MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Haddam-Killingworth High School is to provide a personalized and collective experience through which students are challenged to develop the knowledge, skills, and work ethic to contribute to a global society.
Expectations for Student Learning
Academic: The Haddam-Killingworth High School graduate will:
1. access and analyze information
2. problem-solve
3. communicate effectively
4. apply information
5. reflect and evaluate
Social : The Haddam-Killingworth High School graduate will:
1. act responsibily
2. pursue goals
A+Bucks - Help the School Earn Money Just by Shopping
HKHS is participating is a super-easy fundraiser in conjunction with Stop & Shop called APlus Bucks. Mike Smith, Store Manager from the Clinton Stop & Shop, was at the Open House and gave a brief presentation explaining the program. It just takes a few seconds to register your Stop & Shop Courtesy Card. Go to the Stop & Shop website, www.stopandshop.com/aplus , then click on register your card and follow the prompts. You must register each year for this promotion, which runs through the end of March. Once you are registered, all you do is go grocery shopping and the dollars you spend will be turned into points for HKHS. Those points add up to dollars for HKHS! We hope you will participate and help with this easy fundraiser for your child's school.
The ID number that will link your card to Haddam-Killingworth High School is 06296.
Italy & Greece International Educational Travel Opportunity - April, 2012!
Over April recess, 2012, Mr. Regan will be leading a 10 day international educational tour to Italy and Greece in conjunction with EF Tours. Notable destinations on this incredible trip will be Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Patras, Delphi, and Athens - just to name a few! The trip will visit sites such as the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the archaeological site of Pompeii, the Oracle at Delphi, the Pantheon, and the Acropolis and Parthenon plus many more! This is a fantastic opportunity to make real-world connections to what students study in school. Art, history, literature, language, and culture are all key focuses of this trip. Don't miss out on this exciting chance to expand your knowledge of the world, grow your cultural literacy, and become a global citizen. Over February break of 2011, 32 H-K travelers went with Mr. Regan on a similar trip to Ireland, Wales, England and France and the response and reviews of the trip were overwhelmingly positive. This trip has been approved by the Board of Education. If you would like more information, visit www.eftours.com and enter Tour Number: 1007980, stop in to C221 at H-KHS during Lunch/Activity period, or call or email Mr. Regan. Reganj33@rsd17.org or (860) 345-8541 x221.
Register by September, 30th, 2011 and save $100 off of the program fee.
Sophomore Class Dues
Just a gentle reminder to sophomore parents that class dues are now being collected. Class dues are currently $55, if paid before November 1. They increase to $60 after November 1. Thank you from Class Advisors.
School Spirit Store
The HK School Spirit Store is open during second lunch Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our newest spirit item is yellow/blue drawstring plaid flannel pants w/HK logo printed in white on one leg - $25.00. Sizes sm-xl available!
Stop in and check out our hats, sweatshirts, scarves, and fleece blankets...great to have for HK games!
HK School Spirit Store - The Spirit is On!
Students Compose Poem
Last spring, students in Ms. Allesandrine's junior English class studied the poetry of Walt Whitman. As an homage to his poem "I Hear America Singing," students put their ears to the ground and collectively wrote "I Hear H-K Singing." The following student writers contributed to this poem: Nicole Armenia, Austin Boulay, Jamie Corda, Lily Cotto, Dan German, Bridget Johnson, RJ Kasper, Dan Kovach, Adrian Luke, Brynn Lynskey, Rebecca Mainetti, and Mason Rice.
"I Hear H-K Singing"
The stray walkers on Monday morning walk through the lingering silence
until one goes through the doors to the cafe
and hears the fierce, boisterousness
of this jungle erupt.
As the student stampede floods the halls, the roars become the natural sounds of H-K.
At the end of the cat walk, the father cougar
maintains an orderly jungle to protect the cougar cubs.
Guarding the cougar den are the statuesque trees between the jungle's highway.
The day progresses, and students wander the hallway,
determined to find any reason not to go back to class.
The loud students have loud conversations about anything
to get their minds off of school, even if only for twenty minutes.
Lunch time is freedom-a chance to escape from intense school work.
Hollering peers compete in order to attract an audience amid the noise.
