Welcome to my second weekly newsletter of the 2025-2026 school year. Most of the information contained in here is the same as the one I sent on Monday, however, since I will be sending them on Fridays, I wanted to start today.

Check out the new Family of Learners Highlighted section, information about medicine drop off, and the Food Services section.

Since 9:00 am this morning, all students and families should have access to their PowerSchool accounts.

All my previous newsletters are posted on the website.

We value your feedback, so please reach out at any time with any highlights, questions, concerns, or information.

BELL SCHEDULES: Click HERE to view all our bell schedules.

DAY CALENDAR:  Click HERE to view our NHS 2025-26 Day Calendar. Currently in DRAFT form.

REPORT CARD SCHEDULE: Click HERE to view the Report Card Schedule for our 2025-2026 school year. Please note that snow days will impact this schedule.  

ANNOUNCEMENT SLIDES: Click HERE to view our announcement slides. (updated daily)

CLUB DIRECTORY: Click HERE to view our club information. (get involved!!!)

ATHLETICS: Click HERE for the Fall Sports Schedule

Thursday, August 28: First day of school for students. Click for Modified schedule! A day

Friday, August 29: Second day of school for students. Click for Modified schedule! C day

Monday, September 1: Labor Day - no school/offices closed

Tuesday, September 2: B day

Wednesday, September 3: A day

Thursday, September 4: B day 

Friday, September 5: C day

***Bus Route information will be available on August 15th on students Powerschool account under the Transportation tab. The Vacant Seat program will open for students living in a "Walking District" sometime toward end of October. More informaiton regarding this program will be coming out as the date approaches. Any questions please contact our transportation department at 860-666-2441.***

8/21 - New Student Orientation (8:15 am - 12:15 pm) *information was sent to families. Please email Mr. Harris at [email protected] with any questions.

8/27 - Medication drop off from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Nurses' Office) *NEW INFO

8/28 - 1st Day of School for all students. HERE is our schedule. All students are expected to be in their Advisory period by 7:34 am.  

9/1 - Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed

9/2 - Late Buses begin

9/16 - PL Day - 12:25 pm Dismissal

9/16: Picture Day (retakes Oct 24)

9/16: Grade 12 Parent/Guardian Program 5:50 pm - 6:30 pm in the auditorium.

9/16: College Funding Stratey Night (virtual) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

9/18 - Themed Thursday * MISMATCH Day - upload pics HERE

9/25 - Open House (more information to come)

9/30 - PL Day - 12:25 pm Dismissal

Purchasing Chromebook insurance is encouraged. This optional coverage costs $35 each year and offers the following benefits: 

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child's education!

ASP 2025 – This year, the Church of Christ Congregational in Newington sent 25+ volunteers to Wise County, Virginia to support our neighbors in need in Appalachia. Since 1969, ASP has made homes warmer, safer, and drier for families and provided transformational service experiences for volunteers (asphome.org).

The group joined more than 12,000 volunteers from around the country to provide critical repairs for families.  Our Newington Church has been a proud and active supporter of this mission for more than 3 DECADES!

Special shout out to the volunteers: Mr. Harris (AP), Jay Krussell (XC Coach), Maddie Farragher (Class of 2024), Joe Bohlke (Class of 2020), Jade Brancifort (Class of 2024)) Mallory Jackson ( Class of 2017), Molly Lavoie (Class of 2024), Ben Statchen (12), Tim Belanger (12), Zach Zawisza (12)Sage Campbell (11), Naoh Lavoie (11), Carley Vumback (11), Teagan Gallinoto (11), Rita Haeseler-Andrade (10), Grace Miller (10), Judy Niedzielski, Patty Zemsta Wehrli, Ryan Campbell, Pamela Legett, Steve Woods, Jen Andrade, Ryan Diaz, Tom Porell, Gayle Campbell, Aerie Rowett, Pete Donahue, Melissa Miller.

Anyone (you do not have to be a member of the church) who would like more information about this trip for the summer of 2026 is asked to contact Pete Donahue at [email protected] or call him at 860-922-3814.

