JUNE 2022
The final exam schedule is as follows:
Monday, June 6th Day A
Tuesday, June 7th Day B
Wednesday, June 8th Day C Regular schedule & Exam prep
Thursday, June 9th 7:45 - 9:15 Period 1 exams
10:15 - 11:45 Period 2 exams
Friday, June 10th 7:45 - 9:15 Period 3 exams
10:15 - 11:45 Period 4 exams
Monday, June 13th Day D Regular schedule and Exam prep
Tuesday, June 14th 7:45 - 9:15 Period 5 exams
10:15 - 11:45 Period 6 exams
Wednesday, June 15th 7:45 - 9:15 Period 7 exams
10:15 - 11:45 Period 8 exams
Thursday, June 16th Exam make-up and review
Friday, June 17th Exam make-up and review
Graduation for the class of 2022: Thursday, June 16th at 10:30 am
Last day of school: Friday, June 17th
Working Papers during the summer:
For students who need working papers after the end of the school year: students should email maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org with a copy of your promise of employment and proof of age (if you are not a NCHS student) to request working papers for employment in the state of Connecticut.
Summer Assignments - Please note that some advanced courses will require summer work. Most students will be made aware of this prior to the end of the year, but assignments will also be posted on the main page of the high school website.
MAY 2022
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS
Students who are currently enrolled in AP courses and have registered to test will be sitting for Advanced Placement examinations from May 2nd to May 13th 2022. The times and locations of exams are posted throughout the building and have been emailed to students. For questions about AP Exams, students should contact Ms. Lindsay Reihl or Mrs. Erica Schaedler in the counseling office.
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.org/ap/creditpolicy
School Counselors are always here to assist you in making standardized testing as positive an experience as possible for each individual student. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
SUMMER JOBS: The Youth Employment Service has some job posting for summer employment. Most jobs require the student to be at least 16 years of age.Students must be registered with Y.E.S. first to apply for these jobs. Registration forms are available in the College and Career Center or from susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org
If your teen needs working papers for his or her employment, the College and Career Center is the place to visit! After securing the position, the student needs to bring the “promise” of employment on the employer’s letterhead to receive working papers. Please note that under State of Connecticut law, working papers can only be given for employment that agrees with Department of Labor age appropriate guidelines (also available in the CCC). You can email Maria Poccia in School Counseling for these papers. maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org
NCC Live: Norwalk Community College is holding an event on May 13 for interested juniors and seniors who may want to attend NCC. Students will attend classes and have lunch at NCC. The event is free. If you are interested, please contact your school counselor.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Information about these opportunities can be found in Naviance, under the Colleges tab. Scroll down to Enrichment Programs. Another good source of information about different summer programs can be found at
https://www.teenlife.com/category/summer/?program-type=summer .
APRIL 2022
Course Registration for 2022/2023
- Students have submitted their requests for next year’s classes online using the PowerSchool portal and counselors have completed their individual sessions with students to review their proposed classes.
- The deadline to submit an appeal for reconsideration of placement is midnight on April 1st, 2022. All submitted appeals will be reviewed and notification of decisions will be sent out prior to the end of the year.
- If your son/daughter has further questions, please ask them to contact their counselor without delay.
- Next year’s Master Schedule will be constructed using data from students’ requests.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.org/ap/creditpolicy
Students who are currently enrolled in AP courses will be sitting for Advanced Placement examinations in May. For questions about AP Exams students should contact Ms. Lindsay Reihl or Mrs. Erica Schaedler in the counseling office.
School Counselors are always here to assist you in making standardized testing as positive an experience as possible for each individual student. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Academic News
The last day of the third quarter is April 1st 2022.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
SUMMER JOBS: The Youth Employment Service has job listings for summer employment. Students must be registered with Y.E.S. first to apply for these jobs. Registration forms are available in the College and Career Center or from susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org
If your teen needs working papers for his or her employment, the College and Career Center is the place to visit! After securing the position, the student needs to bring the “promise” of employment on the employer’s letterhead to receive working papers. Please note that under State of Connecticut law, working papers can only be given for employment that agrees with Department of Labor age appropriate guidelines (also available in the CCC). You can email Maria Poccia in School Counseling for these papers. maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org
NCC Live: Norwalk Community College is holding an event on May 13 for interested juniors and seniors who may want to attend NCC. Students will attend classes and have lunch at NCC. The event is free. If you are interested, please contact your school counselor.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Information about these opportunities can be found in Naviance, under the Colleges tab. Scroll down to Enrichment Programs. Students may also stop in the College and Career Center and speak to Mrs. Carroll for more information
MARCH 2022
8TH GRADE ORIENTATION EVENING:
March 3rd, 2022
6:30-8:30PM.
COURSE SELECTION FOR 2021/2022
The new Program of Studies information for the school year 2022-2023 is available on the NCHS website. Please encourage your child to carefully read the options for next year, paying attention to the elective classes. All students can go into their portals through their own account (not the parent account) to view the courses that they have been recommended for and select their classes for next year. Academic course placements have been entered in the system. Students will be asked to select one or two classes as their primary elective choice and then must list SIX backups. Students need to click onto each academic area to confirm this selection. Should your child wish to appeal for a more rigorous course, they may click on the ‘Request for Reconsideration of Placement’ link to complete the appropriate form.
Students are requested to preliminarily complete their course selections by March 4th.
Counselors will begin meeting with each student individually in March through PE classes (for 9th and 10th graders) and through English classes (for 11th graders).
Changes can be made through the end of March. There is an instructional tutorial on the School Counseling website or click the link here. Course selection tutorial
The portal will close on April 1 for course selection and this is also the deadline for students to complete an Appeal for Reconsideration of a Placement.
More advice for course selection:
- Please encourage your child to review ALL of the elective offerings.
- NCHS students must meet minimum graduation distribution requirements across every subject area, and must take at least one semester course that counts as Fine Arts and one semester to count for Career and Technical Education.
- All students are now required to graduate with 25 credits. Please refer to your child’s Academic Road Map from the Freshman Appointment for additional credit distribution requirements.
- Students should take on challenges in their courses but ensure that they are able to perform well. It is best to seek increased rigor in courses the student enjoys.
- Keep a balanced schedule. Colleges want candidates for admission who continue to take classes across all academic disciplines. Most have a core curriculum and students will be required to continue with at least one class in all five areas.
- Stress to your student that this is their own individual course of studies. Taking classes to be with friends is fine for non-academic electives, but not advisable when selecting academic classes.
- Remind your child that if they have questions they should seek help from counselors and teachers.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Third quarter Progress Reports will be available on Thursday afternoon March 3, 2022 on the portal. This is a good time to look in the portal with your student to review their performance. Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course. Please call the school counselor if you need further assistance.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.org/ap/creditpolicy
Students who are currently enrolled in AP courses are encouraged to take Advanced Placement examinations in May. For questions about AP Exams students should contact Ms. Lindsay Reihl or Mrs. Erica Schaedler in the counseling office.
School Counselors are always here to assist you in making standardized testing as positive an experience as possible for each individual student. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Summer jobs are beginning to be posted on the job board in the College and Career Center. The early bird catches the worm!
Gap Year Info session:
Darien High School is hosting a virtual Gap Year information session with Gap Year Solutions this Thursday, March 3 at 7:00PM ET. They are happy to have students and parents from other schools join. To register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScW360YJM38MNPNHK5_HGjz0AnIeiFhHQ3j4Gqu6Cf8VFNz1A/viewform
Title: Discover Gap Years!
Description: Curious about Gap Years? Ever wondered if taking a Gap Year is right for you? The Gap Year option continues to grow. Students are embracing the opportunity to step off the traditional academic track and engage in experiences which increase confidence, independence, maturity and college readiness. Join Katherine Stievater, Founder of Gap Year Solutions, for a presentation and Q&A about the benefits of Gap time, and how to plan a transformational and purposeful Gap Year on any budget.
FEBRUARY 2022
We are now in the second semester!
Please remember that only semester grades appear on the official New Canaan High School transcript, not quarter or exam grades.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
A number of our students receive invitations to special summer programs. From Telluride Institute to the National Youth Leadership Conference, each targets a particular group of students with special interests. Many of these programs offer great learning opportunities and are worth considering. BUT it is unrealistic to think that participation in any of these programs will have an impact on college admission decisions.
The bottom line is this: consider any invitations that arrive on your doorstep for the learning and growth that may occur for your child, but don’t sign up if the main reason is that you’re doing so to help your child gain credentials to influence college admission.
COURSE SELECTION
Early in the second semester we will begin to ask students what classes they hope to take next year. Teachers of core subjects will make placement recommendations for each student by mid-February based on first semester performance in current classes. Here are some general words of advice:
- Please encourage your child to review ALL of the elective offerings.
- Students should read the details of each course carefully. The Program of Studies for 2022-2023 will be available on the high school website shortly. NCHS students must meet minimum graduation distribution requirements by taking at least one semester course that counts as Fine Arts and one semester to count for Career and Technical Education.
- All students will now be required to graduate with 25 credits. Please refer to your child’s Academic Road Map from the Freshman Appointment for additional credit distribution requirements.
- Students should take on challenges in their courses but ensure that they are able to perform well. It is best to seek increased rigor in courses the student enjoys.
- Keep a balanced schedule. Colleges want candidates for admission who continue to take classes across all academic disciplines. Most have a core curriculum and students will be required to continue with at least one class in all five areas.
- Stress to your student that this is their own individual course of studies. Taking classes to be with friends is fine for non-academic electives but not advisable when selecting academic classes.
- Remind your child that if they have questions they should seek help from counselors and teachers.
- There will be further information about Course Registration in the next few weeks and counselors will meet with each student one-on-one prior to the scheduling deadline of April 1st.
Have a restful and healthy February vacation!
JANUARY 2022
Happy New Year!
School Counseling walk-in time is between 11:00 and 12:00 every day Please stop at Mrs. Poccia’s desk and she will contact your counselor for a drop-in visit.
All students: Check your email every day and respond to emails sent to you - important notices and correspondence from teachers, counselors and NCHS Administration are sent through NCPS email.
OTHER ACADEMIC NEWS
NCHS 8th Grade Orientation will be held on the evening of March 3, 2022 at 7pm.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Gap Year Fair:
- Come to Fairfield Ludlowe High School to meet with gap year program providers and get the inside scoop on taking a gap year in 2022 & beyond! January 13 6-8 pm To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairfield-usa-gap-year-fair-2022-registration-218933474917?aff=GYFeventsct
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR
Please visit this website for information about virtual College fairs
SEMESTER EXAMS
Midterm exams for 2021-2022 start on Thursday January 13. The link for the detailed schedule can be found on the main page of the NCHS Website.
