The Newton News
April 26, 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 and Athletics
Mr. Bagnato
I hope everyone had a great Spring Break. It is so very important to have that vacation as the rest of the year seems to get busier and busier with each passing day.

May is the month we do our state-wide testing. We are lucky how little Vermont requires; there are only six testing days a year for state-wide assessments for 8th and 5th graders, and four days a year for students in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7. Please see an important letter regarding this year's testing here.

Before Spring Break, I sent a letter to all families regarding the school's culture and climate. I encourage you to become as involved in this issue as you can. Please contact me, if you want to meet or if I can help you in anyway.

School Events and Activities
  • Middle School Fitness Competition May 2nd - 5th-8th grade students.
K-2 News
Ms. Kicza, Mrs. Longcore, and Mrs. Robinson
K-2 enjoyed time outdoors in the fields and forest classroom. At the end-of-week meeting, many shared that they enjoyed outdoor times this week.

Wednesday morning, kindergarten learned in the forest classroom and shared their observations of something new since last time they were there. They began looking at ways animals and plants change their environment to meet their needs. With a book about a 100-year-old rock wall and our forest classroom's rock wall as a starting point, they looked around to find evidence that people have changed the environment to meet their needs. They found and drew benches, the fire pit, bathroom, and more, then said what needs these things meet. They shared their ideas with the group. Soon they will explore more to find evidence of forest animals changing the environment to meet their needs.

First and second graders enjoyed an afternoon outdoors Thursday. We got outside just as the sun came out and focused on a spring scavenger hunt. Children saw many signs such as trilliums, buds on trees, dandelions, vernal pools, and more. After checking on our plots and meandering through the meadow, we headed to the forest classroom for a snack and some exploration time. Children loved playing with the swinging vines, climbing trees, and finding neat spots to sit among all the new benches and creations made by kindergarten. Finally, students completed a nature log observation of something they noticed and a weather log page. We had a lovely time and saw some great collaboration among students.

Read more about our week in the K-2 newsletter!
3-4 News
Ms. Coté & Mrs. Marzot
5-6 News
Ms. Tremblay and Mr. Walker
The 5/6 cluster has been busy getting ready for our upcoming science symposium and VINS. We have been looking into whether our hill, leading up to The Field of Dreams, is a good place to create a wildlife habitat. Over the last several weeks the cluster has been exploring this Focus Question: How can we make the habitat better in order to help wildlife survive on our hill?

Along the way the following Driving Questions have been explored: 

  • Do you think our school site is the perfect place for animals to live?
  • What kind of wildlife lives on our hill?
  • What type of wildlife might have trouble living here?
  • Do plants help draw in wildlife? 
  • Could we make the school site better for wildlife?

A committee of students has been formed this week in order to discuss our investigations, and to determine if our hillside could be used as a habitat for some types of wildlife. More to come...
Library & Technology News
Simone Pyle
The results of the 2019 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award have been announced, and the winner--voted on by students in grades 4-8 across Vermont--is Refugee by Alan Gratz!

Sixteen of our students participated in the Dorothy's List Book Award, reading at least one book from the list of thirty titles; several students challenged themselves to read as many books from the list as possible.

Andrew read the most books, with 20 titles! Amelia read 17 books; Ada read 16; and Elenore read 15 books! These prolific readers were awarded with gift certificates to the Norwich Bookstore, along with our two raffle winners, Luke and Kailey.
The library is on Instagram! Follow us for library news & book reviews!
Lunch Room News
Gret Hewes
Second to Last Taste Test Next Tuesday!

Our next Taste Test will be next Tuesday, April 30. We will be sampling and voting on whether asparagus is a hit.

A warning for those who may be unaware, sometimes Asparagus can cause a distinct odor when using the bathroom so please do not be alarmed should your child or children let you know that something is a miss.

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 TACOS, See you then!
Nurse's News
Kerrie Juergens
The need for kids here to be hydrated while in school is imperative; it affects thinking, mood and body function on every level, and is one of the most basic and yet extremely important necessities of the human body! In that same vein, I am reaching out to you all to see if anyone has extra water bottles lying around that we could recycle here at the school for student use. It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for you contribution.
PTA News
Shannon Varley
It's a busy PTA time of the year! Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who make these activities and events happen!

Teacher Appreciation Week Schedule
Monday, May 6- Friday, May 10th
Flyer Coming Home with your Student Next Week! 

Monday, May 6th - Breakfast & Coffee Bar ( SIGNUP HERE)
Tuesday, May 7th - Gifts from the Heart
Bring a simple homemade gift in for your favorite teacher or staff member. Ideas include: homemade cookies or baked goods, flowers, candles, or homemade craft.
Wednesday, May 8th - Pick-A-Pansy
Thursday, May 9th - Notes from the Heart
Write a poem or a note to your teacher or favorite staff member. Let them know how special they are!
Friday, May 10th - Soup & Bread Lunch

AIR (Artist in Residence) Committee Meeting
Monday, April 29th
3:15 
Eric Walker's Room

Mother's Day Card-Making Workshop
Monday, May 6th
After School - Flyers and permission slips coming home soon! 

Bike to School Day
Friday, May 17th
Riders from Strafford: meet at the firehouse in the Upper Village at 7:15 and leave by 7:25.
Riders from South Strafford: meet at the Catholic Church at 7:30 and leave by 7:40. HELMETS REQUIRED FOR ALL RIDERS. Contact Hayley Zoerheide with any questions: 765-2639 or hayleykzoerheide@gmail.com.

PTA Plant Sale
Saturday, May 18th
9am-12:00
Newton School 
If you are interested in helping, please contact Kate Reimanis at kreimanis@gmail.com. 

Food/Refreshment Signup Needed at Bike to School Day
May 17th, 7:30-8:00am
Each year, after the kids and parents make their way to the school on bikes, the PTA provides juice, water, milk and lite "breakfasty" snacks (muffins, donuts, etc.) for the kids at the school (usually set up outside of the library). We need someone to organize the snack and drink donations, set-up, and clean-up. SIGN UP HERE!

4th of July Co-Leader/s Found! 
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Thank you to Hayley Zoerheide and Meg Teachout, who will be stepping up to assist Amy Donohue in 2019 and transition into the new leaders for 2020. 

PTA Officer - Secretary Position Still Open
We will be voting on next year's officers at our next meeting, Tuesday, May 7th. We are still looking for a new person to fill the Secretary position. 
The Secretary needs to be available to attend all or most meetings, take detailed minutes, file to Drive, and provide strong assistantship with PTA programming and events. If you are interested in either of these positions and/or have questions, please email Shannon at shannonmvarley77@gmail.com.

Next Meetings
6:00 Newton School Library
Tuesday, May 7 (Officer Election)
Tuesday, June 4
Upcoming Events
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