We hope readers continued to be inspired as we continued presenting The Newtown Bee’s ‘Why I LOVE Newtown’ Essay project middle school age runners-up in the April 21 edition.

The inspiration continues!

This week continues our showcasing of the remaining contributors as we bring you the balance of middle and intermediate school age writers. In the coming weeks, look to The Newtown Bee as we complete publishing the work of all the remaining high school age Essay Project participants.

We will also include coverage when award checks are presented to the six finalists — arrangements for those presentations are being made now.

In the meantime, read on to discover why today’s featured middle / intermediate school age contributors LOVE their home town:

Cecilia Wasley, 11 — Newtown Middle School

I love Newtown. I love living here and being a part of the community. Here are some of the things that are awesome about it. One thing is the public schools, another thing is the people here — everyone is very nice and caring and the last thing is all the festivity Newtown has to offer.

The public schools are great because of the teachers. The teachers do so much for the students. They make everyone feel cared for. Another reason is the students are really nice and caring. Also the students are given awesome activities like clubs, author visits, holiday bazaars, concerts, field days, walkathons, and holiday parties. In my school they have the most awesome teachers, kids and staff.

Another cool thing about Newtown is the people. All the people here are really caring and considerate. Father Bob is kind and does a great job of running the church. He’s always helping people and willing to help anyone. Eunice is so awesome at bagel delight. She would do anything for her customer’s. Pat McCleary helps out tons with softball. He’s one of my coaches. I just wrote about the people I know and see regularly. There are so many more nice people in town that you see from day to day.

The last reason I love Newtown is all the festivities Newtown has to offer. For example, they do the tree lighting, the Christmas Carol, the Nutcracker, the Saint Rose Carnival and tons more. Some fun events include the holiday lights, the turkey trot, the parades, Halloween on Main Street, the Horse Guard and more. There are other awesome events as well. For instance, the Newtown Bee does this thing if you want people to know it’s your birthday you can ask to be in the paper and one person a week even wins a free cake! I was chosen this year and got my own cake from Ferris Acres! Also, there are a lot of fun things to do in town, like the Peter Rabbit house, Castle Hill Farms and a place called Eichler’s cove, which is an awesome place to go swimming. There is always something to do or discover in Newtown!

In conclusion, Newtown is an awesome place and I am grateful to live here. If you live in Newtown, check out these places. If you don’t live here, please visit! You will have a great time. Thank you!

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Stella Wasley, 13 — Newtown Middle School

What makes Newtown so special? I’ve thought about this a lot in my young life. There are a million reasons why, but today I will only tell you 3 of the reasons. To start this off, here’s a little bit about me. I moved to Sandy Hook in 2014 from East Haddam, I was in kindergarten at Hawley Elementary, (where my mom worked as the librarian). There at Hawley I made a ton of friendships and even more memories, but in 2017 my dad got a new job in Ohio so we had to move away. As soon as we moved to Ohio I missed Newtown.

Everyday I wished to come back and go back to Hawley and after 2.5 years in Ohio my wish came true and we moved back in 4th grade. When we moved back it was March 15 2020, does this date sound familiar? To most people this date is the date everything got shut down thanks to the pandemic. Luckily, we were the last house that the moving company unloaded before everything was shut down for 45 days.. Now we live in Newtown again and are so excited to be there.

Hawley is by far the best school I have ever gone to and I have gone to 5 different schools. What makes it the best? Firstly, the curriculum. The curriculum is very good because it lets you learn at your own pace instead of waiting for everyone else or having to rush to keep up with everyone else. Another great part of Hawley is it’s not a very big school so everyone knows each other and it’s like one big family.

The best part of Hawley was the kids that went there, this is because I met some of my favorite people there. These kids were one of the many reasons I moved back. The playground is also one of the greatest parts because of how huge it seems to little kids: to a little 6 year old me it seemed like its own world.

When I moved to Ohio every single night I would dream about moving back to Newtown because I missed it so much. Because I missed Newtown so much I would ask my parents to let me move back. The main reason I wanted to move back is because of all the amazing opportunities offered to me here in Newtown.

