Good Evening, Parents, Guardians and CHS Community,
I want to apologize for neglecting to send out last week’s update. It was an inadvertent oversight. It was the first time in four plus years, and it will not happen again. Things are continuing to move along, and we are very appreciative that parents and students are really being health conscious for themselves and others. It is really important that we do our best to wear masks, keep physically distant, wash and sanitize hands regularly and simply be aware of appropriate hygiene at all times on campus. We want you to be aware that we are very short-handed on paraeducators currently. If you know anyone interested in such a position, please refer them to the School District HR page. We finished our freshmen & seniors PSAT 8/9 and SAT testing program this week. On October 29, sophomores and juniors will take their PSAT’s. The Junior version is the PSAT-NMSQT version which allows high scoring juniors to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program. Be on the lookout that we will be getting information out next week regarding Parent Teacher Conferences on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. As usual, the asterisked items below are new or have new information in them.
Have a great week, everyone! Bill Lonergan, Principal
Appreciation:
A plug goes out to Jeff Parsons and Bill Hicks for their work coordinating and getting running our student to teacher as well as student to student mentoring programs here at CHS.
Congratulations to Pat Keefe for being the recipient of the CHS Golden Bell Staff Award. This is really well-deserved for all that Pat does here at CHS.
Andrea Stern was really helpful assisting teachers with their PowerSchool concerns last week. Thanks, Andrea!
The proctors and all who assisted in the SAT testing deserve a great deal of props for managing this so well. This is particularly true for Jodi Callinan and Michelle Vecchiarello who did all of the behind the scenes work to make it seem much more effortless than it really was. Thank you all!
Thanks to Denise Freeman and Lynn Gnaegy for enthusiastically presenting at the last School Board Meeting regarding their work to update and continue the Class of 20-21 Senior Projects Program.
A super special thank you to Melissa Rakiey. Mrs. Rakiey has sent in cleaning supplies multiple times and when there was a request on the Mom's FB page for a game needed for a classroom, she sent in one. We are grateful for her support to the CHS community.
Kudos to Shawn McDonough and Mike Perez for successfully coordinating the freshman class elections as well as the other open class positions..
Thanks to Elana Ayer and Julie Green for coordinating for both our in-school and remote student school picture day with Barksdale Photography.
***Important notice about the CHS Schedule: With the challenges related to the change to CHS’s 4x4 Block schedule and the heavier load of planning and preparing required, in agreement with the LEA, the School District has moved to change Wednesdays to a 2.75 hour early release schedule for students. This will begin on October 21 and will provide teachers with collaboration and planning time with one another. Teachers will not have office time for students during this time period. As a result, the Wednesday CHS schedule will look as follows until further notice:
Block A 7:35-8:32 (57 minutes)
Block B 8:36-9:34 (58 minutes)
Block C 9:38-10:36 (58 minutes)
Block D 10:40-11:38 (58 minutes)
Grab’n Go Lunch 11:38- 12:00
Buses at 12:00 noon
***UPDATE on CHS Testing: Seniors and freshmen completed their SAT and PSAT 8/9 testing this past Wednesday. We had 89% of freshmen and 83% of seniors participating, a high percentage given the current COVID environment.
Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the PSAT?NMSQT test on Thursday, October 29. The day will be an early release day for those students when all complete their testing. This will be a Remote Learning Day for Freshmen and Seniors, and teachers will have work prepared in advance for these students through their Google classrooms or PowerSchool. There will be no Google Meets, as again the teachers will all be proctoring students testing.
A grab and go lunch will be available after testing in the cafeteria. Buses will be departing at 1:00pm on both days.
Our full-time Remote Learning students are required to take the testing, and they will be provided a separate testing site here at CHS. Specific instructions have been provided to those parents via separate email for accessing CHS on those days.
