Dear NCHS Family,
On behalf of the New Canaan Scholarship Foundation, we thank our NCHS families and the New Canaan community for their unwavering support of our recent NCSF Color Drop event. Your contributions have made a tangible difference in the lives of our students, providing them with invaluable opportunities for their future education; we couldn’t have done it without you. Congratulations to Ray Williamson on winning the truck and to all the prize winners
DEBATE TEAM NEWS:
Congratulations to the NCHS Debate Team and coach Nancy Stevens for completing a successful 2023-24 season with six students qualifying for CT Debate Association State Finals, held this past Saturday, March 23rd. Sophomores Ayush Dave and Emma Hassan placed first in the Novice Team Division, and senior Ankita Kuttichirayil placed second in the Varsity Speaker Division. Other students who qualified for this highly competitive event were Thomas Crehan, Alma Hsu, and Sophia LaMagna. The Debate Team is open to all students, regardless of experience. Anyone interested in joining should contact Mrs. Stevens (nancy.stevens@ncps-k12.org).
RamJam 2024 was a resounding success, drawing in a crowd that filled the auditorium to capacity. Over 100 seniors took to the stage, showcasing their prom wear with confidence and style while also participating in lively skits. The energy was amplified by the presence of the live RamJam band, which provided the perfect soundtrack for the evening. Thank you to the RamJam chairs, Megan Sibbett and Meghan Finnigan, for their behind-the-scenes work in making this a fun and exciting event for our senior class. And a special shout out to Suzy Nolan for capturing the magic of the evening with the photos below.
Each time the National Honor Society students visit Bridgeport Classical Magnet School, it is not just an ordinary trip; it is a profound experience that leaves a lasting impact on both the visitors and the students they interact with. On Tuesday, the NHS students stepped into the classrooms and were greeted with warmth and excitement by the young students. What is immediately evident is the children’s openness and closeness, instantly forming bonds that transcend the boundaries of age and background.
Max Stossel, a renowned Social Media expert, shares insights for students dealing with constant phone and social media presence. He reveals tactics tech companies use to grab our attention and offers strategies to navigate this digital world mindfully. By empowering students with practical tools, Max aims to help them regain control over their tech usage and strike a healthy balance. His goal is to inspire students to be more intentional in their interaction with technology, fostering academic and personal success in today’s digital age.
Max will present to both students and parents on April 4th. The students will have a presentation during the day, and the parents will have a program, Social Media and Your Kids, at 7 p.m. on the evening of April 4th in the Saxe Middle School Auditorium.
DEPARTMENT NEWS:
ENGLISH:
Ms. Brown and Ms. Hamill’s AP Language and Composition students conduct individual research (interviews, fieldwork, surveys) to craft persuasive letters about important issues and policies they would like to see addressed in their local communities. Students use rhetorical techniques like anaphora, chiasmus, epistrophe, and antithesis to persuade NCHS faculty and administrators, New Canaan community members and town officials, and even a few Connecticut State officials to encourage positive and meaningful change in their worlds. Inspired by model writers like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Frederick Douglass, students feel empowered as they exercise their voices to encourage change. Well done, everyone!
Students in Ms. Steidl’s Creative Writing Class headed to the Carriage Barn to see the student art on display. They observed the art and then used that to inspire their writing as they developed their vignettes using the different techniques of that genre. Congrats to all the student artists!
MATH:
Mrs. Buccieri’s Algebra 1 class students worked in groups to practice simplifying radicals.
This week, students in Mrs. Perrino’s Algebra 2 class are learning about the unit circle and how angles can be measured in degrees and radians. They will then apply this knowledge to finding area sectors and arc length.
In Mrs. Perrino’s M2 Algebra 1 class, students just started their new unit on Radicals this week. They are exploring the difference between rational and irrational radicals and how to write a radical in its simplest form.
This week, Mrs. Perrino’s M3 Algebra 1 class students are applying their knowledge of radicals to solve quadratic equations. Exploring quadratics will extend into the next few weeks, and students will learn many ways to solve quadratic equations.
SCHOOL COUNSELING:
Course selection has closed, and the deadline to be considered for recommendation review is Monday, April 1st. Here’s the link to the Appeal Form. After April 1st, no changes can be made in the student portal. All students have been invited to meet with their counselor about their schedule through a PE or Junior English class and then through follow-up appointments. If a student has not met with their counselor by Monday, we will create a schedule for them. Parents can log in to the portal to see their children’s selections.
Seniors: We know that the final round of college decisions has finally arrived. If you are now on a college waitlist that you would like to pursue, please see your counselor for advice on how to proceed.
Financial Aid: Many students are still waiting on financial aid awards due to the FAFSA backlog, but you can all start the New Canaan scholarship application process. You will need the CSS Profile to apply. (The code to use for the CSS profile is 7929.) For all scholarship opportunities, please visit our scholarship page.
Sophomores: Counselors will see you during Building Block next week to discuss the College Search process. Look for more information about where to go.
VPA:
Deadline to Submit: Friday, April 26th
Festival Award Night: Wednesday, May 22nd
STUDENTS: PLEASE READ THE FILM FESTIVAL GUIDELINES
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM!
Mrs. Sinski’s Photography 2 class had a visiting artist this week – former NCHS Alumni Evelyn Harvey returned to the photography lab to give the advanced photography class a hands-on experience with “Cyanotype Printing.”
Students used ‘negatives’ of their photographs to create a blocking stencil for the sun/emulsion chemical process of a cyanotype. Below are images of Evelyn teaching the students about UV light rays, timing exposures, mixing chemistry, and applying it to special paper rinsed out in a series of water and vinegar baths.
Students allowed their cyanotype prints to be exposed to sun rays for pre-calculated lengths of time, resulting in the beautiful blue cyan color you see in their images…
LIBRARY:
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