Last Friday we wrapped up another year of skiing and enrichment. It was the perfect day to celebrate the new skiers with a taste of spring skiing. A huge “thank you” to the Lion’s Club and all of the parent volunteers who helped to coordinate the ski/snowboard portion of the program. At Newton, students participated in art activities, basketball, cooking, knitting, board games, and maker space. One Planet staff and Newton staff worked collaboratively to bring amazing activities to the students who stayed at school. Overall 80% of Newton students participated in skiing at the Dartmouth Skiway.

This week we begin the VTCAP state assessment that will be administered to all of our third through eighth grade students. This is an important process and one that takes tremendous time and planning. Newton’s testing window begins Tuesday, March 12th and concludes the week of April 12th. I cannot express enough gratitude to Diane White and Donna Panella for serving as our Data Coordinators. All students will complete math and ELA testing; 5th and 8th grade will take an additional test in science. Individual student results will be mailed home once released by the state sometime this spring.

Bus routes are running normally as of Monday, March 11th. I suspect we will need to return to mud routes again when the snow melts. We will do our best to communicate these changes with you.

Please mark your calendars for Art and Soul, a musical performance being held at White River Valley High School. This is the second year of this performance, and the first that Newton will participate in. The middle school students being instructed by Scott Paulson and Barbara Smith will join other musicians for a collaborative performance. The community is welcome to join our musicians on Wednesday, March 27th. Doors open at 5:30 with the performance beginning at 6:30.

The middle school theater production of The Wizard of Oz is taking shape thanks to the hard work of Kay Morton, Nelle Donaldson, Alicia Mahar and a large supporting team of folks. There are many opportunities for you to see the performance. Mark your calendars for the weekend of April 5th. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evening at 6:30 with a matinee performance on Sunday at 1:00. To reserve your spot you can email Nelle Donaldson at nellemj@gmail.com.

First Grade

Ms. Fisk

First grade has begun learning about how bird's body parts help them survive. We recently started focusing on bird's feathers and the different jobs they have.

During Math, we learned three new workplace games. These games all have to do with number lines. Our favorite game right now is called What’s in the Box.

Keep your eye open for more information about the Book Fair, which will take place March 25-28.

3/4 ELA & Social Studies

Ms. Denney

Third graders have begun researching to find out the real answers to their previous frog questions from their pourquoi tales. They will soon write paragraphs to communicate their research. 

Fourth grade students have chosen animals to research and have begun to build expertise about their animal and its defense mechanisms. Next, they will write an informative piece describing their animal's physical characteristics, habitat, predators, and defense mechanisms.

VTCAP testing begins this week for both grades in ELA. They will test for 1 hour a day beginning on Tuesday, 3/12. 

PE

Mr. Landon

This past week the elementary school students did a fantastic job working together to maneuver our parachute games. Here is a picture of our kindergarten students discussing strategies to make the biggest parachute bubble they could!