Dear Students & Families,

We are in the final countdown to the end of the semester -- only 9 days of class left! Students, take advantage of every opportunity -- during classes, Wednesday interventions, after-school labs, and Saturday Academy -- to catch up on missing assignments, complete final projects, and prepare for final exams. Your end of semester grades go on your transcript, help you meet graduation requirements, impact your GPA, and put you on a path to college & career success -- so end the term strong!

As we finish the semester, it's critically important that we look out for our own health & the health of our others. With community spread of COVID at high levels, CDC guidance is recommending that all of us mask up in public. Read the latest health guidance from Nurse Keith Riley.

The end of the semester is also time for our twice annual Presentations of Learning and Leadership. If you have a class project or personal passion you'd like to share with other students as part of a presentation or workshop on Wed, Jan 18th, email or talk with Ms. Candi Fulcher (candi.fulcher@commongroundct.org)!

Students, you should also be thinking ahead to Winter MAP testing -- early in the second semester -- by getting chromebook, chargers, and brains ready! This is an important chance to show your growth since the start of the school year!

In the mist of all this, a huge shout-out to all the staff and student leaders who made this past Wednesday a lovely chance to build community and have some fun -- both here at Common Ground, and on the SPEAK club trip to NYC! Keep building relationships and looking out for each other, Common Ground family.

Sincerely,

Cherry Pacquette-Emmanuel

School Director

What's In This Newsletter

1. SENIORS: Portfolio Support This Thurs, Jan 12, 3:30-5:30 
2. Families, Get The Support You Need
3. Fall After-School Programs Have Ended - But Academic Supports Continue! 
4. Spring Early College: NOW is the time to register!
5. Portfolio & College Prep Suppsort - Every Thurs after School
6. Volunteers Needed: Loaves & Fishes - Food, Clothing & Community
7. Students & Families: Drop Your Compost @ Common Ground!
8. Job Opportunity: City of New Haven Hiring Junior Rangers!
9. SENIOR Experiences & Fees - It's That Time Of Year!

1. SENIORS: Portfolio Support This Thurs, Jan 12, 3:30-5:30

Portfolio Support Night will be a CRITICAL opportunity for seniors to get one-on-one and small group feedback on materials for their polished portfolios. Seniors must submit their polished portfolios on February 10th. There will be extra adults on hand to make sure you get the coaching you need. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make sure you meet this graduation requirement!

2. Families, Get the Support You Need

Families, do you need support? Sheila Rivera, Common Ground family liaison, has pulled together this list of resources to make sure you can meet your basic needs:

FOOD: New Haven Food Resource Guide | En Espanol

HEALTH: HAVEN Free Health Clinic | Community Health Care Van | Applying for Husky - Health Insurance for Children & Families 

HOUSING & ENERGY: Youth Continuum Homelessness Prevention and Care | Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) - Heating Help in CT | Fair Rent Commissions

MENTAL HEALTH: Clifford Beers - Mental Health & Support for Young People & Families | Suicide Prevention & Crisis Lifeline

LEGAL: New Haven Legal Assistance

CHILD CARE: Care for Kids - Child Care Cost Support | CT 211 - search for supports you need

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & HUMAN TRAFFICING: CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence | Love 146 - Child & Human Trafficking Resources

3. Fall After-School Programs Have Ended - But Academic Supports Continue!

Fall after-school programs wrapped up in December Thanks to Javier Fernanez and all the after-school programmers for filling our after-school hours with fun, learning, and leadership! If you have an idea for a Spring after-school program -- starting at the end of January talk to Javi!

After-School academic supports and labs will continue through the end of the semester, so that students can finish strong in their courses! Academic labs run Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri; Saturday academy is on the next two weeks! If you have questions about academic supports, contact the front office or Mr Rios.

4. Spring Early College: Now's The Time!

10th-12th Graders, NOW is the time to sign up for Spring Early College courses! Southern Early College remain open through the start of classes on January 18th, and classes are filling up quickly!

Challenge yourself. Earn college credit free of charge. Explore your passions & follow your path. Get ready for college.

Interested in learning more?

• Check out Early College Resources & Policies.
• Come to Early College Office Hours on Thurs Before School or After School in Hilltop Across from the Staff Room.
• Talk to Mr. Tolman, or email him at jtolman@commongroundct.org.

5. Every Thurs After School: Portfolio & College Prep Support

Seniors & ALL students ... portfolio & college prep support is available every Thursdays 3:10-4:15 in Springside 208! Students can receive support with guidance assignments, portfolio materials, and post-secondary planning. If you are not available on Thursdays contact Ms. Candi to schedule an appointment for support: candi.fulcher@commongroundct.org

6. Volunteers Needed: Loaves & Fishes - Food, Clothing & Community

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Help get food and clothing to people who need it! Volunteer at Loaves & Fishes Food Bank & Clothing Closet in New Haven. This service qualifies for New Haven Promise & Common Ground's Community Service Requirement.

Interested in helping out? Email Ms. Cox, CG's past school director, at coxlizanne2@gmail.com.

7. Students & Families: Drop Your Compost @ Common Ground!

Did you know that 40% of the trash we throw out could be composted and used to grow more food for our community?

You can bring your veggie peels, apple cores, old bread, and more to the CG Farm and we will turn it into COMPOST!

You be helping to divert food waste from being trucked out of New Haven and incinerated!

For more info on how to drop of your scraps on our campus, email farm@commongroundct.org.

8. City of New Haven Hiring Junior Rangers!

The City of New Haven Youth and Recreation Department is hiring Junior Rangers!

CGHS Alum Jesus Reyes is leading this year-round opportunity. PDF Applications available here. Paper copies available in the main office. 

Completed applications, including all required documents and signatures, must be submitted directly to:

Youth and Recreation Department- City of New Haven

165 Church Street 1st Floor

New Haven, CT 06510

Attn: Applications

Please note, this is not a position with Green Jobs Corps. For additional information, please contact Mr. Jesus Reyes by email at jreyes@newhavenct.gov. For application support, talk to Ms. Fernandez.

9. Senior Activities & Fees!

Seniors and families, it's that time of year! You can look forward to the following senior experiences and opportunities -- and we wanted to let you know costs involved so you can budget accordingly:

• Prom- Saturday, June 3rd from 6-10pm $50 per person- Grassy Hill Country Club. 441 Clark Lane Orange, CT 06477
• Senior Trip- June 5th Holiday Hill $55 per student 
• All School Trip to Lake Compounce Friday June 9th $50 per person. 
• Cap and Gown $40
• Yearbook will be available for purchase later this spring: Price TBD

Students and families can pay the fees for these experiences on Common Ground High School's Square Site, or in the main office. Questions? Reach out to Ms. Iris at 203.809.4333 x1200.

Common Ground High School | (203) 389-4333 | https://commongroundct.org/

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