Please note that these assessments only count for up to 10% of the semester grade.
DECEMBER 2021
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Mid–Quarter Progress Reports are due on December 10th and will be available through PowerSchool shortly thereafter.
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Parents and Students, Please join us for: |
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Trends in College Admissions - NCHS Counselors welcome Jeff Selingo in a Webinar - Thursday, December 2nd at 7 pm
Jeff Selingo is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, College (Un)Bound, There Is Life After College and his newest, out last year, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions. For more than twenty years, his in-depth reporting and powerful storytelling has provided insight about the inner workings of universities and a practical roadmap for higher ed’s future to students, parents, college leaders, and business executives.
Mr. Selingo’s newest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, takes readers on a journey through the selection process from inside three admissions offices, Emory, Davidson and U Washington, revealing what really matters to the gatekeepers of highly selective institutions and how the ultimate decisions are made.
Please join the New Canaan, Darien and Staples High Schools in a webinar on Thursday, December 2nd at 7pm for Mr. Selingo’s latest insights on college admissions trends. This program is geared towards juniors and seniors.
You must pre- register for the webinar by following this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uL1c5rp9TZaFx05aRO6Lsw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you are interested in purchasing a signed copy of Mr. Selingo's latest book, visit. https://800ceoread.com/coupons/redeem/whogetsinandwhy
GENERAL NEWS
If your child is considering an application to a private school or for a summer program please note that there is a package of information with forms to be completed. This is available on the School Counseling website - see links on the left side of the page. Please note that the deadline for applying to many private/boarding schools is usually January 15th.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
GAP Year: there is plenty of information available about the Gap Year through webinars such as the ones listed here: https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs
HAPPY HOLIDAYS Best wishes for a restful vacation.
NOVEMBER 2021
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The first quarter will end on November 5th. Report Cards will be available on the Powerschool portal once grades have been verified.
LINK TO THE PRESENTATION FROM FINANCIAL AID NIGHT:
https://www.ncps-k12.org/Page/3010
You are invited to use this link to review the presentation that was given on Financial Aid Night on October 14, 2021.
PLEASE NOTE:
To make an appointment with their school counselor, students need to email Maria Poccia directly or stop at her desk to speak with her. Mrs. Poccia has access to all counselor calendars in addition to the student schedules and can easily schedule a time to meet. This is recommended as the most efficient and convenient method.
College Admissions Event
Making Sense of College Admissions - A Conversation with Jeff Selingo.
Mark your calendar for a special college admissions event for NCHS junior and senior students and parents on Thursday, December 2nd at 7:00pm. With the generous support from the NCHS PFA, we have invited author Jeff Selingo back for a virtual conversation about the current college admissions landscape.
Jeff Selingo has written about higher education for more than two decades and is a New York Times bestselling author of three books. His latest book,
Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was published in
September 2020 and was named among the 100 Notable Books of the year by the New York Times. A regular contributor to The Atlantic, Jeff is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also co-hosts the podcast FutureU. Joining us for this webinar will be families from Staples and Darien High Schools. The webinar link will be available the day of the event
College and Career Center
The job board in the College and Career Center has many listings. Swing by if you are interested in making some money this holiday season!
OCTOBER 2021
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College VIRTUAL ZOOM PROGRAM
Thursday October 14th 2021 7:00PM
A Zoom link will be sent closer to this date.
This presentation takes the mystery out of financial aid and college costs for students and parents. Understanding financial aid enables you to make good college choices and informed decisions to manage college costs. We’ll discuss how to identify your student’s need and merit profile and learn how to match that with college awarding policies so you can identify affordable colleges.
Our presenter, Bill Smith, is an expert at calculating need; determining the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) using both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile methodologies. He also became an expert in "packaging," the process colleges use to determine how much merit and need-based aid to award, and the mix of gift aid, loans, and work-study.
This program is open to all grades. It's never too early to learn about Financial Aid!
Mid-Quarter Progress Reports will be available on the Power School portal on October 4th. Please contact your student’s teachers if you have questions.
College and Career Center
We have a calendar of College Visits. This can be found on Naviance - click on “College Visits.” It is also on the School Counseling website and the College and Career Center’s bulletin board.
Some of these will take place on Zoom and others will be in person.
Students should sign up in Naviance prior to each visit, 48 hours ahead of time for Zoom sessions and 24 hours for in-person visits. Students should click on their Colleges I’m Thinking About, Quick Links, College Visits. Please remind your student to ask for their teacher’s permission to attend a visit if they are in a class at that time.
There is also a Regret Form for students who cannot miss class. This can be found under Senior Information on the School Counseling website.
AP Classes
Beginning October 18, students will be able to sign into Total Registration to order and pay for their AP Exams. Please keep an eye out for communication from Ms. Reihl and Ms. Schaedler with instructions for ordering and paying for exams.
SETTLING IN
We are at the midpoint of the first marking period and students should now be settled into their classes.
- Do check the portal for progress, but it is best to limit this to once a week rather than daily. Please remember that grades fluctuate with each entered grade so do not panic if a grade is low at this point but see your teacher for help!
- Each student should have a system to keep track of upcoming assignments, deadlines and appointments. Teachers are using Schoology so please ensure your child is aware of this system to help them stay organized.
- Each Tuesday we now have “Ram Time,” which is a half hour at the end of the day where students are required to check in with one of their teachers, with the option to remain in their current classroom. (The campus is closed during Ram Time).
- Get involved in clubs and activities. The Club Fair will be virtual on the NCHS website again this year. It takes place on October 5th and your student will have the opportunity to sign up for clubs during that week and in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, to get a flavor of what we offered last year, please visit the NCHS website under Co-Curricular Activities.
- If students need support or help please have them see their School Counselor.
AUG/SEPT 2021
WELCOME TO THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR!
- A Virtual Open House will take place on Thursday September 9, 2021. Freshman Parent Orientation begins at 6:30pm.
- Financial Aid Evening (open to all grades) is scheduled for Thursday, October 14th at 7:00 pm.
Welcome back to our faculty, especially to those joining us this year and to all students and their families.
The School Counseling Office is open for students to see their counselors during free periods and by appointment. Students should see the Counseling Administrative Assistant, Maria Poccia, to find out when their counselor is available. Students may also email Mrs. Poccia at maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org to make an appointment. If this matter is URGENT, please have her/him indicate this and we will make every effort to see the student as soon as possible. Parents are welcome to email counselors if they have questions.
The College and Career Center is up and running for the new school year. Mrs. Carroll has scheduled many college visits for the fall, both in-person and virtual. Please visit the School Counseling page on the NCHS website for more information and follow the College and Career Center on Twitter (@nchscolcar) and Facebook (NCHS College and Career Center ) for the latest news on college admissions, financial aid internships.
GETTING INVOLVED
Whether you are a senior or an incoming freshman, NCHS offers MANY opportunities to become involved outside the classroom.
For freshmen and new to NCHS students, more details will follow on the many clubs, activities and volunteer opportunities for our students. Listen for announcements about the Club Fair! Meanwhile students can explore these opportunities by going to the Co-Curricular Activities page on the school website, under the Students tab, to find a list of those that were offered last year.
Your school counselors are here to help students to make this year the best yet at NCHS!
June 2021
ACADEMIC NEWS FOR ALL GRADES
Thursday June 17th LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
The exam schedule is as follows:
Monday June 7th Day G
TUESDAY JUNE 8TH All Classes Meet 1. 7:30-8:10
- 8:15-8:55
- 9:00-9:40
- 9:45-10:25
- 1st Lunch 10:30-10:55
2nd Lunch 11:00-11:20
3rd Lunch 11:25-11:50
- 11:55-12:35
- 12:40-1:20
- 1:25-2:05
EXAMS
Wed June 9th 7:45-9:15 8
10:15-11:45 7
Thurs June 10th 7:45-9:15 6
10:15-11:45 5
Fri June 11th 7:45-9:15 4
10:15-11:45 3
Mon June 14th 7:45-9:15 2
10:15-11:45 1
Senior Breakfast (Cafeteria) 8:15
Graduation Rehearsal (Cafeteria) 9:15
Tues June 15th 7:45-11:15 Make up
GRADUATION 10:30 AM
(Rain Date: Wednesday June 16th @10:30 am)
Wednesday June 16th Exam Review/Make Up
- 7:30-8:00
- 8:05-8:35
- 8:40-9:10
- 9:15-9:45
Thursday June 17th Exam Review/Make Up
- 7:30-8:00
- 8:05-8:35
- 8:40-9:10
- 9:15-9:45
Summer Assignments - Please note that some courses will require summer work. Most students will be made aware of this prior to the end of the year but assignments will also be posted on the main page of the high school website.
Mark Your Calendars Now and SAVE THIS DATE
The PSAT will be offered at New Canaan High School on Saturday, October 16th. Registration will be online through Total Registration from September 8th-19th. More information will be in the September Ramogram and in a mailing to juniors this summer from the School Counselors. The counselors recommend that all juniors take this test. .
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS for a job in CT, a student must email a promise of employment letter from the planned employer stating the hours of the job, wage information and a description of the job, in addition to a copy of the student’s birth certificate if the student does NOT attend NCHS, to Maria Poccia in the School Counseling office
(maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org). Working Papers are needed for most employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
Please encourage your child to take some time to relax this summer and come back refreshed and ready for the new school year.
HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2021, We are so proud of the way you have handled this unusual year and we will miss you.
MAY 2021
COURSE SELECTION AND REGISTRATION
The Master Schedule for next year is being constructed, using the courses that our students have requested.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Fourth Quarter Progress Reports are due on May 12th and available on the PowerSchool portal shortly thereafter.
NEWS FROM COLLEGES
Many colleges have created large waitlists because they don’t know how COVID will affect this graduating class. Students and families may again choose to wait a year before their child attends school. Some colleges have changed their commitment dates. Others are holding firm to the May 1st deadline. For our junior class, colleges are working hard to provide a wide range of virtual tours and info sessions to help students do research. We suggest that students spend time researching schools and for their top choices, dive deeper, looking at colleges’ social media accounts to get a better sense of what is important to the student body. Many colleges are also offering in-person visits, but these must be arranged in advance.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS
THE INFORMATION BELOW APPLIES ONLY TO STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AP CLASSES FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, 2020-2021
AP Exams will be administered at NCHS from May 3 through May 17. The times and locations of exams are posted throughout the building and have been emailed to all students. Also see below. If a student is testing with accommodations, he or she received their individual schedule via email on April 22.
