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.
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School Notes & Athletics
Mr. Bagnato
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During teacher inservice today we continued our work on developing and implementing the WRVSU proficiencies. Starting in 2020, students that graduate high schools in Vermont are expected to follow the
Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements. However, these requirements are different at different schools and supervisory unions. At WRVSU, we are working on implementing math proficiencies and agreeing on the most important writing proficiencies. Students at Newton will not notice much of a change except in receiving different types of feedback.
As you may have heard, Jody Lowes (Director of the Creative Preschool) and I are currently looking at current and future needs. Please go to this
link
to access a survey that will explain this initiative in more detail and ask you to complete a series of short questions.
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7/8 Afternoon Play Practice started this week.
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Athletics and School Activities
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Thanks to everyone who attended the 3-8 Soccer Banquet this past Thursday. It was a fun event that allowed us to celebrate our athletes and thank our coaches. In the next couple of weeks you will find out more information regarding basketball, cross country skiing, and the Strafford Lion's Club Ski and Snowboarding Program.
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5/6 News
Ms. Tremblay & Mr. Walker
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Did you know that Michigan was once at war with Ohio over water rights? They fought over a piece of land that is now the site of Toledo. Students have been learning how the 50 states got their shapes. During our learning we discovered that Michigan was given the upper peninsula in order to end the skirmish. Many of our states were shaped because of the bodies of water that were around them. Your child can tell you other ways that states got their shapes.
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The students have also been independently writing a paper on Monarch butterflies. Their focus has been: What are the problems facing the Monarch butterfly, and what are some of the solutions to these problems?
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Kindergarten began their phonics lessons this week, with the letters t, b, and f. They work with the letter name, sound, and writing formation throughout the week. They brainstormed many words that began with those letter sounds.
They like Read the Room, where they find the letter (uppercase and lowercase) all around the classroom. It’s fun to see them finding the letters, helping their friends, and keeping record of it on their papers. They are excited to be on this next step learning to read!
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1/2 News
Mrs. Longcore & Mrs. Robinson
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First and second graders did some fun STEM projects this week! The first was using paper towels, a cup, a small stone and tape to make parachutes. It is amazing how such small pieces of paper can act as a parachute.
The others were pre-Halloween projects. On Tuesday they did two experiments; they put an M & M in a cup of water and another in a cup of baby oil to observe what would happen. They made predictions first and then discussed the results. The other experiment was to put a piece of candy corn in a cup of vinegar and another in a cup of water to observe what would happen there. Ask your child about what happened in these two experiments!
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3/4 News
Ms. Coté & Mrs. Marzot
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Third grade students went to the Hood Museum on Thursday for their first visit. Students examined outdoor sculptures and had the opportunity to create their own paper sculpture.
Fourth grade students went down to the Creative Preschool on Friday for our first reading buddy session! It was so much fun to see how seriously our fourth graders took the responsibility of reading to their buddy. Preschoolers also had the opportunity to show off their school. We look forward to our next Fourth Grade Morning! Fourth graders will head to the Hood Museum for their second trip on
Friday, November 2. We will be outside; please send your student in with warm clothing.
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We will continue to have our outdoor block on Mondays. Please send your student in with a jacket, hat and gloves, and pants that cover ankles on Mondays. Students can also choose to leave their warm clothing at school if that is easier. Please reach out if you have any questions!
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Lunch Room News
Gret Hewes
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Apples, Apples, Apples!
Our next Taste Test will be next
Tuesday, October 30. Since the last Taste Test we have been making sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is one of the main foods show cased at Oktoberfest, the world’s largest Volkfest (or folk festival), held in Munich, Germany. The festival runs for 16-18 days, starting in September and running through the first weekend of October.
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More than six million people attend Oktoberfest every year….now that is a LOT of sauerkraut to prepare! Here in the cafeteria we used just 2 cabbages, grown and graciously donated by Astrid and Stella Girdwood.
The cabbage was chopped and we added kosher salt and H2O to a 5lb. bucket with a snap lid. With a little weight and waiting we would stir the cabbage mixture every few days. It began to ferment. Fermentation is the metabolic process that consumes sugar in the absence of oxygen. It can be quite aromatic. After the first week it really began to smell like Sauerkraut. We can’t wait to try it.
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Please join us if you can
next Tuesday for our Taste Test. The lunch periods are as follows:
K-2 11:25 – 11:50
3-4 11:50 – 12:10
5-6 12:05 – 12:25
7-8 12:10 – 12:30
On the menu will be Beef Taco Pie. See you then!
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Nurse's News
Kerri Juergens
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Ellen G. will be here at The Newton School, through HealthHUB, on
October 30th to give more flu shots to those who missed it. Please
fill out a form if you have not already done so. Also if you have enrolled your student in HHUB for medical services, Ellen could also see any NS student for a health reasons. Please let me know if you fall into either category. Thanks!
Health HUB's dental van is coming
November 2 - 4. If you have not already scheduled your dental visit, please call Health HUB at 802-431-6060.
from "A Halloween With No (Safety) Nightmares" from the UVM Medical Center
First, the treats your children bring home are not usually the source of injuries on
Halloween. Most injuries are caused by carrying sharp objects (to the eyes), flammable
costumes that cause burns, and collisions with cars. Here are some tips for preventing
Halloween injuries while trick-or-treating:
- Remember to see and be seen.
- Avoid masks that can block your vision. Replace them with nontoxic, hypoallergenic face paint or make-up.
- Wear brightly colored, non-baggy, flame-retardant costumes with reflective tape.
- Carry a flashlight, stay on the sidewalk, and approach only lit houses in a neighborhood you are familiar with.
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Strafford Halloween Celebration
Wednesday, October 31st
Schedule of Events
4:30 - TRICK-OR-TREATING BEGINS in both upper and lower villages
5:00 - JACK-O-LANTERN CONTEST ON THE STEPS AT BARRETT HALL. Please have your pumpkins there by 5 pm. Winners announced after dinner at 6:45.
6:00-7:00 - ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER & HAUNTED HOUSE AT BARRETT
HALL (Haunted House is FREE & generously created by Newton 8th graders & Parent Volunteers)
Spaghetti Dinner Costs:
$5/person
CANDY COLLECTION is in progress. Village residents, you will receive your candy by October 27th.
Look for the collection box at Coburn's (near the bread rack). PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING A BAG OR TWO!!
SPONSORED BY THE PTA
Annual Appeals Letter
Each year, in mid-November, the PTA mails our Annual Appeals letter to all Strafford residents, including all Newton school parents. This heartfelt letter is usually written by a Newton parent who has had children attend the Newton school through the years and has observed the PTA's work in action, within the school, and within the community. When you receive your letter in the mail this November, please consider donating to the PTA and supporting these important pieces. Thank you!
Next PTA Meeting
Monday, November 5th at 6:00 at the Newton School Library
*Please note the change from Tuesday
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October 25 - Picture re-takes
November 7 - Deadline to sign up for the Holly Jolly Project.
November 29 - Upper Valley High School Fair
5:30 at Hartford High School
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