|
|
Dear NCHS Family,
The month of December puts us in the midst of the holiday season and with that brings a time of reflection. During this season of celebration and giving, I feel very fortunate to be at a school where our students flourish not only academically but have a high level of engagement through service and giving back to the community. When students get involved in community service, they not only help others but expand their worldview, develop compassion, empathy and leadership skills, and realize how their actions can have a positive impact. I believe that our school continues to help our wonderful young people grow in so many different areas, and we will never rest in that quest for self-improvement. It is my absolute honor and privilege to continue to serve our amazing students at New Canaan High School.
I would like to express how fortunate and grateful I am to partner with families and faculty at New Canaan High School. As the principal, I am thankful for students who work hard to learn, parents who encourage, and teachers who are dedicated and truly care about each child. Thank you for your help, support, and sense of community. There is no other place I would rather be.
As a reminder, there will not be any assignments due upon return from the holiday break or any tests (at least for two days upon return). This will be a good time to regroup and get ready for the busy weeks ahead.
However, our college-level courses may require some homework. Additionally, if students are given study guides or other work assigned over an extended period, students might want to take advantage of the time to catch up or complete this work.
I wish you a very happy, safe and peaceful holiday; I hope you thoroughly enjoy your time with your families and I look forward to welcoming you all back in the New Year!
Bill Egan
|
|
PFA & PTCs Present:
Your Happiness Was Hacked:
Why Tech is Winning the Battle to Control Your Brain - and How to Fight Back
Wednesday, December 4th
7:00pm, Saxe Middle School Auditorium
Alex Salkever's presentation will focus on helping us to better understand the impact of technology on the lives of our students, their parents and the family as a whole. He will provide practical tools to help us purposefully and effectively use technology while protecting the well-being of our children and ourselves.
Mr. Salkever is a technology leader and author. He has been a chief marketing officer, a Businessweek editor, a visiting researcher at Duke University, and a senior executive at leading technology companies including a Vice President at Mozilla. He is also the father of two teenage children.
This program is free thanks to the generous support of the South, East, West and Saxe Parent Teacher Councils, and the NCHS Parent Faculty Association.
|
|
Mid-Term Staff Appreciation Lunch
Volunteers Needed to Donate Food
Food Donations & Volunteers Needed!
Thursday, January 16th, 2020
9:00am-10:00am, NCHS Wagner Room
Let's give a big "THANK YOU!" to the faculty, administration, and staff for all they do (...and maybe put the teachers in a good mood for grading those mid-terms too!).
|
|
NCHS Scholarship Foundation
Make a difference in a student's life - please make an end-of-the-year gift to the NCHS Scholarship Foundation.
NCHS Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) represents a broad-based community effort to provide financial aid to deserving NCHS graduates who are pursuing higher education at the undergraduate level. There are several ways and levels to give, please visit
NCSF for more information...
SAVE THE DATE for our annual fundraiser, the NC Color Run - to be held on April 25th, 2020. Stay tuned for more details!
|
|
Grade Level Parent Meetings & Information
9th Grade, Freshmen
|
|
PFA Networking:
Make a Plan...Don't Cram! Great advice on how to prepare for Mid-Term Exams!
Thursday, December 5th
9:30am, NCHS Wagner Room
This is the first time your student will have to study for important exams in every subject over a short period of time. Come and hear some great advice from our 9th Grade Principal Kristi Carriero, School Counseling Department Chair Cynthia Rivera, and teachers from each department. There will be some great tips on how your child can be successful and how you can support them at home.
|
|
Save The Date!
NCHS Junior Parents College Planning Program*
Thursday, January 9th, 2020
7:00pm, NCHS Classrooms
Guidance counselors will meet with the parents of Juniors to speak about the college admission process and what to expect in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information.
Junior Parent Naviance Training*
Wednesday, January 29th, 2020
8:00am, NCHS Wagner Room
More information to come in January ROG.
*Denotes Guidance Counseling Programs
|
|
2020 New Canaan Senior Internship Program
Registration is open for the Senior Internship Program (SIP). The hard deadline to enter this program is
December 16th. Seniors have been emailed a link to register on November 12th. The internships will be in the greater New Canaan area and run from May 19th to June 11th, 2020. Students will be expected to work 5 hours a day in lieu of attending classes. Their grades will be frozen before the internship begins and they can still participate in all after-school activities such as athletics and theater.
Students can also design their own internship.
Click here to access the forms for designing internships. SIP is accepting the forms now through January 6th, 2019. All forms must be emailed to
Heather Bianco.
Support a Senior Intern!
Do you have a local business or organization?
Do you have a project you have not been able to get to?
Do you enjoy mentoring young adults?
Do you want an opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life?
Become part of the MANY businesses and organizations who take part in the NCHS Senior Internship Program each year.
DATES: MAY 19th – JUNE 11th, 2020
|
|
NCHS GRADUATION DATE SET!
