Important Phone Numbers Branford High School 203/488-7291 HOT LINE 203/315-6725 Branford Board of Education 203/488-7276 Adult Education 203/488-5693 Athletics 203/315-6735 Attendance 203/315-6744 Guidance 203/315-6730 Nurse 203/315-6733 School Based Health 203/315-6727 Transportation 203/488-6186

Winter 2016/17 Branford High School

Principal’s Newsletter

Administration Lee Panagoulias, Jr., Principal Stephanie Byrd, Assistant Principal Joseph Briganti, Assistant Principal Dianne Dadio, Dean of Students

Please visit our website for important information, updates, daily announcements, Program of Studies,

Guide, Guide-Student Version and Principal’s News-

letter.

www.branfordhigh.org

December 13 - Club Photos in new Gym Lobby 14 - Child Development Holiday Party - 2pm-6 in Class Act 14 - Basketball Tipoff Dinner - 6pm in Commons 16 - Winter Pep Rally after period 3 - New Gym 16 - Winter Dance - 7pm—10pn 20 - Holiday Faculty Meeting 20 - Winter Concert - 7pm in Aud 21 - Snow date for Winter Concert / Music Makers to elementary schools 22 - X-mas Food Drive 23 - Early Release / Music Makers to Walsh 26 - 1/2/17 Winter recess January 3 - Return to school 6 - End of Q2 9-13 Midterms 11 - Mainstreet Showcase - 7pm in aud 16 - No school Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January con’t. 18 - Snow date for Mainstreet Showcase 23 - Blood Drive in Library 25 - Early release day 26 - Jr. Class Coffee

Feb 2 - Dance Team leaves for Florida 9 - Freshman/Sophomore Class Coffee 20-21 No school March 9 - Class of 2021 Parent / Student Orientation 15 - Early Release 16 - Parent Teacher Conferences 20 - End of Q3 22-24 - Musical - 7:30pm in aud 25 - Musical - 1pm & 8pm in aud 26 - Musical - 2pm 30 - Parent Conferences 31 - Blood Drive

Happy Holidays!

We have all worked extremely hard to create a time that requires students to utilize a variety of critical thinking skills. This also serves as a chance for us to gather student data to make future instructional decisions, collaborate, and provide stu-dents with valuable feedback .

Please remember this time is unique to the high school, please use it as an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learned.

The First Semester Exams will be administered from Monday, January 9 through Friday, January 13. [Second Semester begins on Tuesday, January 17 with Advisory at 7:30 to distribute 2nd semester schedules.]

If there is a school closing, the exam schedule is postponed one day. The exams scheduled for the day school is closed will be administered on the first day students return to school

All semester assessments will take place during a two-hour block of time. Students will report for their exam at the scheduled time - 7:45 AM & 10:00 AM.

All students are expected to take their exams when they are scheduled. If serious illness prevents a student from fulfilling this expectation, they are to schedule a make -up exam during one of the afternoons of exam week and/or Make-up Exam periods.

Buses will run at the usual morning pick-up times, but will be taking students home when the 2nd exam period ends - 12:05 PM. There will be no late buses during exams.

The exam schedule for January 2017

Café will be open until 11 AM for a light breakfast menu Monday, January 9 thru Friday, January 13th.

the following will be the exam schedule for January 2017 – B day

BRANFORD HIGH SCHOOL

January 2017 First Semester Exam Schedule

Time Monday, 1/9 Tuesday, 1/10 Wednesday, 1/11 Thursday, 1/12 Friday, 1/13

7:45 – Per 8 – 2 hr Exam begins

Per 6 – 2 hr Exam begins

Per 4 – 2 hr Exam begins

Per 2 – 2 hr Exam begins

Per 1 – 2 hr Exam begins

9:45 Exam concluded Exam concluded Exam concluded Exam concluded Exam concluded

10:00 – Per 7 – 2 hr Exam begins

Per 5– 2 hr Exam begins

Per 3 – 2 hr Exam begins

Make-up Exams

Make-up

Exams

12:00 - Exam concluded Exam concluded Exam concluded Exam concluded Exam concluded

Eligibility for Interscholastic Athletics at BHS:

The eligibility standards of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference serve as a minimum

standard for athletic and co-curricular activities. In addition, students must maintain a minimum 2.0

GPA each quarter and are limited to one failure in all classes scheduled in a quarter excluding Physi-

cal Education/Health. During their four years, a one-time probation period can be requested in which

a student would have four weeks of the next quarter to return his/her grades to eligible levels.

