Newtown High School Blog

Congratulations to Devon Miles (First Place:  News Photo), Kristin Stoller (Second Place:  Editorial Writing and Bylined column), Sarah Ferris (Third Place:  News Story), and Margaret Sullivan (Second Place:  Feature Photo) for being recognized by the Connecticut Daily Newspapers Association’s 3rd Annual High School Journalism Contest.  Se  a full list of award winners here: cdnawinners

Congratulations to the following students for their impressive academic performance in the fourth quarter of this year:

Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding academic performance in the fourth quarter of this year:

Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to Newtown High School lacrosse standouts Kyle O’Connor, Meghan Bridges, Kaitlyn Brophy, and Annie Fletcher for being named Academic All-Americans by US Lacrosse. The criteria for this award states “A US Lacrosse Academic All-American is a player who exhibits exemplary lacrosse skills and good sportsmanship on the field and represents high standards of academic achievement in the classroom. This player should also have left her mark beyond the lacrosse field and the classroom by making significant contributions of service to the school and/or community.”

Sara Hill (Junior) traveled to New York City last week for the official awards ceremony of the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Sara was presented a Gold Medal for Best In Show, for her piece, ‘Psycho For Your Love’.

Sara is pictured with Ceramics Teacher Carol Pelligra, who was also presented a Gold Medal in recognition of her contributions to Sara’s achievement. This is the first time a student from Newtown high School has been acknowledged with this national honor.

Congratulations to Sara Hill and Mrs. Pelligra!

Congratulations to Eliana Kohrman-Glasar on receiving a gold Medal in the National Latin exam for the past four consecutive years!  She has been awarded an Oxford Classical Dictionary in recognition of this prestigious accomplishment.

Katie Frogoso 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. Katie will be honored at the June dinner meeting at the Inn at Newtown hosted by the Rotary Club. Congratulations Katie!!

Congratulations to Newtown High School Senior lacrosse standout Lisa Vendel who was named All-American earlier this week. This is an incredible honor for Lisa who helped the Nighthawks win Southwest Conference championships in all four years of her stellar career.

Congratulations to Newtown High School varsity softball coach Robert Guerrera.  He has been selected as this year’s Softball Class LL Coach of the Year!

Congratulations to the honorees from the Newtown High School Awards assembly: Read the rest of this entry »

The Newtown Boys and Girls Track teams each captured the Southwest Conference Sportsmanship awards given out at the championship meets held on May 24, 2010 and May 25,2010. Congratulations to both teams for this outstanding accomplishment.

Annually, Newtown High School Choral Parents present graduating seniors who have made a significant contribution to the Newtown High School Choral Program with scholarships to assist in furthering their education. John Daniel Knapp, Bianca Crudo, Hannah DeFlumeri, and Andrew Nichols were announced as the recipients during the Spring Concert held on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at NHS by NHSCP President Colleen McMorran and Lynn Williams.

J.D. will be pursuing a career in Broadcast Journalism at Emerson College in Boston, Bianca a career in Theatre Performance at Fordham Lincoln Center, Hannah in Musical Theater at Ithaca College and Andrew a double degree in Communications and Music Performance at Hamilton College also in New York. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

Congratulations to Aidan Pelisson for achieving a perfect score on the 2010 National Latin Exam.  Only 568 students out of over 138,000 who participated in the entire United states, Australia, Zimbabwe, Canada, England, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Korea, Bulgaria, china, Japan, and Singapore attained this distinction.  Way to go, Aidan!

Tags: Latin

FOX61 Student News has announced three additional videos that have met the standard necessary for broadcast by the television network.  The following videos were all produced by Video Production 2 students.

Donate To Skate: Kurt Liniger, Producer (Donate2Skate)

Rock Climbing Wall: Kurt Liniger, Producer (RockClimb)

Mock Crash: Nick Tramatozzi, Producer (MockCrash)

Congratulations to the students and their teacher Mrs. Mary Ann Snieckus!

Congratulations to Emily Grier for submitting the winning entry in the 2009-2010 Annual Statewide James W. Cooper Fellows Essay Contest (sponsored by the Connecticut Bar Association).  Emily’s entry on “The Trouble With Texting” was evaluated by a panel that included Connecticut Supreme Court Justices, judges from the Federal District, Connecticut Appellate and Superior Courts, law school deans and professors, and practicing attorneys.  She will be honored at the Connecticut Supreme Court in June.

