5/25 Weekly Update

Dear NCHS Family,

School Picnic:


On Monday, New Canaan High School gathered for an all school picnic. The entire school community had a great time. It was an opportunity to celebrate what has been a wonderful school year.














Governor’s Scholar:


Mr. Gusitsch had the opportunity to attend the Governor’s Scholar Luncheon at the Aqua Turf. The program recognizes academically talented Grade Eleven students throughout the state. A junior must be in the top 5% of their class and then they must be selected from a field of over 150 entries. A committee reviews the candidates academic record, standardized test results and an essay they must complete. Conor West was one of 22 Governor’s Scholars that were chosen. Congratulations to Conor and the entire community for having a Governor’s Scholar chosen. We have been fortunate to have a Governor’s Scholar each of the years that I have been here (and year’s before.) This is a celebration of the academic strength of the community. Congratulations Conor!








One second everyday:

“Life is made of seconds.” Check out a few seconds from everyday of the 2017-18 school year (so far), showcasing so much of what makes NCHS great!




Pro tip: want to enjoy it more? Set your youtube setting to play at .75 speed














Be well NCHS!




Bill Egan




Upcoming Events:

5/28 No School - Memorial Day

6/1 Awards Assembly - 9am auditorium

6/1 Spring Musical - 7pm

6/2 Spring Musical - 2pm & 7pm






Department News:





Social Studies:






















On Thursday, the entire Sophomore class participated in a grade-wide Model United Nations simulation organized and led by the Model UN Club. This year, there were rooms focused on the World Health Organization (health care in conflict zones and vaccinations), the United States Senate (the China question and Global Warming), the European Union (Brexit), the Opium Wars, and the Russian Revolution. Students started the day in the Wagner Room before heading to several spots around the school to engage in debate, collaboration, and resolution writing all aimed toward tackling world problems and resolving diplomatic disputes. The day was a showcase for many of the skills we’ve worked on this year in Global History II, and at the end of the day many students received recognition for their outstanding work as delegates. Thanks to all the students and faculty advisors to the Model UN club for organizing the day for many years running, now.




On Friday Morning, the seventh annual Wilburn Fellowship awards ceremony was held in the Wagner Room. This year two projects combined to win the award. The Fellowhip is dedicated to fostering the understanding of humanity’s differences, whether of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or culture, such that those differences can be respected, learned from, embraced and celebrated. This year’s Fellows included: Meera Srinivasan, Kate Reeves and Chase Pelligrini de Paur. They presented their project this morning to a group of students in grades 9-11 who will hopefully take on the project next year. The Fellowship also recognized finalists Jackson Oehmler and Alex Pittaro and participants Molly O’Neill, Michelle Gachelin, Emma Wheeler, Anna Meli and Betsy Marsh. For all interested, the Fellowship begins in the fall and supports work on several projects throughout the school year. Visit the website for information about participating in next year’s Fellowship.









Juniors in US History are exploring freedom movements of the 60s and 70s and how those groups fought for expanded equal rights. Groups explored included African Americans, Asian Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Women, LGBT and Environmental. Students explore one form of protest these groups used and whether it led to changes in law or policy. Students provide a brief background on their freedom movement and design a project of their choosing to instruct their classmates about the movement. End products have included board games, videos, songs, children's and comic books, newspaper, album cover, 3-D art installation, poem, political cartoons, and many others.






Students are making videos for next year's Economics classes on content that could be more completely and efficiently covered.









Debate held their end of year picnic yesterday to celebrate a successful season. The following individuals were recognized:




Bow Tie Awards

Top Novice Speaker- Johnny Renda

Top Varsity Speakers - Jai Ansh and James Hirai




Graduating Officers

Jai Ansh, Samantha Axon, Lauren Capone, James Hirai, Danielle Klapper




We also selected new officers for the 2018-19 season:




Co-Captains

Johnny Renda and Hannah Suthons




Secretary

Alexis Axon




Treasurer

Savannah Adolphe




Finally, a note from the coach-

This was my 11th and final season as coach of the NCHS Debate Team. It was a privilege and honour to work with the debate students over the last decade. Thank you to all of my debaters and their parents who made this an amazing experience.