BHS Salutes…

2016 – 2017

Scholar Plaques

Award recipients for: CHSCA Ct High School Coaches Association - Carol Frye and John Perrotti

DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) - Ian Burgerman

2016-2017 Rotary Student of the Month

Month Athlete Arts

September Isabel T. Albinger Devin F. McNamara

Spencer J. Mariotti Harrison T. Kent

October Courtney R. Cosgrove Ashley E. Roding

Trey A. Duval Meng Nan Wu

November Kiersten A. Bjork Kevin J. Bartram

Spencer I. Berty

DATES DEPARTMENT STUDENT

September Tech ED Dylan Williams

October Science Jack Nelson

November Family & Consumer Science Taj Dashar Rucker-Dimbo

December World Language Niue Keane

2017 BHS Yearbook on sale now!!!

Attention parents, students and faculty!

We are busy creating the 2017 Branford High School yearbook.

Visit www.bhsyearbook.com to order online.

Do you like to take a lot of pictures at school/sports events?

Would you like to have your photos in this year’s yearbook?

The Yearbook needs your help!

We are looking for photos taken by students, faculty and parents to possibly use in this year’s 2016 -2017 publication.

Go to: www.replayit.com

Select - Branford High School, Branford, CT

Register – Include your Name, Email and Password

Click on “SUBMIT PICS” and upload any pictures you would like to share throughout the school year.

OR

Install the Replay It app on your smartphone!

Questions? Contact Mindy Baker - mbaker@branfordschools.org

Attention Students, Faculty and Parents!

Not the story you think you know, but the one you’ll

never forget…

The Branford High School Performing Arts depart-

ment is pleased to present the musical, Titanic, Di-

rected by Toni Cartisano and Cathyann Roding. Perfor-

mances will be on Wednesday, March 22, Thursday

March 23, Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25 at

7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m.

In an epic musical as massive as the ocean liner that

shares its name, Maury Yeston’s and Peter Stone’s mu-

sical, Titanic, tells the stories of the people on board

the legendary steamer and the men who got them

there. Spanning all classes, Titanic captures the stories

from the whole range of humanity aboard the ship: from

workers in the boiler room to first-class attendants, from

the poorest passengers, who scraped together their life

savings to purchase third-class tickets to America, to some of the wealthiest men of the Victorian age,

including John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim. Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s musical tells the

tragic story with a compassionate book, intelligent lyrics, and soaring melodies. Full of memorable char-

acters based on the real men and women on the ship, Titanic is a powerful, complex look at the making

of a tragedy. The production opened on Broadway in 1997. It won five Tony Awards including the award

for Best Musical and Best Score.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students / seniors. Cash and checks are accepted. Please

call 203-315-7972 after January 2nd, for more information.

The Branford High School Performing Arts

department is pleased to present the musical,

Titanic

With the winter season upon us, this is the time

for colds and flu. Knowing the difference be-

tween the two is important.

On average, children get between 6 and 10

colds per year, which like the flu, is caused by

viruses and cannot be treated by antibiotics.

The flu is similar to a cold, but the symptoms

are much worse. Five to twenty percent of peo-

ple get the flu each year and for many it is very

serious and even fatal. Recently, the flu has hit

children the hardest. Here is a simple chart

comparing the two illnesses.

All Branford High School Juniors will take the SAT on Wednesday , March 2, 2016, during the school day

beginning at 7:30 am. The SAT School Day, a State of Connecticut initiative , replaces the SBA for juniors

and is considered an exit exam for graduation. There is no cost for the test. For more detailed information

contact your student’s guidance counselor. Sophomores will be taking CAPT Science at the same time.

News from your School Based Health Center

SYMPTOMS

COLD

FLU

Development of

Symptoms

Gradually

Suddenly

Is there a fever?

