Nov-Dec 2014 Newsletter - Ledyard Public Schools

Ledyard High News
Nov-Dec 2014
ISSUE 2
PRICIPAL’S LETTER
23 November 2014
Happy Holidays!
Season’s greetings from Ledyard High School, where we are well underway with the second marking period. In this season
of thanksgiving, there is so much to appreciate from our students. Already they have accomplished great things, and they are
working each day to achieve both the short- and long-term goals they have set for themselves in academics, extra-curriculars,
and college and career planning.
The Colonels had an excellent fall sports season, one that continues for our football team. And your children, overall, had a
very strong first quarter. Although we elevated the standards for high honors (no grade below an A-) and honors (no grade
below a B-), a significant percentage of students still met the mark. But I want to focus this month on the accomplishments
of our student-artists because it’s been a busy season for the arts.
• In the world of writing, The Colonel magazine has transitioned to its online forum at ColonelNews.com. If you
haven’t visited the website yet, you really should. It’s vibrant and colorful, full of good writing, crisp photography,
and clever video clips. The content is updated frequently, so make it a favorite, and visit often!
•
The Inner Visions website is also teeming with student contributions—everything from short fiction to poetry to
photography to drawings, paintings, and mixed media. Visit the site and peruse the student galleries—including that
of our Poet Laureate—at innervisionslhs.weebly.com.
•
In the building, the work of our visual artists in on display in the two art studios, along the walls and in the lighted
display case of the upstairs 200s hallway, and all along the 600s hallway, which now looks more like an art gallery
than an empty connector. Among the most impressive pieces are the large, pencil sketch self-portraits students in
the Advanced Studio Art class created.
•
The LHS drama club is riding the wave of satisfaction after wrapping the run of their first show of the year: The
Crucible. The kids did an incredible job—both on the stage and behind the scenes—to bring to life this complex
Arthur Miller classic. They were able to perform the show not only to large crowds on both Friday and Saturday
nights, but also to the majority of the junior class during school that Thursday.
•
Our marching band kicked off their year at the opening ceremony of the Ledyard Fair and has been showcasing their
sound and spirit at every home football game of this undefeated season. They have become an integral part of the
home game experience, syncing up with the cheerleaders and balancing with the press box to generate an exciting
atmosphere.
•
The choral program began the year with the Meet the Choirs concert on October 23. A near sell-out crowd listened
as eight different vocal groups performed…and the performances certainly didn’t sound like they were put together
in only seven weeks.
•
Together, the choral and music programs have been showcased at a few other events this year. During our fall Blue
and White Day, the pep band kept things hopping during the load-in to the gymnasium before Chamber Choir sang
the National Anthem. Later in the event, Concert Choir introduced the new alma mater for the school. More
recently, at our Veterans Day assembly, 187 students featured prominently as Chamber Choir, Concert Choir,
Symphonic Band, and the Wind Orchestra all performed.
The combined works of all of these artists make me both proud and envious. I wish I had half their talent!—but I’m so
thankful they represent Ledyard High School.
Sincerely,
Amanda O. Fagan
INDEX
Athletics
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8
Michael’s Cup Award .
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17
Band
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13
Calendar of Events
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3
Choral & Upcoming Music Events .
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16
Drama
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11
Guidance & School Counseling ews
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5
Inner Visions
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6
Library ews
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9
urses’ ews
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7
Ocean Bowl Team (BC30) .