Newtown High School’s production of “Gypsy” has been nominated for 5 Connecticut High School Musical Theatre Award nominations.

Outstanding performance by Leading Female:    Hannah DeFlumeri
Outstanding Performance by Supporting Male:  Andrew Nichols
Outstanding Student Orchestra:  Newtown High School
Outstanding Direction by a Theatre or Outside Artist:  John Harned
Outstanding Musical Direction:  John Harned

Sara Hill (Junior) continued her legacy of artistic achievement when she was recently awarded The Potter’s Council Award for her piece, ‘Psycho For Your Love.’  The award was made at The National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition. Sara’s piece, along with other winning entries, will be touring the country for the next year, including a stop in New York City this summer where Sara will be officially presented with her award.

Sarah continues to explore her talents in the ceramic arts, and some of her recent efforts are displayed above. She is currently uncommitted in terms of a career direction. Her interests span from illustration to education, and even give consideration to tattooing. One thing is certain; Sara Hill’s future will include a deep connection with artistic expression.

Congratulations to Sara, and to her Ceramics Teacher, Carol Pelligra. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

Students in the Foundations of Health Science and Technology class (taught by Susan McConnell) took part in the Connecticut Career Choices CT Student Innovation Expo 2010, and were awarded the distinction of “Outstanding Presentation” for their efforts.

Their challenge was to develop a healthcare facility that was a unique and innovative frontrunner in terms of technology, management (medical administrators, advisory boards), and design. In addition, the medical center had to meet the need for a greener, more environmentally-friendly world.

Over the course of the school year, each student in the class had to research a healthcare profession and develop a related e-portfolio. For the Expo, they assumed roles based on their research and presented from that standpoint during the booth exhibition and formal presentation. During their presentations, they used technology such as PowerPoint, digital video and Twitter to market their center.

Newtown, Connecticut has been selected as a 2010 Best Community for Music Education in the nation by the NAMM Foundation!  Read about it here

Brian Reed’s nonfiction narrative about volunteering on Saturdays to work with special needs students was selected as a finalist in the 2010 Connecticut Young Writers Program. Brian was one of ten high school students in Fairfield County whose prose was recognized at a ceremony at Western Connecticut State University on April 27, 2010. You may read the piece here: Special Needs, Special Saturdays.

Bekim Bomova 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. Bekim will be honored at the May 17 dinner meeting at the Inn at Newtown hosted by the Rotary Club. Congratulations Bekim!!

Congratulations to Abigail Lee. She recently qualified to be considered by the US Eventing Association selection committee for the Junior / Young Rider’s team. She is currently ranked 9th in the nation in her division and completed two of the most difficult international competitions offered at this level. She hopes to compete in the national championships in July in Lexington, KY.

Newtown High School Sophomore Marina Lleonart Calvo was awarded the Bronze — third place in the 5th Annual Chinese Bridge U.S. High School Student Chinese Contest, held in Marlboro, Massachusetts at the International Academy of Boston on April 24, 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Annette Chionilos has been selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction for excellence in teaching and for encouragement of and dedication to the academic success of students by the National Society of High School Scholars.  Ms. Chionilos was nominated by one of her students for this recognition.  Congratulations, Ms. Chionilos!

Congratulations to the following students for their impressive academic performance in the third quarter of this year: Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding academic performance in the third quarter of this year: Read the rest of this entry »

Newtown High School graduate Nicole Bounty has won first place in Ceramics in BOSS (Best Of Salve Students)  at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island for her work titled “Sprouting Leafpot.”

Congratulations to Josh Engler and Megan Preis for being selected by the faculty of Newtown High School to receive the annual William Honan Lions Award (formerly the Lions Club Past President Award and Trull Award). The award recognizes the “Best All Around Junior Students” and is based upon a strong academic record, extraordinary leadership skills, a commitment to community, and outstanding character. The students will be honored at a dinner and will be presented with a monetary gift. Congratulations, Josh and Megan! (Pictured with them are Charles Dumais & Suzanne Hurley)

Senior Lisa Vendel recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at Division I Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Lisa is seated with her mother Mary Jane and her father Larry while Newtown High School Girls Lacrosse Coach Maura Fletcher looks on.

