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Dear NCHS Family,
December, the last month of a year that many of us thought would never end. A year we look forward to putting behind us. The pandemic abruptly disrupted all aspects of our lives, and with it brought change and uncertainty. Our NCHS community remained focused on moving forward with caution, adaptability, optimism, and resiliency - intent on providing our students with the best educational experience.
I would like to express how fortunate and appreciative 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 honestly care about each child. The pandemic has heightened our awareness of what we are thankful for - one another. We will be even more grateful when we can safely gather together and look back on this time and remember how we pushed through it together.
I wish you a very happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season. I hope you enjoy your time with your families, and I look forward to welcoming you all back to a hope-filled New Year!
Best wishes,
Bill Egan
Principal
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Grade Level Parent Meetings & Information
*All PFA sessions are recorded and posted on the NCHS-PFA website*
9th Grade, Freshmen
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PFA Networking: Midterm Prep
RESCHEDULED TO LATER DATE!
New Date to be determined
(original date December 3rd)
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Save the Date!
NCHS Junior Parents College Planning Program*
Thursday, January 7th
7:00pm, Zoom link to follow
Counselors will meet virtually with the parents of juniors to speak about the college admissions process and what to expect in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information.
*Denotes Guidance Counseling Program
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2021 New Canaan Senior Internship Program
Registration is open for the Senior Internship Program (SIP). The hard deadline to enter this program is December 18th. Seniors were emailed a link to register on November 9th. The internships will be in the greater New Canaan area and run from May 17th to June 11th, 2021. 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 February 3rd. 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 17th – JUNE 11th, 2021
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Counseling News
Mark Your Calendars Now!
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WINTER TESTING DATES
December 5th - SAT & SUBJECT TESTS
December 12th - ACT*
February 6th - ACT
*Denotes NCHS as testing location
PSAT for the class of 2022:
Results are expected electronically by early December and Juniors will be emailed instructions from the College Board to be able to access them online. The test results will 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.
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Tickets are still available for our Fall Musical, The Hello Girls! It will be streaming online Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00pm, Friday, December 4th at 7:00pm, and Saturday, December 5th at 7:00pm. This musical tells the amazing story of America's first women soldiers as they worked as bilingual telephone operators on the frontlines of World War I. This incredible story is paired up with some infectious music and incredible dancing that you don't want to miss.
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Audition Alert!!
Auditions for NCHS Theatre's next production of Oklahoma! will be Monday, November 30th (Cohort X) from 2:30-5:30pm and Tuesday, December 1st (Cohort Y) from 2:30-5:30pm. Callbacks will be Thursday, December 5th from 2:30-5:30pm.
Please email Chris Myers, the Theatre Coordinator for more information. |
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NCHS Athletics Department
A Letter from our Athletic Director
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We held our National Letter of Intent Signing Day Ceremony on November 23rd at Waveny. Nine athletes committed to their colleges/universities at this highly celebrated event. There will be separate signing days for football athletes in December and February. Congratulations to the following senior athletes: Henry Benton (coxswain, crew) will attend University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ryan Caione (midfielder, lacrosse) will attend Bucknell University. Christopher Canet (midfielder, lacrosse) will attend the University of Pennsylvania. Charlotte Frank (diver, swimming and diving) will attend Tulane University. Maddie Haley (swimming) will attend Georgetown University. McKenna Harden (midfielder, lacrosse) will attend the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Alex Pastushan (swimming) will attend Boston University. John “Dukes” Plum (lightweight rower, crew) and Dylan Thom (heavyweight rower, crew) will both attend Georgetown University. It is always so gratifying to see our student-athletes achieve their dreams.
The CIAC postponed all winter sports to January 19th, 2021. We anticipate that we will continue to receive updates from the CIAC, the DPH and Governor Lamont’s office in the weeks leading up to January 19th. The way we have looked at 2020-21 with respect to athletics is that everything is "fluid.” If your child plans to participate in winter sports, it is very important that you register on ncrams.com. We need your registration to provide contact information so you can receive communication from the coach and captains' parents directly. REGISTER HERE
We have also opened spring sport registration for the same reason. We want to keep all our athletes and families as well informed as we possibly can. Please REGISTER TODAY.
Happy holidays to you and your families!
Jay Egan
Athletic Director
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November 2, 2020 Board of Education Meeting
Ms. Pianka reported on enrollment and staff utilization. Dr. Luizzi presented the latest updates on COVID-19.
November 16, 2020 Board of Education Meeting
The Re-Opening Committee had a meeting November 13th and discussed that COVID cases are currently accelerating and intensifying. Each positive case can create six hours of work and contact tracing is very challenging.
November 16th the high school went back to a hybrid schedule. Dr. Luizzi has been working closely with the Department of Public Health which is advising against “date- based” closures. He feels that the district needs to continue to look at the data to drive decisions as well as trends. Staffing may become an issue at schools so the principals and the cabinet are meeting every day to communicate, problem solve and support each other.
The top priorities for the district are to keep schools safe, make sure all students have a world-class education, and to keep schools open. These goals are in order of priority.
Dr. Keating gave an overview of accounts as of October 31, 2020. Total funds expended to date represent 24.3% of the budget with 64.1% encumbered. Salaries account for 76% of the encumbrances. The unencumbered balance, 11.6%, relates to accounts which cannot be encumbered including substitute teachers, stipends, overtime and utilities. She also discussed financial statements for Grants, Food Service, Facilities Rental/Donations/Summer School and the Internal Services Fund and explained how COVID has affected each of them. Each fund will be monitored regularly and the Board will be notified if there are any concerns.
Upcoming BOE meetings: December 7th, 14th, and 21st.
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Vaping, Did You Know?
December 7th
7:00pm, Virtual
Vaping is an emerging public health threat to our community’s youth as young as 11 years old. Do you and your child know what vaping is and the effects it has on their lungs and life? Join this conversation with your child for this informative session to educate yourselves together!
In Partnership with the Hub and New Canaan Coalition
Speakers: Giovanna Mozzo, MSW and Daniella Arias, MPH, CHES
Let’s Take About It: A Mental Health Conversation for families with children ages 14+
December 15th
6:30pm, Virtual
Emma Kate Freatman, LPC
"It’s ok to not be ok." Join us with your teen for an honest, open conversation about the importance of checking in on friends and family during these unusual times. Teens are talking about it, you can too!
In partnership with Silver Hill Hospital
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Carriage Barn Arts Center |
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Deck The Walls! at the Carriage Barn Arts Center
5th Annual holiday exhibit & fundraiser
Live through December 12th
Catch the holiday spirit at the Carriage Barn Art Center’s 5th Annual wreath auction and small works exhibit. More than forty spectacular, one-of-a-kind wreaths are available to buy or bid on, along with a selection of small, original artwork priced at $250 or less. From traditionally decorated greens to unconventional materials and themed designs, the wreaths are created and donated by local artists, designers, businesses and organizations. Artwork by many celebrated local artists will include paintings, fine art photography, ceramics and mixed media works in a range of styles.
“Over five years, Deck The Walls has become a special holiday tradition,” says Hilary Wittmann, Carriage Barn Executive Director. "This is a great opportunity to shop for something truly unique, while supporting local artists and the Carriage Barn’s educational programs.”
The gallery will be open daily through December 12th from 11:00am-4:00pm. Admission is free, masks are required inside and social distancing will be in effect.
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