August 21st, 2020

Good Evening Parents, Guardians and Students:

It is finally here, the last weekend before the beginning of the school year. I hope everyone had a relaxing, safe and enjoyable summer. We ended the previous school year under very unique and strange circumstances and we will be beginning this year under very unique and strange circumstances. 

All students and staff are required to wear a mask. Gators, bandanas and scarves are not allowed per district policy. If a student doesn’t have the correct mask we will provide one in the main office.

A special video for all incoming sixth graders was done by Mrs. Svigel, sixth grade language arts. Please click on this link to view or go to our Newton Website.

Please access this link for information as to how to report attendance if your student is absent.

Please click this link for information from Nutritional Services and information regarding school lunch.

If you need to drop off medication you can do this on Wednesday between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.

I am also attaching the schedule for all students for the first two days of school. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th. All students will begin in their homeroom. Homeroom teachers are listed on each student schedule. Sixth graders will be participating in orientation and WEB activities all week. 

A blended learning model for instruction will be used for this fall, details are as follows:

The blended learning model will assist us with social distancing in classrooms, hallways, lunch etc as we will have half of our student population in the building at a time. The A, B days will be broken up as follows:  A days will be students with the last names beginning A-K and B days will be students with their last names beginning L-Z. A day will be held on Monday and Thursday, B Day will be held on Tuesday and Friday. Wednesdays will be distant learning for students and there will be an expectation for students to check in with their teachers, we will rotate Odd/Even days on Wednesdays. Please click here to view the schedule. This will be consistent in all secondary schools in the district. We will also keep our lunches per grade level, one sixth grade lunch, one seventh grade lunch and one eighth grade lunch each day. Appropriate social distancing and seating will be available to spread the students out in the cafeteria and lunch lines.

For Monday the 24th all B day students need to only log in and do their attendance and monitor their district Google email account for information from their teachers regarding potential school work and assignments.

If you need assistance with home internet access please access this link.

To ensure additional social distancing as students enter the building we will be requiring students to use the following entrances:  sixth grade will enter through the Northwest doors or the Northwest courtyard doors, seventh grade will enter through the east doors/gym entrance to the building or the southeast doors adjacent to the sidewalk leading to the main entrance. Eighth graders will enter through the main entrance doors that face Arapahoe Road.

No parents or outside visitors will be allowed into the building.

We will not assign lockers to students this year, students will bring their materials/supplies with them to class in their backpacks. If you need assistance acquiring a backpack please let me know.

Physical Education Information
Students will be expected to dress out for PE class during their in person learning day. Students will need to bring their PE uniform in their backpack. Lockers in the locker room will not be used - students will be assigned a socially distanced area to dress out in. Seventh and eighth graders can use their uniforms from last year. Sixth graders will receive their PE uniforms the first day of in person learning per their schedule. The cost for the PE uniform is $10.00 this includes the t-shirt and shorts. If we are unable to use the lockers the entire quarter or semester, lock refunds will be given at semester time. For additional information please contact Mr. Wilmes or Ms. Ubrun.

We are excited to have students return to the building this fall even if it is in a non traditional, blended learning model. We have missed our students and it will be great to have them back in the building. 

Have a great weekend and we look forward to next week.
James O’Tremba
Principal, Newton Middle School