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4
Principal’s Letter
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1
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15
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18
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Veterans Day Assembly
Yearbook
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2
SCHEDULE OF EVETS
2014-2015
ovember 26, 2014 to March 31, 2015
ovember
26,27,28
O SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holidays)
December
1
3
4
12
17
19,20
24-31
LHS Parent Advisory Council
6:30 pm
LHS Library
Board of Ed Mtg
7 pm
LHS Library
NHS Coffee House
7 pm
LHS Cafeteria
SHORTEED DAY (12:00 Dismissal)
District Professional Development
Board of Ed Mtg
7 pm
LHS Library
Holiday Concert
7:30 pm
Gaucher Auditorium
O SCHOOL (Winter Break)
January 2015
1,2
O SCHOOL (Winter Break)
7
Board of Ed Mtg
7 pm
LHS Library
12
LHS Parent Advisory Council
6:30 pm
LHS Library
13-16
MID-YR EXAMS DISMISSAL AT 11:00
16
Band Concert
7:30 pm
Gaucher Auditorium
19
O SCHOOL (Martin Luther King Day)
20
Tri-M Induction
7 pm Gaucher Auditorium
21
Board of Ed Mtg
7 pm
LHS Library
27
Celebrate Singing Festival
7:30 pm
Gaucher Auditorium
February 2015
2
LHS Parent Advisory Council
4
Board of Ed Mtg
13
HALF DAY (Dismissal at 12:00)
16
O SCHOOL (Presidents’ Day)
18
Board of Ed Mtg
20
Music Pasta Dinner
March 2015
2
2
5
19
19, 20, 21
27
6:30 pm
LHS Library
7 pm
LHS Library
District Professional Development
7 pm
5 – 7 pm
LHS Library
LHS Cafeteria
O SCHOOL
(Regional Professional Development)
LHS Parent Advisory Council
6:30 pm
LHS Library
NHS Coffee House
7 pm
LHS Cafeteria
HALF DAY (Dismissal at 12:00) Parent Conferences
Spring Musical (Drama)
7:30 pm
Gaucher Auditorium
Buriak/Candler Benefit Concert
7:30 pm
Gaucher Auditorium
3
Ledyard High School Ocean Bowl Team on BC30
As part of the “Game of the Week”, a news team from BC30 visited Ledyard High school and
focused on the Ocean Bowl Team.
Check out the link at:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/A-Look-Inside-Ledyard-High-School/280993772
4
School Counseling and Guidance
NAVIANCE- Family
Connection
Naviance is an on-line program consisting of several tools used for researching colleges,
and exploring careers. These applications are used to promote college and workplace
readiness. Naviance provides students with the framework to direct their own education,
establish long and short-term goals, and plan for post secondary success.
If you are a parent of a junior or senior and have not yet set up your Naviance account.
Go to the Ledyard High School main website –click on Naviance to view the login page.
Please contact us if you need your access code at 860-464-9600 x6709 or x6713.
TWITTER & FACEBOOK- LHS Guidance is on TWITTER! Please follow us @LedyardGuidance. You can also
find us on FACEBOOK, search for "LHS Guidance".
FINANCIAL AID- College Goal Sunday - On January 25, 2015 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The New London
Science and Technology Magnet High School 490 Jefferson Avenue New London, CT 06320. Students and
parents can talk to experts and get in-depth help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
In addition to receiving assistance in filling out the FAFSA, participants will receive general information regarding
state and federal financial aid programs. Visit http://www.collegegoalsundayct.org/ for more information.
SENIORS: Please remember if you are applying to schools with a January 1st deadline,
th
th
you must complete the application process by December 8 . If you have a January 15
nd
deadline, you must adhere to December 22 . These dates allow 10 school days for the
processing of supporting documents (including teacher recommendations in many cases).
PSAT SCORES - will be distributed in mid-December at an assembly held to explain the score reports. In addition
any student, who took the PSAT/NMSQT in October, will have FREE access to My College QuickStart™, a free
online personalized college and career planning kit based on their test results. Students are able to take the next
steps towards college with these unique features:
•
•
•
•
•
An online score report, including projected SAT score ranges, state percentiles, and the power to sort
answer explanations by difficulty and by question type.
A customized SAT study plan.
College Matches- get a starter list of colleges based on the information you provided when you took the
PSAT/NMSQT.
Major and Career Matches- view a personalized list of suggested majors and careers.