Fully remote students or students with a conflict will be taking their AP exams digitally, at home, in the second administration of exams, beginning May 18. Instructions have been sent out to all digital test takers. It is crucial that students download and practice with the testing software prior to their exam date.
Any questions may be directed to Erica Schaedler or Lindsay Reihl in the counseling office.
ENROLLMENT FOR UCONN ECE COURSES
UCONN ECE has a new registration and enrollment system for next year. Students will not be able to register for classes until we return to school. The system has been modified and there will only be one step. Jane Mitchell and Nick Willett will be visiting all of the ECE classes during the first few days of school to introduce students to this new system and encourage them to sign up.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
College Fair: NACAC is sponsoring a college fair on May 2 at 1 pm with over 500 colleges participating in the virtual event.
Junior and sophomores should register at: https://virtualcollegefairs.org/events
Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen
Interested in Learning More about Our Nation’s Military Academies?
The CT Congressional Delegation Announces
The 2021 Military Service Academy Night
Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 5 p.m.
To register: https://senate.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcO2sqj8oHZNpu2iNmLoyQHsUram4WKk
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS, students should come to the College and Career Center with their promise of employment. Working Papers are needed for most formal employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
SUMMER PLANS
Finding summer employment continues to be difficult. We wish all of our students good luck in finding a job if this is their plan. Students might also see if they can volunteer to help organizations who need extra support.
Our Naviance system offers the opportunity for students to design and print a resume. We suggest that students use this part of Naviance as a place to keep track of their activities, updated every quarter, so that when students begin to complete their college applications they will have a storehouse of information that they might otherwise forget. If your child has not updated this section they can do so now and then use this information to create a resume.
The resume can be found under the “About Me” tab.
APRIL 2021
GENERAL NEWS FOR ALL GRADES
Course Registration for 2021/2022
- Students have submitted their requests for next year’s classes online using the PowerSchool portal and counselors have completed their individual sessions with students to review their proposed classes.
- The deadline to submit an appeal for reconsideration of placement is midnight on April 1st 2021. All submitted appeals will be reviewed and notification of decisions will be sent out prior to the end of the year.
- If your son/daughter has further questions, please ask them to contact their counselor without delay.
- Next year’s Master Schedule will be constructed using data from students’ requests.
Academic News-
Third quarter will end on April 1st 2021
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
SUMMER JOBS
The Youth Employment Service is beginning to receive job listings for summer employment. Students must be registered with Y.E.S. first to apply for these jobs. Registration forms are available in the College and Career Center or from susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org
If your teen needs working papers for his or her employment, the College and Career Center is the place to visit! After securing the position, the student needs to bring the “promise” of employment on the employer’s letterhead to receive working papers. Please note that under State of Connecticut law, working papers can only be given for employment that agrees with Department of Labor age appropriate guidelines (also available in the CCC). You can email Mrs Poccia in School Counseling for these papers. maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Information about these opportunities can be found in Naviance, under the Colleges tab. Scroll down to Enrichment Programs.
MAKING THE FINAL COLLEGE CHOICE DECISION
Your Point of View is probably different now. When you were doing your virtual visits, you were probably trying to absorb as much as possible all at once. And back then, you weren't sure if you'd even get in. Now that you're an accepted student, you look at the campus without the pressure of having to complete your application weighing you down—and with all the excitement of knowing, 'Hey, this school wants me!' You can now focus on the things that matter most to you, and really try to imagine yourself living there. This is the fun part!
- The best way to make your final decision. Speaking of choices, there's no better way to chop your list down to the final one than by re-researching each. It's as simple as that. By focusing only on the schools you were accepted to, you'll be able to make side-by-side comparisons of how you felt, what you saw, what you loved and what you disliked from each revisit—all leading you to decide on the best fit for you.
Your NCHS School Counselors are here to help!!!!
Have a great spring vacation! This has been a very busy time so please now rest and relax.
MARCH 2021
COURSE SCHEDULING FOR 2020/2021
The new Course of Studies information is available on the NCHS website. Please encourage your child to carefully read the options for next year, paying attention to the elective classes. All students can go into his/her portal through their own account (not the parent account) to view the courses that they have been recommended for and select their schedule for next year. Academic course placements will be entered in the system. Students will be asked to select one or two classes as their primary elective choice and then must list SIX backups. Students need to click onto each academic area to confirm this selection. Should your child wish to appeal for a more rigorous course, they will be able to click on the ‘Request for Reconsideration of Placement’ link to complete the appropriate form. Students are requested to preliminarily complete their course selections by March 1st as counselors will begin meeting with students, one-on-one, in March through PE classes (for 9th and 10th graders) and through English classes (for 11th graders).
Changes can be made through March. Find a tutorial on the School Counseling website or click the link here. Course selection tutorial
The portal will close on April 1 for course selection and this is also the deadline for students to complete an Appeal for Reconsideration of a Placement.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Third quarter Progress Reports will be available on March 3, 2021 on the portal. This is a good time to look in the portal with your son/daughter to review his/her performance. Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course. Please call the counselor if you need further assistance.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT REGISTRATION
Parents should look for a letter in the next week outlining changes to the 2021 AP exam schedule.
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
8TH GRADE VIRTUAL ORIENTATION EVENING IS ON March 4th 2020 From 7-9PM.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Summer jobs are beginning to be posted on the job board in the College and Career Center. The early bird catches the worm!
Gap Year: Have a student interested in a Gap Year? Fairfield Library is hosting a free virtual info session about Gap Year on March 30 at 7 pm...Register at:
https://fplct.librarymarket.com/events/virtual-why-gap-years-matter-more-ever-0
STANDARDIZED TESTING
The following is information for parents to address the issue of which standardized test their son/daughter should consider and when is the most appropriate time.
All Juniors should take a spring SAT or ACT. They can retake this test in the fall as seniors.Registration for these tests must be completed outside NCHS and is done online at
www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org
Students who are currently enrolled in AP courses are encouraged to take Advanced Placement examinations.
Final thoughts on testing…
- Testing is always stressful for all students.
- Please ensure that your child knows the time and location of any tests that they may be taking.
- Encourage them to prepare thoroughly, if necessary.
- Breakfast and a good night’s sleep also add to their comfort level.
School Counselors are always here to assist you in making standardized testing as positive an experience as possible for each individual student. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
FEBRUARY 2021
We are now in the second semester!
Please remember that only semester grades appear on the official New Canaan High School transcript, not quarter grades or exam marks.
Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
A number of our students receive invitations to special summer programs. From Telluride Institute to the National Youth Leadership Conference, each targets a particular group of students with special interests. Many of these programs offer great learning opportunities and are worth considering. BUT it is unrealistic to think that participation in any of these programs will have an impact on college admission decisions. The bottom line is this: consider any invitations that arrive on your doorstep because of the learning and growth that may occur for your child, but don’t sign up if the main reason is that you’re doing so to help your child gain credentials to influence college admission.
COURSE SELECTION
Early in the second semester we will begin to ask students what classes they hope to take for next year. Teachers of core subjects will make recommendations for each student by mid- February based on first semester performance in current classes. Here are some general words of advice:
- Please encourage your child to review ALL of the elective offerings.
- Students should read the details of each course carefully. The revised Program of Studies information will be available on the high school website shortly. NCHS students must meet graduation distribution requirements by taking at least one semester course that counts as Fine Arts and one semester to count for Career and Technical Education.
- Students in the classes of 2023 and 2024 will now be required to graduate with 25 credits.
- Students should take on challenges in their courses but ensure that they are able to perform well.
- Ask your child about their academic interests. It is always easier for students to study for a subject that they enjoy.
- Keep a balanced schedule. Colleges are “greedy” and want candidates for admission who continue to take classes in all of the academic disciplines. Most have a core curriculum and students will be required to continue with at least one class in all five areas.
- Stress to your son/daughter that this is his/her own course of studies. Taking classes to be with friends is not the best method for selecting classes.
- Remind your son /daughter that if they have questions they should seek help from counselors and/or teachers.
- There will be further information about Course Registration in the next few weeks and counselors will meet with each student one-on-one prior to the scheduling deadline.
Have a restful and healthy February vacation!
JANUARY 2021
Happy New Year
STUDENTS-PLEASE CHECK YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL EVERY DAY!
8th Grade Orientation will be held at NCHS on the evening of March 4th at 7pm .
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
GAP Year: Although Covid 19 is preventing the usual local Gap Year fairs, there is plenty of information available through webinars such as the ones listed here:
https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR
Please visit this website for information about virtual College fairs
SEMESTER EXAMS
Given these uncertain times, whenever possible students will not be having the traditional end of semester exams. In some cases such as AP courses and those taught through UCONN, there will be midterms.
Some classes will have a culminating experience or a Unit Assessment or project. Teachers will be explaining what will happen for individual classes to students and should students need more guidance they should talk/email directly with their teachers.
Tentative Schedule for the midterm/assessment week.
The expectation is that IF your child has an assessment of any kind during the two week period of January 11th through the 21st, they will be given on the days assigned.
The schedule is:
- Monday, 1/11 (H) and Tuesday, 1/12 (A) - English / Science
- Thursday, 1/14 (C) and Friday, 1/15 (D) - Social Studies / CTE / VPA
- Tuesday, 1/19 (E) and Thursday, 1/21 (F)* - World Language / Math
Please note that these assessments only count for up to 10% of the semester grade.
DECEMBER 2020
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Mid–Quarter Progress Reports are due on December 9th and will be available through PowerSchool shortly thereafter.
f your child is considering an application to a private school or for a summer program please note that there is a package of information with forms to be completed. This is available both online and through Mrs. Granite, our school Registrar in the School Counseling department.
Please note that the deadline for applying to many private/boarding schools is usually January 15th.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
GAP Year: Although Covid 19 is preventing the usual local Gap Year fair, there is plenty of information available through webinars such as the ones listed here:
https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs
Best wishes for a restful vacation
OCTOBER 2020
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College VIRTUAL ZOOM PROGRAM
Thursday October 8th 2020 7:00PM
Virtual Link will be sent nearer to this date
This presentation takes the mystery out of financial aid and college cost for students and parents. Understanding financial aid enables you to make good college choices and informed decisions to manage college costs. We’ll discuss how to identify your student’s need and merit profile and learn how to match that with college awarding policies so you can identify affordable colleges.
