Recognizing the diverse holidays and celebrations that shape our students' lives and experiences.

Recognizing the diverse holidays and celebrations that shape our students' lives and experiences.

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, our school district extends warm wishes to all our Muslim students, families, and staff. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, prayer, and community for Muslims worldwide. During this month, many observe a daily fast from sunrise to sunset, focusing on acts of charity and strengthening their connection to their faith. We recognize the importance of this observance and are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for our students and staff who are participating. We encourage everyone to learn more about Ramadan and to respect the traditions of our Muslim community members during this sacred time.

This week marks the beginning of Lent for many members of our school community, with Ash Wednesday observed on March 5th. Ash Wednesday is a day of reflection and repentance for Christians, marking the start of a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter. The distribution of ashes is a central part of the observance. We recognize and respect the significance of this day for our students, families, and staff who are observing Lent, and we encourage understanding and sensitivity during this period of spiritual reflection.

Throughout March, we proudly celebrate School Board Appreciation Month, recognizing the dedicated individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to guide our district. Our school board members work tirelessly behind the scenes, making crucial decisions that impact the education and well-being of every student. They dedicate countless hours to policy development, budget oversight, and strategic planning, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to our school community. Their unwavering dedication ensures that our schools remain focused on providing a high-quality education for all.

We extend our sincere gratitude to each of our board members for their selfless service and their invaluable contributions to our students, staff, and families!

This week, we celebrate National School Social Work Week, a time to recognize and appreciate the profound impact our school social workers have on our school community. Our social workers provide emotional support, guidance, and resources that enhance our students’ academic and personal growth. Whether it’s leading group sessions, one-on-one counseling, or developing strategies for overall student well-being, they are always there with a compassionate heart and expert advice.

Join us in expressing our deepest gratitude for the tireless dedication and commitment demonstrated on a daily basis in our schools. It’s through their efforts that we see the true spirit of Newtown Public Schools shine—supportive, inclusive, and always striving for the best in each student. Thank you, NPS social workers for being an essential part of our school family and for all the incredible work you do every day!

The application portal for tuition assistance awarded by the Newtown Scholarship Association is LIVE! The deadline to apply for our flagship award, the Hertberg Family Scholarship ($10,000/year) is Friday, March 28th. The deadline for the general pool (awards from $500 to $7,500 traditionally) is Friday, April 11th. Students who graduate from NHS (or live in Newtown but attend school elsewhere, ie. Immaculate) are eligible.

Link to the homepage: newtownscholarship.org

Link to the application form: newtownscholarship.smapply.io/

On behalf of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT), students in grades 7-12 and their parents are invited to join the Department of Transportation on March 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual panel discussion on Transportation Engineering. Whether students are curious about the latest technology or passionate about making a difference in the community, this is the perfect opportunity to dive into a dynamic field that shapes our everyday lives.

Registration link can be found here and closes March 19, 2025.

Contact Katherine.Yale@ct.gov with any questions.

The Newtown High School College & Career Fair will be held on Thursday, March 20 from 6- 7:30pm in the Gym at NHS. We have more than 60 colleges and post graduate programs confirmed, and more signing on every day. FREE for students and families to attend.

Come out and support Newtown Unified!

Thank you for your interest in the Newtown Public Schools Preschool Program. The program offers quality educational services to children who have disabilities and to typically developing peers, referred to as Play Partners. Play Partners are role models to their disabled peers and benefit from instruction aligned to Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards.

If you are interested in having your child participate as a Play Partner, please complete the Play Partner Questionnaire 2025 - 2026 (LINK) by February 15, 2025. Play Partners are required to be three years of age on or by September 1, 2025 and be toilet trained before they are admitted to the program. You are still encouraged to complete the questionnaire if your child turns three shortly thereafter. We accept play partners throughout the year, accordingly. Children five years of age by September 1, 2025 are kindergarten eligible and will not be considered for participation as Play Partners. Kindergarten eligible children may not remain enrolled as a student in the Newtown Preschool Program.

Following submission of your questionnaire, the preschool team will contact you to invite your child to participate in a Play and Meet the Teacher activity scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, March 14, 2025 at Newtown Preschool Program located at Sandy Hook School. A preschool staff member will email you prior to the play session to confirm the details of the activity. Only one adult may accompany the child for the play activity.

You will receive notification through email by April 4, 2025 regarding your child’s Play Partner status. Parent confirmation of Play Partner participation will be due on April 25, 2025.

Newtown Public Schools Preschool Program Details are as follows:

Program Days: Mondays through Thursdays

Program Hours: Morning sessions run from 9:00 to 11:45

Afternoon sessions run from 12:45 to 3:30

Location: Newtown Preschool located at Reed Intermediate School

Rate: $2,400.00 for a full year four half day program

If you, a caregiver or an educator have any questions or concerns about your child’s development in any of the aforementioned developmental domains, rather than moving your child’s application forward as a Play Partner, it may be more appropriate to discuss your concerns and provide you with specific information regarding early childhood development or consider an evaluation. Please feel free to call Ms. Laura Pellerito, School Psychologist, at (203) 426-7683, if you have any questions about your child’s development.