It also gives me great joy to announce that Nancy Stevens will be taking over as coach next year. She is a former Mock Trial coach in New York and has spent the last 4 months with the team learning our style of debate. She has been a great addition to the team and will ably lead it next year.






Math: 

In M2 Statistics the students are starting to work on a culminating project. They will perform their own statistical studies that will integrate various concepts and skills learned in statistics class this semester. They will choose a research question, collect data, analyze the data, and draw appropriate conclusions.

Students in AP Calculus BC are beginning to explore ideas for their final project. Some preliminary ideas include maximizing trash disposal and recycling in the cafeteria, the relationship between music and memory, and the game theory of rock/paper/scissors.




VPA:






The Bruce Museum is pleased to present 44 works of art created by high school students in the 9th annual iCreate exhibition. This year’s juried show received over 700 entries and four works were selected by NCHS students.


They are: Gwenan Walker’s “Kids,” Ann Pakhayev’s “Guardians of the Crossroads,” Mead Savage’s “Reaching For the Light,” and Hannah Suthons’ “City State of Mind.”




Hannah Suthons’ City State of Mind Ann Pakhayev’s Guardians of the Crossroads






Mead Savage’s Reaching For The Light Gwenan Walker’s Kids




The New Canaan High School Theatre program wins 21 Halo Award nominations this year. 42nd Street received 15 of the 21 Halo Awards nominations and The Miracle Worker received 6 of the 21 Halo Awards nominations. The Halo awards is the most prestigious recognition of high school theatre in Connecticut. This year the judicators saw productions from over 60 high schools from across Connecticut competing for a wide variety of categories. The Halo Awards ceremony will take place on May 30th at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. New Canaan High School Nominations include:


42nd Street:

Best Contemporary Musical: 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Contemporary Musical - Kaitlyn Piotroski as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Contemporary Musical - Logan Otis as Julian Marsh in 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical - Grace Rucci as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical - Will Dooley as Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Wyatt Lysenko as Andy Lee in 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical - Sadie Seelert as “Anytime” Ann Reilly in 42nd Street

Best Performance by a Couple or Dynamic Duo or more in a Musical - Kate Murphy & Charlie Hane as Maggie Jones & Bert Barry in 42nd Street

Best Dancing: 42nd Street

Best Featured Dancer - Sadie Seelert in 42nd Street

Best Chorus: 42nd Street

Best Sound Design and/or Execution - Ryan Kurtzman for 42nd Street

Best Props Design and/or Management - Michelle Mercede & Danie Emond for 42nd Street

Best Running Crew: 42nd Street

Best Stage Management - Jessica Jardon (PSM), Sofia Delicate (SM) for 42nd Street




The Miracle Worker:

Best Classical Play - The Miracle Worker

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play - Sadie Seelert as Anne Sullivan in The Miracle Worker

Best Supporting Actress in a Play - Claire Leville as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play- Jack Dunn as James Keller in The Miracle Worker

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play - Grace Rucci as Kate Keller in The Miracle Worker

Best Props Design and/or Management - Michelle Mercede & Danie Emond for The Miracle Worker



Logan Otis for Leading Actor in 42nd Street & Kaitlyn Piotroski for Leading Actress in 42nd Street



Will Dooley for Supporting Actor in 42nd Street & Grace Rucci for Supporting Actress in 42nd Street



Claire Leville for Supporting Actress in The Miracle Worker & Sadie Seelert for Leading Actress in The Miracle Worker



The Fourth Annual NEW AGE FILM FESTIVAL hosted by the New Canaan High School Film Club was held on Wednesday May 23rd. Schools from across Fairfield county joined together to celebrate the creative film projects in multiple categories: Narratives, Documentaries, Music Videos, Public Service Announcements/Commercials, Animations, Open Entries. The night was filled with the many emotions that filmmaking brings to an audience. Hosts Charlie Hane and Jack Dunn brought on the humor as did Red Carpet Hosts, Luca Triant and Luke Pelli. Film Club members and jurors, William Fitzpatrick and Tyler Kakac all made appearances! Roman Cebulski and his team of NCTV crew were there to capture the entire event live!!


Want to see the submissions? Want to learn more about this year’s festival?

