Newtown's four elementary schools, Reed Intermediate School, and Newtown Middle and High Schools ended the 2016-17 school year under sunny skies and with sunny attitudes, Thursday, June 15.The Newtown Bee, NMS Principal Tom Einhorn summed up the school year, thanking students and staff "for a wonderful school year."

Excited students spilled from the buildings, eager to greet the summer. Newtown Middle School teachers waved at students sitting in bus seats as the buses departed. Some held up paper cutouts of yellow smiley faces.

"This is it!" Middle Gate School teachers exclaimed, as they saw students off on their buses, smiling and thrusting their arms into the air in a celebratory motion.

In an e-mail to