I love my Newtown softball team so much and I am very lucky to have the team I do. I also am very happy about the Field Hockey opportunities I have been offered. If I had stayed in Ohio I would never have thought to play Field Hockey. I love many restaurants and ice cream spots in town too. I loved helping out at Reed’s garden club and growing vegetables that we then delivered to the soup kitchen. And I don’t think it gets much better than PBC2 at Ferris Acres or walking around Fairfield Hills and stopping for a pizza or big pretzel at Newsylum. There are so many great places to go!

As you can see Newtown is a very important part of my life. I hope everyone who lives in this peaceful town feels the same way I do.

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Kenneth Konrad Miller, 11 — Reed Intermediate School

What I love about Newtown begins with my birth. I was The Bee’s first baby of the New Year in 2011 so I was celebrated by the town as soon as I arrived!

It’s hard to think about why I love a place that is the only place I’ve really known. It is sort of like family, you love them even though some of the members really get on your nerves. I have had some of the best experiences in Newtown, beginning at the Children’s Adventure Center where they always made sure I had vegetarian food and I met Lia who is still my friend.

In Kindergarten, at Sandy Hook School, where I was the first class in the new school, I met Eric. We were drawing self portraits and there was only one brown crayon, so we shared. I realized there aren’t that many black people here. The next thing I’ll say that I love about Newtown is that there are a lot of people working to make it better. I have been proud to attend a Black Lives Matter Rally at the Edmond Town Hall and to speak at the Board of Education about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It’s important to know that Newtown is also where I was called the “N word” for the first time at the age of nine. My brother told me his first time was in seventh grade, so the trend isn’t great.

Dr. Gombos handled it really well and my classmate and everyone learned from it. It happened again in fifth grade and Dr. Correia handled it really well and my classmate and everyone learned from it. This time, I was able to tell the boy who called me that name that he made me feel like nothing and that he hated me.

A few weeks ago, it happened again on the bus, although it was another black boy who was the target. Again, Dr. Correia handled it. It does, however, make me feel like this family, Newtown, needs some work.

Of course, it doesn’t make me love Newtown any less. Newtown has given me a lot. I’ve done Race 4 Chase, tried sports (not my thing), learned how to swim, take karate, am in the school musical, and love all the clubs at Reed. I have amazing friends, people I hope are in my life forever. I’ve had great teachers and know that people will help me when I need it.

I’m also someone who knows how to stand up for what is right. I just want to make Newtown a place where everyone feels welcome, included, and safe. I want everyone to get to eat great food, love school, go to the carnival, walk on the trails, and to be happy.

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Alexander Crossman, 11 — Reed Intermediate School

There are many wonderful things that I love about Newtown, like the education system, the natural setting and all of the great parks where you can play, meet up with friends and go sledding. My favorite thing about Newtown though is the C.H. Booth Library. When I was little I was introduced to the library through Ms. Mimi’s Story Time Program.

As I got older, I enjoyed other programs such as the magic shows, live animals and the summer reading challenge. My brother and I would always compete to see who could read more books each summer. I don’t think I would have read as much each summer without that program. Recently I have been enjoying the YA programs like the Dungeons and Dragons sessions. I’ve had fun meeting new and old friends at these programs. The Young Adult librarian, Ms. Darcy, is also really nice and helpful.

Every year we also go to the Library Book Sale in July. It is a family tradition that I look forward to. We wake up early to wait in line not knowing what treasures we will find that day. I love finding nearly new books for a fraction of the retail price. My family always finds some amazing books for our ever-growing collection.

In the winter the library is a great place to meet up with friends to play board games, chess, and other fun programs. The library also has a vast selection of books that you can borrow and even a seed library where you can get seeds to grow your own garden. The library is a really special place in Newtown. It is one of the things that makes Newtown an amazing place to live.

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Maggie Murphy, 12 — Newtown Middle School

“Oh Newtown”

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

In the winter it’s cozy,

All thanks to you.

I love to go,

To Sandy Hook Square,

The flowers are fresh,

And so is the air.

I like to skip rocks,

And they land with a plink,

Lake Zoar is beautiful,

And so are your buildings.

You can go to many places,

But Queen Street is where

You can shop for food,

Or have someone do your hair.

In winter we gather,

Around Ram’s Pasture,

To see the tree,

As lit as can be.

Edmond Town Hall,

Entertainment for all!

They show lots of movies,

For people big and small.

