Weekly Update 9/2

Dear NCHS Family,

We hope that you had a great first two days of school. It's wonderful having students back in the building. Administration met with every grade in the last two days welcoming them back to school and sharing expectations with the students. NCHS is a special place and we hope that everyone has a great year.

BYOD:

On Thursday afternoon we had a session on BYOD at the Freshmen Orientation. Students received training on how to care for their device and the resources that are available to them as they make the transition to high school. The staff led conversations on expectations for responsible digital citizenship and students also had discussions on how great learning occurs with and without a device.

This year students are bringing their devices to school. We want to protect devices and have asked students to use their school lockers to keep devices safe.  However, if students must bring their devices to physical education and they cannot be locked in a PE locker, they should put their devices in the cage in the fitness center before going to class.    

Open House:

New Canaan High School's annual Open House will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2016. Open House is co-sponsored by the school and the Parent Faculty Association (PFA). This evening provides an opportunity for you to become acquainted with the high school's Program of Study and to meet your child’s teachers. The evening's format does not allow for individual parent-teacher conferences, but such meetings may always be arranged at mutually convenient times in the future. please click here to see more about Open House.

Cafeteria:

Late snacks will begin on Tuesday September 6. The Cafeteria will remain open until 3:00 p.m. with a limited menu.

Crosswalk:

A special thank you to Tiger Mann and the New Canaan Town Crew for installing a new crosswalk in front of NCHS. The crosswalk has been a great addition and will keep our kids safe.

Pictures from around NCHS:

Upcoming events:

9/6 BOE Meeting 7:00pm
9/6-9/9 PSAT Registration
9/8 9th Grade Networking 9:30am
9/13 Guidance Senior Parent Coffee 8:00am
9/14 PFA General Membership Welcome Back Coffee
9/15 Open House 6:30 Freshman Orientation 7:15 Open House
9/16 New to New Canaan Student Lunch (College & Career Center) 11:00am
9/16 Dunning Field Dedication 7:00pm

All the best,

Bill Egan
Principal

Please see below to find out a little more about our new teachers at New Canaan High School.

NEW CANAAN HIGH SCHOOL

Family & Consumer Kelly Zilly

Science Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Southern University as well as a Master of Education from Roger Williams College.  Kelly began her teaching career as a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Gordon School in East Providence, RI.  In the past year, she has served as a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Ridgefield High School.

Business/STEM Rachel Martinich

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bryant University as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University.  Rachel is currently pursuing a Masters in Science in Computer Science from Southern CT State University.  She started her teaching career as a Business teacher in Danbury High School.  From there, she taught Business at Guilford High School.  For the past three years, she has served as Business teacher at Jonathan Law High School.

English Ellen Fitzpatrick

Ellen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education from Syracuse University as well as a Master of Teaching English from Teachers College, Columbia University.  Ellen completed her student teaching at White Plains Middle School and Fairfield Warde High School.  She is familiar with New Canaan Public Schools as she served here as a Teaching Assistant for two years.

Physical Ed./Health Daniel Melzer

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Connecticut College as well as a Master of Education from Sacred Heart University.  Daniel began his teaching career as a Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director at the Diocese of Bridgeport.  For the last six years, Daniel has been a Physical Education and Health teacher at Stamford High School.  

Social Studies Olivia Patrizzi

Olivia received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Social Studies Education as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Connecticut.  Also from the University of Connecticut she received a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.   Olivia completed her student teaching at Manchester High School and most recently was a Social Studies Enrichment Intern at Mansfield Middle School.

Special Education Elizabeth Skudzienski

Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Liberty University as well as a Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Connecticut.  She is currently pursuing her sixth year certification in administration.  For the past six years, she has been a Special Education teacher at Ridgefield High School.

Library Media Jacquelyn Whiting

Jacquelyn received a Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College and a Master of Science from Southern CT State University.  She recently completed her Library Media certification through the ARC program.  She has served as a Social Studies teacher at Torrington High School, Staples High School, and since 2008 at Joel Barlow High School.

Social Studies Jonathan Schwartz

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from St. Lawrence University.  He also holds a Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Virginia.  Jonathan has an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Mount Vernon College, an Instructor at Montgomery College and an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Towson University.  From there, he served as a Senior Analyst, Environmental Health in Washington DC.  Since 2009, he has been a Professor of Social Sciences at Bard High School Early College Program.

English Megan McCauley

Megan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and English from Western CT State University.  She is pursuing a Master of Media Literacy and Digital Culture.  Most recently, she has been a student teacher at New Milford High School.

French Mark Foster

Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Connecticut.  He also holds a Master of Arts degree in French Language and Civilization from New York University and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Connecticut.  Over the course of his teaching career, Mark has served in public schools, private schools and universities.  For 11 years, Mark taught French and English at Waterford High School in the Waterford Public Schools.  Most recently, he has been a French teacher at Kings Academy in Madaba, Jordan.

Social Studies Michael Joshi

Michael received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Loyola University.  He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Teaching of Social Studies from Teachers’ College, Columbia University.  He completed his student teaching in New York City.  Most recently, he has been teaching Government and US History at K423 Brooklyn Frontiers High School in Brooklyn, NY.

Reading/English Krista Deiana

Kristen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education from Fairfield University as well as a Master of Educational Studies in Literacy from Manhattanville College.  She is pursuing a sixth year degree in Educational Administration and Supervision.  For the past 6 years she has been an English teacher at Stamford High School.

Tech Integrator Alexa Schlechter

Alexa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Rhetoric Theory form SUNY Albany as well as a Masters in Educational Technology from UCONN and Masters in Teaching from Sacred Heart University.  She has served as an English teacher and technology coach at Norwalk High School.  For the past year she has been an Elementary Technology Leader in the Danbury Public Schools.

Physical Education Alexander Amaru (Long Term Sub)

Alexander received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Eastern CT State University.  He served as a substitute teacher at the Horace W. Porter School in Columbia as well as in the Newtown School District, where he was also the freshman boys head basketball coach. He serves as a Program Manager at the Newtown Youth Academy.  Most recently, he has been a summer school PE / Health teacher at Newtown High School.