Halsted Middle School

Due to the anticipated weather, the Newton Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, December 23. Enjoy the holiday break, Happy New Year, and see you when schools reopen on Monday, January 5.

The fantastic Newton High School Band and Choir programs dropped down today to spread some holiday cheer!

Student Council Jingle Grams coming to lunches this week!

The NHS softball team is hosting a Breakfast Buffet with Santa, at Stonewood Tavern on Saturday, December 20 from 9 AM–12 PM to support the team!

The Sussex County Chamber invites all students across the county to take part in the Sussex County 250th Magazine Cover Contest, a student focused initiative celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. I hope you will consider sharing this with your school representatives and teachers.

Students are asked to show their pride, history, and community spirit! We are asking them to create a piece of art that captures what America means to them as inspired by local stories, civic pride, and the people who make our community special.

Winning entries will be showcased on the cover of the 2026 Sussex County Chamber Magazine.

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, January 31, 2026

The winner will be selected and featured on the cover of the 2026 Sussex County Chamber magazine to be released last Spring/Early Summer. Runners up will be featured in a 250th article. First prize winner will receive $200 and 2 runners up a prize package valued at $100 or more.

Halsted Middle School is excited to announce our "Inclusive Spirit Week," running from Monday, December 15th, through Friday, December 19th! This special week is dedicated to celebrating the rich diversity within our community by honoring significant cultural and seasonal holidays. We encourage everyone—students, staff, and faculty—to participate in our daily color themes and dress-up days as a symbol of unity, respect, and learning. See details below:

The Halsted Players are outside the Newton PetSmart until 2PM today selling Gertrude Hawk chocolate to raise money for their upcoming production of Finding Nemo Jr.! Drop by while you get that last minute holiday shopping done!

As 2025 comes to a close, we are excited to share information about Pomptonian’s (our school lunch carrier) 7th Annual Healthy School Lunch Challenge. This challenge was created to honor National Nutrition Month, inspire students to get involved in the kitchen, and spark excitement around creating healthy meals. And this year, high school students have the chance to win $1,000!

Key details include:
• Recipe Submission Deadline: January 19th
• Categories: Pre-K through 5th grade, 6th through 8th grades, and 9th through 12th grades
• Winners: Each category will have two Grand Prize Winners and one Super Grand Prize Winner
• Prizes: Pre-K through 8th grade Super Grand Prize winners will win a KitchenAid mixer
• High School Cook-Off: The top three high school contestants will compete in a live culinary challenge at Driscoll Foods’ professional kitchen, Kitchen 71, on February 20th from 8:30 AM–2:30 PM

Announcement Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T61zVy3dpHg

Due to icy sidewalks and paths as a result of re-freezing overnight, the Newton Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay today, December 11. Be safe.

Student Council is very grateful to all who contributed to our "Stuff the Stocking" toy collection and canned food drive for the Sparta Community Food Pantry. We are excited to send our donations on their way this week!

Due to the state of emergency issued by the Governor and the anticipated icy road conditions, the Newton School will be closed tomorrow Tuesday, Decmber 2. Please be safe.

Mr. Demauro is volunteering as tribute for a beard shaving fundraiser to boost funds for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Celebrations for 2025/2026 school year! Every vote is $1 and goes directly to Teachers and Staff. If you use the link, please use the venmo listed in the google form. Or, you can vote every day in the cafeteria in person at lunch with cash until January 6th! Mr. Demauro will wear the crazy design with the most votes! Voting Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuLnuNYi81-bSa-WlN7AHjBfOFUAfqJCdhOaHe_Fx8f3VkWQ/viewform?usp=send_form&pli=1&authuser=0

Last week we celebrated our OCTOBER 2025 Students of the Month! 8th Grade: Benjamin Hayes 7th Grade: Alanna Snyder 6th Grade: Daniel Metts 5th Grade: Renesmee Nogueira Congrats braves!

Join us on December 5th for a district wide Pajama Day in order to raise money for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). See details and the link to donate below!

https://chop.donordrive.com/campaigns/NPS-Pajama-Day

Get ready for the Walk to School Event with the Newton Police!

Learn the safest routes to Halsted Middle School and earn an extra 20 minutes of recess!

When: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 Time: Meet at 7:20 AM. Where: Newton Police Department (39 Trinity St, Newton, NJ 07860)

Action: You must sign in with Ms. Dunbar or Officer Bellis at the station by 7:20 AM on November 25th to get credit for the walk.

Departure: We will leave the station promptly at 7:30 AM!

Bonus: All participating scholars will have access to breakfast upon our return, using your pin code in the cafeteria.

Don't miss out!

See below for a chance to win tickets to the 2026 World Cup through an exciting Poster and Writing Contest!

Today we honor the brave men and women who have served our country with courage, dedication, and sacrifice. 💙❤️
Let’s take a moment to thank our veterans for protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day.

Please join us for Pancake Palooza, November 21st, 6:00-7:00 at Halsted Middle School. We look forward to seeing you there! See details below:

The Halsted Players are proud to announce their Spring 2026 Production of Finding Nemo Jr.! Performances are in March. Students can sign-up for an audition time outside the main office. Auditions are next week!

Student Council is hosting a Stuff the Stocking event through December 8th. Find out how to help out with this amazing cause below!