1.         Happy Holidays!  Please accept my wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season. I hope you are able to find the time to enjoy the company of those who mean so much to you.
 
2.         New photo galleries are up with pictures from this fall's geocaching field trips. To view them go to:   http://www.rsd17.org/TeacherWebPage/HighSchool/ZCropperalt/geocaching.htm
 
3.         Mr. Anderson's geography class had a guest speaker recently, when Mr. Ryan Kish, a tech teacher here at the high school shared stories, insights, aborigine artifacts, and photographs from his experiences studying abroad and traveling Australia. Mr. Kish's presentation enhanced what the students had been learning about during their unit on Australia and Oceania.
 
4.         Mrs. Grant's Spanish classes had two guest speakers this past Monday who talked about the importance of the Mexican holiday, "Virgen de Guadalupe;" the story of when the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico. All Mexicans celebrate by having the day off from work celebrating throughout the day and night. One of the speakers, Kristen Todzia, shared her experience and photographs of having visited Mexico and the Basilica of Guadalupe. The other speaker, Julie Schmelzer, spoke about the symbolism and history of this holiday in Mexico.  To give local meaning to the day, a video was shown of the celebration and reenactment that took place last week at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Middletown.  Other Spanish teachers brought some of their classes hear the guests present as well.
 
5.         Student IDs have been issued. If your child does not have an ID, please email my secretary, Melissa Bennett at bennettm33@rsd17.org and arrangements will be made with the photographer to provide your child with one.
 
6.         Thank you to the many staff members who took an ornament from the office "Giving Tree."  I know our student recipients of the gifts will be greatly appreciative.  Your care for our students and your generosity is very evident.
 
7.         The music department would like to thank those in the community who supported the fruit fund raiser.
 
8.         On December 3, the Director of Advising for UCONN's School of Engineering, Brian Schwartz, paid a visit to HKHS.  Mr. Schwartz met with students from the Calculus, Pre-calculus, and Engineering classes to discuss the wide variety of engineering disciplines available to study.  He exposed them to the approximately 20 types offered for study at UCONN, but mentioned that there are approximately 40 different types.  Students came away from the presentation with information on what, specifically, engineers do and what types of projects they are able to complete.  Mr. Schwartz also discussed actual projects being worked on by UCONN students and invited students to visit any time.  We hope to take students interested in engineering up to UCONN to tour the mathematics and engineering departments sometime in the spring. The presentation was organized by math teacher and department chair, Mrs. Wendy Adamczyk.
 
9.         The student council is planning a winter dance for Saturday, February 7th from 7-10 pm.
 
10.     If anyone still wishes to contribute to the United Way Diaper Drive the student council is still willing to accept your donations.  Donations will be delivered to the Middlesex County Chapter of the United Way.
 
11.     The National Honor Society will hold its annual Toy Drive in January. Please consider donating new and gently used toys after the holidays. The Honor Society hopes to collect at least 100 items this year. Many charities distribute toys to needy children throughout the year. You can help put a smile on a child's face.
 
12.     To the parents of all juniors. There will be an informational session on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00 pm in the high school auditorium on post graduate planning and college planning.
 
13.     Congratulations to the Haddam-Killingworth combined middle school and high school performers for their wonderful Winter Concert which was held on December 11th. Congratulations to two staff members who will be getting married within the next couple of weeks. Counselor, Peter Ettlinger will "tie the knot" on December 27, and Tracey Saltus will wed on January 2nd.
 
14.     The high school will host three Chinese educators on January 13th and 14th. The visit   is done as part of the district's "Sister School Initiative." We are in the process of planning an itinerary for their two days at the high school. If you wish to get involved or have suggestions for their visit here please write me an email. Also, if you speak Mandarin Chinese and wish to help translate, your services would be very welcome.
 
15.     On January 8th, a representative from NEASC (New England Association of School and Colleges) will present to the high school staff  as we continue our self-study and prepare for an accreditation visit in October of 2010.
 
