Weekly Update 10/13
Dear NCHS Family,
On Wednesday, the PFA put on a panel presentation entitled, Truth and Consequences of Teenage Drinking. It was an informative discussion. On the panel were New Canaan Chief of Police Leon Krolikowski, CT State District Attorney Rich Colangelo, Admission Service Chief at Silver Hill Hospital, Dr. Mia Handler, Director of Athletics Jay Egan and myself. We received questions from parents prior to the meeting and we had a frank and honest discussion about how we can all partner to enrich the lives of our children. The discussion can be found here.
Additionally, I sent out my Homecoming Letter. I am hopeful for a fun week, filled with spirit, but I also hope for a week that includes students making good choices.
Dear Parents and Students,
In order to ensure that Homecoming Week activities run smoothly, safely, and with little disruption, I would like to offer the following guidelines. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of do’s and don'ts but rather a set of guidelines which should provide parameters on what is acceptable.
For any dress up days there should be NO masks or face coverings, NO facsimile weapons such as swords, guns or sabers, NO skateboards, skates, scooters or the like. Costumes should allow a student to be identifiable, move around freely and although we welcome originality it should not present a disruption to classes.
On Friday, October 27 we will be closing the campus for all students. The schedule for that day is linked here. Any student who must leave the campus for an excused reason (medical appointment, for example) is required to bring a parent note or have a parent call in to the Attendance Office before leaving, and check back in to the Attendance Office upon return. Any student, even those juniors and seniors with standard parental permission, who leaves campus without obtaining prior permission through the Attendance Office will not be permitted to return to campus and will face disciplinary consequences. For the complete letter, click here.
I look forward to seeing you at the many events throughout the year.
As always, thank you for your support!
Be well and stay healthy NCHS!
Bill Egan
Upcoming Events:
10/14 PSAT
10/16 BOE Meeting 7:00 pm
10/17 9th Grade Networking 9:30 a.m.
10/19, 10/20 Fall Play, The Miracle Worker 7:00 pm
10/21 Fall Play, The Miracle Worker 2:00 & 7:00 pm
Pictures from around NCHS:
Department News:
Administrator’s Perspective:
This week, I reflect on the first Grade 10 PFA (Networking Meeting), and, thank the PFA for their tremendous support! Feel free to check out Mr. Gusitsch’s blog, here.
NCTV Weekly Announcements
Science:
There were lots of "Oooos", "Ohhhhs", and "Ahhhs" in the Chemistry Lab this week as students studied "What is a Chemical Reaction?"... magnesium ribbon reacting with hydrochloric acid was especially memorable!
AP Biology students are shown using the spectrophotometer to measure peroxidase enzyme activity of various plant species.
AP Physics students have been studying Newton’s laws this week.
Here AP Physics students are shown measuring the coefficient of friction on a ramp and measuring the spring constant using a projectile launcher.
Honors Earth Science students designed and tested timing devices.
Earth Science students have been working on an Experimentation unit. They are designing and carrying out labs in which they design a procedure, collect data, and analyze their data. Following are pictures from a solar insolation lab involving measuring shadows and a lab involving measurement of heart rate based on time spent jumping.
English:
It’s been a fun and writing intensive few weeks in the English department as many students are working assiduously on a variety of essay genres from literary analysis essays in Ms. Weeks AP Lit and sophomore classes to research essays in Mr. Gallo’s junior classes. The Writing Center has been very busy with student drop-ins for college essays as well. Below is a picture of student peer conferencing on essays in 10th grade English:
This year the English Department is pleased to be working with an intern in collaboration with Fairfield University. Kristen Lee is working with the school as a substitute and will complete her student teaching with us this spring.
In a moment of levity and sartorial collaboration, the checked shirt club had its first meeting in the English office! The group of Mr. Doyle, Mr. Remley, and Mr. Honohan describe themselves as an interdisciplinary group of educators, innovators, and fashionistas. Check ya later guys!
VPA News:
New Canaan High School Theater begins the performance season with the upperclassmen production “The Miracle Worker,” the true story of Helen Keller and her battle to overcome impossible obstacles and her struggle to communicate. As a young girl, Helen Keller is stricken with scarlet fever, the illness leaves her blind, mute, and deaf. A gifted teacher, Annie Sullivan is summoned by the family to help Helen understand the world from which she is isolated. Please join us for performances on October 19 - 20 @ 7pm and October 21 @ 2pm & 7pm. All performances will be held at the New Canaan High School Auditorium and seating will be on stage. Tickets are limited and may be purchased online at www.newcanaanhighschooltheatre.com
Cast and Crew of “The Miracle Worker"
Music Theory
Students in Mrs. Moody’s music theory class are learning how to compose complex syncopated rhythms to use in their original compositions. This work in progress is called “The ABC Mixtape.”
World Language:
French Update
The French Club had its first meeting! Students played French themed Kahoots before organizing our first movie night and our two major projects for the year. This school year the French Club will sponsor a child in Senegal so that he or she will receive medical care and an education. Secondly, the French Club will organize NCHS' participation as the first international partner of a Parisian event called Le MOI de la Femme, a month-long series of concerts and conferences in support of International Women's Rights Day. This partnership evolved from a videoconference interview last year with one of the program's Parisian organizers.
The French Club’s first movie night (La Soirée Ciné) was on Monday, showing the 2014 French film, Samba. We invited French teachers from St. Luke's and the NC Country School to come and bring some of their students. At movie night, we announced our French Club poster contest. Mrs. McDonagh helped develop the contest format: students from the three schools will try to create the best artistic representation of this quotation from Antoine de St. Exupéry: "If you differ from me, my brother, far from causing me harm, you enrich me." "Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis." The poster can be a photo, painting, collage, CGI, or calligraphy, limited to 2' x 3' and submitted electronically. We will have the best work from each school printed and they will be hung in the New Canaan Public Library.
Below, students in Mrs. Chillington’s French 3 Honors class hard at work in the World Language lab recording AP-like directed conversation activities provided by their online textbook D’accord. The students are able to record these simulated conversations so that their teacher can give them feedback to better express themselves in their spoken French.
The World Language Lab also provides the students with many different opportunities to improve their writing skills. For example, students here are asked to text message their teacher in French answering directed prompts. These written messages are reviewed and students are provided ongoing feedback by their teacher.
Probably the most enjoyable activity that this interactive lab enables the students to do is the random pairing with other classmates to practice their French speaking skills. Again, these conversations are recorded and collected so that their teacher can listen to them and offer suggestions for improvement.
Christina Rabasco, the new World Language lab assistant, is invaluable as she helps the students to be successful French speakers by using this technology efficiently and effectively.
