A NOTE FROM PRINCIPAL EGAN |
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Dear NCHS Family,
A little March Madness is happening at NCHS! Our March calendar is full of exciting high school events and activities.
We begin with an in-person Talk & Tour on March 2. There will be a parent coffee with a Q&A session following the tour. See below for more details and to RSVP. |
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On March 3, we welcome incoming 9th-grade students and parents for an orientation at 6:30 PM in the NCHS auditorium. Students and families will have the opportunity to meet our School Counselors and representatives from all departments and to learn about 9th-grade course offerings in each core academic and elective discipline.
On March 4th, we have two special events:
- New Canaan High School’s 10th Annual Art Exhibition Through Our Eyes X begins with a reception from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Carriage Barn Arts Center.
- The same evening, we will celebrate the underclassmen at the Spring Fling Dance in the NCHS cafeteria from 7:00-10:00 PM.
The NCHS Winter Musical production of The Little Mermaid opens on Thursday, March 17 and runs through Saturday, March 19 with shows daily at 7:00 PM, plus an additional performance at 2:00 PM on Saturday. Please check the NCHS Theatre website for ticket sales. This promises to be another fantastic performance by a very talented cast and crew.
RAMJAM is back for a night of fun, fashion and talent! Join us on Friday, March 25 at 7:00 PM to cheer members of the senior class who will be performing and taking the runway to raise funds for the Post Prom. Click here for more information.
Last but not least, it’s time to buy a ball and watch them drop at the NC Color Drop on March 26 at Waveny! Visit NCHS Scholarship Foundation to purchase a ball (or two) for the chance to win one of the great prizes and support a need based college scholarship.
The CT SAT School Day will be held on Tuesday, March 29. This SAT is for juniors only and a special schedule will follow the SAT for all grades. More details will be sent home to our juniors at a later date! We are looking forward to warmer weather, longer days and all the good things Spring has to offer! All the best, Bill Egan, Principal |
To view upcoming PFA events, scroll to the bottom of this newsletter or view the full calendar on the PFA website. |
Talk & Tour with Principal Egan |
| Wednesday, Mar 2 | 9:30am Join Principal Egan and his team for an in person Parent Coffee. There will also be a Q & A session followed by a tour of NCHS. All questions must be submitted in advance of the meeting.
EVENT LOCATION: NCHS Auditorium |
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NCHS PFA & NC Cares Joint Meeting A Parent's Guide to Modern Teen Dating |
| Wednesday, Mar 9 | 9:30am Join Emma Kate Freatman, LPC at Silver Hill Hospital, for an open and honest conversation about modern teen dating. Learn what teens are saying and leave with tips to start the conversation and keep it going. Bring your questions.
EVENT LOCATION: NCHS Wagner Room |
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| Friday, Mar 25 | 7:00 PM This annual music fashion show is our biggest Post Prom fundraiser! Come out to support our senior boys and girls. There were more than 120 Seniors who participated in the last Ram Jam in 2019. Check out the 2019 trailer here! Please spread the word and buy tickets. Ticket price is $20 online and $25 at the door. EVENT LOCATION: NCHS Auditorium |
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Library Volunteers Needed! |
| Please consider volunteering in the NCHS Library! We need parents to help at the circulation desk, shelving books and other library related tasks. The commitment is a 90-minute shift every two weeks. Please click HERE to complete a Google form if interested. This is a fun way to help the school while interacting with students and teachers! Please contact Lori Koschnitzke with questions. |
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College Essay Writing Workshop |
| The NCHS PFA and the NCHS Writing Center have organized a virtual two-part college essay workshop for all students. The workshop will run in the evenings on March 22 and March 29 from 7:00-8:30 PM. The first workshop will help students generate ideas for their college essays, and the second will help students select an organizational structure that will best develop their ideas. Once students have a draft of their essay, they are encouraged to bring it to the Writing Center for additional feedback. All students are welcome to join! EVENT LOCATION:Click HERE for Zoom link. Click here for more details. |
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2022 - 2023 Course Selection |