Monday, June 15th, 2020
Rain Date Tuesday, June 16th, 2020
As approved by the BOE at the 11/4/19 BOE meeting
The BOE has voted to establish Monday, June 15th, 2020 as the graduation date for the class of 2020, and to use Tuesday, June 16th, 2020 as a rain date. We hope establishing the date so early in the year will be helpful for families and friends to plan in advance when spring arrives.
|
|
NCHS 2020 Post Prom Party
Friday, May 15th, 2020
11:59pm, Waveny House
Take it off your to-do list and make your Post Prom donation now!
Click here!
Still looking for a Clean-Up Chair!
Click here
if you are interested in helping out.
|
|
Save The Date:
RAM JAM
Friday, March 27th, 2020
7:00pm, NCHS Auditorium
Get ready to shake it up this year with the second annual RAM JAM!! See our Seniors Lip sync, perform live music and yes — strut the catwalk too. You won't want to miss...mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
|
|
Get your Christmas shopping done and give back to Post Prom 2020!
|
|
Counseling News
Mark Your Calendars Now!
|
|
Winter Testing Dates
December 7th - SAT & SUBJECT TESTS
December 14th - ACT*
February 8th - ACT
*Denotes NCHS as testing location
PSAT
results are expected electronically by mid-December and students will be emailed instructions from the College Board to be able to access them on line. The test results come with a diagnostic explanation. Please review the results and the suggestions for improvement with your child. This is a valuable tool in creating a testing prep plan and it is used as baseline data as the counselors begin to discuss an appropriate college list. Your child will also have the ability to link his/her results to Khan Academy and receive free, personalized SAT practice recommendations based on their performance.
Gap Year Fair
Wednesday, January 8th, 6:00-8:30pm
Fairfield Ludlowe High School, 785 Unquowa Rd
Summer Programs:
Periodically through the winter months, there will be representatives from summer programs visiting the NCHS cafeteria during lunch.
|
|
New Canaan High School Theatre Auditions
|
|
Auditions for
Mamma Mia
December 2nd, 3rd, & 4th, 2:30-6:00pm
Please prepare a contemporary song.
Call backs: Thursday, December 5th, 2:30-6:00pm
|
|
Auditions for
the 30th Annual Drama Festival, OK, BYE!
Friday, December 6th, 2:30-6:00pm
|
|
• Purchase Tickets
• Get Season Info
• Advertise in our Programs
• Get Audition Details
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS to the following NCHS music students who were selected this past weekend for the CMEA Western Region Music Ensembles:
Clara Bloom, soprano
Helen Culpepper, soprano
Julia Lamoreaux, soprano
Ellie Parkhill, soprano
Mia Konidaris, alto
Lynaea Pace, alto
Jackson LaMorte, tenor
William Dantini, bass
Alex Hsu, bass
Max Koon, bass
Alessio Pantaleo, bass
Michael Mank, trumpet
Bart Codd, violin
Lillie Gray, violin
Cella Kove, viola
Noah Dorfsman, cello
Students will perform in the Region Music Festival in January 2020 and compete with high school students from across Connecticut in February for selection to the All-State Choir, Jazz Band and Orchestra.
|
|
Upcoming Concert Dates!
NCHS/Saxe Orchestra Festival Concert
Tuesday, December 3rd (December 4th Snow Date)
7:00pm, NCHS Auditorium
NCHS/Saxe Band Concert
Tuesday, December 10th (December 12th Snow Date)
7:00pm, NCHS Auditorium
NCHS Choir and Madrigal Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, December 11th (December 18th Snow Date)
7:00pm, St. Mark’s Church
|
|
Annual Grapefruit Fundraiser
It's not too late! If you didn't have a chance to order grapefruit from the NCHS Choir, there are a limited number of extra boxes!
|
|
NCHS Athletic Department
A Letter from our Athletic Director
|
|
We have had a stellar Fall season in Girls Sports. Congratulations to Girls Cross Country, our State Class L Champions! The team also placed third at the FCIAC Championship, fourth at the State Open, and finished the season 15-5-1. Huge congratulations to Mary Clare Snediker, Connecticut Coaches Association Class L Coach of the Year for Field Hockey! Girls Field Hockey (16-4) was the FCIAC Semifinalist and State L Quarterfinalist. Girls Soccer (12-3-1) and Volleyball (15-7) also had tremendous finishes as FCIAC Semifinalists and State LL Quarterfinalists. Girls Swim and Dive finished a strong third at both the FCIAC Championship and the Class L Championship. Congratulations to all our athletes!
Football (7-2) is currently ranked fourth in Class L as they enter the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving. The outcome of the game will determine the state playoff standing. Boys Soccer worked hard all season and improved their winning percentage over last season.
Congratulations to Skye Risom and Chris Carratu our FCIAC Fall Scholar Athletes!
