Girl Scout Week is celebrated each year in March, beginning with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a Saturday, and it always includes Girl Scouts Birthday on March 12.met with members of some of Newtown's Girl Scouts troops last week to present them with her annual proclamation to celebrate the event.no rawhide."Why Girl Scouting Is Important To Me"The Newtown Bee:

Girl Scouts Birthday on March 12 commemorates the date in 1912 that Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members, In Savannah, Ga. Girl Scout Sunday and Girl Scout Sabbath give girls an opportunity to attend their place of worship and be recognized as a Girl Scout. (Many local houses of worship combine Boy Scout and Girl Scout events into one Sunday.)

Girl Scouts Week 2016 is being observed March 6-12. First Selectman Pat Llodra

In the weeks leading up to Girl Scout Week 2016, the members of Girl Scout Troop 50127 (Juniors), which meets at Middle Gate School, were invited to share their thoughts on why Girl Scouting is important to them. The girls who responded had myriad reasons why the longstanding program is important to them. Answers ranged from helping the community, a feeling of accomplishment, and making the world a better place to fun reasons like learning archery, creating pottery and marching in the Newtown Labor Day Parade.

A number of the girls mention past events they did to help the local animal shelter. Troop 50127 is currently hosting a collecting, in fact, for The Brian J. Silverlieb Animal Care and Control Center.

Through March 12, collection boxes are available at locations around town, where the public can drop off wet and dry dog food (Dave's and Fromm brands are requested); choke collars, leashes, pigs ears, Nylabone edibles, any Milk-Bone product, dog beds, paper towels, laundry detergent, dish washing liquid, towels, and blankets.

The list also specifies

Cats at the animal shelter have not been forgotten by the local Girl Scouts. Their list of requested donations also includes wet cat food (Friskies is requested), cat toys, and cat litter.

Donation boxes have been set up at Big Y, 6 Queen Street; EverWonder Children's Museum, 31 Pecks Lane; Middle Gate School, 7 Cold Spring Road; Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road; Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street; Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street; Stop & Shop, 228 South Main Street; and Your Healthy Pet, 61 Church Hill Road;

Following are the letters received by

Dear Newtown Bee,

Girl Scouts is meaningful to me because we go on so many trips and help the community. We do pottery, archery, sleepovers, karate. We did a presentation to save water and this year we are donating to the animal shelter. We were in the Labor Day Parade! Girl Scouts has taught me a lot and still is! Girl Scouts is great and fun!

Sincerely,

Jill Hoag

Dear Newtown Bee,

I am writing to tell you why Girl Scouts is meaningful to me. There are several reasons. My first reason is you help the community. It makes me feel good to know that I am helping people in need. My second reason is you do many fun things. For example, archery. That was really fun. Another example is pottery. After school, we went to a pottery factory and made pottery. Another reason Girl Scouts is meaningful to me is you get to pick something that you want to do to make the world a better place and do it. Last year, we worked on saving water. We made posters and spoke in an assembly. My last reason is the cookies. I love selling Girl Scout cookies! Yum!

Sincerely,

Grace Chiraritti

Dear Newtown Bee,

Girl Scouts is meaningful to me because we do stuff that makes me feel accomplished like when we were in the parade. Right now we are collecting stuff for the Newtown Animal Shelter.

From,

Gabriella Arnold

Dear Newtown Bee,

The reason I think Girl Scouts is meaningful to me is because Girl Scouts has so many fun things to do. The most recent event that my troop did was we made a big event on saving water. It was so much fun making a presentation. Also we do very fun troop things. Once we went to the Hartford Science Center and slept over and another time I went and did archery. Even though people think all we do is sell Girl Scout cookies but we do way more than that.

Sincerely,

Morgan Harrison,

Dear Newtown Bee,

I'm writing to you because I want to tell you what Girl Scouts means to me. First it is meaningful because it gives me a lot of experiences that I wouldn't have gotten if I did not do Girl Scouts. I also got to do lots of fun sleepovers. I've enjoyed learning about the pedals in Daisies. I liked the Saving Water project. That's why Girl Scouts is meaningful to me.

Sincerely,

Hannah Guman

Dear Newtown Bee,

Girl Scouts is meaningful to me because we do good things for the community. Last year, we helped the community by saving water. We put signs around the school saying "Save Water". Also, on Girl Scout Week, we went on the announcements and told fun facts about water. And also, this year we are working on a project to help the animal shelter. We made posters to hang on donation boxes. We also made pamphlets for people to know what to donate. I love Girl Scouts!

Sincerely,

Victoria Connelly

Dear Newtown Bee,

My name is Reese and I am part of Troop 50127. I think Girl Scouts is meaningful because you can learn new things. My troop learns new stuff every year. I like how no matter where you live, you can be a Girl Scout. Girl Scouts is freedom. Girl Scouts is not just selling cookies. It is a way to express your good citizenship.

Sincerely,

Reese Wheat

Dear Newtown Bee,

Girl Scouts are meaningful to me because I got to have new experiences sleeping in a cabin and being part of a world wide club. I think this is important because it is important to have new experiences. That is why I think Girl Scouts is meaningful.

From,

Zosia Teraszkiewicz

Dear Newtown Bee,

My name is Kendall and I am in Troop 50127. Troop 50127 is meaningful to me because I learn new things and I get to do awesome activities. If I wasn't in Troop 50127 I wouldn't have met other fourth graders in Middle Gate School that are awesome! Also, I love helping the community and donations. I am glad I signed up for Girl Scouts.

From,

Kendall Fiorillo

Dear Newtown Bee,

Girl Scouts is meaningful to me because I get to have different experiences like sleeping in a cabin, hiking, archery, going in a river, and saving water. I have been in Girl Scouts for 3 years. We also went to Masonicare and this year we are collecting donations to help the animal shelter. Girl Scouts is a great organization that I am proud to be a part of.

Sincerely,

Ashely Guerrera