New Milford High School News Blast
November 2019
NMHS Athletic Program Receives Michaels Achievement Cup Award
The New Milford High School Athletic Program has been selected by the CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference) to receive the Michaels Achievement Cup Award for the work that was done during the 2018-2019 school year. The award recognizes the achievements of, and work done to foster good sportsmanship in the Athletic Program during the 2018-2019 academic year. This is the 2nd time that New Milford has been selected for this award since its inception in the early 1980s. In 2016, the Class Act School program was launched at the Annual Sportsmanship Conference and was designed to empower schools and specifically students to enhance sportsmanship. Since then, the New Milford Athletic Department, in collaboration with the NMHS Athletic Council have implemented many new ideas to help foster an athletic environment of sportsmanship and positive fan behavior. Some of these ideas have included, pre-game Sportsmanship announcements, a Sportsmanship video created by the students, and a Student Spectator Code of Conduct Pledge that all student spectators must agree to prior to attending a NMHS Athletic Event. These initiatives have helped create a positive culture and climate at NMHS Athletic Events. New Milford will be honored at the CIAC Sportsmanship Conference at the Aqua Turf in Southington on November 21st.
NMHS Marching Band & Color Guard Win New England Championship Title!
JUNIORS & Parents: Senior Year Course Selection Info Sessions 11/5
Believe it or not, it's almost time to begin planning for your student's senior year. To help with this process, the school counselors are holding Informational Sessions on Tuesday, November 5th (a conference day, no school for students). These sessions will provide information for juniors and their parents on selecting courses for senior year, credit requirements, getting started on the college search process, and more. While these informational sessions focus on course selection and college preparation, there will be additional sessions held in the spring designed for career readiness and post- secondary option planning. Three Info sessions will be held in the NMHS Theater at the following times: 2:00 - 3:00 pm, 4:00 to 5:00 pm, and 5:30 to 6:30 pm
If interested in attending, please email our Counseling Secretary, Mrs. Salvatore at salvatoret@newmilfordps.org, and indicate the date and time that you will attend. (Dates for sessions held in the spring will sent at a later date.)
SENIORS: Instant Decision Week is 12/2 - 12/6
Seniors, if you're planning on applying to any one of the schools listed below, don't wait weeks for an acceptance decision! Admissions Reps from all five schools will be on-site at NMHS for Instant Decision Week - 12/2 to 12/6. Find out immediately if you've been accepted!
- Mon. 12/2 - Western Connecticut State University
- Tues. 12/3 - Iona College and University of New Haven
- Wed. 12/4 - Naugatuck Valley Community College
- Thurs. 12/5 - Southern Connecticut State University
- Fri. 12/6 - Central Connecticut State University
Participation requires pre-registration in the Career Center, and students must apply (and pay the application fee) to the universities by 11/25 via the Common App, or directly to the schools. See Mrs. Shaffer in 1101 for more information.
Fall Production of "Clue: On Stage" 12/5- 7
UCONN Announces Free Tuition for Qualifying 2020 Applicants
Looking for a Great Value University? Look Out-of-State, Too!
Savvy college shoppers know that if you're looking for a good value university, schools in the south tend to be less expensive. However, there's a recent trend that's been happening just a short distance away in the great state of Maine, as well as in other nearby states such as Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Some schools in these states are becoming very competitive cost-wise with our Connecticut public universities. To preview our abbreviated list of universities with the same annual cost as UCONN - or less, click on the button below.
SENIORS: A GAP Year Without the Gap!
Verto Education offers an affordable way for students to incorporate travel into their four year college experience. Verto offers a first semester abroad program which gives students an opportunity to explore the world while also providing accredited transferable college credit and therefore, keeps students on a 4-year graduation timeline. Students can spend their first semester or two of college in either Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, or the South Pacific. When a student applies to Verto, he/she can simultaneously apply to any of their partner colleges and receive a free, non-binding admissions decision within a couple of weeks. Some their two dozen partner colleges include Bucknell, UVM, James Madison, Merrimack, Pace, High Point, Springfield, and more! Click on the Verto logo for more information about their programs.
SENIORS: Failure to Complete Selective Service Registration Can Affect Your FAFSA & Have Lifelong Consequences
Lincoln Technical Institute Rep to Visit NMHS 11/6
Porter & Chester Institute Rep to Visit NMHS 11/14
Universal Technical Institute Rep to Visit NMHS 12/9
Missed Senior Planning Night or Financial Aid Night?
SENIORS & JUNIORS: New Naviance Video Tutorial Now Available!