Congratulations to Andrew LaMarche, recipient of the Weller Foundation Senior Science Award for students intending to pursue a career in science.

Congratulations to Angela Sobotka, recipient of the Weller Foundation Eleanor F. Moore Business Award for students intending to pursue a career in business.

Congratulations to Sarah Ferris, recipient of the Weller Foundation Paul W. Broggi Communications Award for students intending to pursue a career in communications.

Megan Preis 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. Megan will be honored at the April 12 dinner meeting at the Inn at Newtown hosted by the Rotary Club. Congratulations Megan!!

Congratulations to Samantha DeFelippe for being selected as Newtown High School’s Leo of the Year!

Each year, Superintendents from the area are asked to select two middle school students and two high school students who best represent exemplary academics and character. We are proud to announce that Stephanie Jarvis and Zachary Bokuniewicz (pictured above with Dr. Janet Robinson) will represent Newtown High School. Congratulations Stephanie and Zach!

On Saturday, March 20, 2010, the Newtown High School Color Guard competed at the World Guard International Power Regional in Brunswick, New Jersey. In the Scholastic National A division, they defeated 25 guards from throughout the northeast United States and took home the championship trophy. This was the biggest win in our Color Guard history! As a result, they have earned a international ranking of #9! On April 7, 2010, the Color Guard will  travel to Dayton, Ohio to compete in the World Guard International championships. Also, on Saturday, March 27, 2010, the entire Color Guard program did exceptionally well at the Musical Arts Conference championships. Our Junior Guard from the Reed School took 2nd place, the AAA Guard from the middle school took 1st place, and our NHS Guard took home first place for the 7th consecutive year! Congratulations to all the guard members and their staff who have done a great job!

The Connecticut High School Coaches Association has selected Kyle O’Connor as one of six students to receive their annual scholar-athlete scholarship.  Exemplary seniors  who have earned at least one varsity letter and demonstrate outstanding citizenship and leadership are nominated by principals from across the state.  A committee of non-coaching professionals from throughout the state select the recipients from this pool.  Congratulations Kyle!

Congratulations to Kelly Stendahl for being named Connecticut State Cheerleader of the Year. She was chosen from more than 600 cheerleaders throughout the state. Way to go, Kelly!

Congratulations to Brian Reed (pictured above with Counselor Jeff Tolson and Principal Charles Dumais) for being selected as one of thirty Governor’s Scholars of Connecticut for 2010.  Brian was chosen from more than 145 top juniors in Connecticut based upon his response to the writing prompt “How have you been affected by technology, both positively and negatively?”

Congratulations to Paige Olson, Connecticut Teen 2010 In the Princess America Pageants.  After competing in pageants for three years, Paige has won her first state title and will be representing Connecticut in the upcoming (June 2010) national competition.  Paige is working with the Lions Club of Newtown and will be completing much community work as she represents Princess America.

Junior John Wlasuk of the Newtown High School Indoor Track & Field team participated at the 27th Annual National Scholastic Indoor Championships on Saturday and Sunday March 13-14th, 2010, at the New Balance Track & Field Center (The Armory) in New York City, NY. John Wlasuk placed twenty-fifth out of fifty competitors in the shot put with a distance of 47-07.25 ft (14.51m). John also placed thirtieth out of fifty two competitors in the weight throw with a distance of 51-05.00 ft (15.67m). In addition, freshman Jake Feinstein competed at the Nike Indoor Nationals on Friday March 12th, 2010, at the Reggie Lewis Track & Field Center in Boston, MA. Jake placed seventh out of thirty five competitors in the freshman one mile with a time of 4:35.78. Congratulations to John, Jake, and the entire Indoor Track Team on a successful season!

Congratulations to Yossi Kohrman-Glaser (Third, Musical Composition), Laura Hunter (Second, Literature), and Daniel Trock (Second, Film Production – not pictured)for their outstanding achievement in the Connecticut PTA’s Reflection Program contest for 2009-2010.  Great job Yossi, Laura, and Daniel!