The Newton News
February 1, 2019
The Newton School's mission is t o develop each child’s potential for academic success, engagement and overall well-being. Through this process, we will enrich each child’s education with community involvement, collaboration and outreach.
School Notes & Athletics
Mr. Bagnato
Dawn Ellis from DME Helps visited this past Tuesday, interviewing over 70 students, staff, parent, and community members. People were incredibly patient and accommodating. I really appreciated the involvement by everyone.

While there were four slots that were never taken, we will have another evening in which people can sign up and get a call from Dawn. I will notify folks of this opportunity as soon as I have more details.

In the meantime, p lease fill out this survey (if you have not already). The deadline February 7, 2019.
Athletics and School Activities
EVENTS:

PTA:
2/5 Monthly PTA meeting - 6:00 pm Library

Basketball:
3/4 girls basketball game @ South Royalton 5:00 pm on Wednesday 2/6
3/4 boys basketball game @ South Royalton 6:00 pm on Wednesday 2/6
5/6 girls basketball game vs 1st Branch 5:00 pm on Thursday 2/7
5/6 boys basketball game vs 1st Branch 6:00 pm on Thursday2/7

Skiing:
Strafford Nordic Center's SNAP Cross Country Program Tuesday, Feb. 5th 3:30-4:30pm.
Strafford Lions Club Ski and Snowboard program Friday, February 8th 1:00-4:00pm
K-2 News
Ms. Kicza, Mrs. Longcore & Mrs. Robinson
On Tuesday morning the K-2 visited the mobile planetarium from VINS. The Starlab was set up in the gym and sat all 35 of us kids and adults. It was dark inside, and the images were projected on the domed roof. We got to see the phases of the moon, a sky full of stars, the constellations defined with lines, and lots of other neat things. Afterward the kids drew their own constellations and came up with some great pictures and names. Thanks to Hannah from VINS for setting this up for us! 

Read more about our week in this week's K-2 newsletter!
3/4 News
Ms. Coté & Mrs. Marzot
We are well on our way into our unit about Earth. The students have enjoyed seeing each other’s rock collections and marveled at all the different types of rocks. Yesterday, students asked some big questions. Why is the Earth round? What is gravity? What makes the Earth hot inside? How do scientists know there is iron in the inner core? 

Third grade math has been focused this week on strategies to solve multiple digit subtraction problems on a number line. These strategies can often be very confusing to learn and use. They have been persevering and taking chances! Fourth grade mathematicians are shifting gears from fractions to decimals. This week we spent time looking at the relationship between tenths and hundredths as fractions and as decimals. Students have been playing math games and the current favorite seems to be Fraction War where they have to determine which fraction is greater and if there is an equivalent fraction, then they have a WAR!

Mrs. Marzot’s reading group has switched from expository nonfiction to narrative nonfiction and we will start thinking about our Biography Museum projects in the next few weeks. Ms. Cote’s reading group has begun hearing Helen Lester’s Tacky the Penguin books and will be writing their own narrative. 

Enjoy the weekend with your child and stay warm!
5/6 News
Ms. Tremblay & Mr. Walker
One day I was 12 years old and broke. Then Grandma gave me Grandpa's old riding lawnmower. I set out to mow some lawns. More people wanted me to mow their lawns. And more and more. . . One client was Arnold the stockbroker, who offered to teach me about "the beauty of capitalism. Supply and Demand. Diversify labor. Distribute the wealth."  In a short two week period, I had over $50,000 in my account. Things were getting crazy!!

Some of the 5/6 cluster have been reading the book Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. When Arnold told Lawn Boy that he had $50,000, Lawn Boy fainted. The students were given an assignment to write a narrative about what happens in the next 30 minutes, after Lawn Boy regains his consciousness. Within their narrative, they must have conversations, thoughts, actions, and snapshots (what the character(s) are seeing).
Middle School News
Ms. Kanoff & Mrs. White
Movie night: Just a reminder that on Friday, February 8th, we are once again having a movie night as part of winter carnival. We are showing the movie Rio. Please take a look at the document on Google docs and sign up. We appreciate your support of this event.

Passion Project: On Tuesday, students in 7th and 8th grade presented their projects to students in grades K-6. It seems that there was a great deal of interest in the projects that ranged from making dog collars for a local rescue group to collecting outwear for the Upper Valley Haven. In addition, we expect that some students will present their projects to the School Board members at their next meeting.
Library & Technology News
Simone Pyle
After reading the Red Clover Award-nominated book Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee, first and second graders combined flavors to make their own Awesome Sauce...just like Chef Roy!

