August 31, 2018
School Notes & Athletics
Mr. Bagnato
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.
Last June, the Vermont Agency of Education came out with a draft plan that explains each school district's resolution under Act 46. It was explained in that document that the Strafford School District would not be merged with any other school district and that Newton would continue to operate how it has. Our supervisory union however, is undergoing a lot of change. For the full update, please click here.
Athletics and School Activities
The 7/8 Soccer team played their first game yesterday. Although the played hard, in the end they lost 2-1 to Randolph.

  • Next Monday, the 5/6 soccer team will play Thetford Elementary at 5:00 in Thetford
  • Next Tuesday, the 3/4 soccer team will play Sharon at 4:30 in Strafford.
  • Next Wednesday, the 5/6 soccer team will play South Royalton at 5:00 in Royalton
  • Next Thursday, the 7/8 soccer team will play TSA at 4:30 in Strafford.

There are also several field trips this week:
  • The 8th grade will be at Hulbert from 9/10-9/12
  • The 5/6 cluster will be going to the White River on 9/12
  • Grades 1-4 will be going to the Tunbridge Fair on 9/13
Kindergarten News
Ms. Kicza
Kindergarten is watching two caterpillars turn into chrysalises. They got to see one change today, and we look forward to more soon.

They also enjoyed their first Forest Day with a story, watching squirrels play, and time to explore the forest classroom.
1/2 News
Mrs. Longcore & Mrs. Robinson
Friday morning, first and second graders went out to visit our habitat. There was lots of excitement for being in the meadow and running around!

We set up two 5X5 plots to do some future observations in. The coolest things we observed were some yellow and black garden spiders. One of them had caught an insect in its web. Many of the children did a nature log page about something neat they observed.
3/4 News
Ms. Coté & Mrs. Marzot
Happy second week of school! We spent this week strengthening our sense of community. Students have created their Hopes and Dreams for this school year, a goal for them to accomplish throughout the year. Throughout the year, students will have a chance to reflect and modify this aspiration. We spent a lot of time this week practicing and reviewing routines. We go slowly at first, so that we can go faster as the year progresses.

In reading class, the whole cluster heard three versions of The Mitten, a story about a boy who loses his mitten and many animals wish to get in. We compared the stories using a Venn diagram and reviewed narrative elements. Students, in teams of 6, then created skits creating the story using a new habitat and all the animals that would live there. They were very creative and worked well together.

We have our first outdoor block on Monday afternoon and the weather is currently forecasted to be wet! Rain pants are on order thanks to Becky, so we will have these for future days. If you are looking for your child to have their own pair, these are what we ordered.

Please send your child in with a spare set of clothes if you have not already. Students will need rain jackets and a set of water shoes (teva-like, crocs with backs, old sneakers, water socks, etc). Students will not be allowed to take off their shoes and be barefoot due to school policy.

Next week we have the Tunbridge Fair on Thursday! Enjoy the weekend with your family.

5/6 News
Mrs. Tremblay & Mr. Walker
What a fun week it has been. The students were individually, and then in groups, asked to show on paper all the ways that they learn best. In other words, what kind of activities/projects have you loved to participate in? They came up with a list that included: theater, games, hands on activities, technology, field trips, and presentations.  

This year we will take this list and design curriculum around it in order to engage and stimulate learning, thinking, and teamwork. We started this week by beginning a play about four superheroes that have no social skills. The performance will be in a few weeks. (You will be sent the date as soon as we work out the details!).

Just a reminder that we are going snorkeling next Wednesday on the White River. Please have your child bring a water bottle, sunscreen, towel, dry clothes to change into, and water shoes (old tennis shoes could work).
7/8 News
Ms. Kanoff & Mrs. White
This week, students have been involved in:

  • A Week of Inspirational Math - problem-solving tasks and sharing approaches/solutions.

  • Narrowing topics for passion project. You may want to ask your child to share her/his Google Doc with you. There is a place for you to comment.

  • Beginning our science unit on plastics, looking at photographs from around the world.

  • Looking at an event through the eyes of geography, technology, values, economics, and desire for power.

  • 8th graders began reading To Kill a Mockingbird

  • 7th graders began reading A Christmas Memory
Lunch Room News
Gret Hewes
Zucchini Extravaganza! We had a lot of zucchini in the fridge from the school garden and student gardens. So we had a zucchini fest at lunch on Friday.

Our salad bar is looking amazing with some new inserts for self-serving. 
A reminder to have free/reduce applications filled out and turned in. There are copies on the table upstairs by the office.

We are a pre-pay billing system so please be sure there is credit on your child(ren)’s account. Go to mymealtime.com to set up an account if you haven’t already.  

MealTime accepts (3) forms of payment:  online (there is a service fee if paying with a credit card), check or cash. If you send in payment via check please put your child(ren)’s name in the memo line and the intended amount for each child to be entered into the account. If you are sending in cash please put it in a sealed envelope with your child(ren)’s name on it.

All payments are entered within 24 hours of receipt or the following business day if received Friday afternoon or the beginning of a break. All deposits are submitted to the bank on Friday afternoon’s unless received before a holiday or break, if so deposits will be made on the following business day.

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me, Gret Hewes, at  ghewes@newtonschool.org.
Health News
Kerri Juergens
Please find all HealthHUB forms on the Newton School website. Use the Medical Enrollment form or the Dental Enrollment form to sign up for either.

Please contact either of the two contacts for HealthHUB (below) to schedule a visit for either an upcoming medical visit (check-ups; flu shots; vaccinations; etc.) or a dental cleaning or other service. The dental van is scheduled to come to The Newton School November 2nd through November 4th. Although priority is for the students, there are usually a number of slots that are available for other community members. 

Janine Reeves  -Dental Hygienist

Jane Bennett  - Health HUB Director- medical and dental appointment coordinator and questions. 


It's still tick season! Please take a moment to look at the Vermont Department of Health's Be Tick Smart information page.
Fundraising News
It's time for the annual Flower Power fundraiser!
Fifty percent of proceeds go to our PTA. Unfortunately, there is no on line ordering this year; your orders will need to to returned to school before September 28 2018.

Checks can be made payable to The Newton School PTA. Orders are shipped directly with a $6.00 shipping charge per customer.

If you have any questions, please call 765-4169 or email deannarace4@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting our school's PTA!
Upcoming Events

Picture Day Monday, September 17