Hello SHS Families,

The long month of March is upon us and brings opportunities for several exciting events at SHS! Our winter sports are wrapping up, the annual Volleyball Marathon is March 10th, our Spring musical - The Addams Family is March 16, 17 and 18, the Spring Concert is March 23rd and the month ends with a fun Trivia Night March 31st.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone at parent-teacher conferences on March 1, 2 and 3. Remember, March 2 and 3 are Early Release Days (10:40 AM). To view the adjusted bell schedule for Feb 27 - March 3 click here. We appreciate your continued partnership as high school academics become increasingly challenging. Building a relationship with teachers and opening lines of communication can have a powerful impact. Please be mindful that it is important to stick to the scheduled meeting times to accomodate all parent requests. We suggest to come prepared with questions and knowing your child's grades in advance.

11th grade students: remember Wednesday, March 22nd all 11th grade students will take the SAT. Full details are included below.

As always, be sure to read through this newsletter in its entirety and click the links for more detailed information.

With Wildcat Pride,

Ms. Apanovitch, Principal

Mr. Dobi, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Insero, Assistant Principal

SHS Parent-Teacher Conferences:

Wednesday, March 1st - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Thursday, March 2nd - 11:20 AM to 2:20 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Friday, March 3rd - 11:20 AM to 2:20 PM

The deadline to schedule appointments has now passed. Parents, please remember to bring with you a copy of your appointment schedule from the pick-a-time site, which includes the room numbers for your appointments. Students and staff will be available to help direct you.

Remember, students will have early dismissal on March 2nd and 3rd to accommodate parent-teacher conferences. To view the adjusted bell schedule for Feb 27 - March 3 click here.

Real Talk: HBCU Edition on March 1 and 2. This two-night event will be an opportunity to compare colleges, receive advice on standing out during the admissions process, get information on special scholarships that can make college more affordable, and have top questions answered in real time. Real Talk is a virtual college exploration initiative designed to connect Black students and families with Black representatives from colleges and access organizations across the country. They empower black students to own their futures their way. For more information and to register, click here.

Several Scholarships are now available on Naviance and deadlines are fast approaching. Be sure to check Naviance frequently as scholarship opportunities will continue to be added.

The Connecticut School Day SAT will be taking place on March 22nd starting at 7:25 until students finish the test in the afternoon. Students will still be provided lunch after the testing is finished. Students do not need to register or pay for the exam. However, Grade 11 students are required to take this exam during the school day. Students will take the exam on a computer provided by Suffield High School in the gym. (Some students who receive approved accommodations from the CollegeBoard will take this exam in an alternative setting.) Students will receive their admission ticket the morning of the test.

On March 1st, all 11th Graders met in the Auditorium during their Wildcat Time for an introductory presentation regarding the SAT’s. School Counselors will also be visiting 11th Grade Wildcats in the following weeks to review information regarding the exam. There will be no other tests or homework given to Grade 11 students on March 22nd and March 23rd.

Students in Grades 9, 10 and 12 will also have a full day of school on March 22nd but there will be no Wildcat Session.

Senior Parents,

If you would like to dedicate a portion of a page in this year's yearbook to your senior, they are due no later than March 5th. Please click here to design your child's ad.

Additionally, baby photos are optional, but are due by March 3rd. Please submit these photos to Yearbook Snap with the code "wildcat" at https://snap.yearbookforever.com/snap/index.html#/upload/1-23J-1979

Attention Senior Parents: Stay up to date on ALL senior activities by reading the Senior Newsletter! The newsletter will be updated regularly by the senior class advisors! Reach out with any questions! Allison Daly (adaly@suffield.org); Amanda Danek (adanek@suffield.org)

Click here for the Senior Newsletter

The National FFA Organization was founded in 1928 and currently has over 850,000 members, making it one of the largest youth programs in the United States. Many people recognize the FFA as the Future Farmers of America, but it is so much more. The FFA creates the next generation of leaders by teaching premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. Students in the FFA develop strong leadership abilities and explore careers that will take them through the next steps of their lives. FFA is established on a local, state, and national level and provides strong relationships with people that become lifelong friends. Nationally, FFA Week runs from February 18th-25th to celebrate all students who are “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve”, which is FFA’s motto.

