It has been so much fun to watch K-2 create, problem solve and work cooperatively with Miss Lizz (Kast Hill Studio) on the mosaic during our Artist in Residence time this week. We’ve admired and enjoyed watching the students' persistence as they turn the pieces of glass around and around, searching for the perfect location for their chosen piece. Please check out our K-2 newsletter! 

The 3rd graders have been busy learning about factors and multiples. They built arrays and learned about the dimensions. They were treated to a small amount of time on www.toytheater.com, and they enjoyed the “old school” games. Fourth grade mathematicians have been reviewing using arrays to solve larger double digit multiplication problems, and have begun division strategies and interpreting the remainder. 

Third grade readers have been enjoying “traveling” around the world to learn about different holidays and how they are celebrated in other countries. They are noting the traditions, clothing, food and activities that are special to each holiday! In reading, fourth graders are being assessed individually. It is noticeable that they are learning more about summarizing both non-fiction and fiction.  

In social studies, the students have been learning the location of the 50 states in our country. They have a shared Google doc that they can continue to review at home. In art, students have been using watercolors to mix colors. Our time with the Artist-in-Residence has been well spent and students feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for their work on the mosaics.  

We enjoyed a whole cluster Forest Classroom this week where we played a long requested game of capture the flag. We all enjoyed strategizing and enjoying our time outside even if it was a little wet! In Science we have begun researching a plant or animal that lives in Vermont to discover it’s adaptations and next week students will be creating their animal to showcase its adaptations! 

We would love some clean kindling for next week if you have any you can send in! 

Secret Santa gift exchange is Friday December 20th, along with a fun little celebration of the season. If you would like to send in a snack/treat for the cluster to share on Friday please feel free to do so! 

This week the 5/6 students have been extending their knowledge of Colonial America by reading American Revolution books. Each student had a choice of eight books to read. After they made their selection, they were given several assignments to complete as they read. Some of these assignments include: picking out adjectives that describe a character in the book and then creating a drawing; writing a poem with interesting words that they found while reading; picking out at least two similes and creating a drawing on each of them; and changing a scene by rewriting it into another point of view. The students have also been watching Liberty's Kids, an animated series that tells the story of the American Revolution.

Also this week the kids have been helping create four beautiful mosaics during our annual Artist in Residence program. The four panels artistically represent The Newton School's mission statement and will be hung up in the school's foyer next week.

Middle School Science finished Physical Science studies with a live wave demonstration. Gumdrops, kebab skewers, and duct tape made a great experiment. 8th grade math has been practicing for a test, and is starting chapter four with more patterns, connections, and different representations. 7th grade math has been focusing on different strategies to calculate and other ways of showing results.

Library & Technology News

Simone Pyle

Kindergarten and first grade are culminating our unit on the parts of a story--setting and character, and beginning, middle, and end--by creating books of their own! We looked at several books without words, and talked about how the author/illustrator conveys mood and action without using words. I hope that their books will be finished next week--they make wonderful homemade gifts!

The 5/6 cluster has started our unit on primary sources by taking a closer look at the Waldseemüller map of 1507. This is the first known map both naming the Americas and showing it as a separate continent. Ask your student what two figures are illustrated prominently on this map and why!

Lunch Room News

Gret Hewes

Next Tuesday, December 17th, we will be holding our final Farm to School (FTS) taste test of 2019. This last taste test will be a “blind” taste test or comparison test.  

We will be serving two types of popcorn. A locally grown variety that was grown in South Strafford and generously donated by the Reimanis family (Thank you so much Mr. R!!!) and a store-bought microwavable variety.

It should be a really fun and tasty time. On the lunch menu for Tuesday is Pork Stir Fry…so come on down and join the kiddos for the taste test and stay on for a yummy lunch.

The results of the comparison will be in the FTS portion of our next newsletter.

Basketball Updates

After two short weeks of practice our basketball teams take on Rochester on Monday, December 16th. The 3/4 game begins at 5:30, with the 5/6 game following at 6:30. Come on out and support your teams! As always, please have your players arrive a half hour before game time. 

The game schedule for January and February is on the school website.

Regular practice continues for the 3/4 team on Wednesday, December 18th after school from 3:15 - 4:45. The 5/6 team will practice next week, Thursday, December 19th after school from 3:30 - 5:00. Over the holiday break there are optional practices for the 5/6 team as follows: December 23, 27 & 31, all from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. School resumes on January 2nd, with practice from 3:30 - 5:00 for the 5/6 team.

Thanks again to our dedicated and supportive coaches!

Artist in Residence

Lizz Van Saun and the K-8 students (and volunteers, including parents, teachers, and Newton staff) have worked so hard this week creating amazing and beautiful mosaic panels. I was able to volunteer with some of the clusters and it was truly awesome seeing the mosaics come to life. Ask your child what they have been creating and whether they have a favorite panel. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this wonderful experience happen. We couldn't offer the annual Artist-in-Residence without your financial and volunteer support. And thanks to the teachers and administration for their flexibility and for embracing this whole school endeavor.

We hope everyone can attend the Celebration and Grand Unveiling on Wednesday, December 18th at 8:30am at Barrett Hall.

Holiday Gift-Making Workshop

Thanks to Leslie Berger (and helpers Aurora Berger, Erin Yunger and Casey Yunger) for putting on a great gift-making workshop once again. There were 6 stations where about 20 kids were able to attend and make some wonderful, homemade, heartfelt gifts for their loved ones.

Mark Your Calendars

Winter Carnival

Winter Carnival will be March 6th and 7th this year. More details to follow.

Next PTA meeting



Tuesday, January 7th at 6:00 at the Newton Library

Travel to Europe This Spring

There is still time to sign up for our school sponsored trip on April 20-29, 2020 to Berlin, Prague, Krakow and Budapest. Enroll or find out more information at the Educational Tours website. We would love to have you join the 30 participants (12 students and 18 adults) already enrolled for this exciting adventure to Europe! We encourage those interested to sign up by December 31 to ensure a spot and avoid any possible price increases.

We are also still exploring a proposed school sponsored trip to England in February 2021, possibly including a few nights in homestays with English families. Stay tuned for more on that!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Diane White at dwhite@newtonschool.org or 765-4351.