Our presenter Bill Smith is an expert at calculating need: determining the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) using both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile methodologies. He also became an expert in "packaging," the process colleges use to determine how much merit and need based aid to award, and the mix of gift aid, loans, and work-study.
This program is open to all grades. It's never too early to learn about Financial Aid...
Mid-Quarter Progress Reports are due on October 5, 2020 and will shortly be available on the portal in Powerschool.
Please contact your student’s teachers if you have questions.
College and Career Center
We have a calendar of College Visits. This can be found on the School Counseling website and on the College and Career Center’s bulletin board and on Naviance..
These will all be virtual. Students should sign up in Naviance 48 hours prior to the visit. And also fill out the google doc attached to the visit. Students should click on their Colleges I’m Thinking About, Quick Links, College Visits. Please remind your student to ask for their teacher’s permission if they are in a class.
There is also a Regret Form for students who cannot miss class. This can be found under Senior Information on the School Counseling website.
SETTLING IN
We are at the midpoint of the first marking period and students should now be settled into their classes.
- Do check Powerschool for progress but do not go into this system too often. Once each week is enough. Please remember that the grade fluctuates with each entered grade so do not panic if a grade is low at this point but see your teacher for help!
- Each student should have a system to keep track of upcoming assignments. Teachers are using Schoology so please ensure your child is aware of this system. One method that does not work is trying to remember!
- Get involved in clubs and activities. We are working on a virtual Club Fair. Meanwhile to get a flavor of what we offered last year please visit the NCHS web site under Co-Curricular Activities.
- If students need support or help please see your School Counselor
STAY WELL
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
WELCOME BACK TO THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
Open House will take place on Thursday September 10, 2020. Freshman Parent Orientation begins at 6:30pm. All programs will be virtual.
Financial Aid Evening (open to all grades) is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th
Welcome back to our faculty, especially to those joining us this year and to all students and their families.
The School Counseling Office is open but we need to limit how many students are in the guidance suite at one time. Therefore we ask that students please make appointments to see their counselors by contacting maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org to make an appointment.
Of course, should a student need to see us right away, he/she can still come by the office suite to see if we are available.
The College and Career Center is up and running for the new school year. Please visit our School Counseling page and follow the College and Career Center on Twitter (@nchscolcar) and Facebook (NCHS College and Career Center ) for the latest news on college admissions, financial aid internships.
GETTING INVOLVED
Whether you are a senior or an incoming freshman, NCHS offers MANY opportunities to become involved outside the classroom.
For freshmen and new to NCHS students, more details will follow on the many clubs, activities and volunteer opportunities for our students. Meanwhile students can explore these by going to the Co-Curricular Activities page on the school website, under the Students tab, to find a list of those that were offered last year.
Your school counselors are here to help students to make this year the best yet at NCHS.
Welcome back!
JUNE 2020
Tuesday June 16th LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
The school counselors are so proud of all of you for adapting to elearning and putting forth your best efforts. Please enjoy your summer and we look forward to hopefully SEEING all of you on our return to school.
Summer Assignments - Please note that some courses will require summer work. Most students will be made aware of this prior to the end of the year but assignments will also be posted on the main page of the high school website.
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS, a student must email a promise of employment letter from the planned employer stating the hours of the job, wage information and a description of the job, in addition to a copy of the student’s birth certificate if the student does NOT attend NCHS, to Mrs. Carroll in the College and Career Center (Susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org ). Working Papers are needed for most employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
Please encourage your child to take some time to relax this summer and come back refreshed and ready for the new school year.
HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2020, We applaud your spirit during your last semester of high school.
SEE YOU AT THE PARADE!
MAY 2020
Every senior should be in touch with her/his counselor to determine final plans for next year.
COURSE SELECTION AND REGISTRATION
The Master Schedule for next year is being constructed, using the courses that our students have requested.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Fourth quarter Progress Reports are due on May 15th and available on the PowerSchool portal shortly thereafter.
NEWS FROM COLLEGES
The Counselors continue to speak with colleges to get a sense of how COVID-19 is impacting them. They have many of the same unanswerable questions that we do for both the juniors and seniors. They are worried about how to help high school seniors make decisions. Many have created large waitlists because they don’t know how families will be impacted financially and may choose to wait a year before their child attends school. Some colleges have changed their commitment date from May 1st to June 1st. Others are holding firm to the May 1st deadline. For juniors, they cannot do the research the way they had hoped by visiting schools and getting a sense of what will be a good fit for them which may change how students apply next year. Colleges are working hard to provide a wide range of virtual tours and info sessions to help students make decisions. We advise both juniors and seniors to take advantage of these sessions. Spend time researching schools and for the top choices, dive deeper, looking at their social media accounts to get a better sense of what is important to the student body. This article sums it up well and offers advice to our families. The College Search, Upended
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS
THE INFORMATION BELOW APPLIES ONLY TO STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AP CLASSES FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, 2019-2020
AP TESTING UPDATE AS OF 4/8/20
College Board released information for all students and teachers on Friday, April 3rd - please review that information thoroughly as it provides many details on the online testing which will take place at home Updates for AP Students Affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)
All students should check the email they used to create their College Board Account so that they can be sure their exam is emailed to that address.
The testing window will be from May 11th through May 22nd, with three 45-minute tests scheduled per day. Follow this link to connect to the detailed schedule - please be sure to note the Eastern time zone for your testing (link here) https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/educators/taking-the-exams/ap-exam-schedule
All students will receive Instructions for Testing At Home from the College Board by the end of April
Accommodations previously approved by College Board will automatically be honored during the e-testing and specific instructions will be sent by the end of April. Nothing further needs to be done to test with accommodations
While we have an expectation that students will take this year’s AP exams, any NCHS student who wants to cancel an exam must go into their Total Registration site to receive a refund and also contact Mrs. Lenci or Mrs. McGann via email to confirm cancellation. You have until May 1st to request a cancellation and refund
There should be limited testing conflicts due to the shortened exams, but please email Mrs. Lenci or Mrs. McGann with any conflict questions
ENROLLMENT FOR UCONN ECE COURSES
An eblast has been sent home to students who have requested a class, for next year, that offers credit through the UCONN Early College Experience program. The process has changed this year and will be entirely online. The registration period is from April 30th-June 30th 2020.
There is a late registration period-August 11th -September 16th 2020 . Students may email Jane Mitchell or Nick Willett with questions.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS at this time students should email Mrs. Carroll-susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org. Please also scan the promise of employment. Working Papers are needed for most formal employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
SUMMER PLANS
With the current COVID 19 situation, finding summer employment may be very difficult. We wish all of our students good luck in finding a job if this is their plan. Students might also see if they can volunteer to help organizations who need extra support.
Our Naviance system offers the opportunity for students to design and print a resume. We suggest that students use this part of Naviance as a place to keep track of their activities, updated every quarter, so that when students began to complete their college applications they would have a storehouse of information that they might otherwise forget. If your child has not updated this section they can do so now and then use this information to create a resume.
The resume can be found under About Me.
APRIL 2020
WELL DONE EVERYONE AS WE WORK TO CONTINUE WITH E-LEARNING!
Have a great spring vacation, whatever we are able to do. This has been a very busy time and please now rest and relax.
GENERAL NEWS FOR ALL GRADES
Course Registration for 2020/2021
Students have submitted their requests for next year’s classes online using the PowerSchool portal and counselors have completed their individual sessions with students to review their proposed classes. The portal will be closed at midnight on April 1st for students to make changes.
- The deadline to submit an appeal for reconsideration of placement is also midnight on April 1st 2020. All submitted appeals will be reviewed and notification of decisions will be sent out prior to the end of the year.
- If your son/daughter has further questions, please ask them to contact their counselor without delay.
- The master schedule will be constructed using data from students’ requests.
Academic News-
Third quarter will end on April 3rd 2020
AP EXAMS
As most AP students have heard by now via communication from the College Board, all AP testing will be completed online this spring. The College Board will release detailed information for all teachers and students on April 3rd and there is no more specific information available until then.
We know all AP teachers and students have continued regular communication during this distance learning period and we are confident in the preparation of our NCHS students.
More information will be provided as it becomes available and all is listed on the College Board website.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
SUMMER JOBS
The Youth Employment Service is beginning to receive job listings for summer employment. Students must be registered with Y.E.S. first to apply for these jobs. Registration forms are available in the College and Career Center or from susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org
If your teen needs working papers for his or her employment, the College and Career Center is the place to visit! After securing the position, the student needs to bring a copy of his/her birth certificate and a “promise” of employment on the employer’s letterhead to receive working papers. Please note that under State of Connecticut law, working papers can only be given for employment that agrees with Department of Labor age appropriate guidelines (also available in the CCC). You can email Mrs Poccia in School Counseling for these papers. maria.poccia@ncps-k12.org
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Information about these opportunities can be found in Naviance, under the Colleges tab. Scroll down to Enrichment Programs.
REVISITING COLLEGES TO MAKE THE FINAL CHOICE
Advice for our seniors from Siena College Admissions
- Your Point of View is completely different now. When you first visited campuses, you were probably trying to absorb as much as possible all at once. And back then, you weren't sure if you'd even get in. Now that you're an accepted student, you can virtually roam the campus without the pressure of having to complete your application weighing you down—and with all the excitement of knowing, 'Hey, this school wants me!' You can now focus on the things that matter most to you, and really try to imagine yourself living there. This is the fun part!
- The best way to make your final decision. Speaking of choices, there's no better way to chop your list down to the final one than by researching each. It's as simple as that. By focusing only the schools you were accepted to, you'll be able to make side-by-side comparisons of how you felt, what you saw, what you loved and what you disliked from each revisit—all leading you to decide on the best fit for you.
Your NCHS School Counselors are here to help!!!
MARCH 2020
COURSE SCHEDULING FOR 2020/2021
The new Course of Studies information is available on the NCHS website. Please encourage your child to carefully read the options for next year, paying attention to the elective classes. All students can go into his /her portal through their own account (not the parent account) to view the courses that they have been recommended for and select their schedule for next year. Academic course placements will be entered on the system. Students will be asked to select one or two classes as their primary elective choice and then must list SIX backups. Students need to click onto each academic area to confirm this selection. Should your child wish to appeal for a more rigorous course, they will be able to click on the Appeal for Reconsideration link to complete the appropriate form. Students are requested to preliminarily complete their course selections by March 1st as counselors will begin meeting with students, one-on-one, in March through PE classes (for 9th and 10th graders) and through English classes (for 11th graders).
