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NPS News, 10th Edition

Posted Date: 01/05/26 (03:01 PM)
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Newington Public Schools

NPS News, 10th Edition

January 5, 2026
Golden balloons form the number 2026 against a pink gradient background with confetti.
Leveling Up Culturally Responsive and Engaging Pedagogy "With a Little Help from our Friends"

Leveling Up Culturally Responsive and Engaging Pedagogy "With a Little Help from our Friends"

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.

Superintendent’s Message

Happy New Year, Newington Public Schools Community!

As we welcome 2026, it is a wonderful time to reflect on our shared successes and look forward to the opportunities ahead. Our district continues to thrive because of the dedication of our educators, the resilience of our students, and the unwavering support of our families and community members.
We have much to be proud of in Newington Public Schools. We continue to achieve above the State in all academic areas. I am very proud to report the following academic successes:

  • Our current grade 6 students had the highest percentage of students at goal in ELA and Math on the Spring SBA since 2018 
  • Our current Freshman had the highest Spring ELA and Math scores since 2018 and the highest NGSS scores since the inception of the exam in 2019
  • Our current NHS seniors exceeded the targeted mean growth on the Spring 2025 SAT
  • We remain among the top districts in the State for students earning college credit while still in high school 
  • We saw meaningful achievement gap closures in Math, ELA, and Science for our 8th grade students during the Spring SBA and NGSS administration
As featured below, we are thrilled to celebrate the opening of a newly renovated wing at John Wallace Middle School. This modern space provides our students and staff with the state-of-the-art learning environment with enhanced safety features. We anticipate the completion of the entire project by the end of Summer 2026.

While we are proud of these accomplishments, our work never stops as we continue to refine and enhance the rigor of our instruction. By pairing high academic expectations with a focus on a positive and inclusive school climate, we are ensuring that our schools are places where students feel both challenged and supported.

Thank you for being such vital partners in our journey. Let’s make 2026 a year of continued growth, community pride, and student success.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year!

Maureen Brummett, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools

District News

PreK Program 2026-2027 - Now Accepting Applications!
Newington Public Schools offers preschool opportunities, at all of our elementary schools, for three and four year old children. Our preschool program is designed to integrate children with special needs and children who are typically developing. Please click here for more information, or to apply for the 2026-27 school year.

Newington Tree Lighting Ceremony
Under the direction of Chris Civitello, Sooran Sim, and Jason Stamenn, students from both middle schools and NHS sang holiday carols in downtown Newington for this annual event. Here is their rendition of Frosty the Snowman.
Pictured is the big arrival of Santa on a fire truck!

Our Educators and Students are Doing Amazing Things!

Newington Public Schools Veterans Day Celebrations
Veterans Day was on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. All of our schools participated in various activities and assemblies to honor those who have served our country. I was fortunate to attend the annual Veterans Celebration at the Senior Center where our Chamber Choir ,under the direction of Jason Stammen, wowed the attendees with a variety of patriotic songs. Here is a list of what each school did to thank the Veterans in our community!

Also, please join me in thanking the following Newington Public Schools staff members for their service to our country: Oscar Rivera, CT Army National Guard; Lauren Rondinone, US Navy; Adam Pastuszak, United States Air Force; Raymond Cocola, US Navy; Timothy Kasek, United States Marine Corps; Randy Singh, US Army; Thom Connolly, US Navy; Kenneth Bell, US Navy; Dick Vida, US Army (Combat Engineers); Wayne Corriveau, US Army; Phil Pagoni, US Navy/Vietnam War
MKMS Voices from Veterans
NHS Veterans Panel
Superintendent's Holiday Card Contest Winners
Six students were recognized for their holiday card submissions for this annual contest. Parents and special guests were present at the Board of Education meeting on December 12th to cheer the artists on. Pictured are the winners along with Board Chair Perrotti and Newington Art League Member, Alyssa Lewis, who heard about the contest and wanted to honor the students. Students were also given 10 cards with their own design on it. Special thanks to our art teachers who helped me coordinate this annual event. For the complete list of winners and their designs, please see below!
Holiday Card Contest Winners
John Wallace Middle School Opens New Wings
We are excited to officially enter Phase II of our building renovation project at John Wallace Middle School. Our brand-new Grade 7 and Grade 8 wings are ready and officially opened to students on Monday, January 5th!

Dan Dias, principal of John Wallace, gave a shoutout to our teachers, who did an incredible job packing, moving, and setting up these new learning spaces just before the break. We also want to extend a huge thank you to our families for your collaboration during our recent early release days; that time was vital in allowing our staff to ensure a smooth transition into the new wings. Dan Dias and I would also like to thank our custodial and maintenance staff for all of their hard work in getting ready for the grand re-opening of these newly renovated wings!

Check out the New Wings Student Slideshow here for a virtual tour of all of the upgrades!
November Superintendent's Outstanding Student of the Month
Congratulations to the November Outstanding Student of the Month winners from each school. Pictured from top left to bottom right: Ruth Chaffee - Ameliah Bower, Elizabeth Green - Nariah Holder, Anna Reynolds - James Paula Santos, Newington High School - Vinh Ky, Martin Kellogg - Nico Pizzoferrato, John Paterson - Everly Piombino, John Wallace - Anaya Campbell
November OSOM

Upcoming Dates

Three Kings Day (No School) - 1/6/26
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School) - 1/19/26
Professional Development Day (No School) - 2/12/26
February Break (No School) - 2/12/26-2/16/26

Please click here to view the 2025-2026 school year calendar.
Winter Well Wishes
Thank you for reading! For more information about the district please visit the NPS website at the link below, or our Facebook page here.