Dear NCHS families,

Welcome back to another exciting year at New Canaan High School, home of the Rams! We are thrilled to begin a new school year filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and memorable experiences. September marks the beginning of our collective journey toward excellence, and we couldn't be more excited to have every one of you back with us.

Please join us for the first NCHS PFA meeting of the 2023-2024 school year. This meeting is the first of six general meetings that we host in conjunction with the administration and faculty. Don't miss this opportunity to reconnect with old friends, meet new friends and visit with NCHS Principal Bill Egan and NCPS Superintendant Dr. Bryan Luizzi! Coffee and refreshments will be served.

EVENT LOCATION: Wagner Room

New Canaan High School is looking for help with food for the upcoming Open House on Wednesday, Sept 13. We typically have between 800 to 1,000 people attend who enjoy our refreshments, food, and desserts as the event occurs during the dinner hour. We need donations to supplement the food our budget doesn't cover. 

Please drop off on the day of the event (Sept 13) between 5:00-6:00 PM at the NCHS gymnasium as the event starts at 6:30. Thank you! 

Click HERE for the Sign Up Genius.

We encourage parents of freshmen to attend the first 9th Grade/Freshman PFA Parent Education meeting Welcome to High School! Our 2027 Grade Level Advisor, Assistant Principal Larry Sullivan, and NCHS Counseling Chair, Cynthia Rivera, will discuss and answer questions about the freshman transition. Please contact 9th Grade Parent Education Chairs, Erin Gershey and Tamara White Smedley, with any questions. 

EVENT LOCATION: Wagner Room.

Please join Sue Carroll, Coordinator of the College and Career Center, and Cynthia Rivera, from the Guidance Counselor Department, to hear about a review of the exciting year ahead and how you can help your child with post-high school plans. You won't want to miss this important and informative meeting. Please contact the 12th Grade Parent Education Chairs, Mary Lydon and Kristin Reed with any questions.   

EVENT LOCATION: Wagner Room

Calling all book lovers! The NCHS Library is looking for volunteers to help with shelving, signing out materials to students, and other creative projects. 

The shifts are 90 minutes long every other week. Past experience is not necessary. Please contact Liz Orelup if you are interested in volunteering in the library.

The College and Career Center is up and running for the new school year! Please visit our School Counseling page and follow the College and Career Center on Twitter (@nchscolcar) and Facebook (@NCHS College and Career Center) for the latest news on college admissions, financial aid and youth employment.

Is your student interested in exploring school in the UK? Representatives from UK schools will speak about the admissions ins and outs of going to university in England. Information will be shared about the UCAS application as well as the differences and similarities of attending university in the UK. 

We encourage juniors and seniors, as well as parents, to attend this valuable session. Students must ask their teachers for permission to attend. Attendance will be taken.

EVENT LOCATION: Wagner Room

Please join the Guidance Counselors to hear a review of the exciting year ahead and how you can help your student as they make their post high school plans. Learn about volunteer opportunities for Post Prom and more! 

EVENT LOCATION: Wagner Room

College visits begin the week of September 11. Seniors who wish to attend college visits and hear first-hand the latest news from colleges in which they may be interested must register for the visits on Naviance and ask for permission from the faculty to miss class. 

Students who are unable to meet with the reps should stop by the CCC before the visit time and fill out a form indicating their interest in the visiting school. Attendance is taken at these sessions which will be conducted in person or via  Zoom. 

The visit schedule may be viewed through Naviance and on the School Counseling page of the NCHS website. 

ACT 9/9* 

SAT 10/7* 

PSAT 10/10* (Juniors and Sophmores, no registration needed) 

ACT 10/28 

SAT 11/4* 

SAT 12/2 

ACT 12/9 

* NCHS is a test site 

Our door is open! If you have any questions or concerns at the start of the school year, please stop by the counseling suite. See Mrs. Poccia, the Guidance receptionist, to sign in and she will direct you to your counselor’s office. Remember that during the lunch periods you can drop in without an appointment.

NCHS is looking for new or like-new games to supplement the supply available to ALL students at NCHS. Please see the below list of specific requests: 

• Decks of UNO cards 
• Decks of regular playing cards 
• Deluxe Scrabble (hoping for 5 sets total) 
• No-Stress Chess (hoping for 10 sets total) 
• Velcro Axe-Throwing (hoping for 6 sets total)

All games should contain all pieces. You or your student may drop off your donation in the NCHS Main Office. Please label your donation with either “Arri Weeks” or “Darcy Smith.” Please do not leave items on the table in the lobby breezeway. Thank you for your generosity! 

