October 2020
The 2020 - 2021 online NCHS Student and Faculty Directory is now available to all PFA members! To access the online directory, click here!
Dear New Canaan High School Families,

Thank you to our students and staff for their efforts in abiding by the safety procedures and guidelines set in place in our first month back to school. Everyone's participation helps keep us safe and provides the best learning environment for our students and staff. In keeping with the safety procedures, it is imperative for students and staff to wear a mask at all times when you can’t maintain 6 feet of social distance, in the building, outside, and in the community. Additionally, we would like to remind students that hand sanitizing stations should be used upon entering each classroom and to continue to wash their hands often.

The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges and brought much change in educating our students. What hasn’t changed is our students’ positive attitude! The enthusiasm, flexibility, and eagerness they have shown to get back to a new “normal” in the last few weeks is refreshing. Our NCTV students are excited about the opportunity to film and produce weekly broadcasts again. The award-winning theater department will begin rehearsals for the fall play and musical. Sports teams are busy practicing and getting ready for the fall season. Foods and nutrition classes are studying and learning how to prepare delicious food. Students in science labs are experimenting and gathering data. We are thrilled to have the energy back in the building, and to see NCHS students adapting well and actively engaged in the classroom.

October is a busy month at NCHS with virtual Financial Aid Night on October 8th, beginning at 7:00pm presented by the School Counselors. Our wonderful PFA is bringing back guest speaker Cristina Young, a licensed therapist with over 25-years of experience helping families through parent education, at the PFA Virtual General Meeting on Wednesday, October 14th, at 7:00pm. Zoom links will be emailed as the events near. We hope you will have an opportunity to join us.

Our annual Club Fair typically takes place on the first Friday of October. This year, just like everything else, will be a little different. The virtual fair will showcase the many clubs, activities, and volunteer opportunities for our students. The organizations will offer information about how students can make a difference to NCHS and the community. A date will be determined sometime in October, and a Zoom link will be emailed to students.

As always, I look forward to connecting with you at our fantastic PFA sponsored events.

Wishing you all the best,

Bill Egan
Principal
PFA October General Meeting
Helping our Teens Thrive in this Uncertain Covid Environment
Wednesday, October 14th
7:00pm, Zoom link to follow (NOTE: Evening meeting)
Presented by Cristina Young, LCSW

Last fall’s speaker, Cristina Young, returns for a talk designed to help parents help themselves first. Participants will learn practical tips on implementing excellent self care routines during long periods of ongoing stress, and will leave armed with the strategies and scripts they need to cultivate resilience, empathy, hope and optimism in themselves and in their teens during stressful times.
In partnership with New Canaan CARES.
Online Directory Available Now!

The 2020 - 2021 online NCHS Student and Faculty Directory is now available to all PFA members! To access the online directory, go to nchspfa.membershiptoolkit.com.

  • Click on the Register/Login button
  • Select "Create Account" and fill in the name, email and password information. Be sure to use the same email on file with NCPS.
  • Click "verify my email" and then check your email for a link to complete the process. The link expires in 2 hours. If you do not receive the email, check your spam or junk folders.
  • Once you have verified your email address and paid your membership fee, you have full access to the online NCHS 2020 - 2021 directory!

If you have not yet joined the PFA, you can join via the same link above. Select “Join PFA” and select your membership level. Please remember The Future Begins Here and we need your support to continue to fund items and activities to support our students and faculty.
Grade Level Parent Meetings & Information
9th Grade, Freshmen
9th Grade Networking
NCHS 101: Freshman Parent FAQs Answered
Tuesday, October 13th
9:30am, Zoom link to follow

Please join Assistant Principal Larry Sullivan, other members of the NCHS faculty and administration to answer frequently asked questions and to learn about the significant resources our high school has to offer our students and how they have adapted in this unusual climate. Whether you want to learn more about special interest clubs, balancing homework and activities, the Library, or technological assistance, they will be here to guide us. Even if you have an older child who has gone through the school, programs and policies have changed, so there will be new information to learn. 

Networking Chairs: Kristin Reed & Mary Lydon
10th Grade, Sophomores
Teen Driving: A Roadmap to Safe Driving (for parents and teens)
Thursday, October 15th
7:00pm, Zoom link to follow

Speakers: Marie Trant of Lewis School of Driving, Tim Brown from Brown, Thayer, and Shed Insurance Company and an Officer from New Canaan Police Department.

Grab your teenager and/or tune in on your own to hear our instructive 10th grade webinar featuring an important panel discussion! We are lucky to have a very informative panel with representatives from Lewis School of Driving, New Canaan Police Department, and Brown, Thayer and Shed Insurance Company. We will discuss everything from how to be successful on the driving test, to safety on the roads, to tips on how to keep your insurance rates down and what to do in the event of an accident.

Networking Chairs: Amy Ravanesi & Jennifer Hladick
11th Grade, Juniors
The College Road Trip 
Tuesday, October 6th
9:30am, Zoom link To follow

Please join a Zoom to hear Sue Carroll, College and Career Center Coordinator, and Jane Mitchell, guidance counselor, talk about the various ways to research colleges during the pandemic. They will also discuss how most colleges are now test-optional and how students’ focus should be on class rigor and grades. Q&A will be addressed at the end of the discussion.

11th Grade Networking Chairs: Stefania Bopp & Kate Licata
12th Grade, Seniors
POST PROM
May 21st, 2021

Please join us today as we begin to create and plan for a magical and memorable experience for our Seniors!

Join the team by sending an email with your name, telephone number and general interests to [email protected].

We welcome EVERYONE on board!

