Hello Parents, Guardians & CHS Community,
I am really proud of the CHS community. We are still working really well with students and colleagues and parents, albeit remotely. I do not have a video update this week, but hope to do that next week again. However, I will say my back is sore from all of the sitting and even with a decent office chair, it is uncomfortable. All of us at CHS continue to make the best of this though for our students and their families despite these minor challenges!
We are now on Week 7 of this journey, and we are taking a hard look at end of the year activities. I have separately sent surveys out to CHS staff, seniors in the Class of 2020, and to parents/guardians of our seniors. Your feedback on graduation planning is important to us as we plan for the end of the year. Please make sure you take a minute or so to read those emails and fill out the survey to provide us some feedback by mid-day Thursday.
As mentioned last week, at this time, prom is postponed. We are going to try to host a formal prom/dance for current Juniors and post-grad Seniors when it is practical and safe. This will be done by junior class officers and Advisor Dawn Parker in collaboration with the CHS Admin team.
Most award celebrations are now going to have to be done virtually as we likely will not be able to host these. We are considering having the Senior Academic Excellence Banquet after the school year is complete, but again that will depend on guidance from other authorities. Again further information and details will be provided as we move ahead.
We will also be putting out some information on Sophomore and Senior projects in the near future. Both are graduation requirements, but like with the rest of our learning activities, we have been forced to rethink our practices for this year’s student expectations. Your children will be hearing on these from the Clearinghouse coordinators on this, Diane Angelini and Shannon Szepan on Sophomore Projects and Lynn Gnaegy and Denise Freeman on Senior Projects.
Looking at the Superintendent’s weekly update, please know that one concern among students and parents is providing more direct instruction from teachers, and we are communicating that to our staff. If your child is struggling, please reach out to teachers or the counselors or to one of the administrators to help with those challenges. But hopefully you have a chance to fill out Superintendent Jette’s survey as well to make sure we are doing the best we can for your children. Have a great week everyone!
Bill Lonergan, Principal
Appreciation
Kudos go out to staff members Diane Angelini, Sean Conley, Kim Barnett, Jodi Callinan, and Mike Perez for their assistance with interviewing math candidates. We had some great candidates and are really looking forward to the announcement of a new faculty member any day now.
Also thanks to Cate Devine, Bill Pothier, Raheem Chowdhury, Joanne Ray, and Jodi Callinan for their support as we interviewed Biology/Life Science candidates. Similarly we are hoping to soon be able to announce a new faculty member in Science also.
Last Wednesday was Administrative Assistant Day, and we do hugely appreciate the ongoing contributions of Elana, Terrie, Sally, Michelle, and Jenn to keep us moving forward in Remote Learning 2020!
Seniors Carter Vedrani and Keegan Mills were selected to play in the CHaD New Hampshire East-West All-Star Football Game. Congratulations to both of them. The game is currently scheduled on August 1st at St. Anselm’s at 4pm.
Congratulations also to Scholar athletes recognized by the NHIAA and the NH Athletic Directors' Association. This recognition is for seniors who have accumulated a certain GPA and participated in multiple varsity sports. This includes Lorelie Brown, Michael Cosco, Matt Dion, Michelle Freeman, Emily Gamache, Josh Hoffman, Vanessa Mangiafico, Keegan Mills, Julia Noury, Trevor Scopelites, Tyler Scopelites, Kate Stoncious, Caedran Sullivan, Tyler St. Onge, and Carter Vedrani.
Senior Michaela Short received the following from the National Student Production Awards, Boston/New England Chapter for a Fantasy Short Film: high school first place winner for animation/graphics/special effects; first place audio/sound; first place Director; first place photographer; and Honorable Mention Recipient for High School Short Form - Fiction. Nice job to Michaela in her Pinkerton CTE program.
We received two letters last week, one from a graduating senior and one from the parents of a graduating senior, and both were hugely complimentary of our Counselors We are so fortunate to continue to have this great relationship between our Counselors and our students and families. So thanks again to Jodi, Jeff, Carrie, Bill, and Jamie for their work with our students.
Remote Learning Concerns: As Superintendent Jette in last week’s email has communicated and mentioned above, some students are indicating they are seeking more “direct instruction” from teachers. We have been sharing that information with teachers. Also, Wednesdays are our Independent Learning Days. Please understand that it is a day for students to complete ongoing assignments, to do specific work on Wednesdays, make up missing assignments, do other academic work assigned, or do work guided by self-interest and advancement. Here are expectations for CHS WILD: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CrUqPwc3DQVbUGecEDYZn8xN0j8B8AqG4KC4_UpojVE/edit?usp=sharing
End of Year Competency Summatives: (Formerly known as Final Exams):
This year we are looking at not having a traditional final exam period. A final decision has not been made yet, as we are awaiting the approval of the end of the year calendar from the School Board. We are considering having End of Year Competency Summatives as created by the teachers for each of their classes. More will follow on this next week.
From the Health Office:
If you are looking for support, our school nurse, Donna Boucher, has transitioned to CHS at a most challenging time. If you have concerns that she can assist with regarding your children that can be addressed remotely, please feel free to reach out at [email protected].
