1.                  Holiday Show

HKTV 2009 Holiday Show Pledge Form 

Dear Friend,

This year the Haddam-Killingworth High School Communications Department Holiday Show will benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The money donated through the efforts of the Holiday Show will help find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and help to improve the quality of life for children and adults affected by these diseases. In addition some of the donations will help send local teens suffering from severe Crohn's to CCFA Camp Oasis. Camp Oasis is a co-ed residential camp program whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis by providing a safe and supportive camp community environment. 

In the spirit of the holiday season, we are hoping that you will make a donation.  This year's Holiday Show will also host the 1^st annual Shoreline's Got Talent competition with students from surrounding towns competing for a chance to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship provided by Lenny and Joes  Fish Tale Restaurant.

Gifts ranging from dinner certificates to theatre tickets will be randomly awarded during our live telethon on December 23^rd to donors pledging $25 or more. All contributions are greatly appreciated and tax deductable.

Be sure to watch the show live on Comcast Channel 18 or on the world wide web at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/vsen on December 23^rd live from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Holiday Show encore presentations will be aired every evening at 7:00 pm through January 3^rd. You can call in your pledge during the show to 860-345-0690. Thank you very much for supporting the 21st annual HKTV Holiday Show.

PLEDGE FORM

Please remit this form with your donation

Methods of Donation:

Cash: Presented the day of the Holiday Show (please do not send cash through the mail).

Mail checks or credit card donations with this form to: HKHS - HKTV Telethon PO Box 569,  Higganum, CT 06441

 

Check: Make checks payable to CCFA                             

 Amount: $                                                        

          VISA         MasterCard                  Discover              AMEX              Other

Card Number: __________________________Expiration Date: ___________3 digit security code__ __ __

 Print name as shown on card:_______________________________________________

 Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Please check one:

1        I want my name mentioned on the donor list.

2        I do not want my name mentioned on the donor list.

3        I want to present my donation live on December 23rd, 2009.

Approximate time (Between 9 AM and 11 AM):                                                     

Name:                                                                                                             

Address:                                                                                                                     

Phone number (in case you win a prize)                                                                    

Mail checks or credit card donations with this form to:

HKHS - HKTV Telethon

PO Box 569,  Higganum, CT 06441

2.                                 NAHS Annual Dog Cookie Fundraiser

The NAHS have been making and selling dog cookies for the past several years with all profits going to an animal non-profit organization. Examples of where our donations have gone

                        CT Rescue dogs - the group trains dogs in water rescue

                        K9 Police dogs - we purchased a dog vest for a dog in service

                        ASPCA - to save the lives of suffering animals

This year:

Fidelco - To sponsor a Fidelco Guide Dog Puppy!

PLEASE HELP OUR MISSION TO

 SUPPORT ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEED AND LOVE THEM

"While supplies last"

Freshly baked Dog Cookies

Our dog cookies are made with all natural ingredients and no preservatives

$3 a bag

Holiday Wreaths

$3 each or 4 wreaths for $10

Order forms are in the high school main office or call 860-345-8541, ext. 162 K. Porter

Orders can be picked up in the main office or sent home with a student

3.                           GUEST SPEAKERS

Seniors in Ms. Allesandrine's English 12 classes were fortunate to welcome Bob Waz, local resident & substitute teacher, as a guest speaker on December 8.  Mr. Waz discussed his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War and shared many of his photos.  He also shared his perspective on Tim O'Brien's powerful novel The Things They Carried, which the students are reading.  Much of the discussion focused on the metaphor of the intangible "things" that soldiers and veterans carry with them. 

Sophomores in Ms. Allesandrine's D period English 10 class welcomed Monique Muller, a specialist with the CT Fair Housing Center, as a guest speaker on December 8.  The visit complemented the students' reading of Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun.  Students learned about housing laws in the US, and discussed housing discrimination in the past and present.  Ms. Muller explained the various protected classes under the law, as well as how disputes are handled by state agencies.  The students asked great questions, and enjoyed a lively and informative presentation.

Mrs. Tooker's Forensic Science class would like to thank Rebekah Baranoff for an exciting and informative presentation on the forensic application of anthropology.  Her first-hand experiences and photographs were an excellent enrichment opportunity for students. Rebekah is a graduate of Haddam-Killingworth High School and is in a college graduate program for forensics.