***Parent Survey Link: Dear Parents, We continue to learn from your feedback each week. Please complete this quick survey and tell us how we are doing. Thanks, Mike Jette, Superintendent
***CHS Survey Data: Here is last week’s data for the entire Litchfield School District. I apologize for the delay in CHS information. As I wrote in my opening introduction, I inadvertently neglected to send out the CHS survey through my weekly update. We appreciate the support as we strive to provide a quality education to your children. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1SwnOh2iL5QLcrLFlDIJVVvVTakrLYzE0KdzCcMno9M8/edit?usp=sharing
***CHS Parent Teacher Organization: The CHS PTO has announced their monthly meeting schedule. The President is Margaret Norton. They are occurring virtually on the second Tuesday of every month. Those dates are 10/13, 11/10, 12/8, 1/12, 2/9, 3/16, 4/13, 5/11 and 6/8 and the meetings start at 7:00pm. The link is as follows through Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/vtw-zkno-edu.
*** CHS Athletics Boosters Organization: The CHS Boosters are meeting virtually on the first Mondays of each month at 7:00 pm. The President is Colleen Gamache. This is the link to those meetings: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://netapp.zoom.us/j/99850143485?pwd%3DUHpIQ1k5RHU2VzUxUEovRkFWSkJhQT09&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1603202386680000&usg=AOvVaw3lhXl_QoBR1R5uPuxuywjc. Also the Booster Club has a homepage at the following location: https://campbell-high-school-athletic-booster-club.square.site/#erjyZf
***CHS Friends of Performing Arts: FOPA is one of our parent organizations that supports our music and theater programs. The president is Gina Michaud. They will be meeting virtually this year on the third Tuesday of every month at 7;00 pm: 10/20, 11/17, 12/?, 1/19, 2/16, 3/16, 4/20, 5/18, 6/?. There is a likelihood October’s meeting may be changed due to the virtual Chorus concert. Here's the Zoom link:
https://windhamsd.zoom.us/j/9094352136?pwd=RDJra01saG0rM1FJbE5ucjRmSnEvQT09
***Senior Project Information: Seniors need to have their project proposals completed and interviews done by October 28, 2020.* Please make sure your child reads the proposal page prior to completing the information. Note: Hand written proposals are NOT accepted. After the student completes the info, they should print it and make 2 copies. Students need to have their mentor, advisor and guardian sign these papers. They should keep one copy and will need it for an interview as well as their evaluation in May. If they cannot get signatures by their interview time, they may receive pending approval. Interviews can be scheduled and held in person or remotely the last block of school or on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Students should let Mrs. Gnaegy or Mrs. Freeman know if that does not work and to schedule an interview.
***Club & Organization Updates:
Environmental- Wendy Langelier Environmental meets in Room 128 on Tue, Oct 27 at 2:30 and every other Tuesday following. The Google classroom code for more info is b6waqs2.
FBLA - Dana Bourassa: These students will be attending virtual Fall Leadership Workshop on Thurs, Oct 22. In Room 147 at CHS.
Key Club - Wendy Langelier: Key Club meets in Rm 128 at CHS Tues, Oct 20 at 2:30 (and every other following Tuesday). The Google Classroom code with more info is => toxfugi.
Art Honor Society - Denise Freeman: NAHS meets 1st Wed. monthly @ Room 162 @ 2:30.
SADD - Dawn Parker: SADD meets Thurs, Oct 22 at 2:30 in room 128.
Yearbook Club- Julie Green: Yearbook meets on Mon, Oct 19th after school in the Learning Commons.
***New Course Proposals: Teachers are now in the process of creating and submitting new course proposals for CHS for the 21-22 school year. Among those submitted, we anticipate an AP Physics proposal will be coming in .
Ongoing News:
Health Office Update: Our health office continues to be very busy this year. It is very important that if you dismiss your child because he or she is not feeling well, we are asking them to check in at the CHS Health Office first. Given the rising numbers of COVID cases, we want to keep close track on this. Also, if your child has any COVID symptoms, Donna Boucher, our school nurse will be in contact. Also, please make sure to daily check your child’s well-being, and if they meet any COVID conditions on the following document https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fqoeqCaw-L-WE5xIFAIc2Y2cGcCk31mbxZhXsZ0P1sg/edit, then keep your child home and reach out to Donna to keep us informed. If you have questions, please contact her at [email protected] or 546-0300 x 3115.
