Newtown High School Blog

As incoming ninth graders examine their schedules for the fall, students in English I, Western Studies and Integrated Physical and Earth Science (IPES) may notice that their course descriptor is CP, not CPA or CPB. For many years, CPA and CPB classes shared the same curriculum, but with some differences in pace and instructional approach used to implement the curriculum. As part of the high school reform movement and in the spirit of continuous improvement, the high school community has been discussing the best way to meet the needs of all students who take college prep courses. These discussions have been influenced by NEASC recommendations to place all college prep students together in one level and the need to comply with Connecticut state law to reduce the isolation of students with special needs. These discussions included possible changes to class structures and increased use of differentiated instructional strategies. Read the rest of this entry »

In this recent New York Times article, Benedict Carey explains the research of psychologists, doctors, and scientists as he explores the “schoolyard folk wisdom, or empty theorizing” from which the general wisdom on study habits has been derived.  Follow this link or download the article here: NYT Study Habits

Due to construction related issues, continuing tomorrow (Wednesday, September 9, 2010) until further notice, parking for Senior Students on the Newtown High School campus will continue on a first come, first serve basis.  This is the same method utilized since the first day of school.  Senior Students will not be assigned their designated parking space window permit until we are able to accommodate all Seniors eligible for on-campus parking at the same time.  There is no parking available for underclassman.

At the beginning of the school year, it was anticipated that sufficient parking would be available by this date.  Unfortunately, preparations are still being made to be able to turn over an additional 75 parking spots.  We hope to have the parking situation rectified within the next couple of weeks. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.

Last spring, the Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) proposed an updated cellular phone / electronic device policy for the high school.  The policy, based upon feedback from students, parents, and staff members, was adopted for use beginning this fall.  The new policy – Electronic Device Policy – restricts use in hallways (to increase safety and reduce social isolation) and allows use in some common areas (cafe, courtyards).  Use of personal electronic devices in the classroom for instructional activities is left to the discretion of the teacher.

Junior and senior privileges for the current school year will not be in effect until September 10, 2010.  Until then, the expectation is that all students will be in school for the entire day.

Parents and students are reminded that the opportunity to arrive at school late or depart early is a privilege.  Student achievement and appropriate behavior are priorities at the high school and they will take precedence over senior and junior privileges.  If a student is in need of an academic intervention, that intervention will be prescribed by the school and it may necessitate forfeiting privileges until significant progress has been made.  As well, if a student demonstrates a pattern of inappropriate behavior or commits a serious infraction of the student handbook, that student will forfeit privileges for a period of time.

The last day for students to drop a class without penalty for the 2010-2011 school year (first semester and full year courses) is Friday, October 1, 2010.

Currently, the Newtown High School community awaits the arrival of Mr. Ding. He has been delayed due to the visa renewal process in Beijing, China. In the meantime, Mr. Hiruo has been in touch with the Chinese Consulate, College Board, and Hanban Foundation to expedite the visa renewal, while Mrs. Greenfield has been pulling together professional contacts and lesson plans to provide a safety net for his Mandarin classes should his delay carry into the second week of school. Mr. Ding is expected to return Labor Day weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

Beginning Wednesday, September 8, 2010, Newtown High School will be able to accommodate student parking for every eligible Senior during the 2010-2011 school year.  As it stands now, there will be no student parking spaces available for Juniors this year.  Prior to 9/8/10, student parking will be non-designated, on a first come-first serve basis, and limited to about 100 spaces due to construction-related issues.  We strongly encourage students to ride the bus to and from school during the first two weeks of school.  We also recommend that parents planning to drive their child to school in the AM provide sufficient time as the volume of traffic on and around campus is expected to be heavy.  Please note that PM parent-student pick-up will again be permitted only in the parking lot adjacent to the cafeteria patio.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Per order of the Newtown Fire Marshal,  the Main Lobby is no longer a lobby. It is now a common hallway (just like any other hallway in the NHS building), and may only be utilized for pedestrians to ingress and/or egress adjoining hallways, offices, the auditorium, and/or the gymnasium (once gym construction is complete) . No tables or chairs are allowed in the Main Hallway, and students will not be permitted to loiter there after 7:15 am. However, students may sit in the cafeteria if they arrive to school early to await the bell for the start of homeroom. We understand that this will be a big change from past tradition, but the conditions and uses of areas of the building will be changing with the new construction and we will have new spaces for students to congregate.