Auditions for Mean Girls the Musical will be Wednesday, Sept 6 (dance) and Thursday, Sept 7 (sing) from 3:00-6:00 PM with callbacks on Friday Sept 8 from 3:00-6:30 PM. Rehearsals begin the following week with three performances Nov 16-18. For more info, contact Chris Myers.

EVENT LOCATION: NCHS Auditorium

The Art Show is open to the public during school hours in the Main Lobby Gallery beginning Sept 18 and will be on display through October. All students, faculty and staff are invited to participate by submitting their matted/mounted artwork to an art teacher no later than Sept 11. If they need help preparing their artwork for display, please see an art teacher for help in advance. All media types are accepted and encouraged. The show is a display of student and staff artwork and creations that are recent and have been made over this summer (can be an original artwork, 2D, 3D ceramic work/pottery/sculpture or 4D films, a digital creation or a craft). Any incoming senior who received a Bernice Dobkin Hall Summer Art scholarship at the end of their junior year must submit the artwork that represents their completed coursework and should check in with their art teacher as soon as possible.

EVENT LOCATION: NCHS Main Lobby Gallery

Sept 20, 6:00 PM

Come learn about opportunities for community service at NCHS Service League of Boys new member meeting. This meeting is for those who are new or not yet members and are interested in learning more.

EVENT LOCATION: Wagner Room

The NC Rams All Sports Booster Club supports all New Canaan High School athletic programs. We raise and distribute funds to provide necessary athletic program components which are above and beyond those provided by the NCHS athletic budget and assures equity of resources for all CIAC-recognized sports. Each year, the Club funds additional coaches for every team, raising the skillset and abilities of all athletes.

More than 70% of all NCHS students participate in school athletics in any given year. For these students, athletics are an integral part of the educational process. Through athletic participation, students learn teamwork, work ethic, time management and a responsibility to others.

Click HERE to join now.

Tuesdays from Sept 5 through Oct 3, 3:00 PM

Teens in grades 7 and up will learn and practice techniques such as shading, tone/value, perspective, proportions and contour line drawing. Vanessa Curri leads this class which is accessible for all skill levels, including beginners. Materials provided. Click HERE for more information.

 Sept 9 and 23, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Allison Costlow of The Poppy Pen returns with a two-session workshop. Learn the steps to create beautiful copperplate calligraphy and personalize almost anything! Materials included, plus video recordings to practice your skills. Click HERE for more information.

Sept 29 and 30, 4:00-8:00 PM

Enjoy steamed lobsters, lobster rolls, salmon or fried chicken dinners (seafood by Fjord Fish Market, chicken by Walter Stewarts) at the New Canaan Rotary Club's 38th Annual LobsterFest. Dinners will be available at the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny for curbside pickup, dining poolside or home delivery for orders of eight or more. Orders placed through Sept. 8 will receive a 10% discount. Click HERE to purchase tickets. 

LobsterFest proceeds support the annual grants we donate to dozens of local non-profits. Gift cards available online and you can donate a meal to thank a first responder. Join us!

EVENT LOCATION: Steve Benko Pool at Waveny Park

Learn to row with New Canaan High School Crew at Maritime Rowing Boathouse! The Fall programs at New Canaan Crew helps rowers improve in all aspects of rowing—including fitness, strength, flexibility, mental toughness, and discipline. Using facilities both on and off the water, NCC works to develop proper rowing technique, good boat-handling skills, and water safety. This is an Under 14 program, but Under 15 and Under 16 athletes may start here as well before moving into the appropriate age groups.

Regular Fall Season Rowing begins on Sept. 5. Click HERE for more information and to register.

Any questions about programs please call (203) 854-5492 or email info@maritimerowing.com.

Thursday, Oct 5 at 7:00 PM

In Never Enough, award-winning reporter Jennifer Breheny Wallace investigates the deep roots of toxic achievement culture and discovers what we must do to fight back. Through deep research and interviews with today's leading child psychologist, Wallace shows what kids need from the adults in the room is not more pressure but to feel like they matter and have intrinsic self-worth not contingent upon external achievements. This special event hosted by New Canaan CARES will be moderated by NCPS Superintendent Dr. Bryan Luizzi. Click HERE for more information and to register. 

EVENT LOCATION: New Canaan Library, Jim and Dede Bartlett Auditorium