Newt's News Fall 2026

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Greetings from New Roots!

The air is crisp and the leaves are just beginning to turn color. It feels so good to settle back into the rhythms and routines of the school year! Now in our eighteenth year, those routines are both familiar and dynamically adapting to our new middle school.

As we evolve, we remain firmly rooted in our mission, vision, and community values, engaging our young people in real-world learning experiences that put them on the path to meaningful lives after high school in a rapidly-changing world. Every facet of our school is designed to support every New Roots graduate in leaving high school ready for life with college credits, college acceptance, and a resume that gives them access to entry-level employment at a living wage, ready to live their life purposefully and well.

This community’s collective contributions to “growing New Roots” over these many years have made this powerful vision a reality for our youth. I am grateful for your contributions – thank you!

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas to share, please start the conversation by connecting with me via tina@newrootsschool.org. I look forward to seeing you out in the community this fall, enjoying this beautiful place we are fortunate to call home.

With gratitude,

Tina

Tina Nilsen-Hodges
Founder and Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

SEPTEMBER
9/27 Open House and Apple Festival (2-3:00 PM)

OCTOBER
10/8 Soccer Game at George Jr. (4:00 PM)
10/19 Soccer Game at George Jr. (4:00 PM)

FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SUMMER RECAP

New Roots Farm

Our New Roots Farm interns had a blast learning organic farming, planting annual crops, running our U-Pick berry CSA, and selling veggies and berries at the East Hill Ithaca Farmers Market! Special thanks to the Learning Web for their continued partnership and funding support for the New Roots farm internship program.

Summer Wetlands Program

Youth Ecological Restoration Corps participants spent their summer weeding out invasive species from the shore of Cayuga Lake! Supported by an environmental education grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, this summer program teaches field science, ecological restoration, and wetland stewardship.

An essential dimension of the project is integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to restore the health of the lake with the support of our Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ (traditional Cayuga) partners.

Below our New Roots faculty and staff admire the students’ work along the shore of Stewart Park.

Discover Cayuga Lake Tour

New middle schoolers and rising 8th graders got the opportunity to boat up the lake to Taughannock Falls State Park and walk to the base of Taughannock Falls.

We partnered with Discover Cayuga Lake, a local educational not-for-profit that serves our community through water-based education and boat tours, for this fun outing. Guides shared information about the natural area, focusing on our watershed.

There was also plenty of time for chatting with new friends and gazing out over the sparkling water. Thank you to Discover Cayuga Lake for facilitating such a fun bonding opportunity!

Strive to Thrive

Our ‘Strive to Thrive’ students scaled the climbing wall on an outing to Cornell University’s Lindseth Climbing Center like rock stars

This middle school summer program was designed to support readiness for promotion to the next grade, not just academically, but also to help students learn behaviors and attitudes that support a classroom culture that fosters wellbeing and success. The students engaged in activities which aligned their social needs with the mission and vision of New Roots.

“I am a way more focused student after summer school at New Roots,” shared rising 9th grader Alana.

Congratulations to our Strive to Thrive students for their hard work this summer!

WHAT’S NEW AT NEW ROOTS

Associate Principal

As New Roots embarks upon our 18th year, we welcome new Associate Principal Delmer Padgett III!

Padgett comes to us with over two decades of experience as an educator and school leader. He was drawn to New Roots by its commitment to sustainability, social equity, and preparing students to be citizens and entrepreneurs in their own community. He is especially energized by the school’s project-based, real-world approach to learning, and is looking forward to partnering with New Roots’ students, families, and faculty to build on that mission.

Learn more about Padgett in this Press Release.

Expanding Team

Padgett is just one of a number of wonderful new faculty and staff that will be joining us this school year! A big welcome to:

Maureen Bartlett, English Teacher & Curriculum Leadership
Ashley Bobier, Technology Teacher
Tamar Chestnut, Middle School Math Teacher
Tina Deppe, Project Manager
Laura Ramos, Music Teacher
Connor Reynolds, Humanities Teacher

Read more about the people that make up our New Roots community at newrootsschool.org/faculty-staff

Growing Student Body

This 2026-27 school year we welcome our biggest cohort in the history of New Roots Charter School!

While we’re filling up quickly, we’re currently still accepting applications for enrollment on a rolling basis for some grades in both middle and high school.

APPLE FEST OPEN HOUSE

New Roots curious (or know someone who is)? We’re holding an Open House during Apple Fest on Sunday, 9/27 from 2-3 PM. All are welcome to stop by to tour and learn more about the school!

Optional RSVP: newrootsschool.org/open-houses

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Claire Springston ‘25 has just begun attending SUNY Geneseo where she is majoring in Sociology with a Pre-Law track. She hopes to become an attorney, so will be going to graduate school after Geneseo with the ultimate goal of a career in which she can work with and help people.

“New Roots offered me new meaningful connections with others and unique experiences that allowed me to pursue my interests, such as my internship at Assembly member Anna Kelles’s office,” said Clare, speaking to how attending New Roots helped prepare her for life after high school.