Changes can be made through March. Find a tutorial on the School Counseling website or click the link here. Course selection tutorial
The portal will close on April 1 for course selection and this is also the deadline for students to complete an appeal for Reconsideration of a Placement.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Third quarter Progress Reports will be available on March 3, 2020 on the portal. This is a good time to look in the portal with your son/daughter to review his/her performance. Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course. Please call the counselor if you need further assistance.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT REGISTRATION
AP Exams will be held from May 4th-May 15th, 2020. All students enrolled have already joined the appropriate class on the College Board website and should have registered and paid for their exams through Total Registration. Due to a new policy implemented by the College Board, it was necessary to order tests in the fall this year, which is a change from past years.
If you have any questions, please contact the AP Coordinators, Susan Lenci and Linda McGann.
Please note that it is NCHS policy that underclassmen must take the AP exam to receive the GPA weight for the year. Seniors receive the weighted grade only for first semester if they do not take the exam.
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Summer jobs are beginning to be posted on the job board in the College and Career Center. The early bird catches the worm!
The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is sponsoring a College Fair at the Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, CT 06103
860/249 6000
Fair Hours:
Tuesday March 31st, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday April 1st, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
The following is information for parents to address the issue of which standardized test their son/daughter should consider and when the most appropriate time is:
Some freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are enrolled in Honors Biology or Honors Chemistry may wish to take the Subject Test in Biology or Chemistry.
Sophomores who are enrolled in AP World History may wish to take the Subject Test in addition to the AP test. Details and questions should be addressed to your child’s math, science, or social studies teacher.
All Juniors should take a spring SAT or ACT. They can retake this test in the fall as seniors. Some students may also take Subject Tests. These may be required for admission to a few selective colleges. Please encourage your son/daughter to check whether any of their potential colleges may require these tests for admission as there are now less colleges that require these. Subject Tests are best taken in May or June when your child is completing studies in a subject area.
Registration for these tests must be completed outside NCHS and is done via the Internet at
www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org
Students who are currently enrolled in AP courses are encouraged to take Advanced Placement examinations.
Final thoughts on testing…
- Testing is always stressful for all students.
- Please ensure that your child knows the time and location of any tests
that they may be taking. - Encourage them to prepare thoroughly, if necessary.
- Breakfast and a good night’s sleep also add to their comfort level.
School Counselors are always here to assist you in making standardized testing as positive an experience as possible for each individual student. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
8TH GRADE ORIENTATION EVENING IS ON March 5th 2020 From 7-9PM.
FEBRUARY 2020
We are now in the second semester!
Please remember that only semester grades appear on the formal New Canaan High School transcript, not quarter grades or exam marks.
Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course.
CAREERCONN 2020
The Connecticut Office of High Ed is hosting its first ever CareerConn 2020. This event will be held at the Yard Goats stadium, on March 19, 2020. They will have approximately 40 postsecondary occupational schools present to talk about their schools, their educational offerings, etc. In addition, there will be 6 career tracks that will run throughout the day. The career tracks are: Automotive Industry, Hospital Industry, Healthcare, Professional Beauty, Manufacturing and Construction, and Computer Based Occupations. Each career track will give attendees an understanding of what is involved in each career, the schooling that is required, the types of jobs available and demands for them, etc. The tracks will be presented by the schools, in addition to graduates of the schools and employers. This will help give multiple perspectives about earning an education in and working within these careers.
If you have a student who might be interested, please have them speak with their School Counselor.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
A number of our students receive invitations to special summer programs. From Telluride Institute to the National Youth Leadership Conference each targets a particular group of students with special interests. Many of these programs offer great learning opportunities and are worth considering. BUT it is unrealistic to think that participation in any of these programs will have an impact on college admission decisions. The bottom line is this: consider any invitations that arrive on your doorstep because of the learning and growth that may occur for your child, but don’t sign up if the main reason is that you’re doing so to help your child gain credentials to influence college admission.
COURSE SELECTION
Early in the second semester we will begin to ask students what classes they hope to take for next year. Here are some general words of advice:
- Please encourage your child to review ALL of the elective offerings. There are some NEW courses for next year.
- Students should read the details of each course carefully. The revised Course of Studies information will be available on the high school website shortly. At some point during their four years at NCHS students must meet graduation distribution requirements by taking a one semester course that counts as Fine Arts and one semester to count for Career and Technical Education.
- Students should take on challenge in their courses but ensure that they are able to perform well. Colleges may say that a grade of B in an honors or AP class is more highly regarded than an A in a college prep course.
- Ask your child about their academic interests. It is always easier for students to study for a subject that they enjoy.
- Keep a balanced schedule. Colleges are “greedy” and want candidates for admission who continue to take classes in all of the academic disciplines. Most have a core curriculum and students will be required to continue with at least one class in all five areas.
- Stress to your son/daughter that this is his/her own course of studies. Taking classes to be with friends is not the best method for selecting classes.
- Remind your son /daughter that if they have questions they should seek help from counselors and/or teachers.
- There will be further information about Course Registration later.
Have a great February vacation!
JANUARY 2020
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
GAP YEAR FAIR-Mark Your Calendars!
USA Gap Year Fairs
January Fairfield Ludlowe High School 1:00pm
For more information and directions please visit:
www.usagapyearfairs.org
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR
Save the Date-
Tuesday March 31 9:00am-11:30am; 6:30-8:30pm
Wednesday April 1 9:00am-11:30am
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford CT
For more info, please call the Convention Center 860 249 6000
SEMESTER EXAMS (for parents of freshmen students)
Each class will have a final exam or culminating project. It is important to realize that, by Board of Education policy, this mark can only count toward 20 percent of the semester grade. Thus the grade for a student who has worked diligently during the first and second quarters should not be adversely affected by a weak exam performance.
While teachers will have some review during class for the exam, students should begin to plan their study strategies well in advance of the actual test session. A first brief review of the material to ensure that they understand everything is crucial. They can then contact teachers to get help with topics that they do not fully understand. Once this is accomplished, students can begin the process of the final review to learn the topics on which they will be tested.
Our faculty will give study outlines and also will explain the format of each exam. This is very important since reviewing for a multiple-choice test is very different than studying to answer questions in essay format.
NCHS uses a different schedule during final exam week. Students are expected to be in school to take their exams and then may leave to go home to prepare for the next day.
Here is the schedule, weather permitting.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Special Schedule
ALL CLASSES MEET – Day F with Period 3 (as if it were a Day E)
All classes are roughly 40 - 42 minutes long
Period Time
4 7:30 – 8:12
1 8:17 – 8:59
2 9:04 – 9:48 (Announcements)
7 9:53 – 10:35
8 1st Lunch 10:40 – 11:00
Class 11:05 – 11:47
Class 10:40 – 11:01
2nd Lunch 11:06 – 11:21
Class 11:26 – 11:47
Class 10:40 – 11:22
3rd Lunch 11:27 – 11:47
5 11:52 – 12:33
6 12:38 – 1:19
3 1:24– 2:05
Exam Schedule – January 2019
Friday, January 17th
Exam 1 7:45 - 9:15
2 10:00 – 11:30
Tuesday, January 21st
Exam 3 7:45 – 9:15
Exam 4 10:00 - 11:30
Wednesday, January 22nd
Exam 4 7:45 - 9:15
Exam 5 10:00 - 11:30
Thursday, January 23rd
Exam 7 7:45 - 9:15
Exam 8 10:00 – 11:30
During exams, buses will run at their normal times after 2:00 PM; there will be no special bus runs after exams.
OTHER ACADEMIC NEWS
8th Grade Orientation will be held at NCHS on the evening of March 5th at 7pm
DECEMBER 2019
Mid–Quarter Progress Reports are due on December 6th and will be available through PowerSchool shortly thereafter.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Thinking about summer vacation?
News about summer programs will begin to arrive in the CCC in January 2020 and are posted on Naviance under “summer enrichments”.
Also, there will be visitors from summer travel, gap year and semester abroad programs to the NCHS cafeteria throughout the winter months to chat with interested students about the options these companies offer.
December 5th: Oxbridge
GAP YEAR FAIR
Is your child interested in taking a Gap Year?
GAP YEAR: This is a post-secondary opportunity for self-exploration and personal growth leading to clearer direction and motivation for college studies. It may include travel, cultural immersion, directed study, service, internship opportunities, and more.
There will be two local GAP Year Fairs:
January 6, 2020 from 6:00-8:30pm
Location: SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL
January 8, 2020 from 6:00pm – 8:30 pm
Location: FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE HIGH SCHOOL
To register please visit the Eventbrite website and find Gap Year programs.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Best wishes for a restful vacation
NOVEMBER 2019
The first quarter will end on November 6th. Report Cards will be available on the Powerschool portal once grades have been verified.
LINK TO THE PRESENTATION FROM FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
You are invited to use the link below to review the presentation that was given on Financial Aid Night on October 10, 2019.
Click here for : “Financial Aid Presentation”
Wilburn Fellowship –
The Wilburn Fellowship is awarded each year to the NCHS student or team that best captures and promotes its mission through a project that: Brings people of difference together; advances knowledge and promotes respect for differences and advocates unity and cooperation. Projects can be research based, community based or in the fine or performing arts. Finalists will receive a stipend for their work and can receive independent study credit. More information and applications are available on the Fellowship website: www.thewilburnfellowship.org. Deadline for submission is December 14th. Students will hear more about the fellowship in the next few weeks.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
A date to note if you have a child who graduated last year…
The annual Class of 2019 Meets the Class of 2020 Program will be held on December 20th, 2019 at 9:15am in the Multipurpose Room. This program is for students ONLY.
Please remind your collegians, when they arrive home for Thanksgiving, to look for the mailing with details.
College rep visits will continue through the month of November.
SENIOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (SIP):
Registration will be available for the Senior Internship Program on November 12 via email. Seniors will be emailed a link to register. The internships will be in the greater New Canaan area and run from May 18 to June 12, 2020 (end date remains flexible, depending on the weather!). Students will be expected to work 25 hours a week in lieu of attending classes. Their grades will be frozen before the internship begins and they can still participate in all afterschool activities such as athletics and theater.
