The Newtown Winter Guard program traveled to Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk on Saturday, February 27, to compete in a USBands competition.

All three Newtown teams competed with both the Juniors team and the Junior Varsity team placing first in their respective divisions. The Varsity team garnered the highest score of the season so far and narrowly missed placing first, scoring less than one point behind Cheshire.

The Varsity team is also continuing to prepare for the Winter Guard International Championships in Dayton, Ohio. At the championships the world's best guard units compete over several days, whittling down the field to the finals. Newtown's Varsity team makes the trip out to Dayton every year and self-funds the trip with each girl raising nearly $900 for the trip.

This year, as part of their many fundraisers, the NHS Varsity Winter Guard parents are hosting their Third Annual Wine and Beer Tasting, on Friday, March 4, at the Alexandria Room in the Edmond Town Hall from 7 to 10 pm. The event will feature 30 wines, a variety of beers and hard ciders, a dessert bar, appetizers, and a silent auction. The event is $35 per adult in advance or $40 at the door. Tickets are available by e-mailing nhswinterguard@gmail.com or signing up through Google docs online at goo.gl/forms/yfRGjTMXjq.

Newtown fans will have a chance to see all three Newtown guard divisions, plus the Winter Percussion team, perform locally at the Newtown Winter Extravaganza "Home show" a little later in the season at the Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road, on Saturday, March 26. The event will run from 11 am until roughly 6 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the home show.