School Climate

Your Child's Safety is Our Top Priority

At Newtown Public Schools, we believe that every student deserves a positive and safe environment where they can learn and grow. We are committed to making sure our schools are places where all students and staff feel respected, supported, and free from harm.

A safe school is a healthy school. It's an environment that is free from threats, harassment, and any form of bullying. We take this commitment very seriously and have adopted a comprehensive policy to ensure every student feels safe, valued, and heard.

Our Policy on Challenging Behavior and Bullying

We follow all state guidelines and laws to prevent, intervene in, and respond to challenging behaviors and bullying. Here are the key definitions we use to guide our actions:

• Challenging behavior: Any behavior that negatively impacts the school's climate or interferes with a student's learning or safety, or the safety of a school employee.
• Bullying: Unwanted, aggressive behavior among children in grades K-12. This involves a real or perceived power imbalance and can include actions like repeated name-calling, physical intimidation, or purposeful social exclusion.

What to Do if Your Child is Experiencing Issues

If you or your child has experienced challenging behavior or bullying, we want to help. The sooner we know about an issue, the sooner we can address it.

1. Report the Incident: Please complete our official Challenging Behavior Reporting Form. This is the fastest way to get your concern to the right people. You can find the form on our school website or get a copy from the main office.
2. Contact Us Directly: We encourage you to also speak with your child's school principal or a school counselor. We are partners in your child's education and well-being, and we want to work with you to find a solution.

We are dedicated to creating a school community where all students can thrive. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and positive for everyone.