The Nominating Committee will be meeting to fill positions for next year's 2021-2022 PFA Board and Board Committees. We would love to see more people get involved! Please email the PFA at NCHSpfa@gmail.com to let us know how you want to help! Include the positions you would be interested in or any specific interests you have. Click here to see a description of the chair positions. |
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Dear NCHS Family,
The snow-filled month of February is finally behind us, and I happily welcome March and the warmer weather it brings. The good news is that Spring is just around the corner. We will soon be shedding the boots, hats, gloves, enjoying longer sunny days, and more time outdoors.
For the ninth year, the Carriage Barn Arts Center and New Canaan High School are partnering to present Through Our Eyes, an exhibit of a selection of work by current NCHS art students. A new addition this year, the exhibit will also feature a juried selection of work by NCHS Alumni.
Graduates of any year who are active in the visual arts, are current students, or are amateur artists may submit work for consideration. “Through Our Eyes, IX” Art Exhibit runs from March 5th through March 20th. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm and on Sundays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The Carriage Barn Arts Center is located in Waveny Park, admission is free and open to the public. Visitors are welcome anytime during gallery hours wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines.
The NCHS Winter Musical production of “Oklahoma!” will open with online screenings on Thursday, March 18th, with additional performances on Friday, March 19th, and Saturday, March 20th at 7:00 pm. This year’s dedicated, talented cast and crew have done a fantastic job reimagining live theater under challenging circumstances. This production promises to be another outstanding performance! Click here for more information.
Finally, mark your calendars for March 31st for the NC Color Drop (formerly the NC Color Run). A helicopter will safely release over 1,000 pre-purchased golf balls over a target at Waveny Park. The golf balls will be numbered individually, and the participant whose ball lands closest to the target will be the winner of the grand prize, a Peloton Tread. All participants will receive their assigned numbers before the drop. The winning golf ball will be announced immediately following the contest. 100% of proceeds will be donated to need-based college scholarships for NCHS graduates. Please visit the New Canaan Scholarship Foundation website for more information.
As we move past the last few weeks of winter, I would like to celebrate our success so far and thank all of you for your creativity, flexibility, and resilience. Your diligence in following the mitigation strategies has been pivotal to our success. Let’s keep it going!
All the best,
Bill Egan
Principal
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March PFA General Meeting
Spring Ahead: Parenting QuaranTeens into GrowingTeens, Andree Palmgre, LPC
Wednesday, March 10th
9:30am, via Zoom
Ready for spring? We sure are! A new season is a wonderful time to reset our parenting priorities and revive our teens’ developing sense of independence and autonomy. Join us for a lighthearted conversation that addresses many common parenting questions:
- Spring will bring more opportunities for our teens to gather with their friends outside. How do we balance our teen’s social needs with our family guidelines?
- I’m feeling pretty burned out right now. What are some easy and impactful ways I can be investing in my relationship with my teen?
- It’s hard to give my teen the independence they desire and need when they are home so much. Any tips?
- Is it normal that my teen spends so much time in their room and is up so late? Can be irritable and emotional? Takes it out on me?
- What’s the most important thing my teen needs from me right now?
- How can I use the upcoming spring months to recharge personally and feel re-energized in my family life?
This presentation is done in partnership with New Canaan CARES.
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Career Night 2021
March 25th CANCELLED
Career Night has been moved to March 2022 in anticipation of hosting the event in person.
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NCHS Scholarship Foundation
Celebrating 53 Years of Helping NCHS Students
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NC COLOR DROP
Wednesday, March 31st, Waveny Park*
Livestreamed, 9:45am on Channel 78
In lieu of the annual NC Color Run, let's come together for an exciting new fundraiser, the NC Color Drop! On Wednesday, March 31st, a helicopter will release more than 1,000 golf balls over a target at Waveny. The golf balls will be numbered individually and the participant whose ball lands closest to the target will be the winner of the grand prize, a Peloton Tread. Other prizes include an amazing NC Gift Basket and Kidzone Electric Bumper Cars. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to need-based college scholarships for NCHS graduates.
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*Due to Covid, no spectators will be allowed. The event will be livestreamed for all residents to watch.
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Grade Level Parent Meetings and Information |
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All past PFA meetings are available on our website. Be sure to check out the latest meeting put together by our 9th grade networking chairs. Great information for all grades! Click here to watch!
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PFA 9th Grade Networking
Save the Date
High School: A Look Ahead
Tuesday, April 20th
9:30am, Virtual
High School: A Look Ahead - guidance counselors to discuss the remainder of freshman year and what's next.
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PFA 10th Grade Networking
Save the Date
Post High School Planning
Friday, May 21st
8:00am, Virtual
The NCHS Counselors will lead a discussion about planning for Post High School Options.
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PFA 11th Grade Networking
Save the Date
College Application Process and Senior Year "Sneak Peek"
Thursday, April 22nd
9:30am, Virtual
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PFA 12th Grade Networking
Save the Date
College Ready? What to Expect and Tips for the Transition
Tuesday, April 27th
9:30am, Virtual
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Class of 2021 "Post Prom Party"
Friday, May 21st
Stand by and save the date of Friday, May 21st at 6:30pm. We hope to have some exciting news to share soon about an evening to celebrate the Class of 2021!
