Dear NCHS Family,
This will be our last weekly update for the 2018-2019 school year. It has been a pleasure celebrating and sharing NCHS activities this year. Finals week is approaching and it can be the most stressful time for a student. Ensure you’re prepared for your exams with good study skills, which can help you conquer your finals. There’s a lot to be said about a good night’s sleep. Therefore, make sure you’re well rested so that you can be fully focused during your exams. Please click here for the end of year exam schedule.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer!
New Canaan Scholarship Fund:
The scholarship foundation endowment fund continues to grow every year. Yesterday, we had the honor of recognizing 28 endowed and named scholarships at the annual scholarship breakfast. This year NCSF gave out $102,000 to students who were in need of scholarship. The scholarship foundation switched to an endowment campaign three years ago and we have already raised over $400,000 towards our endowment. We have a 10 year goal of creating a $1,000,000 endowment. Below is a picture of former Math teacher and Department Chair, Norman Ricker with two scholarship award winners. Norman had two scholarships created in his honor this year. Congratulations to all of the recipients!
This week, we received a pledge for an endowment from retiring teacher Richard Webb – please see his Bio below.
Teacher To Retire, Will Endow Scholarship Fund at NCHS
After 24 years of exemplary award-winning service, Richard Webb is retiring from New Canaan High School. Keynote Speaker for the Class of 1995 and Class of 2013 Graduation Ceremonies, for a decade Webb served as New Canaan High School Department Head for Social Studies.
Webb began his educational career at C.E.S. Giant Steps Program teaching autistic students academics and life skills. At NCHS Webb taught Business, English and Social Studies in the Evening Instructional Program as well as Advanced Placement World History, Ancient History, AP US History, Modern European History and inaugurated the NCHS AP Summer Preparation Course.
He was Leader K-12 Social Studies Leadership Team, the largest curriculum writing project in NCPS Social Studies history and co-author of K-12 Social Studies Enduring Understandings and K-12 Social Studies Skills Set. He codified the PERSIA+GT Model as a unifying formula for NCPS students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Webb led Professional Development for the Social Studies Department and was a member of Student Recognition Committee, Graduation Standards Committee, Guidance Curriculum Review Committee, Honor Society Committee, Student Life Committee, and was a Representative to the System-Wide Review Board. He was a recipient of the Town of New Canaan Volunteer of the Year Award as well as the Town of New Canaan Community Service Award. He was Class Advisor from 1996 -2000 and The Channel 12 News The Challenge Advisor for NCHS and established an internship program for NCHS juniors at Voices of September 11.
Additionally, he had taught Master’s Degree candidates as an Adjunct Professor in the Education Department at Sacred Heart University. He earned a M.A.T as well as completed the Educational Administrator Program at Sacred Heart University.
Teaching was his third career. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a BA in History he worked in the music industry in Nashville. In 1988 he was a White House Liaison and Campaign Coordinator for Southern Fairfield County in the George Bush For President Campaign.
He is on the Board of The Westport Historical Society, The Fairfield Museum and The Sasquanaug Society and engages in archival research at The Pequot Library. His best-selling book Boats Against The Current, The Honeymoon Summer of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald was published in 2019 and his documentary Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story will premiere in 2020.
There have been many numerous additions to the NCHS Scholarship fund, for more information on recent endowments and about the scholarship foundation, please click here.
Graduation:
NCHS Graduation ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th at Dunning Stadium at
5:00 p.m. with a rain date of June 19th. 
A New Tradition @ NCHS(Seniors only)
“One Last Walk Together”
Graduation is a celebration of your accomplishments and growth since beginning your educational journey. This year, we would like to begin a new tradition which will include putting on your caps and gowns and walking through the hallways of South, East, West and Saxe, one last time as a graduating class. This will be an opportunity to celebrate the New Canaan School Community. Even if you never attended our elementary schools, this is a chance to commemorate and reflect on your academic journey. This is a wonderful experience to share with younger students and your former teachers. They look up to you and are proud of you – even if you don’t know it!
