1.       HALL OF FAME BANQUET - The inaugural celebration will honor five coaches who continue to actively serve as coaches of the respective sports they established in 1975 with the opening of Haddam-Killingworth High School. Those coaches are Mark Brookes (baseball), Dick Dupuis (track), Patsy Kamercia (field hockey), Rich Langer (volleyball), and Dennis O'Rourke (football).
 
The banquet will be held on Saturday, May 30, at Haddam-      Killingworth Middle School and begin at 6:30 p.m.
 
Tickets which are $40.00 per adult and $20.00 for students may be purchased by calling 860-345-4534, or emailing HKHall@rsd17.org. Tickets are also available in the high school office. You may purchase them at the high school through the principal's secretary, Melissa Bennett.  
 
2.   Recognition Wall Dedicated - A wall of the high school, opposite the office, was dedicated on April 20th to recognize student academic achievement. The sign and plaque for the wall were recent gifts from the Class of 1988, who wanted to give something back to their Alma Mater. The wall is dedicated to the memories of four departed members of that class:  Jose Aquilar, Trina Annicelli, John Cernan, and John McCabe. Members of the Class of '88 and family members of Jose, Trina, John, and John were in attendance.
 
3.   Project Graduation Goes Green - The Project Graduation committee has set up collection bins in convenient locations around each of the district's schools as well as in certain business locations around the community. Please consider donating your used cell phones, ink jet cartridges, iPods, digital cameras, laptops, and handheld games to this worthy cause.
 
The committee is working with Ecophones, an environmentally friendly company which will pay for items shipped to them. Items need not be in working order or have a charged battery. No accessories such as: chargers, cases, or earpieces.
 
The Project Graduation committee is extremely grateful for your support and feel strongly that our H-K graduates will benefit from this event.
 
For more information, please visit the Project Grad, web page via www.RSD17.org or contact Kathy Strom, ksstrom@aol.com.
 
4.   Coming Events:
Junior Prom, May 16th - Wadsworth Athenaeum, 7:00 P.M.
Undergraduate Awards, June 5, Auditorium- 7:45 A.M.
Undergraduate Exams,  June 17th &18th
Streetfest, June 5th - following undergraduate awards assembly
National Honor Society Inductions, May 28th, 7:00 P.M.
Senior Prom, June 6th - Waters Edge
Senior Awards, June 10th - 7:00 P.M.
Senior Final Exams, June 15th & 16th
Senior Breakfast, June 17, 7:30-9:00 A.M.
Senior Trip, June 17th - Agawam Mass (Six Flags) - 9:00-6:30
Graduation Rehearsals, June 18th & 19th - 8:00-noon
Graduation, June 19th - 6:30
     
5.   Guest Speakers in Health Class - On May 1st, SGT Chappel and Wayne Kowal from the Connecticut State police Statewide Narcotics Task Force will speak with students in Mrs. Reilly's room. They will present the latest trends in drug use in Connecticut, signs of use, laws relating to drug use and possession, etc. They are available to answer questions students might have.
 
6.   HKTV 2009 Film Festival - The students of HK High School's digital communications class will host a public showing of 8 student produced short films. The festival will take place on Monday, May 11th at 7:00 P.M. in the high school auditorium. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion during a "meet and greet" reception with the student producers.
 
 
7.        The Haddam-Killingworth players proudly present "Carousel" at the H-K Auditorium on May 8th and 9th at 7:00. To the strains of the "Carousel Waltz" the curtain rises upon an amusement park in a New England town in 1873. Fishermen, sailors, mill girls and children are enjoying the sights and sounds of a carnival atmosphere. What unfolds is a story of love, loss, and redemption set to some of the most beautiful music in Broadway musical history. The original production opened on Broadway on April 19, 1945, and ran for 890 performances. It is particularly well-regarded among musicals by the theatre community, and Richard Rodgers, in his autobiography Musical Stages, said it was his favorite musical. Time magazine named it the best musical of the 20th century. Join us to experience skillfully sung musical numbers, rousing dance segments, professional costumes, and a live pit orchestra. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. For more information or to purchase tickets please call 345-8541 or 345-3593. Ticket are reserved seating and will be available at the door in limited quantities. For best seats, purchase ahead!
 
8.      GUIDANCE NOTES:
* SAT registration deadline for the June 6th test is May 5th
* The ACT registration deadline for the June 13th test is May 8th
* The counselors took 160 juniors to the National College
                   Fair in Hartford on April 2nd.
* The counselors accompanied 150 sophomores to the Career      Expo at Wesleyan on April 30th.
* 55 students will be taking 73 AP exams scheduled between may       5th and May 12th.
 
