Newtown High School Blog

Newtown High School chemistry students recently completed an activity on dilutions of solutions.  When a dilute solution of a specific volume and concentration of something like hydrochloric acid (HCl) is needed for a lab, a chemistry teacher will get a bottle of 12 M HCl (12 moles of HCl per liter of solution-that is how it comes from the chemical supplier), pour a small amount of it into another container, and add water.  The trick is to know how much HCl to pour out and how much water to add; that is the skill the students learned in this activity. Read the rest of this entry »

Mrs.Metz’s Sociology classes had the opportunity to have an open discussion with a few members of Newtown High School’s GSA club. Students were engaged in the lesson and asked many great questions of their peers. This was a small introduction to the Dominant and Minority unit that we will begin shortly. The GSA members were kind, open, honest, and put the Sociology students at ease while discussing such a sensitive topic. It is so good to see how mature our students here at NHS are and how much can be learned by simply have a conversation such as this one.

The inaugural event last year became an instant classic, so it was no surprise that the 2nd annual DECA Dodgeball Tournament was an even bigger success.

Time constraints limited the event to a total of 20 teams, and every one of the 180 participants came to play. Two hours of intense competition allowed one team to advance through the brackets to be crowned the 2012 DECA Dodgeball Champions . . . The Bucs: Kyle Morrissey, Alex Roche, Connor Quinn, Eric Fiore, Colin Dutt, and Gavin Scallon. Members of the winning team were awarded gift cards from Dunkin Donuts, a lanyard from the NHS school store, and most important, bragging rights for a full year!

The event raised more than $600, of which $200 has been donated to the CT Food Bank. The balance will be used to support the NHS DECA chapter attendance at competitive events throughout the state.

Congratulations to the new champions, and to all that participated in this worthwhile fundraiser. Congratulations also to Ms. Vivian Sheen and Mrs. Jolene Swann, advisers to the group.

Sarah Currier (12) is pictured with a sculpture in progress. The inspiration for this piece is Adolescence. Sarah recently completed a sculpture constructed from used aluminum beverage containers, and appears equally adept working in clay as a media to express her creativity.

Sarah is completing her work in Ms. Carol Skolas’ Sculpture class. All sculpture classes are open to enrollment by students in grades 9-12.

Lydia Beiter (11) is displaying one of several t-shirt designs available for sale in the school store. The style shown sells for $13 and is available in all standard sizes. According to Lydia, students wearing these shirts will not only be more comfortable in the pleasant weather, they will also score 3 to 5 points higher on Final Exams.

The school store is open for business most periods of most days.

Mrs. Diane Dutchick is conducting one of several review sessions, preparing her Advanced Placement Art History students for their Final Exam. Artist, inspiration, period, and style, are just some of the elements students are expected to incorporate into their discussion of several paintings. Note-taking and study skills are increasingly critical as the school year draws to a close.

Good Luck to all AP Art History students!

Newtown High School Social Studies Teachers Mrs. Dietter, Mrs. Metz, and Mr. Pescarmona attended a conference entitled Teaching and Learning with iPads at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. The keynote speaker was Dr. Christie of Arizona State. She spoke about ways to creatively use iPads in the classroom to improve collaboration between students, increase inquiry and problem solving in the classroom, and “flipping the classroom” to increase student centered learning. The teachers also attended break out sessions that focused on the functions and capabilities of the iPad, Apps that are applicable as well as fun and exciting, and Teaching Social Studies using the iPad by incorporating instructional strategies that employ Edmodo, Wikispaces, and Evernote. They look forward to sharing this knowledge with colleagues and students.

The State of Connecticut and Newtown Youth and Family Services, in partnership with Newtown Prevention Council want parents to “Set the Rules” and keep kids safe this prom and graduation season.

Prom and graduation… They are rites of passage that all too often occur while parents turn a blind eye and allow a “grown up” night out for their kids. This spring, a broad coalition of state agencies is teaming up to remind parents that it’s up to them to “Set the Rules” about alcohol.

Underage drinking is against the law on prom night and every other night. The “Set the Rules” media campaign drives home the message that parents need to keep alcohol out of the hands of children they host in their homes, or be subject to arrest, fines, and even jail. And from a health standpoint, alcohol consumption has long-term effects on brain development in underage drinkers.

This comprehensive media campaign is being implemented in cooperation with Newtown Youth & Family Services and Newtown Prevention Council, the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management,  the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Consumer Protection – Division of Liquor Control, the Department of Education, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Public Health and Transportation, the Divisions of Criminal Justice and Public Defender Services,  and the Judicial Branch. The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) and the Connecticut Food Association have also joined the campaign, which runs throughout prom and graduation season.