Access to MyRoad- a personality test to learn more about majors and careers that fit your strengths and
interests.
MY COLLEGE QUICKSTART: Students will have online access to My College QuickStart until she/he
graduates high school. Students register for My College QuickStart by visiting
https://quickstart.collegeboard.org/posweb/login.jsp and entering the access code printed on their official
PSAT/NMSQT paper score report along with some identifying information. If you or your student needs
assistance with registration, please contact our school counseling and guidance department.
5
Inner Visions
Inner Visions, LHS’s arts and literary magazine website, is a place for LHS’s students to
display their creativity in many forms. Recent additions include photo galleries and a link to
original music compositions. Each month, we feature a contributor as the Artist of the Month.
Junior Olivia Triplett is the November artist of the month, and December’s will be sophomore
Allison Antcliff. Both girls are poets who have been published by the national publication
Teen Ink. Olivia is also a talented photographer and short story writer. See more at
innervisionslhs.weebly.com.
Brother
I remember when we were kids
And you would jokingly call me ugly
And I would jokingly call you stupid
But years later, here we are
You are one of the smartest around
And I have the exact same face.
-Allison Antcliff
Gardens
In gardens, I pick the prettiest
flowers,
and leave the others to grow,
because everyone deserves a chance,
to feel beautiful.
-poem and photo, Olivia Triplett
6
ews from the School urse
In December the Nurses will start the state mandated scoliosis screening for ninth graders. We will be
examining students during their physical education classes so no special clothing will be required.
Students with PE in the spring will be screened during the second semester. If parents don't wish to
have their children screened, please inform us by calling 464-8940.
Is your child or teen getting
enough sleep?
Research shows that insufficient sleep is associated with
major physical and cognitive impairment, such as
difficulties focusing, irritability and frustration, as well as
problems modulating impulses and emotions.
How do you know how much sleep is enough?
Dr. Carl Hunt, director of the National Center on Sleep
Disorders Research, stated that most children and teens need at
least 9 hours of sleep each night. Sleep disorders and
sleep deprivation often are not recognized in children, and symptoms related to sleep deprivation may
erroneously be attributed to hyperactivity, behavior disorders, or to boredom. Adequate sleep is
associated with good health and performance, as well as fewer accidents, a critical issue for adolescents.
What can parents do?
1. Set regular bedtime and wake-up hours, even for teens, during the school week.
2. Encourage exposure to natural outdoor light during the day (natural light helps to regulate
biological sleep–wake cycles).
3. Avoid rigorous play or activity before bedtime.
4. Provide a cool, dark, quiet place to sleep.
7
Ledyard Athletics
Ledyard High School Athletics enjoyed another outstanding fall in 2014. Congratulations to our
volleyball team and football team for winning ECC championships. The volleyball team advanced to the
Class L state semi-finals and the football team, currently 10-0 on the season, will host a Class M state
semi-final game on Saturday December 6th at 2:00pm. The football team will look to complete a perfect
regular season when they travel to Fitch High School on Thanksgiving morning. Kick-off is at 10:00am.
Congratulations are in order to senior cross country runner Bryce Hedman for capturing the ECC
individual championship and being named to the All New England team. Also, congratulations to senior
volleyball player Michelle Klinikowski who signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Boston College
next fall.
The winter sports season is right around the corner. You can view a copy of the updated winter schedule
for all of our teams at ledyard.net/lhs/athletics. Also, all of our winter athletic schedules can be viewed
at casciac.org. LHS sports fans can also can get athletic updates by following the twitter page of
@ledyardsports. The Eastern Connecticut Conference has a great website as well, eccathletics.org,
where you can stay up to date on all of the teams in southeastern Connecticut. Stay updated, stay
involved and get out and support our athletic teams.
If you have any questions in regards to the Ledyard athletic department, please contact LHS
Athletic Director Jim Buonocore at 860-464-9600 ext 6123 or at [email protected].
GO COLONELS!