Detectives Ed Wooldridge, Wayne E. Koval (Statewide Narcotics Task Force), and Catherine McGuire (Drug and Alcohol Counselor), presented to Mrs. Reilly's health classes on November 20^th. The presenters discussed pharmaceutical abuse and how it can be linked to heroine use, as well as current drug trends and enforcement in the state of Connecticut. Help locations were also shared.

During lunch activity periods on November 6^th and December 4^th young adults (a former HK student and a member of AA along with another young woman from NA) spoke with students about recovery and addiction.  A pizza lunch was provided by Youth and Family Services to the approximately 30 students in attendance.

4. "Oh Baby"

Students in the Infant and Toddler Development classes received their simulated babies earlier in the month and were charged with taking care of them over the period of a weekend. The "babies" are programmed to cry whenever their basic needs are not being met. The babies were seen through the communities including basketball games.  Mrs. Kohm and her students would like to thank those of you who donated the use of car seats. One of the goals of the activity was to make the experience as realistic as possible and parents are not allowed to take their infant home from the hospital without a car seat.

5. Project Graduation News

The Fundraising Committee is continuing the recycling fundraiser so look for the "green" bins in all of RSD 17 schools as well as outside the old MS gym, Higganum Physical Therapy, Town Hall and Brainerd Library in Haddam, Town Hall, Library and Transfer Station in Killingworth.  Please consider donating used cell phones, ink jet cartridges, digital cameras, iPods, etc. (No accessories such as chargers, please). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kathy Strom, 345-3398 or KSSTROM@aol.com.  

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the lower media center of the High School. Come and join in on the fun to help with Project Graduation.

HK Project Graduation Fundraiser

Come and join us for a Winter Cheer Wine & Food tasting hosted by the Gelston House, Main Street, East Haddam for an adult only evening out on January 29, 2010 from 7-10 pm.All proceeds will go towards HK Project Graduation. Cost: $20 per person. RSVP with check to: HK Project Graduation, c/o HK High School, 95 Little City Road, Higganum, CT 06441, please include name, phone or email address to confirm your reservation. Any questions or ticket information, contact Kathy Strom 860-345-3398 or ksstrom@aol.com

6.    MENTORS URGENTLY NEEDED IN LOCAL  SCHOOLS

Volunteer now and begin mentoring a Haddam Killingworth student in 2010

Contact Ernest Nagler at HK mentor -  naglere55@rsd17.org

860-345-4534  ext 259  Reg. School District #17 -57 Little City Rd. Higganum CT 06441

7.   Guidance News

Seniors:  Over 525 transcripts/college packets have been sent out to colleges to date.  Please see your counselor immediately if you have not requested your transcripts to be sent to your college(s) or need to discuss any aspect of the application process or job application process.  If you have applied and been accepted/rejected/deferred/wait-listed to a college, please let your counselor know that information ASAP.

Juniors:  The post-high school planning process will kick-off on January 6.  Counselors will be meeting with their students during the Advisory period.  Each student will receive a Junior Handbook that covers topics including employment as well as the college search process.  Parents are strongly encouraged to attend Junior Parent Night on January 13, 2010 (Snow Date: January 14) at 7pm in the High School Auditorium. Counselors will review the Junior Handbook with parents and answer questions related to the process. (Please bring the Handbook).

Sophomores and Juniors: PSAT Scores and test booklets were returned to all 10^th and 11^th graders on Thursday, December 10^th during an assembly. PSAT is the best practice for sophomores for the junior PSAT. Juniors' scores will be used to help 11^th graders begin the college search process.  All the PSAT questions were previously used on the official SAT Test which makes this one of the best ways to prepare for the SAT.

There are various SAT prep courses being offered that help students better prepare for the upcoming spring SAT test dates.  Please watch for a mailing of course opportunities.

Freshmen:  Counselors met in small groups through the 9^th grade English classes on December 1 or 2^nd.  Counselors had the students take a Learning Style Inventory and explained the results to the students.  This was to help the students discover how they learn best and what strategies they can use to learn in ways that are as familiar to them.  All students reviewed their MP 1 Report Card and wrote out their strengths and areas of improvement.