Students can design their own internship. The forms for designing internships are on the SIP website- https://sites.google.com/ncps-k12.org/nchs-sip/students/self-design-internship SIP is accepting the forms now through January 7th.
Every Senior will be e-mailed a website link to apply for the Senior Internship Program on 11/12/19. The Senior Internship is not mandatory. If a Senior student does not want to participate in the program, he/she can decline on the website link.
Link to more info
https://sites.google.com/ncps-k12.org/nchs-sip/home
All forms must be emailed to heather.bianco@ncps-k12.org.
Parents:
Members of the class of 2020 are looking for a chance to expand their horizons and better prepare themselves for the next stage in their lives by participating in the Senior Internship Program. Can you help?
If you'd be willing to offer a four-week internship to a qualified senior in May and June of 2020 and have a business in the greater New Canaan area, we'd like to hear from you! Please contact Heather Bianco (heather.bianco@ncsp-k12.org) for more information.
OCTOBER 2019
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College
October 10th 2019 7:00PM Wagner Room
This presentation takes the mystery out of financial aid and college cost for students and parents. Understanding financial aid enables you to make good college choices and informed decisions to manage college costs. We’ll discuss how to identify your student’s need and merit profile and learn how to match that with college awarding policies so you can identify affordable colleges.
Our presenter Bill Smith is an expert at calculating need: determining the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) using both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile methodologies. He also became an expert in "packaging," the process colleges use to determine how much merit and need based aid to award, and the mix of gift aid, loans, and work-study.
This program is open to all grades. It's never too early to learn about Financial Aid...
Mid-Quarter Progress Reports are due on October 4th 2019 and will shortly be available on the portal in Powerschool.
Please contact your student’s teachers if you have questions.
College and Career Center
This is the busiest month for college reps to visit NCHS. Please look for the dates and times on the notice board in the School Counseling office, the School Counseling page of the NCHS website and in Naviance. Please encourage senior students to attend these visits if they have a free period and are planning to apply to the visiting college. There are forms in the CCC for seniors to complete if they cannot attend the meeting due to a class commitment.
Mrs. Carroll already has part-time jobs listed for students who are seeking work plus an extensive list of volunteer opportunities.
SETTLING IN
We are at the midpoint of the first marking period and students should now be settled into their classes.
- Do check Powerschool for progress but do not go into this system too often. Once each week is enough. Please remember that the grade fluctuates with each entered grade so do not panic if a grade is low at this point but see your teacher for help!
- Each student should have a system to keep track of upcoming assignments. The NCHS Planner is great but we know that students use other methods. One method that does not work is trying to remember! Enter the assignment into your chosen system, with the due date and check this daily.
- Get involved in clubs and activities. Freshmen and new students will attend a Club Fair on October 4th 2019 and will be encouraged to sign up for those in which they are interested. They should contact the Club Student leaders if they do not know meeting dates. Info for this is on the NCHS web site under Co-Curricular Activities.
- If students need support or help please see your School Counselor
AUG/SEPT 2019
Open House will take place on Thursday September 12th, 2019. Class visits will begin at 7 pm. Freshmen Parent Orientation begins at 6:15pm.
Financial Aid Evening (open to all grades) will take place on Thursday, October 10th at 7:00 pm in the Wagner Room.
Welcome back to our faculty, especially to those joining us this year and to all students and their families.
Please encourage your students to stop by the School Counseling Office and update us on all of the good things that happened over the summer.
Explore England - Monday, September 23rd from 7-8:30 pm in the Wagner Room. Join representatives from 5 English Universities to hear about applying and studying in England. More information to come.
CHANGES TO AP REGISTRATION
The following information applies only to students who are enrolled in AP courses for this school year, 2019-2020.
Beginning this school year, the AP Program is introducing new resources and processes designed to help students earn college credit and placement.
Here is what students and their families need to know about this two-part registration process:
- Students will be asked to register for AP exams through College Board in their classrooms with their teachers during the first week of school. (Please note that students enrolled in AP World History 1 do not take an AP exam until they complete AP World History II in sophomore year.)
- Students should come prepared with their College Board username and password. If a student does not have a College Board Account, they should create one prior to the class registration. (collegeboard.org)
- In October, students will then need to use Total Registration, as in previous years, to sign up and pay for their exams. Communication regarding this registration will be distributed prior to the payment period.
- AP Exams will cost $110 per exam
Please know that there will be further communication and ample opportunity to have questions answered as this new process is implemented by AP Coordinators Mrs. Lenci and Mrs. McGann.
The College and Career Center is up and running for the new school year. Many colleges will be visiting the center during the fall to meet with seniors. Please look for the dates and times in the local newspaper, the notice boards in school, the RamOGram and on the NCHS website(School Counseling page)
Mrs. Carroll already has part-time jobs listed for those students who are seeking work plus an extensive list of volunteer opportunities.
GETTING INVOLVED
Whether you are a senior or an incoming freshman, NCHS offers MANY opportunities to become involved outside the classroom.
For freshmen and new students, our annual Club Fair is scheduled for October 4th. This showcases the many clubs, activities and volunteer opportunities for our students. Sign up for those in which you have an interest. The organizations will offer information about how students can make a difference not only to NCHS but in this town also.
Your school counselors are here to help students to make this year the best yet at NCHS.
Welcome back!
JUNE 2019
ACADEMIC NEWS FOR ALL GRADES
The exam schedule is as follows:
TUESDAY JUNE 11TH All Classes Meet (A-H with shortened periods; Day E schedule)
PLEASE NOTE EXAM START TIMES
Wed June 12th 7:45-9:15 8
10:15-11:45 7
Thurs June 13th 7:45-9:15 6
10:15-11:45 5
Fri June 14th 7:45-9:15 4
10:15-11:45 3
Mon June 17th 7:45-9:15 2
10:15-11:45 1
Tues June 18st 7:45-11:15 Make up
For seniors: Graduation rehearsal begins at 10:30 am in the cafeteria, with a breakfast for seniors only that begins at 9:30am on the 18th.
Wed June 19th Early Dismissal - Exam Review - All periods meet 7:30-11.25
Summer Assignments - Please note that some courses will require summer work. Most students will be made of aware of this prior to the end of the year but assignments will also be posted on the main page of the high school website.
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS, a student must present a promise of employment letter from the planned employer stating the hours of the job, wage information and a description of the job, in addition to a copy of the student’s birth certificate if the student does NOT attend NCHS, to Mrs. Carroll in the College and Career Center. During the summer, the secretaries in the School Counseling Office will handle working papers requests from 8 am to 12 noon. Working Papers are needed for most employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
Please encourage your child to take some time to relax this summer and come back refreshed and ready for the new school year.
HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF THE CLASS OF ’19, WE WILL MISS YOU.
MAY 2019
COURSE SELECTION AND REGISTRATION
The Master Schedule for next year is being constructed, using the courses that our students have requested.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Fourth quarter Progress Reports are due on May 14th and available on the PowerSchool portal shortly thereafter.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS
AP exams will be taking place from May 6 to May 17, 2019. All exams will take place at NCHS.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR SON/DAUGHTER KNOWS THE CORRECT LOCATION AND TIME OF HIS/HER EXAMS.
Students should arrive fifteen minutes before the test begins. They will need to bring several pencils and dark blue/black ballpoint pens.
Calculators are allowed for some exams and students should bring a sweatshirt for cooler days.
Students may bring water and a snack for the break.
In addition, cell phones are not allowed for the duration of the exam, including during the breaks.
All cell phones will be collected prior to the exam and removed from the room. Your son or daughter may want to consider leaving it in his/her car during the exam. Use of a cell phone invalidates scores.
ENROLLMENT FOR UCONN ECE COURSES
A mailing has been sent home to parents of students who have requested a class, for next year, that offers credit through the UCONN Early College Experience program. Students heard announcements beginning last week regarding this process. Please remind your child that this process has deadlines that are firm. Students may see Jane Mitchell in the School Counseling office with questions and collect application forms from our secretary, Maria Poccia.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS, a student must present a promise of employment letter from the planned employer stating the hours of the job, wage information and a description of the job, in addition to a copy of the student’s birth certificate if the student does NOT attend NCHS, to Mrs. Carroll in the College and Career Center. During the summer, Mrs. Poccia, in the School Counseling Office will handle working papers requests. Working Papers are needed for most formal employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
SUMMER PLANS
If your son/daughter is planning to work part-time over the summer vacation now is a good time for him/her to begin the job search in earnest because in a few weeks, the market for these positions will be flooded with college students.
Our Naviance system offers the opportunity for students to design and print a resume. We suggest that students to use this part of Naviance as a place to keep track of their activities, updated every quarter, so that when students began to complete their college applications they would have a storehouse of information that they might otherwise forget. If your child has not updated this section they can do so now and then use this information to create a resume.
The resume can be found under About Me.
APRIL 2019
Course Registration for 2019/20
- Students have submitted their requests for next year’s classes online using the PowerSchool portal and counselors have completed their individual meetings with students to review their proposed classes. The portal will be closed at midnight on April 1st for students to make changes.
- The deadline to submit an appeal for reconsideration of placement is also midnight on April 1st 2018. All submitted appeals will be reviewed and notification of decisions will be sent out prior to the end of the year.
- If your son/daughter has further questions, please ask them to see their counselor without delay.
- The master schedule will be constructed using data from students’ requests.
Academic News-
Third quarter will end on April 3rd 2019.
AP EXAMS
IMPORTANT - All students taking an AP exam are additionally required to ATTEND one pre-administration session to fill out preliminary paperwork. These sessions are separate from the online signup in February and will be offered on April 23rd, 24th and 25th, immediately after school in the cafeteria. Please make arrangements with your after school commitments well in advance so that you can attend one of these MANDATORY 30 minute sessions.
If you have any questions, please contact the AP Coordinators, Susan Lenci and Linda McGann.
AP exams will be held from May 6 – May 17.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
SUMMER JOBS
We are with you all of the way to graduation and will be happy to help you.
The Youth Employment Service is beginning to receive job listings for summer employment. Students must be registered with Y.E.S. first to apply for these jobs. Registration forms are available in the College and Career Center.
If your teen needs working papers for his or her employment, the College and Career Center is the place to visit! After securing the position, the student needs to bring a copy of his/her birth certificate and a “promise” of employment on the employer’s letterhead to receive working papers. Please note that under State of Connecticut law, working papers can only be given for employment that agrees with Department of Labor age appropriate guidelines (also available in the CCC).