On Monday, June 17th, we will be taking this journey. Please arrive at NCHS at 8:30 am wearing your cap and gown. Please click on this link to see a brief video that highlights the experience of another school.
Graduation Lawn Signs:
It’s not too late to order your lawn sign! What a great way to celebrate our NCHS Seniors! Buy a graduation lawn sign to display on your lawn or buy one as a gift for a family member or friend. Signs are $40 please click here if you would like to purchase one.
Attendance:
Important notice; students leaving campus for a medical/dental/orthodontist appointment must bring in a doctor’s note in order to excuse the absence. Also, if a student is feeling ill during the school day, they must go to the nurse’s office to be dismissed home. Students leaving without going through the nurse will not have their absence excused. Please note: students cannot miss a PE or Health class to study for a core class. The absence will not be excused.
Thank you for your cooperation with this matter. Please email nchsattendance@ncps-k12.org or call 203-594-4672 to report an absence and/or if you have any questions or concerns.
NCTV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKEuNm2Tot0
Upcoming Events:
6/8 ACT – NCHS – 7:30 am
6/12 – 6/18 Final Exams
6/17 “One Last Walk Together” – Seniors only – 8:30 am NCHS
6/18 Graduation – 5:00 pm – Dunning Stadium
6/19 Last Day of School – Half day
Best,
Bill Egan
Department News:
Athletics:
New Canaan girls golf three-peats as state champions with record score! Congratulations!
The New Canaan Rams shot a 320 and won their third consecutive CIAC state girls golf championship at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull on Tuesday, June 4, 2019. From left are Morgan Hibbert, Stirling Legge, Meghan Mitchell, Julia Bazata, Molly Mitchell, Michelle Siegel and head coach Priscilla Schulz.
Social Studies:
On May 30, the Sophomore class participated in the 11th annual Sophomore Model United Nations Simulation. This year’s simulations featured rooms tackling post-war Japanese occupation, the Kashmir crisis, North/South Korean relations, BREXIT, and Yugoslavian/Bosnian truth and reconciliation. Students spent the day playing the role of delegates in committee meetings around the building. A special thanks to the many members of the Model UN Club who create the background materials, orchestrate the rooms and manage the debate. Below are a few pictures from opening ceremonies and a several of the simulation rooms.
On May 23, the annual Wilburn Fellowship awards and presentation ceremony was held in the Wagner Room. This year’s recipients of the award were Theo Kammerer and Peter Heron. Their project “Breaking the Bubble” tackled issues related to immigration, refugees and migration. They conducted in-depth interviews with several immigrants to the United States to document their stories of loss and displacement. Their goal is to share those stories with others, raise awareness of issues related to immigration and host discussions of solutions through websites and their interviews. Several other projects were recognized at this year’s ceremony including finalist “Bridging Our Communities Through Stem” by Griffen Dayton, semifinalists “Building Bridges” by Delaney Smith and Kiera Mastey and several other projects – “The International Kitchen” by Helen Culpepper and Elizabeth Dolan, and “Spreading Awareness On Organ Donation” by Hannah Swimm and Mia Gallo. Thanks to all who participated. If you would like to participate in next year’s Wilburn Fellowship, application materials and information can be found at http://www.thewilburnfellowship.org/. Below are a few pictures from this year’s presentation.
English:
Last week the English department descended upon Waveny to score 670 student portfolios! Over the course of two days, the 9th and 10th-grade teams calibrated, reviewed, and discussed student work from all sections. It was an exhaustive but rewarding effort! Portfolio scores, along with score explanations/descriptors, should be available in the portal this week.
On Friday, the department honored a series of outstanding juniors and seniors who have distinguished themselves at NCHS. The list of individual awards can be found in the program of the awards ceremony, but here are a few highlights:
And last but not least, Spectator, the NCHS student literary magazine is out! Congratulations to Ms. Hamill and all the student editors of Spectator — well done!