9.   NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
The H-KHS National Honor Society continues to be busy.  Earlier this spring we were proud to offer our biennial Star Day.  On this day, the halls of the school were decorated with stars featuring all students' names.  Students found their own star and redeemed it for a treat.  We are also recognizing National Teacher Day on May 5, as well as the countdown to seniors' graduation.  NHS is especially proud this year to offer the first annual NHS Proceed to Succeed scholarship for two H-KHS seniors.  Students may apply by May 15 using the common application available in the guidance office.  Finally, the annual Induction Ceremony for new members will be held in the auditorium on May 28 at 7pm.
 
10.     Sophomores in Ms. Allesandrine's English classes this spring have   been      fortunate to work with Mrs. Burns, a student teacher from Southern CT State University.  Mrs. Burns enjoys her students very much and is having a great experience here at H-KHS.  She will be here through May 22. 
 
11.   Spanish 5 students celebrated Earth Day by applying complicated    subjunctive constructions to recommendations for saving the planet. Their posters are hanging outside the classroom.
 
12.         FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY
          a.    designed a bulletin board to celebrate Earth day and announce the location of Connecticut Earth day Events. 
          b.    designed and constructed children's books in French and English. The books have been sent to a UN refugee camp in Rwanda through Kids to Kids International.
 
13.    MISSION STATEMENT ACTIVITY
         Spanish teacher, Senor Juan Vazquez, engaged his Spanish 3 Honors, Spanish 5 Honors, and AP Spanish students in a Mission Statement activity.  Students produced written reflections on how a Spanish project or any of the thematic conceptual units helped them understand, apply, or become more familiar with the high school's Mission Statement. Students were asked to be specific and cite examples.
 
14.     STUDENTS RECOGNIZED
         *   Varun Ravishanker has been selected as one of thirty Governor's Scholars of Connecticut for 2009. Varun was chosen from a pool of over 135 of the top juniors in Connecticut high school. He will be honored at the Governor's Scholars Luncheon on May, 21, 2009 at the Aqua Turf Club.
        *       The following five junior students (Jared Bills, Melissa Buckley, Andrew Frederick, Jessica Moore, and Varun Ravishanker)   have met the requirements for the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying TEST.They are all part of the top 50,000 highest scoring participants of the 1.5 million entrants.
        *      Colleen Phelan and Nick Stanford will be honored by the CIAC as Haddam-Killingworth Scholar Athletes. Colleen and Nick will receive their awards at a banquet held at the Aqua Turf on May 3rd. 
       *        Katie Meyer and Chelsea Durand were recognized at a CAS Arts Banquet held at the Aqua Turf on April 8th. Katie received recognition in the performing arts and Chelsea in the visual arts.
 *        Senior automotive student, Nick Bell, received a $500 check from the Connecticut Street Rod Association to put toward the purchase of tools as he pursues his passion.
 
15.          Expectations for Student Learning Mnemonics Winners
Connected to the Haddam-Killingworth Mission Statement is our Expectations for Student Learning - those academic and social expectations we have for all students who graduate from HKHS. A contest was held for students to create the best mnemonic to facilitate our remembering those expectations. The expectations are:
 
1.     access and analyze information
2.     problem solve
3.     communicate effectively
4.     apply information
5.     reflect and evaluate
6.     act responsibly
7.     pursue goals
 
    The first place $50.00 winning entry (All purrfect cougars are ready and prepared) was submitted by Nick Segaline.
 
    Second place of $25.00 (Any pupil can act responsibly and properly) was won by Greg Murray.
 
 
16.          FENDING OFF THE FLU
                    General tips for decreasing the spread of germs include:
·         Most important: washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If water is not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used. Gels, rubs and hand wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.
·         Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (if a tissue is not available, the crook of the arm).
·         Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes.       
·         Carefully dispose of the tissues in a wastebasket, and then wash your hands.
·         Do not share drinking cups or food.
 
17.            National Latin Exam
                Seven students in Mrs. Neal's Latin 1 class took the National Latin Exam and all seven received an award.
 
                Andrea Bartosiak, Ray Cerino, and Morgan Raczka achieved the Gold Summa Cum Laude Award.
 
               Jason Funaro, Colin Gaffey, and Rachel Mazzotta earned the Silver Maxima Cum Laude Award.
 
               Eric West received the Cum Laude Award 
 
18.     Jessica Moore will be recognized with an award for her participation in the junior Science and humanities Symposium that was held March 8th and 9th at the University of Connecticut. Close to 240 students and teachers spent two days listening to lectures, touring laboratories, attending presentations, and discussing topics of interest.

Charlie