Newtown High School Blog

Peer Leadership is organizing a Tag Sale event to be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 10am to 4pm.

Our goal is to sell table slots and to use the revenue collected to award graduating seniors who “came from behind” through hard work and determination, and succeeded in improving their grades.

If you are interested in volunteering your time or purchasing a table to sell your wares, please email Tag Sale Coordinator Tom Chin at mentc@charter.net

This Friday, March 12, 2010, Newtown High will have a Poetry Slam performance. Come see your peers showcase their literary love at 2pm in the lobby. It should be an exciting event and a great way to end day. See you there!

Fun Friday is making a special appearance this Tuesday February 23, 2010 . Let’s see who can shoot a cotton swab the farthest! Place a cotton swab in the straw and blow on the straw. The person whose cotton swab travels the furthest wins a bag of great candy. See you this Tuesday after school in the lobby!

Peer Leadership is proud to host the first ever Rock Band 2 Tournament this Friday, February 19, 2010 at 2pm in the lobby. Drums Only! Please bring your own drum set. Blistering, nightmare, and impossible songs only! $50 gift card for the winner.

Paper Airplane Throwing contest. Whoever makes a paper airplane and throws it the farthest wins a $50 gift card. Contest will take place after school this Friday  (February 5, 2010) in the lobby at 2pm.

Newtown’s own Piano Man, senior Patrick Shirley, will perform live on Fun Friday January 29, 2010 in the lobby. Patrick is a gifted pianist and is looking forward to sharing his love and talent. Come enjoy some choice pieces that will be candy to your ears. It will make leaving school on Friday more pleasurable for all and ensures that your Friday will be fun!

Have a talent that you would love to share with the school? Do you love to sing, dance, juggle, do magic tricks or something else? Then we would love to showcase your talent after school any Friday that is convenient for you! We want to invite everyone in the school to know how talented you are. Follow the likes of juggling Michael Rizk and piano playing Patrick Shirley by signing up to perform on a Fun Friday. If you are interested, see Mr. Tolson in guidance or Mr. Hall in the math department.

See if you can juggle more balls in the air then Michael Rizk!  Winner gets a $50 gift card.  Friday, January 15, 2010 in the Lobby. (Sponsored by Peer Leadership)

Students from Newtown High School’s mentoring program FUSION joined students from Peer Leadership to spend Saturday, December 12, 2009, donating, sorting, wrapping, and delivering gifts to children affected by aids and children in need at the annual St. Luke’s Lifeworks Holiday Wrapping Party in Stamford, CT. Senior Emily Anderson arranged the eight hour trip of over 45 students and staff from Newtown High School. The group helped provide gifts for over 2000 children in Connecticut who are affected by HIV/AIDS or are in need.

Junior Robert Frangione survived an overtime official reversal and a tough crowd to defeat Greg Frattaroli in the Second Annual Paper Football Field Goal Kicking Contest sponsored by Peer Leadership. Frangione’s final kick from 47 yards out sailed through the uprights forcing Frattaroli to match. Frattaroli’s kick hit the bottom crossbar which was ruled as a do-over by officials. When Frattaroli’s second kick again hit the crossbar, Frangione won the contest and was named champ. Frangione walked away with a $50 gift card courtesy of Peer Leadership.

Bread and Roses is Saturday December 12, 2009 at St. Luke’s Lifeworks in Stamford, CT. Students will be earning community service hours by wrapping presents for children affected by the AIDS virus. The bus leaves Newtown High School at 9am and will be back at 5pm. All are invited and there is no charge for the trip. Lunch will be provided for all helpers. This is Peer Leadership’s eighth straight year participating in this awesome event. Senior Emily Anderson is leading the trip and this is the fourth straight year for seniors Lauren Powers, Neyati Patel and Samantha Kent! Need more info? Contact Jeff Tolson at tolsonj@newtown.k12.ct.us.

In the first annual Peer Leadership Dodgeball Tournament, senior team White Castle dramatically rallied to win the tournament. In the last match of the last game in the championship, Nathan Crevier (pictured far left) was the last man standing. White Castle won a $100 prize courtesy of Peer Leadership.

Sophomore Palmer Lintz tirelessly created, organized and ran the 19 team tournament and raised over $450 for Kevin’s Community Center, Newtown’s free adult medical clinic.   Newtown Youth Academy donated the courts and equipment.