16.     Tuesday, December 23rd will be a shortened day as we begin our winter break.

 

17.     Mrs Miles' English 9H,11H and Brit. Lit. classes wrote holiday cards/ thank you letters to our troops overseas.  They completed nearly 900 of them last Thursday.Chuck Lewis, advisor of the Support Our Country club (SOC)  and student members  are helping with the  mailings. The kids were extremely eager to do this, and many included their families over last weekend and wrote additional cards that are not a part of our final count. We have terrific kids who are very generous and thoughtful. 

 

18.   The CAPT Academy, a Saturday program that helps students review selected CAPT topics prior to the test, will be held on January 31st and February 7th of this year.  CAPT proficiency in all four areas is a graduation requirement and students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.  Parents of sophomores and some juniors will receive a mailing in the first week of January detailing the sign-up process and containing teacher recommendations specific to their son or daughter.



19.     HKTV 2008 Holiday Show Pledge Form           
 
Dear Friend,
            This year, the Haddam-Killingworth High School Communications Department Holiday Show will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects every organ in the human system. The only aid that is available for those diagnosed with diabetes is insulin. Still, insulin is not a cure and does not prevent the possibility of devastating complications such as kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputation, heart attack and stroke.
One hundred percent of the money donated through the efforts of the Holiday Show will help support the groundbreaking research of JDRF whose mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications.
            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 4th annual Shoreline Idol competition with students from surrounding towns singing for a chance to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship provided by Lenny and Joes: Fish Tale Restaurant and studio recording time provided by Riverway Studios.
 
 Gifts ranging from dinner certificates to theatre tickets will be randomly awarded during our live telethon on December 23rd to donors pledging $25 or more. All contributions are greatly appreciated and tax deductible.
            Be sure to watch the show live on Comcast Channel 18 December 23rd from 8:00 AM to 11:30am. Holiday Show encore presentations will be aired every evening at 7pm through January 4th. You can call in your pledge during the show to 860-345-0690. Thank you very much for supporting the 20th annual HKTV Holiday Show.                                           
--------------------------------------cut along line and return lower half----------------------
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 JDRF                                  
                                                                                   
 Amount: $                                                      
 
 
          VISA          MasterCard                Discover           AMEX              Other
 
Card Number: ___________________________ Expiration Date: _________________
 
 Print name as shown on card:_______________________________________________
 
 Signature: ______________________________________________________________
 
This gift is given: 
In memory of _____________________________________________________________
Please send an acknowledgement to: ___________________________________________
 Address: _________________________________________________________________
 City: ___________________________ State: __________________ Zip Code: ________
 
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, 2008.
Approximate time (Between 9 AM and 11 AM):                                                
Name:                                                                                                                       
Address:                                                                                                                   
Phone number (in case you win a prize)                                                                       
 
 

Seasons Greetings

Charlie
     and excitement to a youngster next semester. Contact my office or Mr. Nagler (345-4534 extension 418,  Naglere55@rsd17.org)      directly to volunteer, to learn more about the program or to sign up for the mentor workshops.
 
14.       Students in Ms. Allesandrine's English 12 class were fortunate to welcome Bob Waz, local resident & substitute teacher, as a guest speaker on December 2.  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 class is reading.  Much of the discussion focused on the metaphor of the intangible "things" that soldiers and veterans carry with them. 
 
15.       The PSAT Results Assembly for those parents of 10th and 11th grade students who took the PSAT in October will be Friday, December 12, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.   in the high school auditorium.  The snow date is Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.
 
16.       When you enter the high school office please take the time to notice the wonderful art work on display outside the main door to office. The art department routinely changes the display to reflect the wonderful and creative of our students. The display recently changed from beautiful mosaic tile work to paintings done by our studio art students.
 
17.       The Mr. H-K Competition hosted by the Class of 2010 will take place on December 4th. At 7:00 in the auditorium. Twelve contestants representing the sophomore, junior, and senior classes will sing, dance, and demonstrate a variety of other "talents" as they vie for the title of Mr. H-K 2008-2009.
 
18.       The Haddam-Killingworth High School "Summer Reading Committee" is looking for parent volunteers who love to read and want to encourage our high school students to enjoy reading too.  We are in the process of selecting a variety of books that will be included in this summer's reading program and would like to have the input of both parents and students.  If you like to join us, call 345--8541 or email mcgee12@rsd17.org.

 

 

 

Charlie