Winter Sports registration and schedules can be found on
ncrams.com. If you would like to sign up for changes/notifications, please go to Arbiter Live (
arbiterlive.com) and choose the sport you would like to follow. Please note, the schedules on Arbiter Live are not complete. Please use
ncrams.com for schedules and Arbiter Live for notifications only.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Jay Egan
Director
NCHS Athletic Department
|
|
November 4th, 2019 Board of Education Meeting
Enrollment and Staffing Report
Darlene Pianka, Director of Human Resources, gave an overview of the current student enrollment, certified staffing at each school/level and enrollment projections for 2020-21, as of October 1st, 2019. NCHS enrollment is 1,330, which is 45 more than last year and 21 students over projections. Enrollment projections for the next school year include an overall decrease in the district enrollment of seven students. The demographer believes that New Canaan Public Schools are in a period of stable enrollment with a slight decrease of students at the elementary and middle school levels. The Staff Utilization and Enrollment Reports for Certified and Non-Certified Staff, a Memorandum on Enrollment Projections and a Supplemental Analyses Report will be used during the budget process and are available online for the public.
NCHS Graduation Date set
The BOE approved Monday, June 15th, 2020, as the official graduation date for New
Canaan High School, with a rain date of Tuesday, June 16th, 2020.
Announcements and Future Business
Mr. Hayes, Dr. Luizzi and Ms. Carlson thanked Mr. Cronin and Ms. Naughton for their service over the preceding four years due to their impending departure from the Board.
For more detailed information on above meeting,
click here.
November 18th, 2019 Board of Education Meeting
Dr. Luizzi shared updates on School Start and End Times. Dr. Keating gave a Statement of Accounts.
For more detailed information on above meeting,
click here.
Announcements and Future Business
Technology Update and Capital Plan.
For more detailed information on above meeting,
click here.
Upcoming BOE meetings: December 2nd, 9th, and 16th @ 7:00pm, NCHS Wagner
Room. Public comment is available during allotted times.
|
|
Thanks to the Following People for All of Their Hard Work!
The PFA's sincerest gratitude goes to:
|
|
A heartfelt thank you to our Gifts and Grants Committee who met to review teacher grant applications and discerned meaningful ways to allocate grant money to enhance and support educational experiences across the school community. Thank you to
Lauren Murphy (committee chair) and all committee members for your time and your thoughtfulness. Committee members:
Taylor Benevento,
Tracey Growney,
Kim Norton,
Maryalice Gelhaus,
Kimberly Connors, and
Ginny Tierney.
|
|
Pura Vida
Order Your Holiday Mailbox Decor Now!
We are grateful that our “Mailbox Brigade” has become a community tradition in New Canaan and a display of caring.
Pura Vida for Children
and the
Pura Vida Club of NCHS
are partnering for the 10th year. All money raised helps pay for the food we will pack at our annual community ‘Feed My Starving Children’ food packing event in the Spring.
Make a donation and we will decorate your mailbox with fresh greenery, topped with a festive red bow as a "thank you" for joining the cause. These make beautiful gifts for friends and neighbors, as well. We will include a gift note from your family.
$50 will buy 208 meals. $100 will feed a family of 4 for a month. $1,000 will feed a mother and her three children for a full year!
|
|
Today is Tomorrow's History
The New Canaan Museum & Historical Society is embarking on an ambitious art project – a community portrait comprised of what will be thousands of photographs of residents, as well as some iconic buildings and places in Town. The lengthy banner will be installed June 6th, 2020 on the lawn at the Society’s campus at 13 Oenoke Ridge.
Be part of history! To be included, please email a photograph to
info@nchistory.org by January 1st, 2020. These images will be incorporated digitally into a composite designed by Gina Federico. The Society hopes that everyone’s face will appear in this special installation. It is a way to share in the spirit of what makes this Town so vital – its community.
|
|
Open Arts Alliance Auditions:
Mary Poppins Jr.
December 4th, 5th, 6th
6:00pm, YMCA of Greenwich
Performances of Mary Poppins Jr. will take place on April 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2020 at the Western Middle School Auditorium. In this community activity for students (ages 8-18), participants will focus on teamwork, character study, confidence and communication skills throughout the process while connecting and building relationships. Children are encouraged to audition and registration can be completed at
www.OpenArtsAlliance.com.
|
|
New Canaan Cares Presents:
High School Risky Behaviors
Monday, December 9th
7:00pm, New Canaan High School Choral Room
Join Our Speakers: Tracey Masella, LCSW High School Leadership Students
-View the Public Service Announcement the teens created on VAPING
-Learn about behaviors such as alcohol, marijuana, anxiety, depression from the teens point of view
-Hear about how Social Media influences these behaviors in both positive and negative ways
Staying Calm in the Storm:
How to feel Empowered When our Community Experiences Tragedy
Wednesday, December 11th
10:00am, New Canaan Historical Society
As the 7th anniversary of Sandy Hook approaches, let’s come together! Julie Hall, MBA, MS LMFT Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Greenwich Center for Hope and Renewal, will help us:
-Explore ways to navigate grief
-Learn practical ways you and your child can manage anxiety and fear
-Discuss the importance of self-care
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
