New Milford High School News Blast
December 2019
Wingman Program Comes to NMHS
We are excited to announce that on 11/14 NMHS Administration introduced the Wingman program to our student body through presentations by Ian Hockley, Executive Director of Dylan’s Wings of Change. The program, which utilizes students as leaders, helps students realize the connections that exist between peers, but also develops social and emotional skills through team bonding and trust building activities. In the week following the introduction assemblies, students were given the opportunity to sign up for consideration to become a Wingman Student Leader. Once faculty has selected and trained student leaders, NMHS will be rolling out various Wingman student-led activities throughout the year to achieve the primary goal of improving school climate and culture, as well as to inspire our students to be more empathetic, courageous and inclusive, in an effort to create a school community that is a welcoming place for everyone.
Cervone Wins Distinguished Educator Award
NMHS math teacher Linda Cervone has won a statewide mathematics educator award. Ms. Cervone has been awarded the Albina Cannavaciolo award from the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut (A.T.O.M.I.C.). This prestigious award is given annually to a
recipient who demonstrates the following characteristics:
- Works as a mentor to both students and teachers.
- Works to improve the mathematics community.
- Consistently helps build numerical fluency, problem solving, creativity, reasoning, perseverance, and love for mathematics for the students in their classroom.
- Works collaboratively with other educators to improve mathematical skills and concepts for their own students as well as students in their building, district, or other organizations.
Ms. Cervone will receive the award at the A.T.O.M.I.C. Annual Conference on December 9, 2019. Please join Mr. Shugrue and all of the NMHS faculty in extending congratulations to Linda on a well-deserved award.
Green Wave Fall Athletes Break Records!
The following students made SWC 1st Team All Conference for Fall 2019:
- Boys Cross Country: Garred Farrell, Jason Golembeski, and Robert Harkin
- Girls Cross Country: Claire Daniels
- Field Hockey: Mckenzie Dayton and Tori Roberts Field
- Boys Soccer: Alec Llerena and Ian Donahue
- Girls Soccer: Julia Cascone
- Girls Swim: Sarah Falder
- Girls Volleyball: Emma Richieri and Sydney Slupatchuk
The following students made All State for Fall 2019:
- Boys Cross Country: Garred Farrell, 1st Team All State
- Girls Cross Country: Claire Daniels, 1st Team All State, All-New England
- Field Hockey: McKenzie Dayton, 2nd Team All State
- Field Hockey: Heather Dempsey, 2nd Team All State
- Field Hockey: Tori Roberts, 2nd Team All State
- Boys Soccer: Alec Llerena, 1st Team All State
- Girls Volleyball: Emma Richieri, 1st Team All State
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FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, and JUNIORS: Your PSAT scores in!
FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, and JUNIORS: Get your PSAT scores! PSAT Score Day was December 9th. NMHS students are now able to view their online score report. Click on the button below to watch a brief video on how to create a College Board Student Account and access your PSAT scores, if you don't already have one. (Parents: your child must create only one student account.)
**Troubleshooting Your College Board Account: If you have created multiple College Board accounts, you must contact their customer service at 866-756-7346. School Counselors do not have access to your accounts.
All Grades: Skype Info Session With Class Afloat on 12/12
Join us in the Career Center on Thurs., 12/12 at 10:15 am for a virtual information session with an admissions rep from Class Afloat. Learn how you could spend a semester or year at sea while earning grade 11, 12 or 1st year university credits. Sail to 20+ ports on 4 continents. Participate in international volunteer projects and learn to sail a majestic tall ship. Advance sign up in the Career Center required (space is limited, and upperclassmen will be given priority). Check out the video below, or the Class Afloat website for more information.
ALL STUDENTS: Gap Year Fair 1/8
USA Gap Year Fairs presents over 40 post-secondary gap year programs in one location, Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, 785 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, CT. Stay tuned for a list of participating programs.
JUNIORS & SENIORS: Practical Nursing Information Session 1/15
SENIORS: Plan Ahead for College Application Deadlines
December Events at the Observatory
The John J. McCarthy Observatory is hosting its monthly Second Saturday Stars open house on Saturday December 14th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This month’s topic is the New Horizons probe and its journey into the Kuiper Belt. New Horizons was launched in 2006 and reached the dwarf planet Pluto in 2015. The probe continues to make its way through the outer reaches of our solar system, sending back valuable information about dwarf planets, comets and other Kuiper Belt objects.
This month the freshman science classes will be continuing their visits the observatory and viewing their extensive meteorite collection and learning how the age of the Earth was calculated using meteorites, the oldest surviving pieces of the early solar system.
To learn more about December events at the observatory, visit the website at www.mccarthyobservatory.org or see Mrs. Ragonnet in Room 3303. Also, check out this month’s Green Wave TV episode (below) for a feature on the Observatory and our November events.