Registration is open for fall sports! Please register all student athletes interested in playing a fall sport at www.newingtonathletics.com. Students will need to have a valid physical dated after 7/18/2024 on file with the Nurse's Office and submit a registration fee of $115. Boys Golf should submit their paperwork before 8/11 & all other sports should have their information submitted by 8/14 in order to begin on time. 

Now is a great time to plan on how to get engaged with the NHS community! Use the club directory to review the many club opportunities offered at NHS and choose what you would like to be a part of. Try something new! Click here for the directory!

With the new school year comes exciting updates to the Storm Supply, our school store located in the cafeteria. You can also shop online using our catalog and follow the link to place orders online- bit.ly/NHSstorecatalog. The store is open on Mondays and all week before a spirit day, where you can pick up the latest school spirit merchandise and will be open other periods for snacks for students in cafe study. Alternatively, you can place your order online and can pick it up in the main office or Mrs. Miller's room, 201. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest updates: @newingtondeca. Fuel your storm spirit, gear up at the Storm Supply!

Summer Photo Session for Seniors ONLY. In order to have a senior portrait in the NHS yearbook, students must have their portrait taken through Art Rich Photography.

Full and mini session options are available:

-Supreme Session (Southington Studio) - $67 - $77 Session Fee

-Deluxe Session (Southington Studio) - $47 - $57 Session Fee

-Basic Session (Southington Studio) - $27 - $37 Session Fee 

-Yearbook Plus (Southington Studio OR NHS School Session August 11th) - $27 Session Fee and most affordable option that allows you to choose your yearbook photo and to place orders.

Book your session online at www.artrichphotography.com or call (860) 621-6711 for more information.

NHS will also be hosting two free sessions on Tuesday September 9th and Monday September 22nd for seniors to have their yearbook picture taken. There is no charge for this but your picture will be chosen by Art Rich Photography. No proof or retouching is available with this option.

Please contact Lauren Correll at [email protected] or (860 )666-5611 ext. 1352 with any question.

Seniors Applying to College, - wondering what you can do now before the school year starts?

The School Counseling Department will be using SchooLinks to send out college application supplemental materials (i.e. transcripts, counselor & teacher recommendation forms, etc.). Seniors (class of 2026) were introduced to SchooLinks during junior workshops and individual planning. We will continue to work with students and families on the next steps for the college application process this school year.

1. Submit the Parent/Guardian “NHS College & Scholarship Records Release” form through PowerSchool Parent Portal under “Forms (in the left menu).” In the PowerSchool Mobile App click More, then Forms, and then [NHS] College & Scholarship Records Release.

2.Complete your Personal Reflection on SchooLinks.

3. Update your resume (should be in Google Drive) and make sure you have shared it with your counselor. If you do not have a resume, create one using this template: https://bit.ly/NHSResume

4. Register with the Common Application (www.commonapp.org). 

September 10th - Magee and Doran House meetings with Seniors on Post-secondary planning process.

September 11th - Stoddard House meeting with Seniors on Post-secondary planning process.

September 16th (5:30 pm - 6:30 pm in auditorium)- 12th Grade Parent/Guardian night on college application and other post-secondary options.

September 16th (7:00 pm - 8:00 pm) - College Funding Strategies night (virtual) Advance registration required. 

September 12th, 19th, & 26th - College Application support days in Library Classroom periods 1-8.

Attendance - Join us in emphasizing the importance of being in school. Attendance is critical to the success of our students. It not only contributes to academic success, but fosters relationships between students and teachers and students and their peers. NHS course work is rigorous and moves at a fast pace, so every lesson is vital to a student’s learning. When students miss school, they miss opportunities to ask questions, deepen their learning, participate in class discussions, and build connections.  

We hope that families vacation during school vacation time and do their best to schedule appointments outside of school hours, or at the very least, have their student attend school prior to or immediately after an appointment. When students are pulled from school, it puts them at a disadvantage. If the choice is made to vacation during a time when school is in session, students will only be given one day per absence to submit their work. 