February 13th-24th was Suffield Regional’s FFA Week. The Agriscience Advocacy and Agriscience Healthy Lifestyles committees worked together to plan fun activities for Agriscience students to participate in, such as an FFA Spirit Week. From wearing Agriscience Brands, to FFA Swag, or even sporting a flannel on Friday, each day brought a new theme for students to express their Agriscience Spirit. During Wildcat on Friday February 24th, the FFA Olympics were held. Each grade competed against each other in hay bale tosses, tractor pushes, and scooter races. Later that night, the FFA Dance was held. All Agriscience students were invited to a night full of dancing and friendship.

The Greenhand and Chapter Degree Ceremony took place on February 15th. Fifty 9th graders received their Greenhand Degree and thirty three 10th graders received their Chapter Degree. Congratulations Degree Recipients!

Agriscience Accepted Students Day is March 16th. This is a day where all accepted 8th grade students to the Agriscience program for next year, are invited to spend the day at SHS to gain a deeper look into how a typical High School day runs. Tours, team building, and an Agriscience Freshman discussion panel will be held throughout the day.

Spring Career Development Events (CDEs) have begun practicing for their competitions on May 12th at UConn or in June at State FFA Convention. Some CDEs include Aquaculture, Agriscience Issues, Food Science, Dairy Evaluation, Vet Science, and Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Good luck to the competing teams!

Upcoming Events:

Agriscience Accepted Students Day - March 16, 2023

Excitement is building for Suffield High School's annual Volleyball Marathon (VBM)! The National Honor Society is working hard to plan a fun night for all and raise a lot of funds for scholarships to be awarded at the end of the year. 32 teams are registered to participate in one of the greatest traditions of SHS. For all the VBM details, click here.

SAVE THE DATE! The Suffield High School Spring production of The Addams Family is happening March 16, 17 & 18 at 7:00 PM in our auditorium! Students have been working hard both on stage and backstage to create an awesome program. We can't wait for you to see the show!

Tickets are sold at the door.

Students/Seniors = $10

Adults = $15

The Class of 2024 is hosting a Trivia Night Friday, March 31st, 6:00-8:00 PM in the SHS Commons. A variety of trivia categories will challenge all levels. Teams should be comprised of 6 - 8 players. The cost is $10 per person, with a maximum family cost of $60. Food will be available, for sale, from Fat City Kids and Kona Ice food trucks. In addition, the Class of 2024 has procured some generous donations from area businesses for a raffle including Boston Red Sox tickets, a 50" flat screen SMART television, Gold Foursomes, and much, much more. Trivia Night Registration Form

Mr. Janick wrote, “Willow day in and day out brings happiness and hard work to my class and the school. She seems to do it all. She always has a kind word to say and is always willing to help others. I cannot say enough about how highly I think of her.” She is a well-rounded agriscience student! She balances a challenging course load while being a captain of the cross country team, committee chair of the Chapter Recruitment and Healthy Lifestyles Committees, and an active member of the National Honor Society and Morning Update. Still, she finds time to volunteer her time with various community efforts and works a part-time job.

Mr. Kynard and Mrs. Lee wrote, “As one of the leaders of the Black Student Union, Marcus exemplifies service before self as he has diligently taken the lead in creating a comprehensive slideshow of notable Black activists, inventors, leaders, and politicians streamed throughout the high school for Black History Month. Marcus also created flyers to promote the first annual Black Student Union Coat Drive, actively planning and coordinating the month long (and very successful) community service endeavor. Marcus also participates in Robotics Club, Earth and Outing Club, and is a member of the SWAT technology support team and Drama Club Crew while maintaining excellent grades. Furthermore, Marcus maintains respectful communication with his peers and faculty while presenting himself with integrity and humility reflective of his personal excellence.”

Spring Sports begin March 18th! Please register asap through Final Forms https://suffield-ct.finalforms.com/

Winter Sports are wrapping up after a great winter season. Stay tuned for a list of All Conference and All State players.