Donald Morrissey has been selected as an Outstanding Student to receive a Personal Achievement Award from the Newtown Rotary Club. This award is a result of the partnership between Newtown High School and the Newtown Rotary Club in order to recognize outstanding young people. Donny will be honored at the June 11, 2012 dinner meeting at the Inn at Newtown hosted by the Rotary Club. Congratulations Donny!

Newtown High School’s Foundations of Health Science class has created Homework Hawks for the 2012 Connecticut Student Innovation Expo. You can follow them on Twitter – @HomeworkHawks – to get updates about the Homework Hawks and their progress. You can also like the Homework Hawks on Facebook.  Visit the Homework Hawks website and check out their work so far.  You can also find them at the Newtown High School Health Fair on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Class of 2013 – A message from Senior Section Yearbook Editors Melissa Christiano and Alex Buttery. Class of 2013 senior portrait guidelines have changed. For Guys: Formal button down shirt with tie. Jackets are optional. Shirt may be any color but please keep in mind the background color is brown. For Girls: Semi-formal shirt. No halter/strapless tops, shirts that reveal bare midriff, tube tops, see-through tops, or shirts that have spaghetti straps. Garments with plunging or revealing necklines are not allowed. Dress as if you were attending a job interview or a formal dinner. The senior portrait will be taken from waist up, so the only clothing visible will be your shirt. Keep in mind that hats and other headwear may not be worn unless for religious reasons. Please follow all Newtown High School dress code policies. If uncertain about choice of outfit, please bring a change of clothing. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the yearbook staff, through email at yearbook@newtown.k12.ct.us.

Newtown High School Marketing II students Brandy Nezvesky (12) and Sam Phillips (12) are sharing a laugh with new NHS staff member, Ms. Sandy Spinello, substituting for Mrs. Jolene Swann, who is on maternity leave for the balance of the school year.

The quality of Ms. Spinello’s interaction with NHS students, and her wealth of successful business experience, make her ideally suited for this position. Ms. Spinello holds a B.S. in Business Management from CCSU, additional certification from The Wharton School of Business, and a track record of success in the private sector with AETNA Corp., most recently as a Senior Project Coordinator.

Ms. Spinello left the private sector to pursue her passion for preparing tomorrow’s leaders, and recently earned a M.S. degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport, and CT State Certification to teach both Business Education and Marketing.

Welcome to Newtown High School, Ms. Spinello!

Sole Savers Relay for Life Team and Holy Cow Ice Cream Shop are telling cancer to moooooove over and make room for ice cream! On Monday, May 21, 2012, buy some ice cream and bring along your friends! The more ice cream they sell, the more money they donate to Relay for Life! Only at Holy Cow Ice Cream Shop located on Church Hill Road across from Saint Rose church/school.

Earlier this month, Spanish level II students celebrated El Día de los Hispanohablantes by learning about distinct Spanish-speaking regions of the world; Spain, Mexico, South America, Central America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Each class was assigned a region and a cultural category; Famous People, Celebrations, or National Landmarks. Students in each of the 11 classes worked in groups to become an expert on their topic and create a poster. On April 13, 2012, the posters were all displayed in the lecture hall, and students came to learn from the work of their peers by completing a scavenger-hunt-style worksheet. They also enjoyed the homemade food and drinks that they had prepared from the Spanish-speaking world! Delicioso!

Congratulations to Emma Lloyd, the HAWKS Recognition Drawing Winner, this week.

Students at Newtown High School make great choices everyday and we want to recognize them! As part of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports at NHS, tickets are given by staff to students who demonstrate HAWKS behavior. Students are then responsible to put their tickets in a jar located in the main office. All students who earn a ticket are sent home a postcard to recognize the choices they have made. Additionally, a drawing is made each week, and winners earn a HAWKS water bottle as well as a coupon for Andrea’s Bakery.

Congratulations to Alexandra Kennedy and Michael Mossbarger for receiving the 2012 Superintendent’s Award.  The recognition was celebrated Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Amber Room in Danbury, CT.

Charlie Pryor, from the Newtown High School Ecology and Environmental Club, educates people about the plight of the endangered clouded leopard at the Annual Newtown Earth Day Festival on April 28, 2012.

Freshmen science student, Shannon Mullins, learns about static electricity by experiencing the Van de Graaf generator.

Newtown High School Counselor Deidre Croce toured the campus of Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI Friday, May 11, 2012. Jamie Goodwick, a 2008 NHS graduate, showed Ms. Croce the beautiful, waterfront grounds of the college. Roger Williams is a popular choice for Newtown students (21 applications were submitted this year) and is well-known for their School of Architecture and for having Rhode Island’s only Law School. A small, private, liberal arts college with just under 4,000 students and a 12:1 student/faculty ratio, Roger Williams prides itself on providing individualized education to its students. The college is approximately two and a half hours away from Newtown and is twenty-five minutes from Newport, RI. A bonus: NHS students won’t have a tough adjustment since the school colors are blue and gold and the school’s mascot is the hawk!

