School Notes & Athletics
Mr. Bagnato
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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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What a beautiful day for a hike! Our annual tradition of hiking a local trail in order to bring awareness about hunger issues in Vermont and strengthen our K-8 community was a huge success. Over 300 food items were brought in to the Sharon Food shelf and $146 donated to the Strafford Food Bank. The students did a really great job working together in multi-age groups and creating a short presentation for the school. Here are some more
pictures.
Last Tuesday I gave a short presentation on what the school is doing to help students work on specific skills to improve their literacy. Here is the
presentation. I hope to see more of you at these PTA meetings.
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Athletics and School Activities
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Student Led Conference Request Slips will go out at the beginning of the Week.
- Monday, Oct. 8th:
- NO SCHOOL - Fall Break
- Tuesday, Oct 9th:
- 3/4 Soccer vs Thetford (5:00 pm)
- School Board Meeting Wolf Den (5:30 pm)
- Wednesday, Oct. 10th:
- 5/6 Soccer vs South Royalton (5:00 pm)
- 7/8 Soccer at WRVMS/Bethel (4:00 pm)
- Thursday, Oct. 11th:
- 3/4 Soccer vs First Branch (4:30 pm)
- Friday, Oct. 12th:
- 5/6 Soccer at First Branch/Chelsea (4:30 pm)
- 7/8 Soccer vs WRVMS (4:15 pm)
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K-2 News
Ms. Kicza, Mrs. Longcore & Mrs. Robinson
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K-2 ends each week with a whole cluster meeting. This time together generally includes a song, talking in groups, a game, celebrations of others doing kind things, and a group cheer to send everyone into the weekend on a positive note.
This week everyone shared celebrations about the hike. Some things they talked about were: so many older students supporting them; parents helping; teachers organizing it; new friends made; good hiking by our younger students; and nature providing the perfect day for a hike!
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3/4 News
Ms. Coté & Mrs. Marzot
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In third grade math class, students have been playing a variety of math games. They are learning what it takes to be a good partner, and also increasing their automaticity in both addition and subtraction facts. Fourth grade mathematicians are getting close to wrapping up their first unit on multiplication. They have been extremely diligent about completing their homework and working hard on math games.
We had our first opportunity to wear our rain pants this past Monday! Our goal is to go out unless there is hazardous weather. A special thank you goes out to Christy Parker who helped us have a genetics in action lesson. Students taste tested heirloom, hybrid, grafted, and “grocery store” tomatoes, as well as corn. Students were enthusiastic about the different varieties and it was great fun!
Have a great long weekend with your student! Please do a tick check after today’s Hike for Hunger.
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5/6 News
Mrs. Tremblay & Mr. Walker
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This week our students were introduced to current events, giving effective feedback, visual presentation skills, and habits of mind, and also evaluated other student speeches through TED Talks.
The 5/6 students are using what they learned at Hosmer Point last week to work as a team, communicate, and understand each other.
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Here are some interesting questions that might spark a great conversation!
Which student speaker did the best TED Talk and why?
How many / which states and their capitals do you know?
Why would a human avatar be good or bad in society?
Which part of STEM are you looking forward to learning more about and why?
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7/8 News
Ms. Kanoff & Mrs. White
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History/Writing: The students are finishing up their writing piece on “Long Nights of the Little Boats.” Ask your child to tell you what they have learned about the rescue at Dunkirk.
Reading: 7th graders are learning about the various reading strategies and will be practicing them in their Strategic Reading Journals. In the 8th grade, students have been given a tic-tac-toe activity where they will choose activities that are based on their independent book choices.
Math: Students in 7th grade finished their team problem-solving and worked on their Chapter 1 individual assessment. Here is an example of a problem from the team event:
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Work and area solution presented by Grace and Justin
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Science: This week students did an experiment about watersheds in terms of point and non-point pollution. They also created a model which showed how these different types of pollution move through a watershed.
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Play: Students were given their parts. They need to memorize lines by
Wednesday, October 24th. Meg Albee will be here to help at selected flex times prior to the 24th. All core classes will be held during play practice time but encore classes will not. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Meg whose number is in the Strafford phone book.