A single shout grabs the spotlight, and
people poke their noses into the scene.
A private few gather in the art room to break from the chaos that pours
from the cafe when the bell rings.
They try to forget where they are and share a laugh or two.
Nomads wander, looking for a place to eat.
The lazy walker moseys down the hallway with quiet footsteps.
A summons down to guidance
brings the predictable "Can I help you?" smile.
Urgent topics are discussed behind closed doors.
Patient visitors wait.
The office is the nucleus of the school, and
the students and staff, the mitochondria.
Secretaries' busy fingers dance upon keyboards.
The students go through a four-year metamorphosis.
Some of them saunter, some of them speed.
Love-struck students clog the arteries of our community,
while one student patiently waits for a path to her locker.
Teachers beckon sloths and cheetahs into class.
Students work diligently on their projects
with the occasional off-topic conversation.
At 2:10, they scurry to their cars, scramble for their keys, clamor for their buses.
A footrace begins.
The buzzing of the lights overpowers the silent hallways.
Student Places in Shoreline Writing Contest
Last May, junior Tory Jo Bauer-Pisani earned third place in the one-act play category of the 29th Annual Shoreline Writing Contest. An excerpt of her play, Meant to Live, was performed at the awards reception, which was held on May 12 at The Morgan School. Tory Jo's mother, aunt, and teacher, Ms. Allesandrine, joined her to celebrate the honor.
Notes From the Health Office
With the flu season coming on us, I would like to stress the importance of keeping students home when they are sick. Not only will it speed their recovery, but it will also protect the health of others.
Also, some students go to the clinic but do not meet the criteria to be sent home ill from the Health Office and after being assessed, they are returned to class. Some students will leave the office and sent a text/call to parents requesting to be picked up and taken home. Please have faith that the Health Office will make a thoughtful and conscientious decision as to whether or not your child meets the criteria to be removed from school for health reasons. Should the Health Office feel it is in the best interest of the student to be sent home, parents will receive a phone call from me.
Mary Rose O'Neal, RN
HKHS Health Office
860-345-8541, ext. 344
mroneal@rsd17.org
Daybreak Café Fall Exhibit 2011
Cubism Shapes in Pastel
Ashley Artus
Rachel Artus
Griffin Bremer
Riley Doherty
Katie Faust
Anna Fetteroll
Jackie Garofalo
Christina Kozak
Samantha Mackowski
Rachel Mainetti
Bethany Meyer
Mia Roy
Taylor Steinhilper
Ben Tamiso
Alexa Welch
Eric Wind
Student Council
The student council is actively recruiting new members, especially from the ninth grade, and planning our first two fall activities. We will be sponsoring the Homecoming Dance on Saturday Oct.29th from 7:00-10:00. Parents that wish to chaperone are welcome and should call Mr. Cavrell at ext.196. We are also sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday Nov.17th from 7:30-12:15pm. These are major events that require many students working together. The Student Council also acts as the voice of the student body to help communicate ideas and concerns with other members of the school community and to work with these other groups for the good of the school. All students are welcome to join this group.
COSTA RICA NIGHT
WHEN: 4:30-5:30 pm, Wednesday, October 5th
WHERE: Mrs. Ferrer's Room (a.k.a. Mrs. Cassidy's room)
Come find out about the exotic country of COSTA RICA. The guide for the February Break trip to COSTA RICA, Jorge Jarra, will be here on Wednesday to talk about this amazing country's tropical forests, beaches, exotic wildlife and to answer any questions.
If you are interested in hearing about COSTA RICA or are interested in the trip that will take you to these beaches and ZIP LINING THROUGH THE FOREST, please attend.
FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED
School Counseling Update - October 2011
AP Registration
For students enrolled in AP Classes, please be sure to return your registration form and the $90.00 fee as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Sullivan-Freimuth at 860-345-8541, ext. 358.
SENIORS:
Senior Parent Night
Senior Parent Night was held the evening of September 12, 2011 for Seniors and their parents. The School Counselors discussed the College Application Process and went over the timeline for submitting applications, requesting counselor/teacher recommendations, completing transcript release forms, obtaining scholarship information and information regarding Financial Aid.