Science:
Honors Earth science finished their unit of projectile motion by launching water balloons with a slingshot, after completing detailed (and mostly accurate!) calculations to determine where it would land. Thank you to Mrs. Carriero for being a good sport and a great target!
Physics students have been studying optics. Here they are shown working on a series of labs to learn about reflection and refraction of light.
Anatomy and physiology students dissected fetal pigs.
Chemistry students used the ideal gas law to calculate the pressure that makes popcorn kernels pop.
AP Physics C students examine projectile motion through air-powered rockets.
Mrs. Kemp’s class had fun tye-dying today!
VPA News:
On Monday, June 3, the NCHS Chamber Orchestra lead by Leo Ficks performed for residents at Waveny Care Center. Music selections included the opera “Carmen” by Bizet, a Beatles medley, Themes from the television show “Star Trek” and Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango”. The people at Waveny Care Center were a great audience. You won’t find a more appreciative and attentive group of listeners.
NCHS Chamber Orchestra performers:
Noah Dorfsman, Alyssa Feng, Lillie Gray, Alyssa Khoo, Cella Kove, Peter Mason, Max Murzia, JoJo O’Brien, Olivia Prazenka-Moor, Mikey Rivas, Nikka Staron, Nick Woods.
NCHS Choir wins superior rating and first place at Music in the Parks Festival!
On Friday, May 24, the Concert Choir participated in the Music in the Parks Festival in Jackson, NJ with an adjudication by collegiate vocal directors and an awards ceremony at Six Flags Great Adventure. The Choir was awarded a Superior rating for their performance and were named Best Overall High School Choir for the festival. Congratulations, NCHS Choir students!
World Languages:
It has been a fantastic year for the Latin program at NCHS: for the second year in the row our school received the Nancy Lister Award, Summa Cum Virtute Best in Spirit Award at CT State Latin Day. This award is bestowed on the school whose students participate in several academic competitions and show their Roman spirit by wearing their tunics throughout the day. Our students not only participated, but actually won most of those competitions: 
Upper Declamation (poetry recitation):
- 1st place: Kevin Brunner
- 2nd place:Isabella Fernandez &
- 3rd place:Yukta Sant
Upper Certamen (Latin quiz bowl): 1st Place (Eyssa Grogan, Peter Vigano, Hannah Swimm, Anna-Therese Mehra and Alexa Madrid) (here with the 2nd place winners)
Mosaics: 1st place: Nina Sirois, 3rd place: Sydney Haydu and Alyssa Siuan Feng
Couple Costume, 3rd place: Michelle Siegel and Matthew Robbins
and many awards in academic contests:
Grammar:
- 1st place: Anna Therese Mehra
- 2nd place: Hannah Swimm
- 3rd place: Elyssa Grogan
Derivatives:
- 1st place: Elyssa Grogan
- 2nd place: Isabella Fernandez &
- 3rd place: Michelle Siegel
Mythology:
- 1st place: Alexa Madrid
- 3rd place: Alex Hsu
and History: 2nd place: Griffin Hill.
Moreover, 48 students that received gold, silver and Perfect Papers certificates on National Latin Exam, were honored on Friday, May 24th in a small award ceremony.
At this ceremony, Anna Therese Mehra received the prestigious Carter Stubbs Drake Goad Book Award who is awarded to the students who have four years of perfect papers.This a significant accomplishment as at Level IV, out of approximately 5000 test takers, only 17 students received it.
Additionally, she and Tara Chugh received the Maureen O’Donnell Oxford Classical Dictionary Award in recognition of their outstanding achievement of having won five gold medals on NLE. Congratulations for this remarkable feat, as less than 500 students received this dictionary, out of approximately 140,000 students from USA and around the world that had taken this exam!
NCHSWeeklyUpdate 