Freshman Kristen Campbell knows how to help those in need. Campbell, in conjunction with Peer Leadership, donated 110 cans of food to the Faith Food Pantry in Sandy Hook last week. “I brought 110 cans of vegetables to the pantry. They said that it was very helpful and that vegetables were great with Thanksgiving coming up.” Campbell’s next project centers around helping elementary students at Head O’ Meadow.

Linea Kemsely (as Super Mario) and Anna Maria Marina (Gnome from Travelocity) won this year’s best dressed Halloween Costumes in the Annual Peer Leadership Halloween Dress Up Contest. Over 50 students competed for the $50 gift prize.

Senior Nathan Crevier knew he had one chance to win the title. Down eight points with one dive left, Crevier let loose with a non-traditional, flapping, all-points dive that captured the imagination of the crowd and judges, propelling him to win the Second Annual Peer Leadership Fun Friday Diving Contest. Crevier senior friend Dan Greenwood, who was mysteriously absent from the competition said he was proud of Crevier and happy he won. Crevier used his $50 gift card prize to treat his friends to a meal.

This week’s Peer Leadership Fun Friday will feature a best dressed Halloween Contest (Please:  NO masks, NO weapons, NO weapon facsimiles). Winner gets a $50 gift card good anywhere. Any student wishing for their costume to be judged should report to the cafeteria during any lunch wave. A Peer Leadership representative will be available all lunch waves to take a picture and give the outfit a score. The winner will be announced at 2pm in the lobby. You do not need to be present to win. Ghoul luck to everyone!! Mwahhahhahaahhhaaahhaaa!

Casey Tenney had two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown and Dan Lynch had six catches in for 114 yards to lead the Orange over the Jerseys in Peer Leadership’s 10th Annual Flag Football Tournament. The Jerseys, favorites to win the tourney since coming in second place last year, went undefeated as did the Orange in the regular season and playoffs. Max Paynter and Kevin O’Connell led the jerseys on the night. In the Super Bowl, however, the Orange capitalized on three Jersey turnovers to win their first title. Tenney was named Peer Leadership Super Bowl MVP.

Sinking his first paper ball shot in the round of finals was all Rockwell Anyoha needed to capture the Peer Leadership Fun Friday 2nd Annual Paper Ball Throwing Contest at Newtown High School. Anyoha won a $50 gift card for his efforts.

Senior Brian Kuruc needed a seventh and deciding game to defeat senior Andrew Buonacore in Peer Leadership’s Third Annual Rock Paper Scissors Tournament Friday October 9, 2009. Kuruc went seven games in the semi-finals as well on his way to the title. Down 3-1 and on the brink of elimination, Buonacore fought back to a seventh and deciding game. The last throws of the afternoons proved to be the charm for Kuruc, who walked away with a $50 gift card courtesy of Peer Leadership. Kuruc’s rock on his last throw destroyed Buonacore’s scissors and brought him to victory.

Peer Leadership is hosting the 10th Annual Co-Ed Intramural Flag Football Tournament this Saturday October 17, 2009 from 5-7:30 at Newtown Youth Academy. The tournament is 5v5 and costs $25 to enter. Eight teams will compete for the coveted Championship Cup. Sign up with your money with Mr. Tolson in Guidance.

Peer Leadership is hosting the 6th Annual Co-Ed Intramural Ultimate Frisbee Tournament this Saturday October 17, 2009 from 5-7:30 at Newtown Youth Academy. The tournament is 5v5 and costs $25 to enter. Eight teams will compete for the coveted Golden Frisbee. Sign up with your money with Mr. Tolson in Guidance.

Peer Leadership will be sponsoring a Fun Friday Rock, Scissors, Paper Tournament on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 2pm in the high school lobby.  Winner gets a $50 gift card!

Assistant Principal Scott Clayton will take the plunge for charity on the cafeteria patio during all lunch waves on Thursday June 18th. Mr. Clayton, the Assistant Principal for all current seniors as well as a third of the freshman class, will sit just above the cold water in a dunking booth. Students can pay $1 per ball for a chance to knock him into the water. All proceeds will go to support the Wounded Warrior Project which provides prosthetic limbs for military personnel who have lost limbs in combat. The event is sponsored by NHS Peer Leadership. Special thanks to Mr. Clayton for being such a great sport and Mrs. de Brantes for her terrific support in pushing the project to fruition.