Newtown High School is currently scheduled to open on time, September 1, 2010.  Although we are not moving into the addition for the opening of school, there are a couple of critical items that need to be completed in order for us to open school.  The first is the substantial completion of the expanded stairwell (Stair 4) that is adjacent to room B150/B152.  Read the rest of this entry »

Sections 19a-33-1 through 19a-33-13 of the regulations of Connecticut State Agencies require schools to address inspections and notifications of changes in conditions of identified asbestos-containing building materials.  Please know that this notification is required by law and should not be construed to indicate the existence of any hazardous conditions in Newtown High School.  You may access the notification here: asbestos notification

Assistant Principal Jason Hiruo and School Psychologist Tom Brant have recently had their piece on the Newtown High School China Delegation published.  You can read it here:  Connecticut School Psychologist

Twenty-eight members of the high school faculty, representing nearly every department and the administration, participated in two days of training that will help us to systematically share instructional practices to help students achieve at higher levels.  It was directly tied to making effective use of the release time that has been incorporated into this year’s calendar.

Until the expansion is available, we will have to run on a schedule that incorporates four lunch waves (as in previous years).  In this post you will find the Interim Bell Schedule, the Schedule of Days (A, B, C, …), and the Opening Day Schedule.

Based upon an evaluation (by the town, the district, the architect, and the contractor) of the current construction progress, it has been decided that it is highly likely that the classroom addition will not be ready for occupancy on September 1, 2010.  Hence, we will will begin to implement an alternative plan for the opening of school which will have us start in our current spaces (slightly rearranged) and then move into the addition once it is complete.

Please welcome the following people to the Newtown High School staff:

Brian Bisson (Special Education)
Tressa Cacace (English)
Joanne Chenkus (Spanish, one year)
Elaine Corbo (Attendance Secretary)
Paul Devine (Custodian)
Eric Ekman (Science- Earth Science)
Jason Ferrier (Social Studies)
Clare Francke (Guidance Secretary)
Robert Gendreau (Special Education)
Richard Giacin (Mathematics)
Kevin Grady (Latin)
Tara Kalberer (Science-Biology)
Kristofer Kelso (Spanish)
Lauren Marti (Guidance)
Jane Matson (Music)
Daniel McIlrath (Mathematics)
Rose Marie Mikasauskas (Latin, part time)
Lisa Porwitzki (Special Education)

The Newtown Public Schools district calendar for 2010-2011, including recently approved half-days for professional development, is here:  20102011calendarRev072610

A message regarding the monthly early release days that will be taking place starting in October.  We will supplement this message with more information in our opening-of-school information package.

Greetings parents,

Hopefully you are enjoying your summer plans and not even thinking about next school year yet, but we are hard at work this summer doing all that we can do to ensure that your child’s school experience is a great learning experience. In our efforts move our district from good to great, we value the collaborative time for teachers to discuss their students’ progress and how to improve their instruction. Our teachers, no matter how skilled they are, always want to be even better at their very important work. To allow time for those Professional Learning Communities across schools and content areas, the district will have an early release day for students every first Wednesday of the month starting in October. I want to give you ample notice as many of you will want to alter your child care arrangements. You will receive a reminder from your child’s school later in the summer.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Dr. Janet Robinson

Stadium construction requires that soil be relocated to the Oakview Parks & Recreation Field.  Parking will NOT be permitted at this site until this phase of the field makeover is completed.

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is the organization that determines the accreditation status of secondary schools and colleges throughout the Northeast.  Most people are familiar with the visits that each school gets every ten years and the reports that are filed between those visits (updates at two and five years), but many are unaware that teachers from our school participate in evaluations of other schools. Read the rest of this entry »

Final examinations for the 2009-2010 school year will begin on Friday, June 11, 2010.