The Flagpole is beautiful,

And the schools too,

I love you Newtown,

And the town loves you too. Oh Newtown,

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

In the winter it’s cozy,

All thanks to you.

I love to go,

To Sandy Hook Square,

The flowers are fresh,

And so is the air.

I like to skip rocks,

And they land with a plink,

Lake Zoar is beautiful,

And so are your buildings.

You can go to many places,

But Queen Street is where

You can shop for food,

Or have someone do your hair.

In winter we gather,

Around Ram’s Pasture,

To see the tree,

As lit as can be.

Edmond Town Hall,

Entertainment for all!

They show lots of movies,

For people big and small.

The Flagpole is beautiful,

And the schools too,

I love you Newtown,

And the town loves you too.

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Hudson Hiruo, 13 — Newtown Middle School

When I think of Newtown, the first words that come to mind are home and pride.

Newtown is a place that I have loved my whole life, inhabited by some of the nicest people you will ever meet. The people I know here have been welcoming. No matter who you are or where you have come from, you can always find a home here.

I love Newtown’s beautiful scenery and during the summer, Fairfield Hills is an amazing place to run, play sports, and meet with friends and family. During the fall, hiking through Paugussett trail leaves me stunned with leaves falling while trekking a pathway woven with bare trees and bushes. In winter, you can run outside to sled in the snow, enjoy the tree lightings in Sandy Hook and Ram’s Pasture. In spring, Newtown’s scenery comes to life.

Now, everyone who has lived in Newtown knows about trick-or-treating on Main Street when hundreds of people show up in unique costumes and walk from house to house.

Each year I wonder how extravagant the houses will be decorated, and each year they seem to surpass my imagination. Every year I trick-or-treat with a friend and an empty pillowcase, and each year I leave with more friends and a candy-stuffed pillowcase that could pass as a pillow.

For middle schoolers like me, walking after school with friends on a Friday is a celebration that I’ll look back and happily reminisce. Whether it’s crowded at Dunkin’ or “The Garage”, middle schoolers meet with friends to connect and relax. “The Garage” has been around long enough that our parents went there as students! I’ve only discovered this place recently, but I know that I will be back next Friday.

What makes Newtown most special are our schools. I went to Hawley School and I always look back happily on the memories. Each year I had a teacher that was kind, accepting, supportive, and helpful. At Hawley I learned many things that I still remember today — not only because of what I learned but importantly, who taught me.

When I graduated to Reed, I still had kind and supportive teachers. It was an environment I felt safe and happy in. When it was my time for 7th grade, I thought a different type of teacher was awaiting me at the middle school, but I was wrong. My teachers are still helpful, understanding and kind. Middle school is where you start to shape your future, and thanks to my teachers, I’m on the right path.

Now there’s one more thing that I have to say about Newtown – My town has such a history, that students like me decades ago were doing the same things that I value today. Walking after school, joining the tree lightings, watching movies at Edmond Town Hall, all make me feel like a part of an incredible legacy in Newtown. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to grow up anywhere else.

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Aileen Gregory, 11 — Reed Intermediate School

Newtown is so special to me. There are so many reasons why I love to call it home.

First, I love Trinity School and have a lot of memories of the playground and the teachers there when I was in preschool. Sometimes we still go back to the sandbox and the swings and there are a lot of fun memories from there.

Second, I love Main Street. One of my favorite things is the general store. We go there for grilled cheese sandwiches and love sitting in the window watching all the cars go by on Main Street. Sometimes, we still go after school and the big candy jars are my favorite!

Another great thing about Main Street is also the Labor Day parade and Halloween. I don’t know of other towns that do such fun events for kids. Halloween is so fun the way the houses are decorated. We love to go at night in the dark because the houses look extra spooky.

The parks are also very fun. We love Dickinson for the zipline and Treadwell for the pool.

Another great thing about Newtown that is special to me is St Rose Church. I love the priests, the religion classes, the carnival and everything they do to help

On a final note, I love the ice cream places in town, Holy cow and the creamery are the best. We love to go to the creamery in the summertime and see all the cows up on the hill. It is hard to sum up everything I love about Newtown because there are so many wonderful things that make it home.

I travel to many towns and out of state with sports and I’m always so happy to come home to the best place that I’ve been so far!