| The course selection process has now begun for the 2022-2023 school year. All students can now go into the Power School portal through their own account (not the parent account) to view the courses that they have been recommended for and select their schedule for next year. School Counselors will be working one on one with students personally to help them through the process during March, but students should make a first round of choices in Power School by March 1. Changes can be made through March. Click HERE to view a course registration tutorial on the School Counseling website. |
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NCHS School Day SAT for Juniors |
| NCHS School Day SAT for juniors is confirmed forMarch 29, 2022. We highly encourage all juniors to take this test. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school at no cost to families. |
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2022 SAT and ACT Testing Dates |
Virtual College Admissions Panel |
| Save the date! On Tuesday, April 5, the School Counselors will offer a virtual College Admissions Panel. Representatives from Boston College, Rhodes College, Texas Christian University and UCLA will speak about how they read applications and what trends they are seeing in their latest admissions cycles. All are welcome to attend this evening event. |
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College Interviewing Workshop for Juniors |
| There will be a college interviewing workshop on Tuesday, April 5, during the lunch block. To reserve a space, please encourage your student to email Mrs. Carroll (susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org) and let her know what lunch your child has that day. |
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| Virtual Offering: April 3, 2022 The next NACAC College Fair will be held on line on April 3. This is a great opportunity for sophomores and juniors to interact with college admissions officers and learn more about colleges as they consider their list. Click HERE to register. In Person: April 12, 2022 The 8th Annual Southern Connecticut College & Gap Year Fair will be Tuesday, April 12, from 4:00-7:30 PM at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT. With over 200 college admission counselors on hand, this is one of the largest college events in our area. The event is free and is open to all high school students and their families. |
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| There are lots of jobs posted on the job board in the College and Career Center. Students must be at least 16 years old for most of them. We encourage your kids to check out the job board. The early bird catches the worm! |
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BOE Meeting Feb 7, 2022 Science/STEM Update Melinda Meyer and Michael LeDuc provided an overview of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) three-dimensional learning process. NGSS involves systems thinking and modeling to explain phenomena and give context for learning ideas. This student-centered learning method allows students to engage in sophisticated science and engineering practices. Last year, NCHS placed 1st in the state and 4th in the nation of TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) NCHS also had 5 Regeneron STS semifinalists which focused on identifying, inspiring and engaging the most promising students among the nation’s high school seniors. Some next steps for the Science Department include incorporating virtual and augmented reality into learning experiences K-8, reimagining NCPS planetarium, and exploring additional elective offerings at NCHS. Covid-19 Update The state mask mandates will end 2/28/22 and control will be turned over to the school districts. In our district, student absences are declining and the fill rate for absent teachers is increasing. The application process to become a substitute has been streamlined and there are now 19 new subs in the hiring process. The Board of Ed will come together to decide next steps in mitigation strategies. Dr. Luizzi met with liaisons from the Board of Finance and Town Council. Conversation continues about Internal Services Fund and appropriations. The Board will work together with the Town to see if there are strategies to assist with the increase in the ISF. Healthier School Start Times Update The Board moved to adopt School Start/End Times Scenario B for the 2022-2023 school year. Times may be slightly adjusted to optimize bus routes. Starting times will be as follows: - Gr 7-12 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
- Gr K - 4 8:40 AM - 3:10 PM
- Gr 5 - 6 9:15 AM - 3:45 PM
The next BOE meeting is 3/7/22. |
Through Our Eyes X, Opening Reception & Exhibition |