Check out this great segment CIAC did on SHS Junior Griffin Mandirola on his balancing his Agriscience and Athletics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsRWNls4Uik

March is Music in Our Schools Month! This month, we are running a "Music of the Moment" campaign where students and staff can share their favorite music and have it featured on the TV's in the commons and in other places throughout our school. By sharing our musical interests we are able to celebrate everyone's unique musical tastes and build connections between members of our school community based on our musical interests.

To have your favorite song, album, or artist featured, complete this (short!) Google Form.

Open Mic Event: March 16th during Wildcat Flex in the LMC. Sign-up here.

Be on the lookout for other performances and open-mic events later this month!

Hello Wildcats!!

Last month’s Bookgrams were a big success. There were many books checked out and our volunteer library club members were busy fulfilling orders and delivering cards and books.

Did you know that students can submit book reviews on our Destiny catalog? If you particularly love a book and want to spread the word, you can submit a short review to help other students make their next book choice! Reach out to Mrs. Casinghino for instructions!

March is Read Across America month…look for some very special guests on our Morning Update show for some short read-alouds!!

March can sometimes feel like a never-ending month, but on the other hand it gives us more opportunities to hold Friday STEM makerspace workshops!! As always, make sure to sign up using the Google forms found on the student warehouse (starting Monday 3/6).

Here’s what’s coming up this month: Cardboard building challenge , the button maker is back and now with two different button sizes, friendship bracelets, and our super popular fuse beads will be making a much anticipated come-back! Stay tuned for more information on our Morning Update show.

As we come closer to the official start of Spring and some of us are hit with cleaning fever, we figured we would ask, if you happen upon any of the following books in good condition, if you would be willing to donate them to our library:

Jellaby - Books 1 & 2

The Beauty that Remains by Ashley Woodfolk

Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi (any and all books)

Mind Games: Determination, Doubt and Lucky Socks: An Insider’s Guide to the Psychology of Elite Athletes by Annie Vernon.

And last but not least, please remember to return your books! If you are done (or have been done for a while!) look in your backpacks, under your bed, or on your shelves and drop them off in the library or in the blue book drop box conveniently located outside the library.

Thanks so much!!

Mrs. Casinghino, Library Media Specialist

The Meghan Voisine Fund has been established at Suffield Community Aid to provide individual students, student organizations and other youth organizations in Suffield with an opportunity to demonstrate acts of kindness, friendship and inclusion within our town. You are welcome to submit a proposal for your project, and we will select projects to be completed in 2023.

Meghan was a student in Suffield Public Schools and was known among her friends and the community as a caring person who would always make the effort to make everyone around her feel happy and included. She brought joy and laughter to any situation and could brighten anyone’s day with her infectious smile and kind words. In her honor, we are looking to award grants to Suffield students and student/youth organizations who demonstrate her spirit of reaching out to others who may be in need or improving our community. The grant process is now open and applications are due no later than March 17th. If you have further questions, please contact Mrs. Tierney or Mrs. Zawawi.

Meghan Voisine "Kindness Matters" Grant Application

Black Student Union Coat Drive!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY & SUPPORT

MORE THAN 200 COATS & OTHER WINTER CLOTHING ITEMS

WERE DONATED TO THOSE IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE STATE!

“L’AMOUR et L’AMITIÉ”

Love & Friendship grams were sent to students and faculty on Valentine’s Day this year, prepared by members of the French Language Honor Society, Societé Honorarire de Français. Members took orders and prepared Valentines with messages such as, “Tu as de beaux yeux,” “Tu es unique,” “Je t’aime,” “Tu es un prof magnifique.”

Attention Class of 2024, 2025 and 2026, we need your support! The yearbook captures memories you don't want to forget. It holds your first pep rally, first goal of the season, and memories with the people you have grown up with. Buy a yearbook now to cherish and rekindle your fondest memories. Click here to purchase a yearbook and use "wildcat" for the access code.

Effective Wednesday, March 1, Suffield Public Schools will again be providing free breakfast and free lunch for all students. There will be no charge for breakfast or lunch for students from March 1 through the end of the 2022-23 school year. Students who owe funds for meals received since December 1, 2022 through February 28, 2022 will still be responsible for paying those balances.

Click here for additional details.

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Did you know Suffield Public Schools has a mobile app to help you stay up to date with all the latest news and information? To download the app click here.