BOE Approves Gymnastics Program For NHS

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown High School will have a gymnastics program of its own now. NHS Athletic Director Gregg Simon went before the Board of Education on November 15, asking the board to approve the program, and the board voted unanimously to add it to the high school athletics offerings.

“It has been a long, long, time since we have established any teams at the high school, or programs. Ice hockey came out about ten years ago, and it had always been the board’s wish that we didn’t start new programs at the high school, unless they were funded by participants in that program,” Simon said at the meeting. Ice hockey, the athletic director added, has never been fully funded by the district.

Last year, Simon said, NHS had a smaller group of gymnasts participating with another school to compete but now six girls are interested in the NHS-exclusive program.

In order to fund a gymnastics program, Simon said parents of students participating will be asked to pay $1,200 each. He also said each of the six families were committed to funding the program for the foreseeable future.

The athletes, Simon continued, will travel to Oxford High School to practice and will attend competitions along with Oxford High School’s team, but their scores will count toward NHS team scores at meets. “I think we have done a great job putting a program together for the girls,” Simon said.

Jenna Rettstadt, who coaches the Oxford team, was approved by the school board as the coach for the Nighthawks. The first season for the team will begin with practices this month.

As of Wednesday, November 30, the meet schedule as listed at www.casciac.org, is as follows:

*Tuesday, January 3 vs  New Milford and Oxford - New Milford High School, 4:30 pm.     

*Saturday, January 7 at Pomperaug High School Invitational, 10 am.   

*Monday, January 9 vs Greenwich and Oxford - Greenwich YWCA, 6 pm.     

*Thursday, January 12 vs Weston, Lauralton Hall, Oxford, and Joel Barlow - Weston, 5 pm.     

*Tuesday, January 24 vs Trumbull and Oxford - GCA of Fairfield, 4 pm.     

*Tuesday, January 31 vs  Daniel Hand and Oxford  - Polson Gymnastics Gym/DHHS Campus, 6 pm.     

*Tuesday, February 7 vs New Milford, Pomperaug, and Nonnewaug - New Milford High, 6 pm.     

*Thursday, February 16 vs Wilton and Oxford - Wilton High School Auxillary Gym, 5 pm.