Student absences and going to remote learning: If your child is going to be absent and wishes to join a teacher’s classroom remotely on that day, please review the following letter from the school principals. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D27N_yPMGpGP_sv3ahuLsoB1VDE9WbH6TUP3p3GmCxU/edit?usp=sharing. It is important that you communicate that to us that intent with 24 hours notice before your child joins the classroom. Thanks for your attention to this.
NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership: Julie Green, our ELO Coordinator at CHS has provided information on NH manufacturers and career opportunities. Here is the Manufacturing Month calendar so interested students can start signing up for webinars on possible careers. It is updated regularly by the Association. Please cut and paste the following into your browser for more information for your children: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lW0dB4pFInfp_j8h1Dr7gIePJj8ssX-YAL5Dj9Pwo5w/edit?usp=gmail&ts=5f7c8051
A Message on Grading: The following is a message from the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Director, Mary Widman, regarding District Grading practices. Please review so you have an understanding of how grades are calculated in PowerSchool as we move toward a more accurate Competency-Based Grading process. IGrading messaging to parents
Visitors to CHS: We need assistance from parents and guardians who come to CHS. If you need to come into the building during the morning rush hour (while students arrive), please go to the doors on the left to be buzzed in. It is important that visitors coming into the main part of the building wait until you are buzzed in and speak to the office staff and formally check in. Thank you for your attention to this.
CHS Yearbooks: Just a few weeks remain to purchase the yearbook at the lowest price of $65. After October the price will increase. Digital Photography students are busy capturing candid and sport photos. Graphic Design students are creating some amazing cover designs. Even in this unique time we are busy making sure we create an amazing yearbook to remember the 2020-2021 school year. Take advantage of the low price and order one today at Jostens.com
Food Services Information: This is an announcement to repeat the message that all meals for students in the Litchfield School District are FREE until 12/31/2020!!!!! The USDA Granted a waiver extension, allowing schools to serve meals for free regardless of student status. What the free meals cover: Any Hot Lunch, Breakfast Meal, Yogurt Meal, Salad Meal or Sandwich Meal. This includes all 5 components to the meals Protein, Veggie, Fruit, Whole Grains, and Milk.
What this does not cover: second helpings, meals that are "incomplete" (a second slice of pizza, or a meal that doesn't contain fruit/veggie selection), or any item purchased a la carte - including fruits, veggies, milks, etc. All of these items students must have a positive account balance to purchase. Here is a link to that notification: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=om#inbox?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1
Litchfield Food Services also has moved to a new online payment portal. Please sign up at www.k12paymentcenter.com. You will need your child's Student Number to create an account. The student number is not the same as their lunch PIN code. You can contact Lauren Crowley, or any school office to get the Student Number for your child. [email protected], 603-546-0300 x3112. Free and Reduced applications are available at www.lunchapplication.com. Families can apply at any time, and information is 100% confidential. Please contact Lauren Crowley for any questions you may have. [email protected] at 546-0300 x3112.
Homework Club: Please encourage your students to check out Homework Club if they would like a bit of help with their homework, or maybe just a quiet place to work from 2:30 - 3:30. This includes ALL students, even Remote Learners.
They can even drop in virtually to ask a question or three! There is both a M/W Google Classroom (code - u3p3jye) and a T/Th Google Classroom (code - v6okksn). There are also Google Meets for each day as well. T/Th is https://meet.google.com/sgj-jast-tgm. M/W is https://meet.google.com/iou-ezmn-oop
From the Counseling Office: Counselors continue meeting with seniors to discuss post-CHS options and processes. They have strategic times when they meet with each grade level of students, both individually and in groups. If your child has any counseling needs, please have her/him reach out to the counselor accordingly. For parents with concerns, the number at CHS to contact the counseling office is 546-0300 x 3257.