Latest episode of Green Wave TV
This latest episode of Green Wave TV from the Advanced Video Production Class features a comedic New Milford promo video, a game show called In The Halls, an informational promo video about the Observatory, a recap of the Talent Show, and a behind the scenes look at Clue: On Stage presented by the Dramatics Club.
SENIORS & JUNIORS: Naviance Video Tutorials Now Available!
Click on the button below to peruse the NMHS showcase of how-to videos and learn how to navigate another Naviance task in three minutes or less.
SENIORS & Parents: FAFSA Resources
Beginning Oct. 1st of this year, college-bound NMHS seniors are able to apply for financial aid for fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using your 2018 tax information. Click on this link to file your FAFSA, or, use one of the resources listed below.
Further FAFSA ASSISTANCE:
Southern Connecticut State University's Office of Student Financial Literacy & Advising run by Lewis DeLuca, M. Ed., is rated as one of the top ten financial literacy programs in the country among Stanford, Duke, and other distinguished universities. Mr. DeLuca is available Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm on the SCSU campus to meet and discuss paying for college and financial literacy needs with any Connecticut student/family, regardless of SCSU application. For appointments, contact Mr. DeLuca at delucal2@southernct.edu.
Additional online FAFSA resources:
Net Price vs. Cost of College: Huge differences
How Can You Afford College from NPR
ALL GRADES: Upcoming SAT & ACT Test Dates
SENIORS: Workshops for College Planning
- College Applications
- Naviance
- College/Career Search
- Requesting Letters of Recommendation
Sign up in Naviance (click HERE). From your Home Page: Go to the "Colleges" tab, then scroll down under "Visits".
SENIORS: College Essay Assistance
SENIORS & Parents: Sign Up for REMIND Updates
What's Happening at NMHS in December?
Thu., 12/5 - Fall Drama Production - "Clue: On Stage" - 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 12/6 - Fall Drama Production - "Clue: On Stage" - 7:00 p.m
Sat., 12/7 - Fall Drama Production - "Clue: On Stage" - 7:00 p.m.
Thu., 12/12 - Band Concert - 7:00 p.m.
Wed., 12/18 - V Boys Ice Hockey vs. E.Haven Coop at Canterbury Ice Rink - 7:15 p.m.
Wed., 12/18 - V Wrestling vs. Joel Barlow at NMHS - 6:00 p.m.
Thu., 12/19 - Chorus Concert - NMHS Theater - 7:00 p.m.
Thu., 12/19 - V Boys Swimming & Diving vs. Bunnell/Stratford at Canterbury Pool - 7:00 p.m.
Thu., 12/19 - V Girls Basketball vs. Shepaug Valley at NMHS - 6:00 p.m.
Fri., 12/20 - V Boys Basketball vs. Norwalk at NMHS - 7:00 p.m.
Mon., 12/23 - V Boys Basketball vs. Stamford at NMHS - 7:00 p.m.
Mon., 12/23 - V Boys Ice Hockey vs. North Haven at Canterbury Ice Rink - 7:00 p.m.
Mon., 12/23 - V Wrestling vs. Masuk at NMHS - 6:00 p.m.
Sat., 12/28 - V Boys Ice Hockey vs. Newtown at Canterbury Ice Rink - 7:00 p.m.
Mon., 12/30 - V Boys Ice Hockey vs. Masuk at Canterbury Ice Rink - 7:00 p.m.
Important Dates to Remember
PSAT Score Day
12/9
Activity Day
12/19
No School
12/23 to 1/1 - No School (Winter Recess)
1/20 - Martin Luther King Day
Midterm Exams
1/21 - 1/24 (pending snow days)
2nd Quarter Ends
1/24 (pending snow days)
3rd Quarter Begins
1/27 (pending snow days)
SAT Administered in School
3/25 - CT SAT School Day - for all NMHS Juniors
SENIORS: National Scholarship Links
The NMHS Career Center has activated its first national scholarship in Naviance, and will continue to add scholarships throughout the Fall and Winter. While the vast majority of local scholarships won't be available until late January, there are many national scholarships becoming available in the mean time. Check out these national scholarship sites online:
You can also use the national scholarship feature in Naviance - under the 'Colleges' tab, select 'Scholarships and Money', then select 'National Scholarship Search'.
Attention PARENTS: The 2020 Grad Party Needs Your Help!
The 2020 Grad Party Committee invites you to join them. Planning meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the teacher’s lounge at NMHS. Volunteers are always welcome!!! The next meeting will be on 1/9/2020.
For more information about the schedule of meetings for the 2019-2020 school year, upcoming events, fundraising, and ways you can help, please visit their website at nmhsgradparty.org.