Read more about this activity, and see more photos, on our library blog!
Lunch Room News
Gret Hewes
Taste Test Week!

This month’s taste test was a Cold Russian–style Borscht made with beets. We are so proud if the students for trying this dish. The results were very close. Check out the Farm to School section of the newsletter for the numbers.

There are many recipes for Borscht; below is the recipe we used so all students could taste it should they chose to….

Cold Russian Borscht

4 medium beets
4 cups beef broth
1 onion, chopped
½ tsp. salt
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (can substitute Balsamic)
1 cucumber – peeled, seeded and diced
½ cup sour cream

1. Remove stems and leaves from beets, but leave on skins. In a deep pot, cover beets with cold water and bring to a boil. Boil until fork tender, about 40 minutes.

2. Drain beets, but reserve two cups of liquid. Strain the liquid and add to a large saucepan. Remove skin from beets. Grate beets through coarsest blade of grater. Add to beet liquid. Add beef broth, onion, salt and vinegar. Bring to boil, and cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from the heat.

3. Chill in refrigerator for one hour, or until cold before serving. Ladle into bowls and top each serving with cucumber and a big spoonful of sour cream.
Farm-to-School News
Alyssa Marzot
On Tuesday, January 26th forty-four brave students and faculty participated in our January Taste Test. This month’s recipe was a little more adventurous and something that students might not have had a chance to try before. We had cold Russian Borscht Soup in honor of Vermont Farm to School's vegetable of the month: the beet! This taste test had less participants than usual and the results were mixed. Fourteen people voted with a smiley face, meaning that they liked it. Thirteen people were not sure about it yet and seventeen people did not like it. Something that we experimented with this recipe was altering the recipe so that all students could participate in the taste test, and we think that this impacted the taste. Ask your student about the experience. Gret does an amazing job serving recipes, thank you for the yummy food.
Winter Carnival is coming! Farm to School is hosting two fundraisers to support Newton's gardens and taste tests.  

Newton Farm to School will be hosting a fundraiser lunch during Winter Carnival on Saturday, February 9th. We are still seeking donations to help us with this fundraiser; there is a Google sheets sign up here. In particular, we need a crockpot to hold 5/6's black bean soup, and some smiling faces to help serve all this yummy food! We greatly appreciate your support. Please email me if you have any questions.
PTA News
Shannon Varley
VALENTINE'S CARD MAKING WORKSHOP
Monday, February 11th

After-school Valentine making workshop in the art room. 
Parents and younger siblings welcome! 
Materials and a snack provided. 
Permission slips headed home at the start of next week and due back Friday, February 8th.

WINTER CARNIVAL SCHEDULE

Friday, Feb. 8th
1:00 - 4:00 Lions Ski Program at the Skiway
4:00 - 5:00 Takeout Dinner - Preorder with Gret
6:30 - end Movie at Gym (Rio) - Benefit for Middle School Trip

Saturday, Feb. 9th
10:00 - 12:00 Donuts and Maple Syrup at Strafford Creative Preschool
10:00 - 12:30 Murray Field Activities

      10:00 - 10:45 Obstacle Course
      10:45 - 11:30 Snowshoe Racing
      11:30 - 12:00 Nordic Racing
      12:00 - 12:30 Snow/Ice Sculpture Building & Competition 

12:30- 12:45 Strafford Splash sponsored by Strafford Fire/Rescue - Preschool Parking
      Lot
       
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch - Benefit for Farm to School- **Moved Indoors to Barrett Hall** 
       
1:45 - 4:00 Harrington Hill Activities 

      1:45 - 2:30 Sledding Races
      2:30 - 3:15 Skiing & Snowboarding Races
      3:15 - 4:00 Skiing & Snowboarding Competition
       
5:00 Spaghetti Dinner and Awards Ceremony - Barrett Hall
      ($5 Suggested Donation)

6:30 - 8:30 Bonfire & Ice Skating Under the Lights- Murray Field

Town Meeting Callers Needed

Are you willing to be a caller this year to solicit lunch donations for the 2019 Town Meeting? 

Should only take about 1/2 hour of your time, and is both greatly appreciated AND a big part of how we end up with such a delicious meal at Town Meeting. It's also how we raise a big chunk of funding for PTA annually. 

If you are willing and able, please email Shannon.

NEXT PTA MEETING
Monday, February 4th 
6:00pm
Newton School Library
Upcoming Events