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Information about these opportunities can be found in Naviance, under the Colleges tab. Scroll down to Enrichment Programs.
Have a great spring vacation.
MARCH 2019
COURSE SCHEDULING FOR 2018/19
The new Course of Studies information is available on the NCHS website. Please encourage your child to carefully read the options for next year, paying attention to the elective classes. All students can go into his /her portal through their own account (not the parent account) to view the courses that they have been recommended for and select their schedule for next year. Academic course placements will be entered on the system. Students will be asked to select one or two classes as their primary elective choice and then must list SIX backups. Students need to click onto each academic area to confirm this selection. Should your child wish to appeal for a more rigorous course, they will be able to click on the Appeal for Reconsideration link to complete the appropriate form. Students are requested to preliminarily complete their course selections as soon as possible as counselors will begin meeting with students, one-on-one, in March through PE classes (for 9th and 10th graders) and through English classes (for 11th graders).
Changes can be made through March. Find a tutorial on the School Counseling website or click the link here. Course registration tutorial
The portal will close on April 1 for course selection and this is also the deadline for students to complete an appeal for Reconsideration of a Placement.
ACADEMIC NEWS
Third quarter Progress Reports will available on March 5 2019 on the portal. This is a good time to look in the portal with your son/daughter to review his/her performance. Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course. Please call the counselor if you need further assistance.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT REGISTRATION
AP REGISTRATION
AP Exams will be held from May 6th-May 17th, 2019.
All students currently enrolled in AP courses should register for AP tests online through Total Registration, beginning on February 25th at 9:00 am. and ending on March 7th at 11:59 p.m.
To register, please go to www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/070465 or access the link through the NCHS Homepage on February 25th.
The fee for each exam is $100 and payments may be made online with a credit card.
IMPORTANT - All students taking an AP exam are additionally required to ATTEND one pre-administration session to fill out preliminary paperwork. These sessions are separate from the online signup in February and will be offered on April 23rd, 24th and 25th, immediately after school in the cafeteria. Please make arrangements with your after school commitments well in advance so that you can attend one of these MANDATORY 30 minute sessions.
If you have any questions, please contact the AP Coordinators, Susan Lenci and Linda McGann.
Please note that it is NCHS policy that underclassmen must take the AP exam to receive the GPA weight for the year. Seniors receive the weighted grade only for first semester if they do not take the exam.
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
Save the date
NCHS PFA presents
Career Night 2019
Tuesday, March 19th (snow date March 20th)
6:00-9:00 pm, NCHS
New focus on aptitudes and how these impact successes in school and in work!
Keynote speaker Steve Greene from Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation!
New format with 11 streamlined panels to provide maximum exposure to many careers!
Geared towards ALL students in grades 9-12 and is mandatory for all Senior Interns!
Sandwiches and snacks to keep students fueled and focused!
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Summer jobs are beginning to be posted on the job board in the College and Career Center. The early bird catches the worm!
The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is sponsoring a College Fair at the Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, CT 06103
860/249 6000
Fair Hours:
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
The following is information for parents to address the issue of which standardized test their son/daughter should consider and when the most appropriate time is:
Some freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are enrolled in Honors Biology or Honors Chemistry may wish to take the Subject Test in Biology or Chemistry.
Sophomores who are enrolled in AP World History may wish to take the Subject Test in addition to the AP test. Details and questions should be addressed to your child’s math, science, or social studies teacher.
All Juniors should take a spring SAT or ACT. They can retake this test in the fall as seniors. Some students may also take Subject Tests. These may be required for admission to the more selective colleges. Please encourage your son/daughter to check whether any of their potential colleges may require these tests for admission as there are now less colleges that require these. Subject Tests are best taken in May or June when your child is completing studies in a subject area.
Registration for these tests must be completed outside NCHS and is done via the Internet at
www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org
Students who are currently enrolled in AP courses are encouraged to take Advanced Placement examinations.
Final thoughts on testing…
- Testing is always stressful for all students.
- Please ensure that your child knows the time and location of any tests that they may be taking.
- Encourage them to prepare thoroughly, if necessary.
- Breakfast and a good night’s sleep also add to their comfort level.
School Counselors are always here to assist you in making standardized testing as positive an experience as possible for each individual student. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
FEBRUARY 2019
We are now in the second semester!
Please remember that only semester grades appear on the formal New Canaan High School transcript, not quarter grades or exam marks.
Please contact teachers if you have questions regarding a particular course.
AP REGISTRATION
AP Exams will be held from May 6th-May 17th, 2019.
All students currently enrolled in AP courses should register for AP tests online through Total Registration, beginning on February 25th at 9:00 am. and ending on March 7th at 11:59 p.m.
To register, please go to www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/070465 or access the link through the NCHS Homepage on February 25th.
The fee for each exam is $100 and payments may be made online with a credit card.
IMPORTANT - All students taking an AP exam are additionally required to ATTEND one pre-administration session to fill out preliminary paperwork. These sessions are separate from the online signup in February and will be offered on April 23rd, 24th and 25th, immediately after school in the cafeteria. Please make arrangements with your after school commitments well in advance so that you can attend one of these MANDATORY 30 minute sessions.
If you have any questions, please contact the AP Coordinators, Susan Lenci and Linda McGann.
Please note that it is NCHS policy that underclassmen must take the AP exam to receive the GPA weight for the year. Seniors receive the weighted grade only for first semester if they do not take the exam.
If students and parents want to see which colleges offer credit for AP exams, access the information directly at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
A number of our students receive invitations to special summer programs. From Telluride Institute to the National Youth Leadership Conference each targets a particular group of students with special interests. Many of these programs offer great learning opportunities and are worth considering. BUT it is unrealistic to think that participation in any of these programs will have an impact on college admission decisions. The bottom line is this: consider any invitations that arrive on your doorstep because of the learning and growth that may occur for your child, but don’t sign up if the main reason is that you’re doing so to help your child gain credentials to influence college admission.
COURSE SELECTION
Early in the second semester we will begin to ask students what classes they hope to take for next year. Here are some general words of advice:
- Please encourage your child to review ALL of the elective offerings. There are some NEW courses for next year.
- Students should read the details of each course carefully. The revised Course of Studies information will be available on the high school website shortly. At some point during their four years at NCHS students must meet graduation distribution requirements by taking a one semester course that counts as Fine Arts and one semester to count for Career and Technical Education.
- Students should take on challenge in their courses but ensure that they are able to perform well. Colleges may say that a grade of B in an honors or AP class is more highly regarded than an A in a college prep course.
- Ask your child about their academic interests. It is always easier for students to study for a subject that they enjoy.
- Keep a balanced schedule. Colleges are “greedy” and want candidates for admission who continue to take classes in all of the academic disciplines. Most have a core curriculum and students will be required to continue with at least one class in all five areas.
- Stress to your son/daughter that this is his/her own course of studies. Taking classes to be with friends is not the best method for selecting classes.
- Remind your son /daughter that if they have questions they should seek help from counselors and/or teachers.
- There will be further information about Course Registration later.
Have a great February vacation!
JANUARY 2019
OTHER ACADEMIC NEWS
8th Grade Orientation will be held at NCHS on the evening of February 28th at 7pm .
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
GAP YEAR FAIR-Mark Your Calendars!
There will be a GAP Year Fair: January 9, 2019 at
Chappaqua, NY 10514
Date: January 9,2019
Event Time: 7:00pm – 9:30 pm
Location: Horace Greeley High School
West Hartford, CT
Date: January 10, 2019
Location: Conard High School
Event Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
For more information and directions please visit:
www.usagapyearfairs.org
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR
Save the Date-
Tuesday April 2 9:00am-11:30am; 6:30-8:30pm
Wednesday April 3 9:00am-11:30am
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford CT
For more info, please call the Convention Center 860 249 6000
SEMESTER EXAMS (for parents of freshmen students)
Each class will have a final exam or culminating project. It is important to realize that, by Board of Education policy, this mark can only count toward 20 percent of the semester grade. Thus the grade for a student who has worked diligently during the first and second quarters should not be adversely affected by a weak exam performance.
While teachers will have some review during class for the exam, students should begin to plan their study strategies well in advance of the actual test session. A first brief review of the material to ensure that they understand everything is crucial. They can then contact teachers to get help with topics that they do not fully understand. Once this is accomplished, students can begin the process of the final review to learn the topics on which they will be tested.
Our faculty will give study outlines and also will explain the format of each exam. This is very important since reviewing for a multiple-choice test is very different than studying to answer questions in essay format.
NCHS uses a different schedule during final exam week. Students are expected to be in school to take their exams and then may leave to go home to prepare for the next day.
Here is the schedule, weather permitting.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Special Schedule
ALL CLASSES MEET – Day F with Period 3 (as if it were a Day E)
All classes are roughly 40 - 42 minutes long
Period Time
4 7:30 – 8:12
1 8:17 – 8:59
2 9:04 – 9:48 (Announcements)
7 9:53 – 10:35
8 1st Lunch 10:40 – 11:00
Class 11:05 – 11:47
Class 10:40 – 11:01
2nd Lunch 11:06 – 11:21
Class 11:26 – 11:47
Class 10:40 – 11:22
3rd Lunch 11:27 – 11:47
5 11:52 – 12:33
6 12:38 – 1:19
3 1:24– 2:05
Exam Schedule – January 2019
Thursday, January 17th
Exam 1 7:45 - 9:15
2 10:00 – 11:30
Friday, January 18th
Exam 3 7:45 – 9:15
Exam 4 10:00 - 11:15
Tuesday, January 22nd
Exam 4 7:45 - 9:15
Exam 5 10:00 - 11:15
Wednesday, January 23rd
Exam 7 7:45 - 9:15
Exam 8 10:00 – 11:30
_________________________________________________________
2nd Semester begins on Thursday, January 24th and it will be a Day G
If school is cancelled once before Wednesday, January 16th, then the above schedule will not be changed; if there is more than one cancellation before this date, we will consider revising the above schedule.
If school is cancelled on Wednesday, January 16th, then all classes will meet (as detailed above) on Thursday, January 17th and the exam schedule will begin (in the same order) the next day. The 2nd Semester will begin on Friday, January 25th (Day H)
If school is cancelled during exams, the schedule will continue (in the same order) the next day. The 2nd Semester will begin on Friday, January 25th (Day H)
If there is a delay on any of the exam days, the first exam will be given 9:30 – 11:00 AM and the second exam 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM.