Sincerely,

Laura Esposito

Supervisor of Special Education

Tel (203) 426-7626 • Fax: (203) 270-6185

Please ensure your child's lunch account is up to date so they can enjoy nutritious meals at school. If your family is facing financial challenges, we’re here to help! Reach out to your child's counselor or principal for assistance and resources. Every student deserves a healthy meal!

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey on school meals from Chartwells.

Come support our Newtown High School artists who have been selected for the annual Brookfield Craft Center's Artists on the Rise Art Show!

The exhibition will run from

March 8th to March 30th at Brookfield Craft Center

286 Whisconier Road

Brookfield, CT 06804

The awards ceremony is Saturday March 8th from 5-8. Award announcements begin around 6.

Artists on the Rise

The Artist on the Rise features art produced by high school aged students from the greater Danbury area in the following categories: Clay/Ceramic, Digital, Drawing-Mixed Media, Drawing-Single Media, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Sculpture-other than clay/ceramic, Painting-Mixed Media, Painting-Single Media, Photography, Printmaking, Wood, Video.

Unified Music is a favorite class at Newtown High School. Students with and without disabilities and of all backgrounds and varying abilities come together each day to explore music in their own way. Musical concepts include creating, performing, listening to, and responding to music. All students have the opportunity to explore and develop their voice as well as beat and rhythm skills. They collaborate with their peers to sing, play a variety of instruments (ex. Orff, rhythm instruments, Boom Whackers, body percussion) and participate in musical games, creative movement, and dance. Peer mentorship contributes to the development of leadership skills and camaraderie among all students.

The current unit of study is writing music with each student creating their own rap song. Everyone had developed and written their own lyrics. In today’s class they explored a variety of sounds to create their rhythmic or melodic accompaniment using a drum sequencer and Song Maker on their devices. Students got to make all the choices as to the rhythms and sounds for their background. They had time to explore a variety of ideas and then were asked to spend time making decisions about what they were specifically going to do. Students worked in groups with their mentors and then had the opportunity to share their melody or rhythm with their peers. Every student was smiling and enjoying expressing themselves through the creative process!

Families, friends, and the Newtown community can enjoy the Unified Music class performance of their rap songs in the NHS Chorus Spring Concert on May 19. Here is a link to the district calendar: https://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/calendar as well as the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Calendar of Events: https://hiscavichm.wixsite.com/nhs-fine-arts/calendar-of-events

We are in the thick of the postseason at NHS Athletics. We are so proud of all the accomplishments from our students!

Girls Basketball

1st team ALL SWC- Sam Disapro

All Colonial-Mo Murphy & Ava Rochester

Boys Basketball

1st Team All SWC- Aidan Walker

All Colonial-Drew Bradley

SWC Honorable Mention-Asher Williams

Cheerleading

All State- Isabella Walder & Reese Roland

Congratulations to NHS Cheer for being crowned Class L State Champions!! This amazing achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication, relentless hard work, and unbreakable spirit of our athletes and coaches. They will now move on to compete at Team of the Year on March 8th. Also, placing top 3 at States qualified them to represent CT at New Englands on March 22nd. Good Job Nighthawks!

Congratulations to NHS Wrestling on their back to back 1st runner up at the CT State Opens. They beat 83 public schools to attain this elite status!

Kenna Gioffre- 1st place.

Antonia Arguello & Marc Maurath 2nd place

Jake Maddox 3rd place

All 4 punched their tickets to New Englands!

In February, the Newtown Middle School RISE students studied the civil rights movement and the influential people of color who have greatly impacted our society.

On February 27th, they shared their presentations with their classmates.

Middle Gate Chili Cook-Off!

Huge shout out and round of applause to our three winners:

Laura Labermeirer 🥇

Lauren Samson 🥈

Meg Plunkett🥉

Did you know that joining your PTA offers several benefits for both you and our school community? Our PTAs do many wonderful things throughout the school year that support and enhance the educational experience for our students. In addition to raising funds for educational programs and classroom resources, members have the opportunity to have their voices and ideas heard, meet new people and build connections within the school and greater community, as well as gain leadership skills that can be both personally and professionally valuable. In addition, being involved in your PTA gives you a closer look at what is happening in your child’s school by participating in or organizing events that foster a positive school culture.

You can find a link to each school's PTA by clicking on this link.

Thank you for your support!

Being the parent of a student with special needs can be confusing, isolating and frightening. Newtown Special Ed PTA, or SEPTA, is a great way to connect with a supportive community. We look forward to you joining us!

For more information, please visit the Special Ed PTA's website by clicking on this link.

Newtown SEPTA Meeting - March 5, 2025

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.

All-Star is actively seeking drivers. Flexible schedules and a paid training program.

Consider calling today!