In an epic battle between twin sisters, Lila Kohrman-Glaser defeated her twin Eliana to capture the 2009 Hula Hoop Championship at Newtown High School. Read the rest of this entry »

Star Wars Trivia

May 29, 2009, 2pm, Lobby

Dress up in a STAR WARS costume and get a first round BYE

$50 to the Winner

Yugioh

May 29, 2009, 2pm, B250

$50 to the Winner

Have you got the skills?

Friday, May 22, 2009, 2 pm, Main Lobby

$50 to the winner

Amanda Petersen had one last trick up her sleeve.  It proved vital as she edged out her formidable competition to win the first ever NHS Harry Potter Trivia Contest title.  Petersen and an estimated crowd of 35 gathered in the lobby Friday, February 27th to answer Harry Potter questions and to see who had the most trivial knowledge of Harry Potter.  The event was planned and run by Peer Leadership senior Rachele Cox.  Peterson’s knowledge (and repetitive reading of the popular books) earned her a $50 gift card and the title of champion.

Peer Leadership will be hosting the 3rd Annual Project Runway Competition. Project Runway gives students an opportunity to make their own school appropriate outfit using patterns and sewing machines. There will be a runway show on March 6th at 2:45pm in the high school lobby. After the show, each student’s outfit will be judged by four staff members. The criteria to determine the winner will be degree of difficulty, use of color, quality of construction, and creativity/uniqueness. Students can work in pairs and may use models. Any student who is interested in competing should contact Mr. Hall or Mr. Tolson.

It was a work of art.  Senior Haotian Zheng took on a tremendous challenge at this week’s Fun Friday.  He challenged any student at NHS to a game of chess.  The catch:  he would play them all at one time.  It took a little over 38 minutes but when all was said and done, Zheng captured the 08-09 NHS Speed Chess Title.  “That was a masterpiece,” Assistant Principal John Tusch said of Zheng’s play.  Humble as always, Zheng shyly smiled and accepted the $50 prize from Peer Leadership.  This Fun Friday was in support of the Chess Club run by Dr. Steve Malary.  Malary and the club provided all of the chess boards for the tournament.

Newtown High School Peer Leadership will be hosting Master Magician Illusionist Aedryan Methyus on Sunday January 18th from 7:30pm to 9:00pm in the Auditorium. Experience the cutting edge, fast past magic and illusion of Aedryan Methyus. Aedryan’s productions consist of “Awe Inspiring” large scale grand illusions and mega-illusions, outrageous audience participation, hilarious comedy, intimate close up, storytelling and some very bizarre magic. It should be a fun filled evening for the whole family. $5 tickets can be purchased at the door starting at 7pm.  More information

There will be a clothing drive starting tomorrow (January 6th) until Friday (January 9th) to support Midnight Run, clothing the homeless of NYC. We are looking for all clothing items, especially warm clothes and coats.

The drive will be a competition between homerooms. Each day this week homerooms will send a student down to the main office with collected clothes.  Each day, the homeroom with the most donations will win a special donut and juice breakfast celebrated the next Wednesday in the cafeteria. There will be four winning homerooms!

Bring in clothing to donate starting tomorrow!

The drive is the project of Katie Canavan, sponsored by Peer Leadership

Tags: Midnight Run

Danielle Norris, a member of Peer Leadership, a service-based organization at Newtown High School, led a trip of 40 Newtown High School students to Bread and Roses Gift Wrapping 2008. The gift wrapping is held at St. Luke’s LifeWorks in Stamford, CT. The event Read the rest of this entry »

Molly Nostrand, a junior at Newtown High School, in coordination with Peer Leadership, made sure many local families had food at the table for Thanksgiving this year.  Molly filled orders for the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury for their Thanksgiving Drive.  The center had a record number of families (90) this year in need of a Thanksgiving meal. Molly, with funding from Peer Leadership, collected Thanksgiving staples, shopped the sales at local supermarkets, put items into grocery bags-labeled with the names and sizes of the families, and enjoyed her Thanksgiving knowing she made many other local families happy for theirs!