8
School Library ews – Read the news online
9
School Library ews – Read the news online
10
DRAMA
Ledyard Drama Performs The Crucible
Cast of The Crucible
Just before Thanksgiving break Ledyard Drama completed three successful performances
of Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible. The cast and crew performed for all of the English
classes who read the play on Thursday, November 20 and then for the family and friends
on Friday and Saturday nights, November 21 and 22. Thanks to all who came out and
supported the students and Theatre in our schools. See you March 19-21 for the Spring
Musical!
Following are some photos from the dress rehearsals:
11
12
MUSIC
BAND
LHS Marching Band, led by drum majors Jamie Bogue, Mike Larmann, and Eli Utley-Rosado, and
percussion squad leader Ben Gradner, has completed another fantastic season. Mr. Green says thank
you to all the LHS Marching Band students for bringing such joy and talent to the season. The field
show, designed by LHS Marching Band, featured favorites from Chicago, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and
the Commodores. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered their time to help with uniforms including
Carrie Burger, Joan Disco (and her daughters Lizzie and Jenni), Karen Ferrie, and Sue Rousseau.
13
Ledyard Music continues to collaborate across grade levels throughout the district. LHS Music
students selected by Mr. Green and Mr. Sturm recently performed with LMS Advanced Band at the
LMS Fall Concert on Wednesday, November 19th at LMS. The next collaborative effort will be the
LHS Winter Band Concert on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 7.30p in the LHS Auditorium. This concert
will feature LHS instrumental ensembles, LMS Advanced Band (again including selected LHS
Music students), and a selected group of 6th grade band students will perform with members of LHS
Jazz Band. LHS Music student Zeb Mrowka is crafting an arrangement specifically for this exciting
combination of musicians. More details about the concert will be released in January.
LHS Jazz Band and LHS Wind Orchestra are traveling again this year. On May 14-16 they will go to a
music festival in Hershey, PA, visit the Brandywine Valley for a history walk and lunch at Longwood
Gardens, spend some time in Lower Manhattan, and attend a concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center featuring
saxophone legend, Wayne Shorter. An updated payment schedule and itinerary are forthcoming.
14
Veterans Day Assembly
Ledyard Music was extremely happy to play a part in the Veterans’ Day Assembly. With performances
by Chamber Choir, Symphonic Band, Wind Orchestra and Concert Choir music played a big role in the
celebration. As always, the March of the Armed Forces was a powerful closer to the celebration!
Here are a few photos from the day:
15
Providence College Choral Festival
A yearly event for LHS Chamber Choir is traveling to Providence College to participate in the PC High
School Invitational Choral Festival. The students sing, receive instruction and get to hear five other high
school choirs from Rhode Island. It is a great day and the choir always improves from the experience.
Here is a photo from that day:
Upcoming Events
Holiday Choral Concert – Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.
(tickets go on sale Monday December 8)
Winter Instrumental Music Concert- Friday, Janaury 16 at 7:30 p.m.
(tickets go on sale Monday, January 12)
16
Congratulations to our student-athletes, their coaches,
and Athletic Director Jim Buonocore!
For the third consecutive year, Ledyard High School’s athletic department has been honored as a
recipient of the Michael’s Cup. This year, only 17 high schools in the state earned this award,
which is an acknowledgement of achievement in seven areas: sportsmanship, participation, athletic scholarship, athletic personnel, equity, chemical free initiatives, and athletic achievement.
“Having a well-rounded athletics program that demonstrates success on the field and demonstrates actions consistent with the mission of the CIAC in all areas is no easy feat, but these 17
schools have done exactly that,” said CAS-CIAC Executive Director Karissa Niehoff. “A tremendous number of schools have made great commitments to administering education-based athletics programs, and it gets harder and harder each year to choose the honorees. These schools are
serving as a model for how beneficial a comprehensive athletics program can be for students and
the community, and we hope schools continue striving to reach this level.”
Horizons 2014-2015
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