Click on the button below to view our latest NMHS video tutorial: How to add schools to 'Colleges I'm Thinking About' in Naviance. Or, peruse the NMHS showcase of how-to videos and learn how to navigate another Naviance task in three minutes or less.
SENIORS & Parents: FREE FAFSA Workshops & Resources
Beginning Oct. 1, college-bound NMHS seniors can 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.
FREE WORKSHOP: Connecticut Association of Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA) offers FAFSA DAY CONNECTICUT. Their free events (11/2, 11/3, & 11/6) are held throughout the state to help students/families complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA. Click on the second button below to see locations, event details, and register.
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: College Application Tips!
- Once you've submitted a college application, watch for an email from the college/university. Often you will be given access to an application portal where you can track the status of your application.
- Make sure you add all of your schools to your FAFSA. Not doing so can delay your financial aid packet from any school you didn't include.
SENIORS & Parents: Sign Up for REMIND Updates
What's Happening at NMHS in Nov. & Dec.?
Fri., 11/1 - V Football vs. Masuk - 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 11/1 - V Girls Volleyball vs Canton - 5:30 p.m.
Fri., 11/15 - V Football Pomperaug - 7:00 p.m.
Fri., 11/22 - SHS Talent Show - 7:00 p.m.
Tue., 11/26 - V Football vs. New Fairfield - 7:00 p.m.
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.
Thu., 12/19 - Chorus Concert - 7:00 p.m.
November Events at the Observatory
The John J. McCarthy Observatory is hosting its monthly Second Saturday Stars open house on Saturday 11/9 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This month’s topic is neutron stars, the massive and dense remnants of supernova explosions. These objects are about the size of a city but weigh more than our Sun! November 11th (Veteran’s Day) there will be a transit of the planet Mercury across the Sun. The transit event will be taking place late morning into early afternoon. If weather permits, the observatory will be open to the public to view this rare event.
This month the freshman science classes will be visiting 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 November events at the observatory, go to the website www.mccarthyobservatory.org or see Mrs. Ragonnet in Room 3303.
Important Dates to Remember
No School
11/5 - Election Day (no school for students)
11/11 - Veterans Day
11/27-11/29 - Thanksgiving Recess
NMHS Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/4 - 2:30 to 4:30 pm
11/5 - 1:00 to 8:00 pm
2nd Quarter Begins
11/4
Activity Day
11/21
Rep Visits for SENIORS and JUNIORS
Mon., 11/4 - New Jersey Institute of Technology - 9:00 am
Mon., 11/4 - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts - 10:30 am
Wed., 11/6 - Husson University - 8:30 am
Wed., 11/6 - Lincoln Technical Institute - 9:30 am
Thu., 11/7 - Wittenberg University - 12:00 pm
Tue., 11/12 - King's College - 12:00 pm
Thu., 11/14 - Porter and Chester Institute - 10:00 am
Mon., 12/2-12/6 - INSTANT DECISION WEEK - by appointment only
Mon., 12/9 - Universal Technical Institute - 9:15 am
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 November Grad Party Meeting will be 11/7 at 7 pm in the Staff Lunch Room. Thank you to all the students who helped with Haunted Trail, it was very successful! There will not be a December meeting. 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.
Make a Difference in the Life of an NMHS Grad
Hello Parents of New Milford School District,
You truly can have an impact on the life of a New Milford High School graduate! By now you have received membership forms to join the PTO. What does New Milford PTO do with the funds raised through membership? First of all, the funds cover the operating costs for the entire PTO, including insurance for all school PTO sponsored events and in the near future, a better website. But most importantly, the funds raised through PTO membership ($10 per family per year) helps PTO award scholarships to graduating Seniors of New Milford High School. Each year, the New Milford PTO has the privilege to award scholarships in the amount of $1000 to Seniors on Scholarship night. Last year, the PTO awarded 11 $1000 scholarships. In past years, it has been as many as 23 scholarships to graduating seniors! Help us to make a difference in the lives of New Milford High School graduates! The following are some of the thank-you quotes PTO received from last year’s scholarship recipients:
“Because of the PTO scholarship, I can afford the experience of living on campus for my first year.” - Ryan
“I thank you for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goals.” - Matthew
“Thank you for the scholarship money to help me pay for college.” - Sophie
Dr. Parker has graciously agreed to team up with the PTO in our membership campaign this year. The school with the highest percentage of participation in PTO membership will receive a lunch courtesy of JoJo’s Deli paid for by Dr. Parker! PTO would love to see at least 50% staff participation at each school. Please join us and know that you did your part to make a difference in the life of a New Milford graduate! Pick up a form in the Main Office & join today!
Sincerely,
Mandi MacDonald
NMPTO President