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Evangeline Elizabeth Ekman, 13 — Newtown Middle School

Newtown, Connecticut is an amazing place to me for so many reasons. Even though it’s not my first home, I’ve lived here much longer than anywhere else. I’ve grown up loving the whole atmosphere and landscape of my town, so I thought that this essay contest would be perfect for me. I love Newtown, and I’m glad I get to show it.

I moved here when I was just 6 months old, from an apartment in Shelton. I don’t remember anything of the Shelton apartment, so it never really felt like home when my mom would show it to me. Newtown, however, has given me so many things, from friends, buildings, and programs to a supportive school system and sense of great community. Because of this, it’s definitely my true home. I feel Newtown gives at least something to everyone, and everyone can find a place here.

I love that Newtown is big and has so much area, yet isn’t bustly like New Haven or New York City. Its variety allows for so many different activities, like historical tours, library read-alouds, movies, and hikes. We have shops and historical places and woods, all so close together. I believe that Newtown has a side for every kind of person, and I would be surprised to hear that anyone wanted to move away from such an amazing town.

I also really enjoy all the fun events and activities invented by the town. It feels like every day, there’s a new holiday gathering, or art show, or writing workshop you can join and have a ton of fun with. Even when no events are going on, there’s always something to do. You can go sledding at Treadwell in the winter, walk the Fairfield Hills Fruit Trail in the spring, hike trails in the State Forest in the summer, and swim at the Community Center in the fall.

But that isn’t all. Not by a long shot. I firmly believe that what really makes Newtown such a great town is its people. So if we want to stay this way, if we want to stay an accepting, diverse, exciting, and fun town, we need to watch what we do. Especially people my age, who are the future of this town and will be who will make this town what it is 20 years from now. Kindness and good attitudes contribute so much to the nature and atmosphere of a town, so we will want to watch ourselves and each other to keep this town as amazing as we experience it today.

So this is a shout out to everyone, our town leaders, our students, our workers, our parents—keep up the good work. Help people, support each other, and care for our community, so that future generations of kids who enter this contest have as much or more to say about Newtown’s awesomeness than I do now.

Keep us great.

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Emory Sage Alvarez, 11 — Reed Intermediate School

Do you want to know something cool? About 27,522 people live in Newtown CT. Can you imagine yourself in a room with that many people? Everyone of those people contribute to the community one way or another everyday and they might not even know it. I know Newtown isn’t perfect. We have many flaws, but instead of watching problems that occur and doing nothing about it, we fight. We know what’s right and wrong and we fight for change in the community to make Newtown CT the best it can be. That’s what I love!

I used to dread going to school. I would cry and refuse to get up, but now I realize how lucky I am. There are people in this world who would love to go to school. Other people may experience bullying in their schools. I have never had to go home, go to the counselors, or teachers about bullying. Of course some kids may make mean comments, but teachers take care of it. The teachers in Newtown never abuse their power. Especially in this circumstance. They really care about their students and the community. Now I go to school knowing that I will be okay and I will always have my teachers and friends.

If I am being honest, I get annoyed very easily. I have the patience of a dog. Well specifically my dog. “Do your inhalers, Emory, take your vitamins, get your stuff ready for school!” Blah blah. I hear that stuff at the minimum of 10 times a day even though I already told my mom, I did all that! At least I know where my memory comes from. My only escape from everything is books. I would live at the library if I could. It brings me into my own world and I am so thankful to be provided with amazing books at the C.H Booth Library. They are probably sick of me, but I never get bored of books from there. They will always be my go too no matter what.

As you can tell I am very high maintenance. I require activity every second of the day.

Luckily there are loads of things to do in Newtown. During the summer they have pools, parks year-round, stores, restaurants, etc. Something fun is always happening. Even taking a walk around the town is fun. Especially during Christmas with all the lights and decorations. I will never be bored in Newtown. Ever!

Given all the details you can see how much I care. It amazes me how some of the things these people do aren’t even for them. They still continue to wake up in the morning and do their job. Special thanks to the health workers and officers, teachers, waiters and waitresses, and anyone else who contributes to this town. They don’t pay you enough. I will forever be thankful and your kindness will be paid back to you in one way or another.

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Check back next week as we begin featuring our Essay Project high school age runners-up.