Newtown schools participated in International Education Week (IEW) through programs and events supported by the Newtown International Center for Education (NICE) and the student NICE Club the week of November 12 to 16.

According to a release from NICE, the week was “an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.”

Across the district, schools participated in the week with different activities. According to NICE, morning announcements were made in different languages at schools, international flags were flown, and international menu options were served in cafeterias.

Activities at Newtown High School included having photo backdrops of China and France set up in the school’s lobby and cafeteria for students to take pictures. Different themes were celebrated throughout the week.

A group of students traveled to India last April through NICE, and some of the students spoke at Middle Gate Elementary School on November 14 with NHS science teacher Susan McConnell and resident Reena Sahani, who both traveled with the students to India. NHS students Claire Dubois, Danielle Johnson, and Jackie Mathews spoke to the Middle Gate students about what it was like traveling to India and visiting different schools with Vatsalya Gram, a community with three schools in India.

The students spoke about different classes and programs they attended, and they said many of the sports and toys they saw in India are the same that children have in Newtown. Middle Gate students also asked questions about food, weather, and technology in India. Ms Sahani gave a brief lesson for fourth grade students on how to count and introduce themselves in Hindi.

The high school students also shared pictures from the April trip to India.