| Friday, Mar 4 | 7:00 PM Through Our Eyes X is New Canaan High School’s 10th Annual Art Exhibition that features the artwork of 155 students, grades 9-12, in all media from a wide range of elective Art courses offered at NCHS. The opening reception is Friday, Mar 4 at 7 PM and the exhibition runs from Mar 4 - 19, 2022. These courses include Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Jewelry, Mixed Media Design, Photography, Ceramics, Filmmaking, Advanced Filmmaking, Advanced Digital Media, Advanced Studio Art, and AP Art & Design. The New Canaan High School Art Department is directed by Alan Sneath and led by Art teachers, Jennifer Sinski, Kimanne Core and Maggie Pennoyer. Featured in this exhibition: - CT Regional Scholastic Art Award Recipients
- NCHS Ceramic’s Collaborative Wall Hanging Installation: “We’re All In This Together”
- NCHS Film Student Productions (Narrative, Documentary and Animated Stories)
EVENT LOCATION: The Carriage Barn Arts Center, New Canaan |
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NCHS Presents The Little Mermaid |
| Thu - Sat, Mar 17- 19 | 7:00 PM & Sat, Mar 19 | 2:00 PM Bring the whole family to NCHS’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid this March! Travel with us under the sea as King Triton’s youngest daughter, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, trading her voice for legs to be with her one true love, Prince Eric! Can Sebastian and Flounder help her get Eric to kiss her before the sun sets on the third day or will her soul belong to Ursula for all of eternity? Come sing along to Alan Menken’s unforgettable songs that won two Academy Awards -- “Under the Sea”, “Part of Your World”, “Kiss the Girl”, and “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, plus brand new songs written specifically for the live production. Click HERE to purchase tickets through our website. Performances will be Thursday March 17, Friday March 18, and Saturday March 19 at 7:00 PM as well as a 2:00 PM matinee on Saturday March 19. We’ll see you there!!! EVENT LOCATION: NCHS Auditorium |
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NC Color Drop Balls On Sale Starting Mar 1! |
The NCHS Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) will hold its second NC Color Drop on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Balls are available for purchase by using the QR code below or go to the NCSF website. The lucky person whose ball lands closest to the target will win a fabulous prize, such as a Momentum Transend Electric Bike, a Pet Portrait by Emma Sims, Mayfair Tickets, and an 84 Sports NC Gift Basket. The winning balls will be announced immediately. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the NCSF for need-based scholarships given to NCHS graduates. |
Parenting Aspiring Influencers With Buck Allen, Thriving Youth Task Force Program Associate |
| Wednesday, Mar 2 | 7:00 PM Social media is a part of our kids' lives. How can parents protect their child’s mental health and promote internet safety? Learn the history and evolution of social media platforms and how these platforms work. Explore the culture of these apps and ways to have conversations about social media. Bring your questions! Register for this event at www.NewCanaanCARES.org. EVENT LOCATION: Saxe Auditorium |
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Supporting LGBTQ & Questioning Youth With Seth Wallace, Assistant Director, Yale University Office of LGBTQ Resources |
| Wednesday, Mar 30 | 7:00 PM Join Seth Wallace, LCSW, for this interactive workshop. Parents and caregivers will be guided in exploring ways to understand and support their LGTBQ or questioning youth. Strategies for handling unfamiliar terminology will be offered. Resources for parents will be provided EVENT LOCATION: Lapham Center |
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First-Ever Winter Hiking Challenge Hosted by the New Canaan Land Trust |
| We invite you and your families to participate in the first-ever New Canaan Land Trust Winter Hiking Challenge! Bundle up and explore the trails at our seven open-to-the-public preserves. The Challenge runs through the end of winter (March 20). Take in the beautiful scenery as you traverse through woodlands, wetlands, and meadows right here in New Canaan. Share proof of your hike by snapping a selfie next to a trail marker and post it to social media using special hash tags. Submit your information to the Land Trust and be entered into a raffle to win a handcrafted walking stick. Click HERE for more information. |
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Click HERE to purchase tickets online from MySchoolBucks. |
| | Wednesday, March 2 | | | Thursday, March 3 | | | Wednesday, March 9 | | | Thursday, March 17 | | | Thursday, March 24 | |
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