Thursday, April 10	Powell-Parent Orientation Meeting. (For all parents of 5th grade students who are scheduled to attend Powell next year.)
Thursday, April 10	6:30 p.m. Newton’s Night of Knights (For all 5th grade students scheduled to attend Newton next year and their parents.)
Thursday, April 10	1:15 p.m. Middle School counselors from Powell and Newton will visit Sandburg
Tuesday, May 6	9:30-11:00 a.m. Incoming Powel students will visit Powell Middle School (Newton students will have been to Newton on April 10.)

NEWTON MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INFORMATION FOR INCOMING 6TH GRADERS

Newton Middle School will hold an Instrumental Music information, screening, and rental night for those 5th grade students interested in participating in 6th grade band or orchestra for the 2008-09 school year. This will take place on Monday, April 7th in the Newton Middle School music rooms and cafeteria from 6:00-7:30 PM. It is required that all 5th grade students wishing to participate in middle school band or orchestra attend one of these sessions so that they have an opportunity to try several instruments and get recommendations from qualified musicians as to which instruments he or she would be most successful with. Students will have an opportunity to try various instruments with the guidance of LPS music teachers and high school students. Parents will also be able to rent instruments from several music companies that will be present at the sessions. Instruments rented through music stores will be delivered to Newton Middle School at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year unless a need exists to have it earlier (i.e. private lessons).

If you are not able to attend the screening session on April 7th, there will also be sessions at Powell Middle School (March 3), Euclid Middle School (April 9), and Goddard Middle School (April 17). You will be able to play and rent the instruments at these sessions as well. All of these sessions begin at 6:00 PM
Those students who have already begun playing an instrument do not need to attend the rental session, but are encouraged to attend the information session. All instrumental music students need to submit the online Music Survey that can be found at <newton.littletonpublicschools.com> then navigate to: teacher pages-Music-Mr. Fox, and then look for the link to “NMS Band Forms” on the right side. The form will be available beginning March 17th. This is so that we can have you on our mailing list and get accurate information for scheduling next year’s classes. Students already playing can do this after March 17th, but hose that have not started playing need to wait until after the screening session and an instrument has been chosen. You can also get additional information about the music program at this web site.

Please call Bruce Fox at Newton Middle School at 303-347-7938,
email: bfox@lps.k12.co.us, should you need further information.

You probably already know that Littleton Public Schools has a long-standing interest in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. And you may know that we already have two authorized programs in the district: the Primary Years Program at Field Elementary and the Diploma Program at Littleton High Schools. And you might be aware of the fact that Newton Middle School is in the process of applying to become a Middle Years Program (MYP) school so that our district will be able to offer an IB learning option at all three levels. So, we’re pleased to report that our progress is good. Recently we hosted a visit from Mr. Bob Smith, an IB North America MYP consultant. His advice: complete the application process this year! Our IB efforts are in full gear!

We are looking forward to updating you on our progress as we become an IB MYP school. In the mean time there are several ways that you can find out more about the IB program. Check the IB web site www.ibo.org or the Newton web site http://www.newton.littletonpublicschools.net or contact our IB Coordinator, Debbie Getzel at dgetzel@lps.k12.co.us or 303.734.6257 for more information. We invite you to check out the difference that an IB MYP education can make.