District Intended Outcome: That we maintain the high performance of students meeting and exceeding district standards/expectations, increase performance of students performing below district standards/expectations, and reduce the predictable performance gap between groups of students performing at or above standards/expectations and groups of students performing below standards/expectations. |
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Dear Parents, Guardians, Colleagues, and community members,
The 2025-26 school year has officially concluded. While it was longer than usual, we successfully reached the finish line! There are many achievements to celebrate, as highlighted in this quarterly newsletter.
I want to express my gratitude for your continued support of our efforts on behalf of our students. We remain committed to our mission, as articulated below.
Every day, every NPS student is actively being equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a contributing member of their community, while being highly prepared to thrive in life, and pursue their career or college aspirations upon graduation.
This mission came to life on June 22, as the Class of 2026 walked across the stage at the Oakdale. It was a magical evening for everyone in attendance, and our graduates serve as excellent examples of our mission in action.
I hope you are all able to enjoy a relaxing and restorative summer with family and friends. I will be in touch in early August with more details regarding our start-of-year activities.
Be Well,
Dr. B.
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Assistant Principals Selected for Wallace and Kellogg
It is my pleasure to announce that after a very thorough and comprehensive process that included interviews, performance tasks, and focus groups, our new Assistant Principals for John Wallace Middle School and Martin Kellogg Middle School have been chosen.
Current Interim Assistant Principal Amanda Miser will become the permanent Assistant Principal at Martin Kellogg. Christine Gamari, Current STEM Coach at NHS, will be the new Assistant Principal at John Wallace. These appointments are effective July 1.
Both candidates rose to the top of a very talented and competitive pool.
Special thanks to Dan Dias and Talisha Foy for putting together a comprehensive process that included input from staff, parents, fellow administrators, Board Members, and students.
Amanda has previously served as an Assistant Principal in Massachusetts and has served as Interim Principal at Martin Kellogg since October 2025. She is currently pursuing her doctorate from CCSU.
Christine comes to us from Torrington Public Schools, where she was Teacher of the Year. She has served as the STEM Coach at NHS since 2021.
Please join me in congratulating the newest members of our leadership team.
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NPS Teacher of the Year and Paraeducator of the Year are Announced
It is my pleasure to announce our premier staff distinctions for the upcoming school year, naming Kim DePaolis as Teacher of the Year and Sandra Pereira as Paraeducator of the Year. Selected from an exceptionally talented and qualified pool of district-wide nominees, both honorees will be officially celebrated at our annual Convocation on August 26th.
Kimberly DePaolis, a Special Education PreK Teacher at John Paterson Elementary School, was announced as Teacher of the Year at a school-wide assembly. Former Newington Teachers of the Year gathered alongside colleagues to celebrate her achievement.
Ms. DePaolis’s profound dedication to early childhood special education distinguished her within a competitive field of district nominees.
Sandra Pereira, a dedicated paraprofessional at Elizabeth Green Elementary School, was announced as the Paraeducator of the Year by Talisha Foy during the school's recent Celebration of Learning.
Nominated by Elizabeth Green educators Gricel Boden, Amanda Jennings, and Emma Detrick, Ms. Pereira was selected for her impactful, heart-centered work with students.
I invite the entire community to join in congratulating both Kim DePaolis and Sandra Pereira for their exceptional leadership, care, and success in the school year ahead.
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School-Based Health Center Grant
Last month, State Representatives Gary Turco and Kate Farrar, Senator Matt Lesser, Board Chair Perrotti, Town Manager Altschul as well as several Town Council members were at Newington High School. They presented a check to the Board of Ed. celebrating the $159,000 they secured for our School-Based Health Center. With this grant, not only will the Center be able to remain open, but will also expand services to any NPS student in need.
During the ceremony, our Delegation also shared they had secured $100,000 to keep the Nor'Easter Afternoon Academy running for the upcoming school year!
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A Tribute to the Retirees of NPS 2026
Please click here for special tribute to retiring staff members. Together they represent 278 years of service to the Newington Public Schools. We would like to extend our special thanks to these staff members and wish them a very happy and healthy retirement.
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Now Available: 2026 School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack
Commissioner Russell-Tucker and the Connecticut State Department of Education are pleased to announce the launch of the 5th Annual PK-12 School Staff Appreciation Digital Backpack Program, providing summer discounts to all PK–12 public and private school staff, including Adult Education program staff. This year’s offers include dozens of discounts to museums, sporting events, breweries, and more. Eligible staff include everyone who contributes to the school ecosystem—from teachers and paraeducators to school nurses, bus drivers, custodians, and food service professionals.
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Newington High Schools Ranks Top 10 for UConn ECE
It is with great excitement that I announce that NHS is part of the Top 10 High Schools for total number of students enrolled in the UConn Early College Experience program for the 2025-2026 academic year.
This year, Newington is their high school with the ninth highest number of students enrolled in the program with 317 students.
The Assistant Director of UConn ECE congratulated us on an extremely successful year and thanked us for our dedication and hard work.
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April Superintendent's Outstanding Student of the Month
Congratulations to the April Outstanding Student of the Month winners from each school. Pictured from top left to bottom right: Elizabeth Green - Alessandra Luciano, Martin Kellogg - Harnoor Kaur, Ruth Chaffee - Phoebe Cooke, Newington High School - Katherine DeNapoli, Anna Reynolds - Stella Soto, John Paterson - Ryan Kramer, John Wallace - Szymon Grabowski
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May Superintendent's Outstanding Student of the Month
Congratulations to the May Outstanding Student of the Month winners from each school. Pictured from top left to bottom right: John Paterson - Ana Barbosa, Ruth Chaffee - Ayden Rose, Anna Reynolds - Esther Cantanhede, Newington High School - GNoah Lavoie, Elizabeth Green - Amalese Brooks, John Wallace - Riley Kaseta, Martin Kellogg - Laurie Zeqo
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Newington Public Schools Townwide Art Show
The opening reception for the Townwide Art Show was held on Thursday, April 30th at the Newington Senior and Disabled Center. Families and staff gathered to admire the artwork of our many dedicated students on Thursday evening in a beautiful exhibition of our talent!! As Courtney Frazao puts it, "The artwork on display reflects students' hard work, perseverance, and creative solutions to the project criteria. Art projects reflect our arts curriculum and demonstrate new learning for our student artists. Therefore, the outcomes on display are a particular marvel, since at some point the student had to learn and grow to accomplish the work." Please see photos below!
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NHS Scholars' Breakfast
On Wednesday, May 20th, the Newington High School 47th Annual Scholars' Breakfast was hosted to celebrate our top academic achievers. We honored 323 students who successfully maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.67 or higher through the first three quarters of the school year. This year's ceremony featured an inspiring address from guest speaker Michael Minelli, a graduate from the Class of 2006. For staff who missed the live event, a full video recording of the program is available to watch here.
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Newington Public Schools Receives National Recognition for Championing Music Education for the 15th year
Music Program Leader Chris Civitello shared that NPS has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award from The NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education that spotlights and celebrates school districts across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.
Our NPS music program is a constant source of pride for the entire Newington community. Our dedicated and talented music educators provide a top notch educational experience for our students. This is evident in our large array of musical and instrumental performances and student accomplishments.
Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support. To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.
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Convocation - August 26, 2026
First Day of School - August 27, 2026 (Full Day)
Labor Day - September 7, 2026
Yom Kippur - September 21, 2026
Indigenous Peoples' Day - October 12, 2026
Please click here to view the 2026-2027 school year calendar.
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Thank you for reading! For more information about the district please visit the NPS website at the link below, or our Facebook page here.
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