Mrs. Metz’s and Ms. Repay’s Sociology classes took a field trip to Newport, RI on Friday May 11, 2012. The students took a tour of one of Newport’s famous mansions, The Elms. Students took a tour from the servants’ perspective. That means that the focus of the tour was on the stories of the men and women who worked at the Elms; the butler, cook and one of the maids. The students got to learn about immigration, employment, and labor disputes in the early twentieth century. Students also got to learn the history of some of the very wealthy twentieth century family’s social and financial preeminence during turn of the century America by taking a ten-mile Ocean Drive tour of all of the magnificent houses that were built on the rock necks of the Atlantic Ocean in Newport. Students got to dine on Bowen Wharf and really were able to get the coastal life experience.

The Math Department has been preparing for the Common core State Standards (CCSS) SMARTER Balanced Assessment that students will take in 2015. We continue to communicate with Reed and the Middle School to coordinate a smooth transition for students between the three buildings. Mathematics department meeting conversations have been invaluable. As a department, teachers have been reading and discussing the most recent publications that offer suggested strategies on how to shift instructional focus based on the mathematical practices offered by the CCSS. Working together as a department will help develop consistent expectations for students and build quality mathematics instruction that will be consistent not only in each course but throughout any student’s math program while at NHS. The department will monitor data collected from formative assessments and continue to adjust instruction to ensure student success. The Math Department will continue this process using PLC time to develop common summative assessments for all units.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, eight students from the Newtown High School National Honor Society completed their fourth build with the Housatonic Habitat for Humanity at the Linden Place place build site. To date,  more than  forty National Honor Society members have donated more than 250 hours of labor to the Linden Place build site in Danbury. The projected move in date for the home is set for late June. The Newtown Chapter of the National Honor Society will continue their partnership with the Housatonic Habitat for Humanity over the summer and next school year.

Students in Mr. Steve Bamberg’s Photography class are improving their mastery of the Adobe PhotoShop image editing tools. Mr. Bamberg has provided a variety of challenges with a range of complexity to challenge students at every skill level. Amanda Brickner (10) is pictured working independently as Mr. Bamberg advises others.

Photography is open to enrollment by students in grades 9-12.

Several pieces of student work recently took to the air in Ms. Carol Skolas’ Sculpture classroom. Ms. Skolas’ talented students spent many classes converting aluminum drink containers into representations of fantasy flying life-forms.

When questioned about the secret to success, students said “Patience, and a tolerance for pain”. To that list, Ms. Skolas added, “Talent. And lots of it.” She went on to say that these examples are the finest since she introduced this project.

The actual sculptures are much more striking than they appear in these photos. For those interested, the sculptures will remain on display in C181 for the coming weeks. Stop by to take a peek.

Congratulations to all involved!

Dress for success. Good posture. Smile. Step with confidence. Eye contact. Firm handshake. Sincere greeting.

And that just gets you in the door!

Students in Mrs. Jolene Swann’s Business Management classes have been studying and practicing the elements of successful interviewing skills. Today was their final assessment: A mock interview with Mrs. Swann, in front of an audience comprised of their peers, Department Chair Jay Daly, Business Ed. Intern Marcella Repetto, and Mrs. Swann’s incoming substitute, Mrs. Sandy Spinello.

All students interviewed exceptionally well, particularly considering the stress of the circumstances. Mrs. Swann asked very challenging questions, and fielded a few from the confident candidates. Everyone agreed that these students were well prepared for their next “real” interview. The students expressed pride in performing so well for Mrs. Swann on her last day in class this semester.

Congratulations to all successful students! Best wishes to Mrs. Swann in her maternity leave! And welcome to Mrs. Spinello as she joins us to complete the school year!

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and the Newtown High School Administration relied on the NHS Culinary Program to cater a lunch on one day and a breakfast today. Some faculty members did not have time available to attend the open serving session, and the culinary students did not let them down.

Small groups of students carefully crafted individual omelets, made to order, until the last faculty member was properly “appreciated”. These students offer a fine reflection of how their community values the district educational staff. Thank You Newtown!

Thank You to the NHS Culinary Program, supervised by Chef Brian Neumeyer and Chef Lori Hoagland, for making it all happen.

Courses in the Culinary Program are open to enrollment by students in grades 9-12.

Students staffing the sales tables for the annual Newtown High School Greenery Mother’s Day Sale were busy from the moment the sale began. Faculty, Staff, and community members bought early, and bought a lot. Greenhouse Manager and NHS Biology Teacher, Mr. George Bachman, said that all product was sold before the day was half over.

All plants were grown on campus, by NHS students, in our new greenhouse. The NHS Greenery is a student-run enterprise open to enrollment by students in grades 9-12.