None or <100 degrees

Over 100 degrees

Fatigue

Mild

Moderate to severe

Chills

Rare

Common

Headache

Less Common

Common

Stuffy Nose

Common

Less Common

Sore Throat

Common

Less Common

Cough

Hacking, which often

brings up mucous

Dry, unproductive

Chest Discomfort

Mild to Moderate

Often Severe

Results in serious

health problems

Rare

May result in Pneumonia,

bacterial

SAT School Day – For All BHS Juniors

April 5, 2017

7:30am

(Bring two (2) #2 pencils & a calculator)

*Current BHS MC 2010 Senior Presidents*

Keah Lonergan, Nicole Hobbs, Maddy Coulter, Caitlin O’Neill

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” -Abraham Lincoln

Freshmen Guidance Counselors met with all freshmen in small groups to discuss important topics neces-

sary for a successful transition to Branford High School. Topics included a review of school poli-

cies, development of study skills, short and long term goal planning and a detailed review of

their first quarter report cards. The program will resume in January with an emphasis on pre-

paring for mid-term exams.

Seniors Many seniors have submitted applications to colleges, for regular decision, early action, early

decision, and for rolling admissions. Some applicants have already received decision letters.

Regular admission deadlines continue for January 1st, January 15th, February 15th, and March

1st at many colleges. Rolling admissions deadlines, such as those at many state university

branches, continue through April 1st, even May 1st. Applications are accepted at Community Col-

leges through May. All seniors should consult with Guidance Counselors regarding college admis-

sions or other future plans. The Post-Secondary Planning Guide is a great resource for students

and families to explore a variety of post-secondary options. For seniors planning to pursue two-

year colleges, vocational/technical schools, trades, employment, or military after high school,

please consult the Guidance Office guide entitled Post High School Planning Guide-Besides Four

Year College, What Can I do? For Gateway Community College programs, application processes,

and due dates, research their website online. For seniors, January or March SAT or February ACT

could still be taken for schools with later admission dates or rolling admission.

Juniors Upcoming Saturday SAT Test Dates: March 11th, May 6th, and June 3th

Upcoming Saturday ACT Test Dates: February 6th, April 9th, and June 16th

Juniors typically take one or two SATs or ACTs in the spring. This typically begins with the April

5th required state SAT exam during the school day. BHS registers all juniors with the College

Board for this SAT. Therefore, students are discouraged from registering on their own before

this! In the fall of senior year, one or more SATs and/or ACTs can be taken again. Most exams

are offered at Branford High School. Register online for the ACT at www.ACT.org and register for

the SAT atwww.collegeboard.com.

An ACT test preparation program called “Method Test Prep” is available in NAVIANCE. Juniors

should utilize their PSAT results to practice for the SAT - see below. The Branford PTA also offers

evening sessions for SAT preparation for the SAT in April—applications are available in the high

school attendance office via Cheryl Alling @ 203-315-6744. Consult with guidance counselors

regarding the differences between the SAT and ACT. In spring, March kicks off the college search

in earnest with a Guidance advisory and a College Planning Night for juniors and parents.

Guidance News

*Current BHS MC 2010 Senior Presidents*

Keah Lonergan, Nicole Hobbs, Maddy Coulter, Caitlin O’Neill

PSAT Score Reports

All Juniors and Sophomores took the PSAT in November. Scores will be released online in early Jan-

uary. Paper test score reports will be distributed and explained in classes and advisories by Guidance

Counselors later in the month. Students are encouraged to take advantage of My College Quick Start

and Khan SAT Prep, two free services that offer each student a customized study plan based on their

PSAT test performance.

College Scholarships

There are a variety of scholarships offered locally and nationally. Anyone can earn a scholarship. For

example, a student may be eligible for money because his parents are members of bowling association,

or the student is interested in teaching, forestry or engineering, or because the student has earned good

grades. Essay writing scholarships and community service scholarships are currently popular. Many

scholarships are offered for underrepresented populations. Scholarships can be found through NAVI-

ANCE, www.Fastweb.com, and www.Collegeboard.com.