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Counseling News
Mark Your Calendars Now!
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Test dates:
March 13th - SAT
April 13th - In School SAT for class of '22. No registration is necessary
April 17th* - ACT
May 8th* -SAT
June 5th* - SAT
June 12th - ACT
*Denotes NCHS as testing location

NACAC Virtual Co​llege Fair
Sunday, March 14th
Attention Juniors:
There will be a virtual college interviewing workshop on March 30th during the lunch block. To reserve a space and receive the Zoom link, email Mrs. Carroll and let her know what lunch you have that day. We will be talking about the interviewing process and conducting mock interviews as well.
Course Selection:
The course selection process has now begun for the 2021/2022 school year. All students can now go into his /her 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 they should go in and make a first round of choices by March 2nd and hit submit to save. Changes can be made through March. Find a tutorial on the School Counseling website or click the link here. Course registration tutorial. |
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NCHS Theatre Department |
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Oklahoma!
March 18th-20th at 7:00pm
Don't miss our exciting, toe-tapping Winter Musical, Oklahoma! directed by NCHS Theatre Alumna, Kate Simone! The show will stream at 7:00pm on March 18th, 19th, and 20th! Tickets are on sale now! Visit our website at www.newcanaanhighschooltheatre.com for more information or to purchase your tickets! |
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NCHS Athletics Department
A Letter from our Athletics Director
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After evaluating our first two weeks of spectator experiences during the winter season and given the favorable health metrics, we expanded the number of spectators for all home basketball and hockey games to two parents per athlete. This includes all varsity and sub-varsity home games effective February 25th.
NCTV is broadcasting home varsity basketball and hockey games with announcers. Our joint commitment to providing coverage for our parents and fans cannot be overstated. In addition, our HUDL cameras will record and stream home varsity, JV and freshman basketball games that are played in the Main Gym. You can access both YouTube Channels here.
Spring sports season will begin on March 27th. Registration is open on ncrams.com.
Go Rams!
Jay Egan
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Thank you to the Bus Drivers! |
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Bus Driver Appreciation Day!
Last week the PFA partnered with all of the PTCs to bring coffee and snacks to our bus drivers to express the parents' appreciation for their hard work this year. Events like this are made possible by the donations of our membership and are very much appreciated.
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Service League of Boys (SLOBs): |
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General Meeting
Saturday, March 6th
2:30pm via Zoom
Don't miss the next General Meeting. This is the 4th meeting and all SLOBs are required to attend at least 4 of the 5 meetings.
If you are interested in being a SLOBs liaison next year, please go to the SLOBs website and fill out the application! |
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The Developing Brain & THC
Tuesday, March 16th
7:00pm event on Zoom
Join us for a conversation about adolescent brain development and vulnerability to THC. Ken C. Winters, PhD is an adolescent brain researcher and Senior Scientist at the Oregon Research Institute. Teens are welcome, and there will be plenty of time for Q&A.
Click here to register on Zoom or go to ncparentsupportgroup.org.
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Finishing the School Year Strong!
March 4th at 7:00pm
Joyce Sixsmith, MA, LADC, Substance Abuse Counselor/Prevention Specialist
School can be a challenge especially during a pandemic. Join Joyce Sixsmith for an informative workshop to provide strategies for finishing the year strong! Leave with tools for self-care and organization as well as stress management coping skills.
Brought to you in partnership with RAM Council
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Book Chat Thursday (with guests Jamie Beck, author of For All She Knows, and Stacey Walker of NC Cares)
March 11th at 11:00am
Join us for a special session of The Chat, where this month’s host Laura Cavers welcomes two guests. Jamie Beck, a New Canaan mom and author of For All She Knows, will talk about her most recent novel that tells the story of two mothers facing the consequences of an at-home teen party with alcohol that goes horribly wrong; family friendships fracture as a result, without any hope of forgiveness. This gripping novel will be published March 30. Please come to listen to how Jamie came to write this page-turner.
Also joining Laura and Jamie will be Stacey Walker, Education and Program Coordinator at New Canaan Cares. April is Alcohol Awareness Month and Stacey will highlight the programs related to alcohol prevention and education that the organization has scheduled for next month.
Brought to you in partnership with New Canaan Library
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Before the Ever After Book Discussion
March 18th at 7:00pm
Join Katherine Snedaker, LCSW, Founder and Executive Director of PINK Concussions, international speaker, brain injury professional, researcher, and mother with personal experience of brain injury within her family. We will explore what a concussion is, how it affects family and friends, and how to move forward.
We will be using Jacqueline Woodson’s book Before the Ever After to explore themes of family, friendship, support systems and unconditional love.
Brought to you in partnership with New Canaan Library
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Has Gaming Taken Over?
March 31st at 7:00pm
97% of youth play video games. Given this number, risks of gaming addiction are at an all-time high. Fortunately, we can alleviate these risks by teaching youth the warning signs and what entices them to play video games.
Dr. Elizabeth Ortiz-Schwartz, MD from Silver Hill Hospital will speak to:
- The physical and emotional effects of gaming on teens
- Effects on teens' academics
- How much gaming is too much gaming
- Game selection and much more
Brought to you in partnership with Silver Hill Hospital and Ram Council
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