Post Prom Video

We are collecting pictures to create our post prom video! Please send photos of groups of 3 or more (middle school and up) to [email protected].

Our Seniors deserve an evening to remember!
Counseling News
Mark Your Calendars Now!
FALL TESTING DATES
October 3rd - SAT*
October 14th - SAT for Class of 2021 (no registration required)
October 17th - PSAT*
October 24th - ACT* for Class of 2021
November 3rd - SAT
December 1st - SAT
December 18th - ACT*
*Denotes NCHS as testing location

SAT may be registered for at www.collegeboard.org
ACT may be registered for at www.actstudent.org

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
The School Counselors invite you to join them at Financial Aid Night on October 8th at 7:00pm via Zoom. The link will be published on October 7th. All are welcome to attend, especially if your child is a member of the Class of 2021. For more information, please contact school counselor Lori Keen.

Colleges Visiting NCHS
Seniors may attend college visits and hear firsthand the latest news from colleges in which they may be interested. They 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 done via Zoom. The visit schedule may be viewed through Naviance and on the NCHS website (School Counseling page).

PSAT:
The PSAT will be offered at NCHS on Saturday, October 17th for registered juniors. The test is 2 hours 45 minutes long and will begin at 8:00am. Students will check in at 7:30am and should remember to bring their masks that they will wear for the duration of the test, sharpened pencils and calculators as well as a picture ID. Phones should be left at home or POWERED OFF.
School News & Notices
NCHS Athletics Department
A Letter from our Athletic Director
Last month the CIAC ruled that fall high school sports could begin conditioning and small group practices. We have 600 student-athletes ready to return to play and look forward to resuming games on or around October 1st. Our goal is to provide a way for them to return to sports safely for as long as possible, which provides our student-athletes with a vital sense of normalcy. NCTV will stream most varsity football, soccer, field hockey, and volleyball games on their YouTube Channel. Please go to ncrams.com to access the streaming links and our new policies on spectators.

With respect to football, the CIAC Board of Control recently ruled that high school football will not be held this fall in its current 11-on-11 full-contact format, in accordance with Department of Health guidance. NCHS will be offering modified football 7-on-7 games this fall against Darien, Stamford, Westhill and Greenwich.  

Winter sports registration is open on ncrams.com. Although the status of winter sports is unclear, it is important that you register your child now in order to receive timely updates.  

NC Rams masks are being sold through the NC Rams All Sports Booster Club. Please go to ncrams.com to purchase.

Stay safe,

Jay Egan
Athletic Director
Board Of Education
News
September 8, 2020 Board of Education Meeting

Mr. Egan reported on opening day at NCHS. Dr. Keating shared the year end financial report for 2020.

For BOE meeting minutes click here.
For BOE video click here.

September 21, 2020 Board of Education Meeting

Mr. Adams shared a health program update. Dr. Luizzi presented updates on COVID-19 and the schools' mitigation strategies. Dr. Keating discussed statement of accounts.

For BOE Meeting Minutes click here.
For BOE video click here.

Upcoming BOE meetings: October 5th and 19th.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, anyone wishing to attend the BOE meeting in person will be seated in the NCHS lobby for the live-streamed viewing. 

People wishing to comment will be individually escorted into the meeting room and provided 2 minutes to speak, as usual. At the conclusion of the 2 minutes, they will be escorted out of the meeting room and the next speaker will be escorted in. 

Anyone wishing to submit comments to the Board is encouraged to send an email to [email protected]

Community Events
Filling in the Blanks
Traditionally, our Holiday Backpack program provides every child in our meal bag program with a filled backpack for the holidays. Since the onset of COVID, FITB has added 1,000 children to bring their weekly totals to 3,200 meals bags delivered. Our goal is to supply every child in our program with a new backpack filled with pancake mix, syrup, book, toy, and dental kit for this holiday season.

How can you help?

Go to our Amazon Wishlist here and select a new backpack or toy to be sent directly to the Filling in the Blanks warehouse. *Reminder* -At checkout select FITB warehouse as your delivery location.
Thank you for your help, and together we can brighten the holidays for children in need in our community.

Extended Deadline - Order by October 31st

For information about FITB, please go to www.fillingintheblanks.org
Rotary Club Lobsterfest
35th Annual Lobsterfest
Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th
4:30pm-8:00pm, Waveny Pool Pavilion

The New Canaan Rotary Club has developed a creative, innovative plan for the 35th Annual Lobsterfest which will be “contactless”, provide wonderful dinners for you to enjoy at home, and meet the limitations we all face at these times.
Proceeds from Lobsterfest are the New Canaan Rotary Club's main source of funds to provide grants to support many local non-profits. In 2020 alone, over $40,000 has been donated to more than 30 local non-profits which required funds to address vital needs for food, care and social services.

Here are the details:

  • Friday and Saturday, October 16th and 17th from 4:30pm to 8:00pm
  • Drive through pick up at Waveny Pool Pavilion. Your order will be placed in your car or trunk by Rotarians and the wonderful guys from SLOBs
  • Orders must be done online via credit card at https://www.newcanaanrotarylobsterfest.org. No tickets will be sold at the door.
  • All dinners will be prepared and packed by professional caterers from New Canaan's Fjord Fish Market (steamed lobster or the new grilled salmon option!) and Walter Stewart's Market (fried chicken). Wine and beer specially selected by Stewart’s Wine & Spirits is available for purchase. A limited number of home deliveries are available for orders of 8 or more.
  • NEW: Buy Gift Cards to give a dinner to friends, co-workers, clients or say THANKS to a local First Responder.
  • If you would like to become a sponsor, please visit our website.
  • If you cannot attend but would like to make a donation, you can do so on our website.
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