Peer Connections has launched a new program this year called Kindness Capers. In a continuation of

the goal to bring more kindness, gratitude, and generosity to BHS members of Peer Connections have

sought out small gift certificates from local stores to give randomly to students. When a student re-

ceives the gift card from the Kindness Caped Crusader(our Hornet re-invented), the lucky student is

told to either keep the gift, or pass it on to another. So far, two lucky students have received gift certifi-

cates to Dunkin Donuts, with more to come! We hope that this small gesture might brighten the day

for someone and encourage them to do the same for someone else. If anyone would like to donate gift

cards of $5-10 to Peer Connections please contact Suzanne Serviss at sserviss@branfordschools.org.

There will ba food drive Friday, December 23rd, 7:30PM at the Northford Ice Pavilion, BHS vs North

Haven. Students will be offered free admission to the game with 5 non perishable food items. All do-

nations will be brought Branford Community Dining Room to benefit local residents.

Dalton Childs

Guidance News (con’t)

Kindness Capers

Food Drive

*Current BHS MC 2010 Senior Presidents*

Keah Lonergan, Nicole Hobbs, Maddy Coulter, Caitlin O’Neill

Seniors and senior parents, it’s not too early to start thinking about the Senior Internship option available to all sen-

iors in good standing.

Career Exploration is vital for all students no matter their individual interests, aspirations and capabilities. The Senior

Internship Program is an extension of BHS Career Center’s community outreach program and allows students another

opportunity to demonstrate their ability to be contributing members of their community. Now is the time for all seniors to

consider a Senior Internship.

Students must:

• Have a C- grade average.

• Have satisfactory attendance.

• Successfully meet June graduation requirements

• Successfully meet disciplinary guidelines as set in The Guide.

• Have administration, guidance counselor and parent endorsement.

Beginning April 2017, BHS seniors will be able to participate in this program by abiding by the following guidelines.

INTERNSHIP GUIDELINES

It must be an educational experience. It must be unpaid. It must require a minimum of 35 hours per week. A standard

four week internship consists of a minimum of a 140-hour commitment-four 35 hour work weeks—and may well exceed

that total. It must consist of the student’s own idea, effort, and growth opportunity, not in support of or in cooperation

with another senior’s internship. Multi-senior internships are prohibited. It must be sponsored and directly supervised

by a responsible adult who possesses expertise in the student’s area of interest and a willingness to work with the student.

A sponsor must not be the student’s parent, guardian, or relative, or a Branford High School faculty member. It must be

realistic in terms of location, expense, and personal safety, and must be approved by his/her parent or guardian, admin-

istration, and guidance counselor. Students are evaluated by their sponsor. Students must submit a daily journal at the

end of each week to receive credit. Each senior has a BHS faculty liaison to help guide their progress throughout the

internship as well as to serve as a link to the internship sponsor.

• Senior Internship Program Manuals will be distributed at the beginning of second semester.

• Read carefully and decide if this program is for your senior.

• Think about a worksite that would be a perfect match.

• Ask questions, get answers.

Students who are interested in the program or have questions may stop in the career center for more information

or email BHSseniorinternship@branfordschools.org

Few bonds in life are more influential than those between a young person and an adult. Mentoring provides significant

benefits. As a mentor, you will make a difference in someone’s life, learn about yourself, give back and contribute to the

future. - National Mentoring Partnership The Branford Community Youth Mentoring Program is accepting mentor applications. If you are interested in becoming

a mentor or would like more information, please email branfordmentor@branfordschools.org or call 488-7291.

SENIOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM – April 2017

BRANFORD COMMUNITY YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM

*Current BHS MC 2010 Senior Presidents*

Keah Lonergan, Nicole Hobbs, Maddy Coulter, Caitlin O’Neill

Young Women’s Club “We can make a Difference! Our Kindness is Contagious!”

By Senior Presidents Kim Byers & Lauren Thibodea

Young Women’s Club is a community service club at Branford High School that works to help women in need.

Throughout the year, we have events and fundraisers to aide multiple groups, including In Our Blessed Mothers’ Arms,

Help Center in New Haven, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization that raises awareness and funds re-

search for Breast Cancer. Our club has many dedicated members who help to make this possible.

