The Newton News

9 May, 2023

A group of students are walking across a field in the distance. The field is wide open, and the sky is cloudy with the sun shining through.

May Lunch Menu

Upcoming Events

School Board Meeting

Tuesday, May 9 at 5:30PM

Community Conversation

Wednesday, May 10 5:30 - 7PM

Bike to School Day

Friday, May 19

Roadrunner Day

Early Release

Friday, May 19

Memorial Day

No School

Monday, May 29

PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

This week is Staff Appreciation Week, and I have so much to appreciate. I sincerely thank the staff of the Newton School for all of their hard work, dedication, and willingness. Your commitment to our students is very evident in the work you all do each and every day. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

As we turn the calendar to the month of May, it becomes clear that we are pecking away at the 22-23 school year. Like most school years, it sometimes feels like we just started the year, and at other times it seems like the year is long. Classes have many events planned for the end of the year. Classroom teachers will be sharing details as they become available. Please add the following events to your calendar:

Wednesday, May 10th - Community Conversation about Outdoor Education. This last session will take place at the Newton School. Dinner will be served at 5:30 with the discussion to begin at 6:00.

Friday, May 19th - Bike to School: Please see the information and volunteer forms shared by the PTA. Community breakfast at the Newton School following the ride.

Thursday, June 1st - Art’s Night at Barrett Hall. More information to follow.

Tuesday, June 13th - 4th grade play: You will not want to miss this….

Monday, June 19th - Graduation at 6:00 PM

Tuesday, June 20th - Last student day with Field Day. This is an early release day with dismissal at 12:00.

As we move into May and June, work is taking place to hire for the 2023-2024 school year. Although there is more to be done, I can share some positions that have been filled:

Kylie Hebard will be joining the Newton staff full time next year. Kylie will continue to be the SAP counselor at Newton 2 days per week and will be the school counselor the other 3 days. We are very excited to have Kylie with us full time next year.

Robert Flahive will be joining our staff as the new music teacher at Newton. Robert comes to us from northern Vermont and is excited to bring instrument lessons and classes back to our school. There will be work to do to make this transition happen, but I am excited about the opportunities this brings to our students. Robert will be with us 3 days a week.

Mr. Grimes has accepted an offer to teach in Barre Town next year and will be leaving Newton after many years. We wish him the best and appreciate all that he has done for Newton. You will be missed Casey!

I also must sadly share that BJ has decided not to return to Newton next year. I cannot explain the size of the shoes that are left to be filled. BJ is far more than our Maintenance Supervisor; he is a positive and important part of many students' lives. He will be greatly missed.

We are still working to finalize World Language, PE, and Grade 2.

CLASSROOM NEWS

Kindergarten

Ms. Kicza

Kindergarten did their own Green Up Day on Friday, walking around the school grounds, forest classroom, and surrounding roads to pick up litter. They were in two teams with three adults and shared the materials to clean up. They did a great job!

The class heard a few nonfiction books about earth and ways to take care of it. Each answered the question “What can I do to take care of the earth?” by writing and illustrating. They used the books, discussions, and their experiences to show some wonderful ideas! Come see them hanging in the classroom.

Thank you to Roz, and Michele with Charlie, for volunteering and reading with the children each week. I hear such positive comments about their good reading and their excitement about it!

Kindergarten students show off all the trash they picked up for Green Up Day

We see two kindergarten students from the back. They are sitting on a table and looking at something together.

A kindergarten students sits sideways in a large chair reading.

Two young girls are hanging upside down on the monkey bars.

First Grade

Ms. Fisk

We continue to learn about birds, their

bodies, and how to care for them. The

first graders had begun writing their

own non-fiction bird books. So far they

have written the first section on

feathers.

During math, we will add and subtract

numbers within 120 by 10s. We will also

identify fraction parts using quarters.

Each day we will collect quarters and

practice exchanging coins for dollars.

During outdoor ed, the first grade has

observed tree buds and how they have

changed over the past few weeks.

Students are exploring around a small pond. There two girls in the foreground, and two more students and a teacher on the other side of the pond. The pond is very reflective.

Second Grade

Ms. Denney

Second grade has been working on

measuring length in metric units and

recognizing fractions in math. We’ve created fraction strips and played games to practice dividing objects into equal

groups.

During phonics we have reviewed when to use long e spellings as well as oi and oy. We’ve experimented in science to discover why there is sand at the beach and where flash floods occur. We also brainstormed ways to prevent water and wind erosion.

Third Grade

Ms. Cote

Third graders worked very hard today on the first day of taking the VTCAP. They used the tools, took their time, and used their note paper. Thank you for sending in the gum of choice for your child; I have a few choices here. Let's continue getting a good night of sleep, as this really can help. Remember all students can come and have breakfast here at school.

The great weather gave us some extra recess time outside playing after the test today. It is a good physical and emotional break from taking an assessment. Students all receive their encore classes this week. It is time to send in sunblock for those who wear it.

We have outdoor education this Thursday and the ticks are out. Please send in your child with long pants, socks, and boots for Thursdays. We will also be gardening in the afternoons occasionally from now until the end of school. You can always send in spare clothes. Have a great week!

A top down view of three middle schoolers are working on paper prototypes of their boardgame.

Library/Media

Ms. Simone

We have added over 300 books to the library collection this academic year, and to make room for these titles and more, the library collection needs to be weeded each year. Books that are weeded from the collection will be made available for students to take home to keep! Check for the "Discard" stamp inside a book if there's any question whether or not it's a weeded book that your student can keep forever.

Fifth graders are continuing to work on their games--we have board games and video games currently in their playtesting phase!

Music

Ms. Brooke

ARTS NIGHT! Thursday, June 1 at Barrett Hall. Timing is dependent on the number of participants in the talent show. PLEASE encourage your middle schooler to join in the fun! I will finalize the list this week. In the meantime...

Middle Schoolers are still presenting the soundtracks of their lives. It has been incredible to hear snippets of their lives, big and small. Kudos to their vulnerability and authenticity. If they haven't shared them with you, caregivers, please ask them to!

K-4 classes have all determined which song they'd like to sing for Arts Night and we're working on learning them now, trying to make each really feel like their own. I'll send lyrics home soon so they can practice outside of class, as well.

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY NEWS

Lunchroom News

Our April Clean Tray Club winner is Olivia!

Way to go, kiddo!

Summer Camps

Summer camp information can be found on our website!

The Newton School

South Strafford, VT 05070

802.765.4351