For nine out of past 27 hours the Newton School has been hosting student-led conferences. I heard many good things and hope you feel that your student's conference was worthwhile. Here is a form for us to collect feedback, we would love to hear from you.

In the Fall of 2014, there was a task force made up of Strafford citizens to look at the opportunities for preschool age children. The result of that group was a tighter partnership between Creative Preschool and the Newton School. One outcome was collaborative work that helped secure resources so that Strafford children had more access to preschool opportunities. In 2016, Act 166 (Universal Prekindergarten) was passed to ensure that all 3 and 4-year olds have access to 10 hours of preschool per week. 

Jody Lowes (Director of the Creative Preschool) and I are currently looking at current and future needs. Please go to this link to access a survey that will explain this initiative in more detail and ask you to complete a series of short questions.  

Even if you do not have preschool-aged children we really hope to get you to complete this survey. Our goal is to have 25% of our residents complete this survey. There will also be hard copies available. We plan to compile results on Oct 28th.

Athletics and School Activities

It has been great to see students sharing their work and goals with their parents. Students had fun role-playing and practicing with their peers and stuffed animals before the actual conference. We are so happy to get a chance to talk with you all about your children! We like to remember that we are a team of supportive and caring adults who all want what’s best for your student.  

We will be heading outside on Monday for our outdoor science block. Please make sure that your student comes to school adequately prepared for the weather. Additionally, 3rd grade will be heading to the Hood on Thursday for an outside sculpture walk.

Science: Students completed their models of the water cycle and pollution as part of the overall unit on the effects of plastic in the environment. Soon, they will start working on a culminating project.

Here are two examples:

Passion Project: We continue be in the thick of things in regard to this project. Students have completed their research and have started the actual work. We expect to complete this project with a community-wide celebration before the December break.

We ask that you check in with your child, especially in regard to materials they may need. At this point, students need to be actively working on their projects in school every Friday.

Library/Technology News

Simone Pyle

We learned about our digital trail in grade 2's tech time, and how we manage it by thinking before we share information online. We talked about the kinds of information we shouldn't share online, as well as things are that are safe to share--personal information (e.g. favorite food, pet's name) is okay to share, but private information (our full name, address, school name, etc.) we should not share.

Kindergarten has earned the year's first "I Can" entry on our I Can...in the Library poster! Kindergarten CAN take care of library books, since we've learned the ways to keep our library books safe and in good condition so they can be enjoyed by others!

3rd: We began working on recognizing and responding to emotions this week, and in stress, stressors, and ways to cope with stress. Students paired up and shared a time when they have felt stressed, how they worked through that, and if it was an unhealthy or healthy way to cope. We began to start brainstorming healthy ways to cope if we are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Ask your student what they do to cope with strong feelings--take a walk, listen to music, read a book?

4th: We wrapped up our unit with 'We Care' by playing a matching game with all the topics we have learned over the past 6 weeks. We reviewed healthy relationships, trusted adults, stress and coping skills, as well as personal boundaries. Students created quilt squares to represent what they have learned. Ask your student what they drew on their quilt square. 

5th & 6th: We continued with our lesson on speaking assertively and respectfully. We reviewed assertive, passive, and aggressive communication. We began using I-messages, which entails using an "I" statement to keep conversations both respectful and honest. We learned a three step process for handling situations that may bother us, and then proceeded to work in small groups with different scenarios. The three steps use an I-message to begin and then follow with stating how you feel about the situation, what the person did to upset you, and what you would like the other person to do instead. Ask your student how they felt using an I-message process. 

7th & 8th: This week we started our next unit on conflict resolution. We began with students sharing a time they were angry, the way they handled their anger, and if a good outcome came from that experience. They answered questions such as, does getting angry help solve disagreements and arguments? What are some ways to handle anger? We reviewed an article on dealing with anger, and will move forward with students in small groups developing brief mini anger-management training sessions for each other. This unit will move into how to communicate our feelings to help prevent and manage conflict. Ask your student if they currently have a strategy or method for when they may feel angry.

One Planet Program

Kiersten Harlow

Wednesday’s kids have been learning about games, and were put in groups to create their own. This week we started trying out some of the games the kids created and it was a blast!

Next Thursday will be our annual Lights On Event! If you would like your child to attend please return the enrollment form that went home yesterday and return it by Monday.

Apples, Apples, Apples!

Did you know???

~Apples are members of the rose family (like pears and plums)

~Apples are grown in all 50 of the United States of America

~Only 1 type of apple is native to the US – the crab apple

~The smallest apple is the size of a cherry and the largest apple is the size of a grapefruit

~The biggest apple ever weighed was over 3 pounds

~Apple trees can live over 100 years

~Apples ripen 6 to 10 times faster at room temperature than in the refrigerator

~It takes 36 apples to make only 1 gallon of apple cider

~The average person eats 65 apples per year

Ellen G. will be here at The Newton School, through HealthHUB, on October 30th to give more flu shots to those who missed it. Please fill out a form if you have not already done so. Also if you have enrolled your student in HHUB for medical services, Ellen could also see any NS student for a health reasons. Please let me know if you fall into either category. Thanks!

Health HUB's dental van is coming November 2 - 4. If you have not already scheduled your dental visit, please call Health HUB at 802-431-6060.

Strafford Halloween Celebration

Wednesday, October 31st

Schedule of Events

4:30 - TRICK-OR-TREATING BEGINS in both upper and lower villages

5:00 - JACK-O-LANTERN CONTEST ON THE STEPS AT BARRETT HALL. Please have your pumpkins there by 5 pm. Winners announced after dinner at 6:45.

6:00-7:00 - ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER & HAUNTED HOUSE AT BARRETT

HALL (Haunted House is FREE & generously created by Newton 8th graders & Parent Volunteers)

Spaghetti Dinner Costs:

$5/person

CANDY COLLECTION HAS BEGUN -- LOOK FOR THE BOX AT COBURNS! 

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING A BAG OR TWO!

The PTA is accepting candy donations at Coburn's for distribution to our

village residents, to assist with the influx of trick-or-treaters in both the upper and lower village. (Village residents, you will receive your candy by October 27th.)

If you would like to volunteer in any way at the Halloween event, please contact Shannon Varley at [email protected]

Next PTA Meeting

Monday, November 5th at 6:00 at the Newton School Library

*Please note the change from Tuesday

October 25 - Picture re-takes

November 7 - Deadline to sign up for the Holly Jolly Project.

 Click here for the application.

November 29 - Upper Valley High School Fair

5:30 at Hartford High School

Hanover High School Shadow Days