Every year, our club works together to make fleece baby blankets to give to Women shelters. We have a fun time making

these blankets at our meetings and also feel good knowing we are helping people at the same time. These tied fleece

blankets we make are simple enough so that everyone in the club can get involved, but are also thick and soft enough to

keep the babies at the shelter warm through the winter.

Another event our club tries to get involved with annually is Tommy Sullivan’s Run for the Ribbons. This 5k run raises

awareness about Breast Cancer while at the same time raising money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Our members

work on setting everything up while participants are out running so that, when they get back, refreshments are ready to

be served. The members serve the runners until the end of the event, then stay after to make sure everything is cleaned

up.

A fun activity we did at one of our meetings was cutting turkey feathers out of paper and writing what we were most

thankful for on them. After everyone was done, we put all of the colorful feathers on a giant turkey on our bulletin board.

There were so many different things the girls were thankful for!

Along with making fleece baby blankets for In Our Blessed Mothers’Arms, the club raises money for this shelter every

year. The way we raise money is that the girls take an empty baby bottles, as many as they want, and fill them up with

any spare change they have. The point behind this mission is to show our members that the saying “every little penny

counts” is true, because how much or how little you give isn’t important, what matters is that you contributed to a great

cause and did something good for someone else. Together we raised $700.00 of spare change!!

To all the girls that participated in these activities, we, the Presidents, would like to say a big

thank you to you guys! Without you all, these fundraisers wouldn't have been possible. Since

it is early into the year, we are planning on doing more fundraisers in the future and we look

forward to doing them with our dedicated members!

Great Job to All Our YWC members, especially to this year’s Presidents; Kim Byers & Lau-

ren Thibodeau!!

Ps. any girl can join at any meeting all year long.

Sincerely, Mrs D.Roy

Young Women’s Club Advisor

*Current BHS MC 2010 Senior Presidents*

Keah Lonergan, Nicole Hobbs, Maddy Coulter, Caitlin O’Neill

On Nov. 10, 24 students were inducted into the BHS Science National Honor Society:

Mauro Aceves-Acosta, Isabel Albinger, Benjamin Barton, Alexa Bodner, Kimberly Byers, Dalton Childs, Courtney Cos-

grove, Lauren Driscoll, Carol Frye, Julia Howard-Flanders, Jennifer Hwang, Sushraya Jay, Justin Jones, Shouen Lee, Ken-

dra Libby, John Ludovico, Jack Nelson, John Perrotti, Ashley Roding, Harrison Smith, Sophia Smith, Michael Vaccaro,

Colleen Visnic, and Ali Zaidi.

Congratulations to the following students for their acceptance into the Southern Regional Band:

Sophomore Adam Jackson – trombone

Senior John Tedeschi – snare drum and accessories

Choir- Alex Hernandez

Adam and John auditioned in November and earned a spot as par-

ticipants in a high school music festival that will take place Janu-

ary 13-14. Participants come from over 40 towns in the southern

part of Connecticut. These musicians are eligible to audition for

the All State Festival later this year.

Seniors Inducted into the Science National Honor Society

BHS Students to Participate Southern Regionals

By Ms. Legman

BHS Orchestra Participates in Holiday String Spectacular

On December 4, 2016, eleven members of the BHS orchestra participated in the Holiday String Spectacular at Maloney High

School in Meriden, Connecticut. This event brought together 8th-12th grade string players from the towns of Branford, Meri-

den, Middletown, and New Britain. Musicians participated in sectional rehearsals and a full ensemble rehearsal before bond-

ing over snacks and performing a concert together. Central Connecticut State University professor Dr. Julie Ribchinsky con-

ducted the CCSU Sinfonietta and the combined ensemble of over 120 high school musicians. There were so many performers

that almost everyone had to stand during the performance because the stage was “standing room only.”

Winter Concert on December 20

Please join us at 7:00 p.m. on December 20, 2016 for the BHS Winter Concert. The snow date is December 21. All ensembles

(orchestra, band, and the choirs) will perform.

Instrumental Music Program Updates