Athletics Update: Due to Covid-19 there will be a limit on fans at CHS home events as well as away. Campbell, along with our cluster which includes Pelham, Sanborn, Hollis-Brookline, Souhegan and Milford, have a two immediate family member limit for home and away games. Only family members who have children playing in the game are able to attend that game. “Season passes” have been given out to each athlete which will allow two immediate family members to attend. Do not pass these season passes to other people or students outside of your immediate family. The Athletic Department is working with Litchfield TV to stream as many home games as they can. Once received, a streaming schedule will be sent to your child’s coach. We are extremely grateful that Litchfield TV has agreed to work with us to provide these streaming events. Please know that if you are attending a game that isn’t within our cluster there may be different rules. Some schools do not have a restriction on fans while others aren’t allowing fans. We will do our best to inform you of these rules/protocols prior to each game. Please comply with our District expectations when on campus including physical distancing (at least six feet apart), wearing masks, using appropriate hygiene, and supporting our athletes with your usual positivity.
The IT Remote Learners Help Page: The District IT department has created a specific page for Remote Learners: Please have your child reach out to them with challenges or concerns. https://sites.google.com/litchfieldsd.org/student-parent-it-help-page/home
Dress Code for Litchfield Schools: The Litchfield School District has created a new dress code for students. Please review this with your child to ensure they are dress code compliant at CHS. See the following link for specifics. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MqiCP8e0idMuRGQBYZgORLllb6YFPHRNC9kv-FB4mkM/edit
Employment Possibilities within the Litchfield School District: The Litchfield School District continues to look for substitute teachers, paraeducators, custodians and food service workers. Check out the district HR site for info: https://www.litchfieldsd.org/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx
Schedule for Oct 19-23:
Oct 20 - Grading & Reporting Committee 3:30-4:30 at CHS in Room 145
Oct 21 - Department Meetings
Oct 21 - Professional Learning Committee 3:30-4:30 @ CHS in Room 145
Oct 22 - Leadership Team Meeting 2:40-4:00 in Room 107
Looking Further Ahead:
Oct 27 - Advisory Meeting
Oct 28 - PERC Meeting 3:30-4:30 @ CHS in Room 145
Oct 29 - PSAT/NMSQT Day for 10th & 11th grades - Early release after student testing @ 12:30pm
Oct 29 - 9th & 12th grade Remote Learning Day
Nov 2 & 3 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (remote)
Nov 6 - Last day of quarter 1
Nov 11 - No School/Veterans Day
Nov 19 - Picture Retake Day in Auditorium @ 8:00am
Athletics Updates: See blurb above for attending events
Oct. 19th - Girls Soccer @ Hollis-Brookline 4:00pm
Oct. 19th - Volleyball Home vs. Alvirne JV/V 4:30pm
Oct. 19th - JV Football Home vs. Sanborn 4pm
Oct. 19th - JV Boys Soccer Home vs. Souhegan
Oct. 20th - Golf First Round of Playoffs @ Derryfield CC 9am
Oct. 20th - Boys Soccer @ Hollis-Brookline 4pm
Oct. 21st - JV Boys Soccer @ Pelham 4pm
Oct. 22nd - Volleyball @ Pelham Jv/V 5pm
Oct. 23rd - Cross Country @ Pelham 10am
Oct. 24th - Football Home vs. Trinity 2pm
Oct. 24th - Boys Soccer @ Pelham 10am
Oct. 24th - Girls Soccer @ Pelham 1pm
Oct. 25th - Golf Finals @ Concord Country Club 10:30am
Upcoming College Rep Visits (via Google Meet) - students register in Naviance
Regis College Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 9:30 am
New England College Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 11:30 am
Westfield State University Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
University of NH-Main Campus Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 at 8:30 am
Nashua Community College Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 at 9:30 am
Boston College Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 at 11:30 am
Lasell University Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 at 8:30 am
Simmons University Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 at 9:30 am
Northern Essex Community College Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 at 11:30 am
Tufts University Friday, October 23rd, 2020 at 8:30 am
Univ of Maine at Farmington Friday, October 23rd, 2020 at 9:30 am
Anna Maria College Friday, October 23rd, 2020 at 11:30 am