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Health Class News
Michelle Pringle
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Kindergarten: This week we went over 5 coping strategies to help us when our emotions get too big. We learned how to blow out imaginary birthday candles 5 times by counting down on our fingers--the goal is to take deep breaths, and a great image is to blow out birthday candles. We also learned how to hug a stuffed animal nice and tight; fold our body into a pretzel by crossing our legs and bringing them to our chest and hugging them; singing the ABC's quietly to ourselves; and how coloring or drawing a picture can help calm us down. Ms. Kicza has great visualizes to help the students remember coping strategies if they may need them. Ask your student which coping skill they enjoyed, or what felt best to them.
3rd grade: This week we finished up our self-esteem trees with our characteristics and traits. We started working on who are our trusted adults, both in school and out of school. We defined who an adult was (someone over 18) and why it is important that it is someone we trust. Students then wrote down and drew a picture of who their trusted adults were in school and out of school. Ask your student who their trusted adult is in and out of school.
4th Grade: This week we learned about personal boundaries, and in what situations we would need to ask for help if our boundaries were crossed. We read different scenarios and each student had a card to depict their comfort level of that situation. This also help to show our different personal boundaries within the class. We learned that what makes one person uncomfortable, and want to seek out a trusted adult, may be okay for another. Ask your student what they may have discovered about their own personal boundaries this week.
5th & 6th Grade: This week we learned about listening to and appreciating our friends and others. We began with discussing what positive and negative risks with friends and peers are. Then we were introduced to summarizing, clarifying, and asking questions during a conversation to show we are actively listening. We practiced those skills within small groups. We will continue learning about these skills next week. Ask your student what makes them feel listened to when talking with peers and friends.
7th & 8th Grade: We finished up our stress and stress management unit. A "stressful" situation for students to navigate through was created. A "road" was made with tape on the classroom floor and students had to navigate "potholes" from one side to the other. They had previously brainstormed their top stressors, which included friends, homework, school, and online classes which were written on paper and placed as the "potholes." They had a peer help them navigate through the road in hopes of missing the potholes, but on the sidelines classmates were directed to either say positive or negative comments. We finished up with strategies and ways to manage our stress. Ask your students what stresses them out, and a few ways to help cope with it.
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Library/Technology News
Simone Pyle
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Are you looking for something to do over the long weekend?
The Morrill Memorial and Harris Library has free and reduced price passes to several museums in the area, including VINS, ECHO, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, the American Precision Museum, and Vermont's state parks and historic sites. All you need is your FREE public library card!
Call or visit the library to learn more!
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Lunch Room News
Gret Hewes
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Hike for Hunger for a Hunger Free Vermont!
The Walk for Hunger, also known as Project Bread, is the oldest continual pledge walk in the country. It began in Massachusetts in 1969 to raise awareness and funds for hungry children and families.
Newton School began their own Hike for Hunger tradition to educate the Newton students and community to spread awareness about hunger issues in Vermont. The Hike this year was on the Shumaker Hill Trail.
We must admit that we in the kitchen were envious of the students, teachers and community members that assembled for the Hike. We also appreciate the energy it takes for such an undertaking and stayed behind to provide a hearty and healthy lunch for the participants upon their return to Newton.
Way to go Newton! We are so
proud of you
all!
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Nurse's News
Kerri Juergens
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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. If you have already turned in your dental enrollment form, the HHUB has them and will be scheduling this on your behalf.
All Newton School staff and community members are encouraged to get their flu shots so we perhaps might mitigate a repeat of last year.
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Bulb Sale
Thank you to all parents and staff that helped to make this year's bulb sale a big success--we raised $667! A big round of applause and thanks to all of you! Special thanks to Deanna Race, our parent volunteer who coordinated the sale this year. Thanks, Deanna!
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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 WILL BEGIN THIS WEEKEND- LOOK FOR THE BOX AT COBURNS!
PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING A BAG OR TWO!!
The PTA is accepting candy donations at Coburn's for distribution to our
village residents, to assist with the influx of trick-or-treaters in both the upper and lower village. (Village residents, you will receive your candy by October 27th.)
If you would like to volunteer in any way at the Halloween event, please contact Shannon Varley at shannonmvarley77@gmail.com
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 10 - Thetford Academy Open House
6:30 p.m. at Thetford Academy
October 14 - Sharon Academy Information Program
3:30 at TSA's High School
For more information, please call Amber Wylie at 763.2500 x220
October 18 - Picture re-takes
November 29 - Upper Valley High School Fair
5:30 at Hartford High School
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