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Messages Of Inspiration For The NHS Class of 2023

By Noelle Veillette

Published: Jun 13, 2023 08:37 PM

Commencement exercises for the class of 2023 have concluded at Newtown High School.

The ceremony, which started at 5 pm at the high school's Blue & Gold Stadium, honored over 300 graduates. The event included an opening address by Principal Dr Kim Longobucco, remarks from senior class council co-presidents Rachel Krauss and Adriana Russo, Newtown Scholarship Association Vice President Cindy Carlson, Superintendent of Schools Chris Melillo, keynote speaker and educator Ryan Eberts, and Board of Education Chair Deborra Zukowski.

Valedictorian Kirtana Kunzweiler and Salutatorian Lauren Jacobs delivered speeches as well, with messages of inspiration for their graduating class and touching moments of reflection of their time at Newtown schools.

The NHS Wind Ensemble played the seniors onto the field with Pomp and Circumstance, as is traditional, and punctuated the afternoon with The Liberty Bell March by John Philop Sousa, directed by Aaron Ovsiew. Choir Director Jane Matson led the NHS Choir in the national anthem as well as a musical interlude: “You Are the New Day” by John David. The choir included members of the graduating class along with younger students.

After the presentation of diplomas, the seniors shifted their tassels to signify they had graduated, and tossed their caps into the air. Cheers, hugs, and celebration followed.

A full report and additional photos will be published in the June 16, 2023 edition of The Newtown Bee and online Thursday afternoon.

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Reporter Noelle Veillette can be reached at noelle@thebee.com.

The Newtown High School Class of 2023 celebrated commencement exercises in The Blue & Gold Stadium Tuesday afternoon, June 13. —Bee Photos, Veillette

Salutatorian Lauren Jacobs addresses the NHS Blue and Gold Stadium with a speech tying life lessons with humor.

Salutatorian Lauren Jacobs and Valedictorian Kirtana Kunzweiler, identified with their gold sashes, beam while standing with their graduating peers.

Attendees applaud as their family and friends enter The Blue & Gold Stadium late Tuesday afternoon.

Snapshot: Alex Villamil

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Barbara Edwards

John Landolfi

Mark M. Passero, Sr

They clearly didn't get the message ! CUT THE BUDGET by 20% , not raise it ! Newtown spends $2,500,000.00 every week now ! It will be $2.6m if you approve it ! Who are these people not paying attention to the cost of living? Throwing money at the school administration will not make your kids any smarter ! We are at $22K per kid per year, that is insane ! CUT THE BUDGET ! Go show up and VOTE, because 1200 people who voted yes will show up again, and it's the 1200 people who decide your cost of living for years to come. 51% voters turnout should be mandated to approve the budget, not pathetic 15% of voters. Stop these nonsensical referendums and send everyone a card in the mail so we have a true outcome what people actually want.

Council Cuts $1.4 Million From School Budget

The town cuts down the Sandy Hook Christmas tree and now trashes this bridge. What next?

Sandy Hook Pedestrian Bridge Removed

All due respect, the headline to this article is misleading. The budget presented was a proposed budget that did not pass public referendum. There are no cuts to anything, rather a reduction in the Board of Education original asking dollars. As matter of fact, the current recommendation from the LC is an increase of 2.3M more than the previous budget from 2023/24.

Some background on the Bus comment Mr Knapp made on not following policy. From ther Bee may 2023. Following a Request for Proposal (RFP), the school board learned at its March 15 meeting that only one bid came back for the school district’s transportation contract. The current contract with All-Star Transportation, which oversees the majority of bus routes for the district, is set to end at the end of this school year. At the May 3 meeting, district Director of Business & Finance Tanja Vadas said — reacting to Public Participation speaker Ryan Knapp who, among other things concerning the transportation contract, questioned the school district’s RFP process — she stands by the district’s RFP process “but other companies just didn’t bid.”

Concerns With Adherence To School District Policies

Additionally, they also anticipate over a $300,000 surplus for this fiscal year.

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Messages Of Inspiration For The NHS Class of 2023

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