If a student is going to be absent a Parent/Guardian must either call Magee House Office on extension 1525 or submit a note through ParentSquare directly to Corina Muir. If a note is submitted through ParentSquare a phone call is not necessary. If a call is made, a note will need to be entered in ParentSquare or brought to the Magee Office to be considered excused (for the first 9 absences for state reporting purposes. These absences, unless extenuating and cleared by administration, will count toward the loss of credit). For any absence beyond 9, a medical note, court documentation, etc. must be presented in order to be excused (for state reporting purposes only. These absences, unless extenuating and cleared by administration, will also count toward the loss of credit).

If a student is absent for medical purposes, medical documentation needs to be brought to the Magee Office office when the student returns to school. Once processed by the Magee Office, the documentation will be given to the nurses. 

If a student is tardy, they must enter through the main entrance, sign in on the tardy kiosk and bring their pass to class. For delays or special schedules, they must report to the Magee Office to receive a tardy pass to get into class.

If a student is being dismissed early, a note must come from a Parent/Guardian either through ParentSquare or with a physical note brought to the Magee House Office.

NHS sends an automated message every morning at 9:45 am alerting families of any attendance change. This includes absences, late arrivals, early dismissals, and any message sent via ParentSquare. Therefore, we ask that you do not call if you receive this alert from ParentSquare if you have sent a message to Mrs. Muir via ParentSquare, only if you have not sent a message.  

Electronics - Given the distraction electronics can cause and the potential for inappropriat use, here is our policy:

Parent Square - click HERE to obtain all the information about our new School Messenger.

Academic Integrity - Academic integrity is an integral aspect of any institution of education. Students are responsible for demonstrating their understanding of content standards and skills in an ethical manner. Academic dishonesty occurs when a student cheats, plagiarizes, shares assignments, or otherwise misrepresents someone else’s work or ideas as their own. 

Cheating includes but is not limited to providing another student with information regarding assessments, copying another’s work, having prior knowledge of assessment materials not provided by the teacher, having unauthorized assistance in answering questions, and/or submitting work that another has completed on a student’s behalf. Plagiarism is a form of cheating that results from misrepresenting words or ideas that are not one's own. This includes the use of technology including artificial intelligence (AI). Students are subject to disciplinary and academic consequences that may impact acceptance into various national honor societies. 

Dear Parents/Guardians & Students:

 

The purpose of this letter is to outline and hopefully answer questions concerning breakfast and lunch, meal charging, the cafeteria’s computerized point of sale, automated prepayment systems and cafeteria mandates. Please read the following information carefully, and if you have any questions that remain unanswered, feel free to email [email protected] or call the Foods and Nutrition Services Office at 860-665-8635. 

Students may purchase breakfast on a daily basis for $2.00 at ALL schools. Eligible students who are approved for free or reduced-price meals for SY 2025-26 are entitled to one FREE breakfast per school day. 

Full pay students may purchase lunch on a daily basis for $3.75 at the middle and high schools and $3.25 at the elementary schools. The cost is $0.40 for eligible students who are approved for reduced-price meals and there is no cost for eligible students who are approved for free meals for SY 2025-26. 

School menus may be found here:

During meal service, your child will need to enter his or her five digit student identification number into a keypad (see picture at the end of the letter) located at the end of the serving line near the cashier in order to access his or her meal account. You can find your child’s student identification number on the PowerSchool website (not the App) on the "Grades and Attendance" page.  Please ask your child to memorize this number. Staff will still be able to access your child’s account if they forget his or her number. Your child’s student identification number will not change while enrolled in the Newington Public Schools.  Pre-K & Kindergarten students will receive a laminated card with their student ID number on it. Please work with your child to help them with memorizing their number. 

After your child enters his or her student ID #, the cashier simply presses the meal key and any snack purchases your child is selecting and off he or she goes! The price of the meal and snacks is deducted from your child’s account. The point of sale system knows how to charge student meals accordingly; free, reduced or paid. A parent/guardian will need to

After your child enters his or her student ID #, the cashier simply presses the meal key and any snack purchases your child is selecting and off he or she goes! The price of the meal and snacks is deducted from your child’s account. The point of sale system knows how to charge student meals accordingly; free, reduced or paid. A parent/guardian will need to deposit money into their child’s account for meal and/or snack purchases.

Insufficient Funds - Students whose accounts have insufficient funds, and who do not bring a meal or other funds to school to pay for meals, may charge meals (excludes a la carte items) to their meal accounts. If a student’s meal account becomes depleted, Nutrition Services will provide a meal of the student’s choice. 

