Weekly Update 1/26



Dear NCHS Family,


We hope everyone did great on their exams and had an opportunity to participate in our Wellness and Enrichment activities. We will continue to find ways to reduce stress for our students. We did a survey and their feedback will be useful as we consider activities in the future. The second semester has begun and it is an opportunity for students to have a fresh start and set new goals for themselves. Schools are unique in that students get several points where they get fresh starts and chances to hit reset. The semester provides that or an opportunity for them to continue the good work that they have already done.

Course selection begins in March, but the 2018-2019 Program of Studies will be available to view by February 5th. It is always a good idea to review the Program of Studies before the course selection process begins.

One second everyday (the semester at a glance):





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:

2/5 Board of Ed Meeting 7pm Wagner Room

2/6 NCHS Collaborative Concert: Band, Choir & Orchestra 7pm Auditorium

2/10 ACT - register at www.actstudent.org

2/16 Professional Learning, no school

2/19-23 February vacation

 Pictures from around NCHS:














 Department News:

English Department:

Exams are in the books! It was a quiet week for the English department as students were busy preparing for their final exams. Many classes finished their research papers and did presentations of their research for their classmates, while other students did performance tasks in reading and writing. Now, teacher’s are busily trying to finish their final grades for the first semester, and a new classes began this week. For seniors, this is their last semester of English!


 CTE Department News:

Intro to TV Broadcasting - Students just wrapped up the semester by presenting their final TV shows during exams. Working in production teams of 10, they created an original 5-minute show in the TV studio and broadcast it live. Students wrote news, sports and weather scripts, produced video segments, created graphics and inserted their own PSAs as commercials. The project gave students a real "newsroom" experience and feeling of what its like to broadcast to a live audience.


Advanced Broadcasting - The past couple of weeks students have been finishing up projects, working on reflections and goal setting. They've also been busy going through and organizing all the equipment so its ready for the second semester. Friday was their first broadcast of the 3rd quarter, which can viewed here.








Baking & Pastry Art classes ended the semester with a Cupcake War competition. Tied for first place were Elizabeth Kuchiniski, Caroline Thompson, Molly Cioffi, Emma Reilly. Stephen Wronski, and Camden Nelson.












VPA News:




 Music Department Collaborative Concert

February 6, 2018 7:00pm, NCHS Auditorium

Our New Canaan High School band, choir and orchestra students will perform their annual Collaborative Concert in the NCHS auditorium on February 6 at 7:00pm. Although each group performs regularly throughout each school year, they always look forward to joining forces together to celebrate music masterpieces. The concert will feature approximately 150 of our high school musicians performing dynamic movements from the well-known Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.


The band students under Mr. Scott Cranston’s direction will also perform Semper Paratus by Francis Saltus van Boskerck (arr. Jerry Brubaker) and Highlights from "Jersey Boys" arr. Michael Brown. Mr. Ficks will lead his orchestra students performing Momentum by Meyer and Michael Jackson’s Thriller arranged by Thorton. Ms. Gleason’s choir students will perform Go Where I Send Thee, a Spiritual arranged by Andre Thomas and Earth Song by Frank Tichelli.


NCHS students and faculty will have the opportunity to attend the dress rehearsal for the performance on February 6th with their 5th period class.




 World Language:

The Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy (Seal of Biliteracy) was established to recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and one or more languages. On June 6, 2017, the Governor signed the bill into law as Public Act 17-29. Section 1(f) of Public Act 17-29 states that “the State Board of Education shall establish criteria by which a local or regional board of education may affix the Connecticut State Seal of Biliteracy on a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in English and one or more foreign languages.


The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes the value of students’ academic efforts, the tangible benefits of being bilingual and biliterate and prepares students to be 21st century global citizens in a multicultural, multilingual world. It also acknowledges that the mastery of two or more languages is a valuable asset for both individuals and their communities. As a result of Public Act 17-29 section 1(f), New Canaan Public Schools will award students the Seal of Biliteracy to provide immediate recognition of critical twenty-first century language and communication skills. This award is given by a school district in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in English and one or more other languages in grades 10, 11, or 12.


New Canaan has decided to award students the CT Seal of Biliteracy when they meet the state requirements on the AAPPL assessment. The Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) is an online assessment New Canaan Public Schools has been administering for a few years now. In the past we have administered this assessment in Grade 8 and Level 3. To support the success of students, the district has decided to move the assessment to Level 4 at NCHS. For students who have earned this award, the Seal of Biliteracy will be added to the student’s transcript and diploma.


For more information on the Seal please check: http://sealofbiliteracy.org/

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