Remote Ways to complete Community Service Hours: This is important for students who might be looking for hours for consideration for the various CHS honor societies for next year. In particular, if your child is a sophomore, please be attentive to these opportunities. Remember, hours for sophomore project are not normally able to be also applied to hours for these honor societies.
1. VLACS has provided this resource to help students fulfill their community service requirement: https://www.operationwarm.org/blog/25-volunteer-jobs-to-do-from-home/.
2. Participate in 7 Cups and https://vocalid.ai/voicebank/
3. Create art for local hospitals and nursing homes and send "Thinking of You" type cards to ill patients (this would seem especially appropriate now).
From Food Services:
Any family that is experiencing financial insecurity during this time is welcome to apply for Free and Reduced Lunches. These are available during lunch pickups on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am-1pm. Please call in advance (546-0300) if you are coming just to pick up a F & R Lunch Form. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lauren Crowley, Director of Food Service, with any questions you may have.
We are offering meal service to any and all Litchfield School District Students on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 AM - 1 PM at the Campbell High School Main Entrance. For more information, please contact Lauren Crowley, Director of Food Services at [email protected] or 603-546-0300 x3112
Stay safe and wash your hands!
Students Working Jobs During Remote Learning:
We have received some guidance regarding students who have jobs and are continuing to work as their employers are considered “Essential Services.” We do not recommend this, but it is a parent and employer responsibility to attend to this. We do understand if parents/guardians have been laid off or furloughed and need economic assistance. Here is the guidance we received from the Commissioner of Labor.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wuxIQyfZS8D8nOk3BTOOfl2xRFGK0jf-zy_HSCAZYPk/edit?usp=sharing
Advanced Placement Exams: If your child is taking an AP course/s, her or his teacher should be communicating about the testing schedule. That has been finalized by the College Board, and your child should have been informed as to the date/time of that testing.
Athletics: Now with the Governor’s recent announcement and under NHIAA guidance, all spring athletics are canceled. This is so unfortunate, particularly for our seniors. We are seeking ways to recognize the winter athletes, and we are also trying to do some sort of recognition for Senior spring sport athletes who will miss out on their final season. If you have questions regarding these, please contact AD Knight ([email protected]) or Jenn Mathews ([email protected]).
If You or Your Child Needs Other Assistance: If you have questions regarding any of the following, please contact the appropriate person through email. There is also a Safety & Crisis list attached from our CHS counseling department.
Attendance: AP Mike Perez, [email protected]
School Lunches: Lauren Crowley, Food Services, [email protected]
Special Education: Case Managers or Devin Bandursky, Special Education Director, [email protected] or AP Mike Perez, [email protected]
Assignments/grades: Classroom Teachers.
Health Concerns: CHS Nurse- Donna Boucher [email protected]
Crisis/Counseling:
Carrie Jurus (A - D),[email protected]
Jodi Callinan (E-K) [email protected] ,
Jeff Parsons (L -Z),[email protected]
Bill Hicks (alternative counselor) [email protected] , or
Jamie Faulhaber (mental health counselor) [email protected]
The following is the link to a list of teacher hours at CHS:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KZQ9ysWfs5ZhLnZEwFnCXBV7rmsErKUrgJymshrXosw/edit?usp=sharing
Technology/IT/Connectivity Issues: Please reach out first to the CHS main office first, [email protected] or [email protected]. If you cannot reach the main office staff, please touch base with the District IT personnel-Jason Pelletier, Brenden Collins, or Andrea Stern
If you are having difficulty getting assistance for these or other needs, please use the following link to identify who can assist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxVIQmI_3EhmNDVFTnUtNDBkTFhYQk4tSk0xWXZ6ZnY3blFF/view?usp=sharing
Upcoming Student Events:
For parents of seniors, if your child is looking to access SCHOLARSHIP applications, here is how they can do it and this is a perfect time to do so. They can log onto NAVIANCE, click on COLLEGES, click on SCHOLARSHIPS & MONEY and then click on SCHOLARSHIP LIST. They can access all scholarships in this manner. Mrs. V is busy keeping this list up to date.
Looking Ahead:
April 27-May 1: Spring Break -Students will now have “classes” on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with two long weekends bookending that work. That week will be a Day2, WILD, and Day1 schedule and then we will go back to our “normal” schedule the week after.
May 5-15 AP Exams (Collegeboard has determined testing; 45 minute, self-led
exams. AP Teachers and the Counselors have information on this. )
May 8-10: Spring Musical Production of “High School Musical” Auditorium
May 9: PTO Spring Clothing Drive 9am-3pm
May 16: Prom @ Alpine Grove, Hollis @ 6pm
May 19: Spring Pops Concert @ 6:30pm
May 21 Academic Excellence Banquet @ The Executive Court @ 6pm
May 25: Memorial Day Performance @ 10am Litchfield Historical Society
Building, Performing Arts Dept.
May 26: Performing Arts Awards Night @ 7pm, Auditorium
May 28: Senior Project Presentation Night in the CHS Gym
June 5: Underclass (Spring) Awards @ 7:45am in Gym