Collection of Unpaid Meal Charges - The parent/guardian of students with negative account balances will receive a daily email with repayment information as well as information on free and reduced meals, local food pantries and SNAP benefits. The student will continue to be served a full meal and the account will be charged accordingly. Negative balances will remain with the student through their school career. 

 

EZSchoolPay Information (Online payment system for school meals) - Our department offers an automated prepayment system called EZSchoolPay that allows you to view your child’s meal account balance and purchases, receive low balance e-mails, as well as, make deposits into your child’s school meal account via the internet. There is a convenience fee to make on-line payments. Simply log on and use a credit card or debit card to fund your child’s account. You may find an EZSchoolPay Parent-User-How-To Guide at: https://www.npsct.org/pricing-meal-prepayment

 

 There are two ways to put money onto your child’s meal account:

 

 

 2. You may send in a check or cash to the school cafeteria. The food service staff will enter your check amount or cash amount into your child’s meal account. For safety purposes, we recommend that advanced payments be sent in the form of a check. Checks should be made payable to Newington School Cafeteria. (There is no fee for this method of payment.) Please put your child’s full name and student ID # (same # as your child’s PowerSchool number) on the check. Your child’s teacher will collect prepayments in the morning and forward to the cafeteria. All monies sent into the cafeteria can only be used for meal and a snack purchases and cannot be used for any other school event(s).  

Funds are deposited and available to your child for the purchase of a meal and snack purchases in the cafeteria. There are no limitations as to what may be purchased or how many purchases can be made. The account balance simply decreases as purchases take place.  

Please note that you can set up spending limits for your child in order to limit what can and cannot be purchased in the cafeteria through www.EZSchoolPay.com . There is no cost to do this.

 

You can check your child’s account balance by registering your child on www.EZSchoolPay.com . There is no cost to do this. (You will need your child’s student identification number to do this which is their PowerSchool #). Registering your child on EZSchoolPaydoes not mean that you have to pay through EZSchoolPay, however, it allows you to view the account balance at any time on-line, as well as, receive e-mail reminders when the account balance gets below a dollar amount you select. It is strongly recommended that you sign up for e-mail account balance reminders as this is the best and most efficient method for parent notification when balances get low.  

 

Yes. You can log onto www.EZSchoolPay.com  and view what your child purchased. (You must register your child on www.EZSchoolPay.com before using the purchase history feature.) 

No. Any money left in your child’s account at the end of this school year will carry over to the next school year. Requests for refunds, account transfers or donations must be made in writing to [email protected] 

 

Our school cafeterias are meeting tough federal nutrition standards for school meals, ensuring that meals are healthy and well-balanced and provide students with all the nutrition they need to succeed at school. Now is a great time to encourage your child to choose school meals! 

 

The federal requirements include strict limits on the calories, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium in school meals. We are meeting these nutrition standards by offering students a selection of low-fat and fat-free milk, larger portions of colorful fruits and vegetables, and a variety of whole grains and lean protein choices.

All breakfasts include three meal components:

At breakfast, each student must select at least three of the offered four items to make a meal, including at least one fruit. Students that do not take a fruit will be charged a la carte pricing.

 All lunches include five meal components:

At lunch, each student must select at least three of these five components on their tray to make a meal, including a fruit or vegetable. Students that do not take a fruit or vegetable will be charged a la carte pricing. 

 

Our district will be encouraging students to try the new foods offered this school year. We are also asking for your help. Please explain that every student needs to be prepared to select at least one fruit or vegetable with their lunch every day. We are planning our menus to include selections we know students like, as well as many different foods they may not have tried before. Please encourage your child to try these new foods. FREE SAMPLES are available upon request. They might just find a new favorite!

We are excited to continue our partnership with Integrated Health Servies. Please click THIS LINK (English) or THIS LINK (Spanish) to see what they have to offer and how to enroll.

School nurse information:

Names: Callie Lawrence and Audra Rappoccio

email: [email protected]

phone number: 860-666-5611 x 1163 or 1164

Medication drop off:

Wednesday August 27th from 9am-12pm. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.