Welcome Back to a New School Year at Newport School District
Dear Newport School District Staff, Students, Families, and Community,
As we begin another exciting school year, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to every student, parent, employee, and community member who makes Newport School District such a special place. It is truly an honor and a privilege to begin my fifth year as Superintendent of the district that shaped me into the person I am today.
Newport is more than the community where I work; it is my home. I am a proud graduate of Newport Schools, and I was blessed to learn from outstanding teachers, coaches, mentors, and staff members who invested in me throughout my formative years. Their dedication changed my life, and it is a tremendous responsibility and blessing to now lead the very district that gave me so much. Every day, I strive to honor their legacy by ensuring today's students receive the same care, encouragement, and opportunities that I was fortunate enough to experience.
At Newport School District, our mission remains clear: to create an environment where every student feels safe, valued, supported, and inspired to become the very best version of themselves. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and athletically while discovering their unique talents and passions.
Our district continues to offer an incredible variety of opportunities for students. From our outstanding academic programs and career and technical education pathways to athletics, fine arts, leadership organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities, there truly is something for every student. These opportunities are a reflection of the commitment of our faculty, staff, families, and community, and they are something we can all be proud of.
One of the traditions that fills me with the greatest pride is our continued commitment to removing barriers for families. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Newport School District has purchased all required school supplies for every student. What began as a commitment to serve our families has now become an example that many surrounding districts have chosen to follow. We are honored to have helped lead the way in ensuring students begin school with the tools they need to be successful from the very first day.
We are equally proud to once again provide free breakfast, lunch, snacks, and now dinner for students participating in after-school activities. Ensuring our students have access to nutritious meals is one of our highest priorities because we know that children learn best when their basic needs are met. Our Child Nutrition Department continues to do an extraordinary job serving our students, and that commitment never stops. Throughout the summer, our dedicated staff delivered more than 50,000 meals through our summer feeding program, demonstrating once again that caring for our students extends far beyond the classroom.
While our students enjoyed their summer break, our teachers, administrators, and staff were hard at work preparing for another successful year. They participated in professional development, collaborated with colleagues, learned new instructional strategies, and planned engaging lessons that will positively impact student learning. Their commitment to continuous improvement is one of the many reasons our district continues to move forward.
I am proud to share that our performance on state assessments has continued to improve over the past three years, with growth occurring across every category. Our elementary campus experienced significant academic gains last year as well, reflecting the dedication of our students and educators. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we also recognize that there is always room to grow, and we remain committed to providing every student with the highest quality education possible.
This summer also brought several exciting improvements across our campuses. Students and staff will return to:
New flooring in five classrooms in the main building.
Renovated flooring throughout the 8th-grade hallway.
Our beautiful new field turf and additional stadium enhancements.
The opening of Greyhound Outfitters, our new merchandise store located in the freshly renovated former concession stand.
A brand-new infant and toddler childcare room designed to better serve our faculty and staff.
Innovation continues to be one of the hallmarks of Newport School District. We are constantly exploring new ways to better serve our students, employees, and families. One outstanding example is the Bark and Brew Café, which opened last spring in the Tech Science Building lobby. This student-centered market provides convenient breakfast and lunch options, specialty coffees, beverages, and grab-and-go meals in an inviting atmosphere while offering valuable learning experiences for our students.
As we look ahead, there is tremendous excitement for all that this school year will bring. We encourage our families to join us for our upcoming back-to-school events:
6th Grade Open House
– August 4 at 5:30 p.m. in the High School Auditorium
Newport Elementary Open House
– August 10, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
The Academies at Newport High School & Newport Jr. High Open House
– August 11, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
First Day of School for Students
– August 13
To our returning students, welcome home. We cannot wait to see your familiar faces filling our classrooms and hallways once again. To the many new students and families joining Newport School District this year, welcome to the Greyhound family. We are excited that you have chosen Newport, and we look forward to helping you achieve your goals.
Thank you to our Board of Education, our dedicated faculty and staff, our supportive families, and our outstanding community for believing in the work we do every day. Together, we will continue building upon our successes while creating even greater opportunities for every student entrusted to our care.
Here's to another incredible year of learning, growth, achievement, and Greyhound pride.
Once A Hound, Always A Hound!
Sincerely,
Jon Bradley
Superintendent
Newport School District