Board replaces elementary library position with PE teacher

District relaunches summer driver's education program

Middle school technology fees eliminated in draft schedule

Unused snow days result in earlier summer break

Opportunity Academy sees dramatic jump in student attendance

Child abuse prevention program drives increase in reporting

Newton High School jazz band recognized for state dominance

Nine high school vocalists earn all-state honors

Career education event celebrates 200 workforce-bound students

Board replaces elementary library position with PE teacher

NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton Board of Education unanimously approved a proposal Monday to hire a physical education teacher instead of replacing a recently resigned media specialist across three elementary schools. The schedule change will increase physical education time for students to 100 minutes per week while reducing library media time to 35 minutes per week. While concern was expressed over a potential loss of reading time, elementary principals argued that the change will provide necessary movement and behavioral regulation for young students, noting that reading is still heavily integrated into daily classroom instruction and 90-minute reading blocks.

District relaunches summer driver's education program

NEWTON, Kan. — Driver's education is officially returning to Unified School District 373 this summer following a unanimous Newton Board of Education vote to approve an updated curriculum. The relaunched program recently received preliminary approval from the Kansas State Department of Education and will host an initial class of roughly 25 students starting in June. District officials noted that student fees for the program will remain unchanged from their 2021 rates.

Middle school technology fees eliminated in draft schedule

NEWTON, Kan. — Parents of Chisholm Middle School students may see a reduction in their school bills next year as the Newton Board of Education reviewed a draft 2026-2027 student fee schedule that removes the campus's technology fee. The district plans to stop sending Chromebooks home with Chisholm students, instead utilizing leftover funds to purchase charging carts so the devices remain in the classroom. The board will vote to finalize the fee schedule at a future meeting.

Unused snow days result in earlier summer break

NEWTON, Kan. — Thanks to a mild winter, Newton students and staff will start their summer break one day earlier than planned. The Newton Board of Education voted 6-0 to amend the 2025-2026 academic calendar, moving the last day of classes to Wednesday, May 20, and the final teacher workday to May 21. District administrators characterized the calendar adjustment as a reward for staff and students following a productive year in which the district only utilized one snow day.

Opportunity Academy sees dramatic jump in student attendance

NEWTON, Kan. — An alternative learning program in the district is seeing a major turnaround in student engagement, with the program raising its attendance rate to 80 percent. The jump from previous attendance rates in the mid-60s was attributed to the dedication of the program's staff and principal Tyler Swalley, who was praised for going out of his way to ensure at-risk students stay in the classroom and on track for graduation. Opportunity Academy is an official Unified School District 373 program.

Child abuse prevention program drives increase in reporting

NEWTON, Kan. — A five-year partnership between Unified School District 373 and the Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center has led to an increase in child abuse reports to law enforcement and the Department for Children and Families, according to a presentation by the center. Representatives explained that the free, grant-funded prevention curriculum taught to kindergarten through eighth-grade students equips children with the vocabulary and safety rules needed to identify safe adults and report ongoing abuse. The center reported reaching 1,750 students across 124 presentations this school year alone.

Newton High School jazz band recognized for state dominance

NEWTON, Kan. — The Newton High School Jazz Ensemble 1 was celebrated Monday for its continued excellence at the Kansas Bandmasters Association Jazz Championships. Band director Greg Bergman noted that the highly competitive audition-only group has placed in the top three every year for the past four years in the 5A division, winning the state title twice. Additionally, student musician Oliver Smith and another student musician received outstanding solo awards, with the ensemble's saxophones named the top section in the state.

Nine high school vocalists earn all-state honors

NEWTON, Kan. — Vocal music director Amy Ives recognized nine Newton High School students who were selected from thousands of applicants to perform in Kansas All-State ensembles this past February. Notably, two vocal students achieved the rare feat of qualifying for the state ensembles all four years of their high school careers, while two others earned special medals for making the group three times.

Career education event celebrates 200 workforce-bound students

NEWTON, Kan. — During the Newton Board of Education meeting, the success of the district's recent career and technical education signing event, which honored approximately 200 students, was highlighted. Modeled after athletic signing events, the ceremony allowed students to formally sign commitments with prospective local employers in front of their families and peers. The event was praised for validating the importance of vocational training and its direct benefit to the local workforce.

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