Congratulations to Mr. Bachman, and to all Greenery students!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Newtown High School Power Tech Teacher Mr. Steve George is pictured instructing Jack Zahansky (11) in the art of adjusting the flame of an oxy-acetylene torch in preparation for cutting 1/4″ steel plate. Meanwhile Rob Nordman (11) and a partner are in the midst of swapping an entire front axle assembly on a Jeep.

All Power Tech and Auto courses are open to enrollment by students in grades 10-12.

Using the entire length of the pool, students in Mr. Childs’ sophomore Physical Education class play a modified Water Polo game. The modification permitted the goalie and any field players in the deep end to hang on the side of the pool until the ball was thrown. Many students in the deep end effectively used the one-arm catching and throwing skill without resting at the side of the pool. The focus for the game was the application of offensive and defensive strategies. On offense, students were encouraged to demonstrate one-on-one tactics and force the defense to shift or move by altering the point of attack. The defensive strategies included defending open players and take away the offensive passing lanes.

Each year the American Association of Physics Teachers has a high school photo contest. Students from grades 9-12 may enter a photograph that shows a physics phenomenon and must include a write-up explaining the physics of the picture. This year, Newtown High School Senior Alex Kelly has entered the AAPT and CAPT high school photo contest with his picture Looking for Love.

Congratulations to Newtown High School Coach Dave Foss who was honored as the 2011 Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year at the Connecticut High School Coaches Association banquet at the Aqua Turf Club on Thursday, May 10, 2012. The CHSCA chooses one coach in each sport from the entire state to receive this prestigious award. Dave is the third Newtown coach in the last four years to be honored. Boys Lacrosse Coach Brian Micena won in 2008 and Softball Coach Bob Guerrera won in 2009.

“Fun times with foam balls” was what freshman homeroom teacher Mr. Ekman called the intramural event on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. For last week’s event, the freshmen homerooms were challenged to a friendly game of dodge ball. Students (and teachers) were eager to take part in the competition, and the foam balls flew. The winner ultimately was Ms. Ryan’s homeroom representatives, who felt “awesome” after their first win this year.  Juniors will have their opportunity to play next Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, Newtown High School Choral and Band students departed for Virginia Beach, Virginia to compete in a national music festival sponsored by North American Music Festivals. On Friday, they performed at Norfolk State University with the following results:

Chamber Choir – 1st Place – Superior Rating
Concert Choir – 1st Place – Excellent Rating
Jazz Ensemble – 1st Place – Superior Rating
Wind Ensemble – 1st Place – Excellent Rating
Symphonic Band – 1st Place – Excellent Rating

We are proud of our students and their achievements! They were tremendous! In addition to their performances, the students were treated to some quality beach time, swam with dolphins, and enjoyed a great day at Busch Gardens on Saturday.

Special thanks go to teachers, administrators and parents who supported our efforts to provide this special educational and fun opportunity for our students.

The Greenery, a Newtown High School student-run enterprise, is proud to announce the return of the annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale! Items will be available for purchase in the Main Hallway from 9:00am-11:00am, Friday, May 11, 2012. Be sure to see our novel Hanging Cucumber Baskets and our Earth-friendly containers.

All products are grown by NHS Greenery students in their new greenhouse. Greenery and Greenhouse Management courses are open to enrollment by students in grades 9-12.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Students in Mr. David DeFeo’s Graphics Tech II class, The Company, and TAP designed the bookmarks and produced the cards that were received by certified staff for Teacher Appreciation Day this week. Special thanks to Brittany Pearson, Sam Malloy, and Dave Witkowski.

After school on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, the Senior class council of 2012 hosted a pizza party for the class councils of all four grades . The celebration was to give the council members a chance to relax and get to know each other better. The advisers also wanted to acknowledge the hard work, time, and effort that the councils have put into helping their respective classes.

Some days our busy preschoolers finish their scheduled learning activities a few minutes early. This is a great opportunity for practicing skills. The preschoolers call it “coloring”, but their high school ‘Buddies’ know it by different terms; Practicing necessary pre-writing skills.

Preschoolers are encouraged to stay within the lines, or to color an area completely, and to remember to use their helping (non-dominant) hand to keep the paper steady. Soon enough, it’s time to pack up and prepare to spend the ride home sharing the stories of the day.

The Newtown High School preschool program – The Nurtury – is currently accepting registrations for next school year. Contact Preschool Director Ms. Stephanie Gacso.

Mrs. Sherman’s and Mr. Hall’s Advanced Placement Calculus students spend one more evening preparing for the exam.

The votes have been collected and tallied and the results are in. Lee Keylock has been selected by the Senior Class to be this year’s graduation speaker on June 20, 2012 at the O’Neil Center. Congratulations to Mr. Keylock; the Class of 2012 looks forward to your speech!