8. Spanish Honor Society's Hispanic Cultural Event

                      for Elementary School Students

The HKHS Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica planned and presented an event for the district's 1^st through 6^th graders and their families. The Hispanic Cultural Night was held at Killingworth Elementary School. Students planned games, activities, crafts, music, a puppet show and snacks. This fun event was supported by many volunteers. The Cuckoo's Nest donated a gift certificate for the door prize and Coyote Blue donated the tortilla chips for the salsa tasting. Thank you to all who made the event possible.

9. Listening Lunch

This past Thursday the media center hosted its first "Listening Lunch." Listening Lunch will allow students to hear their fellow classmates perform in various school bands, garage bands, choral groups, etc. as they eat their bag lunch. There are a limited number of free tickets available for students and they are on a first come first served basis. This past Thursday H-K's Chamber Choir performed.

Tickets will be required to hear the performance.

10. HK Athletic Web Site

We have added a number of forms to the HKHS Athletic Web Site that are normally distributed to athletes at the beginning of the season. I would encourage students who are planning to participate in a high school sport, as well as their parents, to consult the improved web site.

11. Internship Placements Sought

We are currently looking to place several seniors in an internship for the second semester. Placements are being sought in the following areas:

·         nursing, dietician

·         accounting

·         graphic design

·         physical therapy

·         psychology or criminal justice

·         law enforcement

·         physical fitness trainer

·         veterinarian

If you or someone you know have an interest in working with one of our students in a field listed above; please contact me (Charlie Macunas) at 860-345-8541 or cmacunas@rsd17.org. or Marcia Catalano at catalanom33@rsd17.org.

12.  FLOHK  (Future Leaders of Haddam-Killingworth)

Members of FLOHK were accompanied by Mrs. Luoma to the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Monday, December 7^th. Governor Jodi Rell was the keynote speaker at the event which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell. Following the breakfast, several of our students took it upon themselves to write the Governor with their concerns.  Below is their letter.

Dear Governor Rell,

          We are students from Haddam-Killingworth High School located in Haddam. We attended the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce breakfast this morning and were interested in your concerns towards Connecticut's current economic state. By listening to what you said, we became curious as to why Connecticut has not used toll booths since 1983. We understand that one significant reason as to why they were removed was due to frequent motor vehicle accidents.  However, since the growth in the Ez-Pass industry, crash rates seem to have decreased in toll booth areas.  Our question for you is as to why the state has felt it a good idea to keep the booths down, when we feel having them put up again would generate a decent amount of revenue available for use by the state.  If it doesn't take too much time, we'd love to hear your opinions on this subject. Thank you!

-Future Leaders of Haddam Killingworth

Alison Potts, Kate Filosi, Megan O'Brien, Meghan Wright, Paige Baccaro, Michelle Plum, and Jill Griswold

The Governor was gracious enough to respond to the students' email.

13.  National Honor Society

The NHS inducted five new members into the organization in a lunch-time ceremony on Monday, November 14^th. The new members include:

Michael Digregorio

Ashley Griswold

Mary Katherine Murray

Varun Ravishankar

Randall Reynolds

They, along with spring inductees, will be honored during a more formal celebration later in the school year.

The NHS would also like to thank everyone who contributed to this year's Can Drive which benefited the Killingworth food-share program.

14. Giving Wreath

A warm "THANK YOU" goes out to the entire high school staff for once again supporting our students through their participation and generosity through their selection of an ornament from our "Giving Wreath." 

15. Advisory Gingerbread Houses

Kudos to Mrs. Bowman's advisory students for making gingerbread houses to donate to this year's  Holiday Show.  Those students include: Mike Irwin, Emily Johnson, Coire Parmentier, Pat Potter, Stephen Caron, Cody Dotson, Lindsey Clegg, Ian Thorpe, and Sam Tamiso.

16. Rotary Exchange Student

The high school is involved in an effort with the Rotary Club to host an exchange student for the 2010-2011 school year. We are seeking one or hopefully several families in the HK area that would be willing to serve as a host family. If you have an interest, please contact me (Charlie Macunas at 860-345-8541, or cmacunas@rsd17.org).  Time is of the essence as procedurally this takes time to make all the necessary arrangements. Our ultimate goal is to have HK students attend abroad as part of the exchange.  Although the Rotary doesn't do many "short-term' exchanges" they are receptive to the idea.

 Mrs. Siciliano's food service students have been busy making ginger bread houses and have them entered into our annual contest. The staff will select the "best" gingerbread house in three different categories: The categories are:

 Charlie