Click on the link below to visit the New Age Film Festival Website: https://ncps.digication.com/newagefilmfestival/home-1


The following students and schools received awards for their films:


Outstanding Screenplay

The Bunker

by Diego Lezcano & Peter Harvey

New Canaan High School




"Outstanding Cinematography in a Narrative"

Five String

by Charlie Hane

New Canaan High School

Outstanding Narrative Performance
Disasterology

Film by Lauren Berardino, Performance by Johnny Renda

New Canaan High School


Outstanding Editing in a Narrative

Listen

by Brooks Petershack, Barrett DeYoung, Aidan Moulder

Newtown High School




Outstanding Narrative Feature

Silent But Deadly

by Jack Dunn

New Canaan High School




Outstanding Lyrical Editing in a Music Video

Quarter Past Four

by Brooks Petershack, Barrett DeYoung, Aidan Moulder

Newtown High School


Outstanding Creativity in a Music Video

Flaws

by Jack Dunn

New Canaan High School


Outstanding Cinematography in a Documentary

Start Time

by Jason Tam, Francisco Lasson, Jack Lesniewski, Camaron Paradiso

Greenwich High School



Outstanding Interview

Inside the Industry

by Georgia Ferguson, Clementine Marcogliese, Kate Murray

Convent of the Sacred Heart


Outstanding Documentary

Building Lifetime Achievers

by Jackson Oehmler

New Canaan High School


Outstanding Message in a Public Service Announcement

Stop The Violence

by Christine Plaster

Convent of the Sacred Heart





Outstanding Creativity in a Public Service Announcement

Water Matters

by Paige Pucel & Claire Chmiel

Convent of the Sacred Heart




Outstanding Special Effects in an Animation

To Disappear Or Not To Disappear

by Aaron Winchell

New Canaan High School





Outstanding Animated Story

Sushi

by Sydney Kend

New Canaan High School




Outstanding Post - Production in an Open Entry

Your Call

by Lauren Rivera, Jordan Klebenow, Sofia Bara

Weston High School




Outstanding Open Entry

A Letter To My Little Sister

Lily Brown, Catherine Hamilton, Margo Muccia

Convent of the Sacred Heart


Viewer’s Choice Award: Narrative

Five String

by Charlie Hane

New Canaan High School





Viewer’s Choice Award: Documentary

5 Gallons

by Konstantia Barker

Convent of the Sacred Heart

"Viewer’s Choice Award: PSA/Commercial"

How To Pick Up Chicks

by Jack Dunn & Charlie Hane

New Canaan High School



“Viewer’s Choice Award: Open Entry"

I Look So Bad Today

by Alyssa Khoo & Kristen Raffaele

New Canaan High School






HONORABLE MENTIONS




Peter Harvey, “The Art of Understanding”, New Canaan High School:

Creative Post Production in a documentary




Patxi Rizzo, “The Stone”, Rancho Bernardo High School, San Diego CA:

First out-of-state submission



FILM CLUB LEADERSHIP AWARDS




Nicholas LaMorte

Lauren Berardino

Isaac Marshall




PHOTOS FROM THE 2018 FILM FESTIVAL
























JUROR: William Fitzgerald JUOR: Tyler Kakac

















World Languages:







On 5/21 we celebrated our Latin Students. Our students did extremely well on the NLE this school year and were individually recognized for their efforts. In addition, we took the time to recognize students success at CT State Latin Day. NCHS was this year’s recipient of The Nancy Lister Summa Cum Virtute. The Nancy Lister Summa Cum Virtute (Best in Spirit) Award is given to the school who excels in participation and achievement in selected events at Latin Day. This year the events include: Declamation (recitation of a memorized Latin poem), Certamen (Jeopardy style competition with grammar, mythology, literature, history and derivatives questions), Banner, Costumes, and School Tunica contests. Congratulations to our students!


CT Seal Of Biliteracy - This is the first year the State of Connecticut is offering students an opportunity to receive a Seal of Biliteracy on their transcript and on their diploma. This school year, 82% of our students qualified for the Seal of Biliteracy! We are so very proud of each of these students, their motivation to succeed and their dedication to the study of a second language! Congratulations to all!


Library:

Click on this link to read the library update!