Friday, June 11, 2010, 7:30 am – 9:30 am, PERIOD 8
Friday, June 11, 2010, 9:50 am – 11:50 am, PERIOD 7
Monday, June 14, 2010, 7:30 am – 9:30 am, PERIOD 6
Monday, June 14, 2010, 9:50 am – 11:50 am, PERIOD 5
Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 7:30 am – 9:30 am, PERIOD 4
Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 9:50 am – 11:50 am, PERIOD 3
Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 7:30 am – 9:30 am, PERIOD 2
Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 9:50 am – 11:50 am, PERIOD 1

From April 12, 2010 to April 17, 2010,  Newtown High School Assistant Principal Scott Clayton was in Washington D.C. with the Connecticut cohort of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (http://epfp.iel.org/), which is the main satellite program of the Institute of Educational Leadership (IEL).  There were approximately 250 school administrators, university professors, elected officials, and faculty from the U.S. Army War College also in attendance.  Read the rest of this entry »

On the last day of the trip, the Newtown High School delegation made a cultural visit to the Temple Of Heaven, where emperors would visit three times a year to make sacrifices to the Gods to support agriculture.

The North Gate of the Forbidden City as seen from the Temple at the highest point of Jingshan Park.

Members of the Newtown High School delegation visited a silk processing plant and observed silk from its raw form to the finished product.

Members of the Newtown Public Schools Administration and Liaocheng #3 Middle School stand with some of the Liaocheng English teachers before the Farewell Luncheon.

Representatives of the Newtown Public Schools Administration met with members of the Liaocheng Administration (specifically Mrs. Song, Principal of the Liaocheng #3 Lower Middle School) to further our relationship by arranging a formal partnership between Liaocheng #3 Lower Middle School and Newtown Middle School and Reed Intermediate School.

Members of the Newtown High School delegation visited the Liaocheng #3 Middle School

Newtown High School’s Sister School, Liaocheng #3 Upper Middle School, has recently completed construction of their extensive science center, complete with a statue of Albert Einstein.

On the first day of the delegation’s visit to our Sister School in Liaocheng, a tour of the campus included stops at various classrooms and laboratories, including the calligraphy classroom pictured above.

An exhibit of student art was visited during the delegation’s visit to the Forbidden City.

Twenty-four members of the Newtown High School Faculty and Administration, with two members of the Newtown Public Schools Administration visited the Forbidden City in Beijing, China as part of their cultural indoctrination.  They will travel to Liaocheng, China to visit their Sister School and exchange ideas about education.  Jason Hiruo, Assistant Principal, met with Beijing University officials while the group above explored the Forbidden City and Tiananman Square.

The Newtown High School Delegation enjoys one if its first dinners in China.

Twenty-five teachers and administrators from Newtown High School arrived at Beijing International Airport today (Saturday afternoon in China, early Saturday morning in Newtown)

Want a summer camp to China, For FREE? Here is an opportunity for you to go to China. The sponsor of our Chinese program, Chinese Hanban, is providing a summer camp to all high school students(including those graduate this year and those to be enrolled in September). What you have to pay is only a round-trip ticket from and to U.S, which can also be obtained with the help of Hanban. Read the rest of this entry »

The Freshman Forum on Underage drinking will be held Monday, April 12, 2010, at 7:00 pm at Newtown High School.  Download the flyer here.

Graduation for the Class of 2010 will be June 17, 2010 at the O’Neill Center at Western Connecticut University.  Final exams for all students will be on June 11, 14, 15, and 16.

Abatement Letter – Superintendent

Abatement Letter – Granville/Skomro

Abatement Documents

Each year, Superintendents from the area are asked to select two middle school students and two high school students who best represent exemplary academics and character. We are proud to announce that Stephanie Jarvis and Zachary Bokuniewicz (pictured above with Dr. Janet Robinson) will represent Newtown High School. Congratulations Stephanie and Zach!

Newtown High School will host a Freshman Forum on Underage Drinking on Monday April 12, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the High School. All 9th graders and a parent are strongly encouraged to attend.