If you were unable to attend, please visit our School Counseling website and click on "Senior Parent Night" for more information.
The School Counselors are busy meeting with each Senior to discuss their post-secondary plans.
JUNIOR/SOPHOMORES:
PSAT Testing will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 7:35 -10:45 a.m. at HKHS. There is no fee for HK students and pre-registration will be held during Advisory. The PSAT's are the best indicator of performance on the SAT and provide Sophomores with areas for improvement, while allowing Juniors the opportunity to qualify as a National Merit Scholar and to match students to potential colleges.
FRESHMEN
EXPLORE Testing will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 7:35 - 10:45 a.m. at HKHS. There is no fee for HK students. Pre-registration will be held during Prep for Success. The EXPLORE is an early indicator of college readiness, an effective tool for planning high school coursework, and a useful career exploration and planning program.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 12:35 - 3:00 p.m., and Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 12:35 - 3:00 p.m., and in the evening from 6:30 - 8:25 p.m. Conferences are filling up fast, so please contact Gina Voytek at gvoytek@rsd17.org, to schedule a time to meet with your child's Teacher and/or Counselor
2012 YEARBOOK INFORMATION
PARENTS: Please watch the mail for your order form for the 2012 Opticon! Yearbooks must be ordered in advance and directly from JOSTEN'S. Seniors who have paid dues each year will receive a yearbook free of charge. HOWEVER, seniors who have not paid dues, must order a yearbook directly through Josten's. Please be sure to note ordering deadlines.
SENIORS: the yearbook deadline for your senior portrait choice is now upon us. Those who have not made their selection must contact Kay Bagwell Studio either by phone 203-347-9020 or by email ImagesbyGinga@aol.com with the pose number. You can order finished portraits at any time, but the yearbook selection must be done now. If the studio does not hear from you by Friday Oct 7th, they will choose a pose for you which will appear in the yearbook. So, please do not delay. If you have not made an appointment for your FREE yearbook photo, please contact the studio immediately.
ALSO SENIORS, your write-ups and favorite quote must be submitted to hkyearbook2012@yahoo.com by September 30, 2011 at midnight. Please see Mrs. McGee in room C-111 or email mcgeen33@rsd17.org with questions
HK Robotics Club season is underway. The club meets Tuesday and Thursday during lunch/activity in B108 Mr. Kish's room. The club is open to all students no experience needed. We are also looking for parent volunteers to help us during our weekend work sessions, again no experience needed. Please contact Ryan Kish kishr33@rsd17.org with any information or questions.
HKHS Engineering Senior Project is underway. This year students will once again be working on the CT Electrathon electric car competition, as well as projects involving creating a Wind Turbine and an Underwater Robotics competition. The class is looking for donations of Aluminum tubing, materials and equipment for working with carbon fiber, Electronic motors and controllers and any local professionals who are willing and able to offer expertise or help in any of these areas. Please contact Ryan Kish kishr33@rsd17.org with any information.
SISTER SCHOOL EDUCATORS TO VISIT HK
Last April, Mr. Lewis and I traveled to China as part of a Connecticut Shandong Principal and Teacher Shadowing Program. While there, we had the opportunity to meet with staff and students of the Suicheng School and renew our Sister School relationship.
Near the end of January, 2012, six educators from the Suicheng School will come to Connecticut and visit HK for a week to ten days. Just as we had the opportunity to learn about their education system and practices, they desire to learn from us. Our guest will visit numerous classrooms and have the opportunity to speak with both teachers and students.
We are very excited about being able to extend the wonderful hospitality to them that they lavished on us.
TEACHER OFFICE HOURS
For a complete listing of teachers' office hours click on the underlined link below
1 and 2 Denote Which Half of Lunch Activity Period the Teacher Will Hold Hours.
office hours
IMPORTANT DATES
October 1 - Marking Period 1 Progress Reports
October 10 - Columbus Day, No School
October 12 - Senior Class Photo 7:30 AM
October 12 - PSAT/EXPLORE Testing (during school hours)
October 12 - Cap/Gown Measurement
October 12 - Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences (afternoon only)
October 13 - Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences (afternoon and evening)
October 28 - Early Dismissal for teacher professional development
Sincerely,
Charlie
