August 25th 2017

Good Afternoon Parents and Guardians:

I hope your child experienced a great first full week of school. I know for the sixth graders this was a very new, exciting, anxious learning experience. I think they have settled in well and we’ll all have a great year. We enjoyed having everyone in for back to school night. Please remember that you can contact any teacher at any time if needed. E-mail is generally the best manner in which to contact anyone here at Newton.

All 8th grade students who are interested in Arapahoe High School please see the attached flier regarding their fall shadowing program.

If you are interested in volunteering to help give out prizes for our CODE Cart please access the sign up genius below:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c49afaf2fa0fe3-code  

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR NEWTON PTO:

Our first PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19th at 9:00 am. Please check in at the main office and they will direct you to the correct meeting room.

We are still attempting to fill the following positions:

Vice President:  This is super easy this year and then you can move into the president’s position next year. Not a difficult job, you just need to help people stay on task and keep things organized.

Treasurer: This may be filled. TBA

Community Relations:  this person helps with the STRIDE, Shred a thon in the spring and Spirit, along with new families to Newton.

VIPS:  Volunteers in public schools, could use a second person to help Bethany!

If there is something you would be interested please let me know.. You will find that serving the PTO is a fun way to help at Newton and much more relaxed than the elementary schools PTO’s tend to be.

Please be aware of the following event in LPS:

The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed

SAVE THE DATE!  

National Best Selling Author, Teacher, Mom - Jessica Lahey

Hosted by Littleton Public Schools and the LPS Foundation

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Arapahoe High School Theater

Admission is FREE!

LPS Parents, Families, and Staff are Invited!

LPS has initiated a new attendance policy for this school year. Please pay attention as the policy is much more stringent than it has been in the past. It is as follows:

After a student has missed 5 days:  The school contacts the family with a phone call of concern. The phone call will be documented.

After a student has missed 8 days:  The designated school administrator calls the family to emphasize the attendance concern and district policies. The school administration informs the family that documentation (Doctor's note) is required for further absences. The school will send a letter to the parents after the phone call that reviews the policy and notifies in writing that the student is now on documentation for absences.

After a student has missed 10 days:  The school sets up a meeting with the parent and the district School Engagement Specialist.  The meeting will problem solve, explore barriers and create an attendance plan for the student. The family will also be given the district Attendance Concerns Letter at the meeting or mailed if the family is unable to attend the meeting.  The letter contains information about LPS attendance policy, facts regarding the importance of attendance and next steps that may occur. The meeting will be documented in Infinite Campus.

After a student has missed 12 days:  We will work with the family and with the school district School Engagement Specialist and make a decision regarding the possibility of truancy court and explore all other options.

Parents or guardians of all students can excuse up to 8 days of absence without documentation. Any prolonged absences such as family vacations, sport or activity trips etc. must be approved in advance by the administrator. At Newton if you are a parent of a sixth grader please notify Ms. Rahne, seventh grade parents will notify Mr. Wyckhuyse and eighth grade parents please notify Mr. O’Tremba.

Again, thank you to all of our parents who attended back to school night. It was a great evening and we are looking forward to a wonderful school year.

Enjoy your weekend.

James O’Tremba

Principal, Newton MS