During exams, buses will run at their normal times after 2:00 PM; there will be no special bus runs after exams.
DECEMBER 2018
Mid–Quarter Progress Reports are due on December 6th and will be available through PowerSchool shortly thereafter.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
Thinking about summer vacation?
News about summer programs will begin to arrive in the CCC in January 2018 and are posted on Naviance under “summer enrichments”. Also, there will be visitors from summer travel, gap year and semester abroad programs to the NCHS cafeteria throughout December and January to chat with interested students about the options these companies offer.
December 12: Oxridge (student travel)
December 19: School Year Abroad
January 30: Go Putney (student travel)
GAP YEAR FAIR
Is your child interested in taking a Gap Year?
GAP YEAR: This is a post-secondary opportunity for self-exploration and personal growth leading to clearer direction and motivation for college studies. It may include travel, cultural immersion, directed study, service, internship opportunities, and more.
There will be a GAP Year fair: January 9, 2019 at
Chappaqua, NY 10514
Date: January 9,2019
Event Time: 7:00pm – 9:30 pm
Location: Horace Greeley High School
For more information and to register, please visit:
West Hartford, CT
Date: January 10, 2019
Location: Conard High School
Event Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
For more information and directions please visit:
NOVEMBER 2018
The first quarter will end on November 2nd. Report Cards will be available on the Powerschool portal once grades have been verified.
LINK TO THE PRESENTATION FROM FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
You are invited to use the link below to review the presentation that was given on Financial Aid Night on October 4, 2018.
Click here for : “Financial Aid Presentation”
Wilburn Fellowship –
The Wilburn Fellowship is awarded each year to the NCHS student or team that best captures and promotes its mission through a project that: Brings people of difference together; advances knowledge and promotes respect for differences and advocates unity and cooperation. Projects can be research based, community based or in the fine or performing arts. Finalists will receive a stipend for their work and can receive independent study credit. More information and applications are available on the Fellowship website: www.thewilburnfellowship.org. Deadline for submission is December 14th. Students will hear more about the fellowship in the next few weeks.
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER NEWS
A date to note if you have a child who graduated last year…
The annual Class of 2018 Meets the Class of 2019 Program will be held on December 20, 2018 at 9:15am in the Multipurpose Room. This program is for students ONLY.
Please remind your collegians, when they arrive home for Thanksgiving, to look for the mailing with details.
College rep visits will continue through the month of November.
GAP YEAR FAIR
Is your child interested in taking a Gap Year?
GAP YEAR: This is a post-secondary opportunity for self-exploration and personal growth leading to clearer direction and motivation for college studies. It may include travel, cultural immersion, directed study, service, internship opportunities, and more.
Mark your calendars:
There will be a GAP Year Fair: January 9, 2019 at Horace Greeley High School
70 Roaring Brook Rd., Chappaqua, NY 10514
7:00pm – 9:30 pm
For more information and to register, please visit: https://usagapyearfairs.org/fair/chappaqua-ny/
SENIOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (SIP):
Registration will be available for the Senior Internship Program on November 19 via email. Seniors will be emailed a link to register. The internships will be in the greater New Canaan area and run from May 21 to June 13, 2019 (end date remains flexible, depending on the weather!). Students will be expected to work 25 hours a week in lieu of attending classes. Their grades will be frozen before the internship begins and they can still participate in all afterschool activities such as athletics and theater.
Students can design their own internship. The forms for designing internships are on the SIP website-https://sites.google.com/ncps-k12.org/nchs-sip/students/self-design-internship. SIP is accepting the forms now through December 19.
Every Senior will be e-mailed a website link to apply for the Senior Internship Program on 11/19/18. The Senior Internship is not mandatory. If a Senior student does not want to participate in the program, he/she can decline on the website link.
Link to more info
https://sites.google.com/ncps-k12.org/nchs-sip/home
All forms must be emailed to heather.bianco@ncps-k12.org.
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Parents: Members of the class of 2019 are looking for a chance to expand their horizons and better prepare themselves for the next stage in their lives by participating in the Senior Internship Program. Can you help? If you'd be willing to offer a four-week internship to a qualified senior in May and June of 2019 and have a business in the greater New Canaan area, we'd like to hear from you! Please contact Heather Bianco (heather.bianco@ncsp-k12.org) for more information. |
OCTOBER 2018
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College
October 4th 2018 7:00PM Wagner Room
This presentation takes the mystery out of financial aid and college cost for students and parents. Understanding financial aid enables you to make good college choices and informed decisions to manage college costs. We’ll discuss how to identify your student’s need and merit profile and learn how to match that with college awarding policies so you can identify affordable colleges.
Our presenter Bill Smith is an expert at calculating need: determining the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) using both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile methodologies. He also became an expert in "packaging," the process colleges use to determine how much merit and need based aid to award, and the mix of gift aid, loans, and work-study.
This program is open to all grades. It's never too early to learn about Financial Aid...
Mid-Quarter Progress Reports are due on October 2nd 2018 and will shortly be available on the portal in Powerschool.
Please contact your student’s teachers if you have questions.
College and Career Center
This is the busiest month for college reps to visit NCHS. Please look for the dates and times on the notice board in the School Counseling office, the School Counseling page of the NCHS website and in Naviance. Please encourage senior students to attend these visits if they have a free period and are planning to apply to the visiting college. There are forms in the CCC for seniors to complete if they cannot attend the meeting due to a class commitment.
Mrs. Carroll already has part-time jobs listed for students who are seeking work plus an extensive list of volunteer opportunities.
SETTLING IN
We are at the midpoint of the first marking period and students should now be settled into their classes.
- Do check Powerschool for progress but do not go into this system too often. Once each week is enough. Please remember that the grade fluctuates with each entered grade so do not panic if a grade is low at this point but see your teacher for help!
- Each student should have a system to keep track of upcoming assignments. The NCHS Planner is great but we know that students use other methods. One method that does not work is trying to remember! Enter the assignment into your chosen system, with the due date and check this daily.
- Get involved in clubs and activities. Freshmen and new students will attend a Club Fair on October 5th 2018 and will be encouraged to sign up for those in which they are interested. They should contact the Club Student leaders if they do not know meeting dates. Info for this is on the NCHS web site under Co-Curricular Activities.
- If students need support or help please see your School Counselor
SEPTEMBER 2018
Open House will take place on Thursday September 13th, 2018. Class visits will begin at 7:15pm. Freshman Parent Orientation begins at 6:30pm.
Financial Aid Evening (open to all grades) will take place on Thursday, October 4th at 7:00 pm in the Wagner Room.
Welcome back to our faculty, especially to those joining us this year and to all students and their families.
Please encourage your students to stop by the School Counseling Office and update us on all of the good things that happened over the summer.
The College and Career Center is up and running for the new school year. Many colleges will be visiting the center during the fall to meet with seniors. Please look for the dates and times in the local newspaper, the notice boards in school, the RamOGram and on the NCHS website(School Counseling page)
Mrs. Carroll already has part-time jobs listed for those students who are seeking work plus an extensive list of volunteer opportunities.
GETTING INVOLVED
Whether you are a senior or an incoming freshman, NCHS offers MANY opportunities to become involved outside the classroom.
For freshmen and new students, our annual Club Fair is scheduled for October 5th. This showcases the many clubs, activities and volunteer opportunities for our students. Sign up for those in which you have an interest. The organizations will offer information about how students can make a difference not only to NCHS but in this town also.
Your school counselors are here to help students to make this year the best yet at NCHS.
JUNE 2018
All seniors must complete the Senior Exit Survey in Naviance.
This form constitutes a student obligation. No caps and gowns will be issued to those seniors who have not completed this survey. If your son/daughter has not yet completed this short survey, please have him/her log onto www.connection.naviance.com/newcanaan
Follow the instructions and click on Senior Exit Survey and complete. If students have forgotten their passwords or have questions, please have them see their School Counselor or Mrs. Granite, the Registrar.
Senior Interns: Parents of Senior Interns are invited to a reception celebrating their students’ participation in SIP on June 20th from 5-6pm in the NCHS Auditorium. Refreshments will be served. This is a mandatory event for interns.
ACADEMIC NEWS FOR ALL GRADES
The exam schedule is as follows:
All Classes Meet
(Day H Schedule)
Thursday, June 14th
2 7:30 – 8:12
3 8:17 – 9:01
4 9:06 – 9:48
5 9:53 – 10:35
6 1st Lunch 10:40 – 11:00
Class 11:05 – 11:47
Class 10:40 – 11:00
2nd Lunch 11:05 – 11:20
Class 11:25 – 11:47
Class 10:40 – 11:22
3rd Lunch 11:27 – 11:47
7 11:52 – 12:34
8 12:39 – 1:20
1 1:25 – 2:05 (as if it were Day A)
EXAMS
Friday, June 15th 7:45 – 9:15 8 (Seniors Only)
10:15 – 11:45 7
Monday, June 18th 7:45 – 9:15 6
10:15 – 11:45 5
Tuesday, June 19th 7:45 – 9:15 4
10:15 – 11:45 3
Wednesday, June 20th 7:45 – 9:15 2
10:15 – 11:45 1
Thursday, June 21st 7:45 – 9:15 8 (Grades 9 - 11)
10:15 – 11:45 Make-Up
Friday, June 22nd Early Dismissal / Exam Review
1 7:30 – 7:55
2 8:00 – 8:25
3 8:30 – 8:55
4 9:00 – 9:25
5 9:30 – 9:55
6 10:00 – 10:25
7 10:30 – 10:55
8 11:00 – 11:25
NAVIANCE STUDENT
During the summer break Naviance will debut a new format called Naviance Student. This is an upgraded version and counselors will work with this to answer your questions when we all return to school.
WORKING PAPERS
In order to obtain WORKING PAPERS, a student must present a promise of employment letter from the planned employer stating the hours of the job, wage information and a description of the job, in addition to a copy of the student’s birth certificate if the student does NOT attend NCHS, to Mrs. Carroll in the College and Career Center. During the summer, the secretaries in the School Counseling Office will handle working papers requests from 8 am to 12 noon. Working Papers are needed for most employment in the state of Connecticut by students under the age of 18.
Please encourage your child to take some time to relax this summer and come back refreshed and ready for the new school year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF THE CLASS OF ’18, WE WILL MISS YOU.
HAPPY SUMMER VACATION!
