Wolcott High School Newsletter

Wolcott High School - 457 Bound Line Road - Wolcott, CT 06716 (203) 879-8164 http://www.wolcottps.org/ Mr. Walter J. Drewry, Principal --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Bryan MacKay, Assistant Principal ---------------------------------------------------- Issue I Mr. Joseph Morgan, Assistant Principal ------------------------------------------------ Sept. 2018

WHS MISSION STATEMENT: Wolcott High School provides a positive learning environment where

students are engaged in meaningful learning for success in the 21st century.

Principal’s Message

Greetings from Wolcott High School!

It has been a unique opening to the 2018-19 school year. Despite the heat and schedule

modifications the beginning of school has gone very well. We welcomed the graduating class of 2022

as we prepare to say goodbye to the class of 2019. September is always an exciting time, with the

school year before us holding so much promise and opportunities for growth awaiting all of our

students. I want to thank everyone who works behind the scenes to help make the opening of school

run so smoothly. From the custodians and maintenance workers who prepared the buildings, to our

secretaries who are so organized and efficient, to our School Counselors who help with issues

around schedules, it takes the coordinated effort of many to open a school. All busses are arriving on

time in the morning and no issues have been reported in the afternoon. Thank you to the bus

coordinators and drivers for making this happen. Lunch waves have been orderly and efficient

thanks to the support of our kitchen managers and support staff.

We have several new members of the Wolcott High School staff this year. George Phelan is our

new addition to our Applied Education Department. He will be teaching Transportation and Woods.

Laura Wortman has joined our Science Department as a Chemistry teacher. Gabriel Gallucci will be

joining our Science Department shortly as soon as she completes contractual obligations for the

Manchester School District. Briana Daniele has taken over our STEP program and is a member of our

Special Education Department. We have two long-term substitutes with us for the start of the year.

Coung Vo serving in Spanish and Alicia Maffiolini in Math. I know that every new member coming to

our building will bring a commitment to help us continue to grow as a school. Please welcome them.

As a priority this year, we will commit ourselves to develop lessons and strategies that provide

opportunities for ours students to develop in the six C’s: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity,

Citizenship, Communication and Commitment to Growth. This connects to the growth plan we have

developed based on last year’s self-study as part of the New England Association of Schools and

Colleges accreditation process. Additionally we will continue to focus on reducing absenteeism and

tardiness, increasing the number of students taking and performing well in UCONN, AP and College

and Career courses, and helping them improve on their SAT scores. Our focus for our faculty this

year will be to increase collaboration through our Instructional Data teams, NEASC Standards

Committees, Walkthroughs and various curriculum projects. We will continue our work on revising

the master schedule for the 2019-2020 school year and continue to modify the Discovery block to

provide greater opportunities for students to receive interventions.

Although many students have completed the beginning of the year forms and paperwork we still have

a number of students who need to have their 18-19 Required Back to School Forms filled out through

PowerSchool. In addition, we ask that all students return their Student Handbook forms signed by

both students and parents or guardians.

I want to wish everyone the best for a healthy and productive year.

Sincerely,

Walt Drewry

Principal

Save the Date

Sept. 11 PAC (Parent action council) Meeting 6:30pm in the RC

Sept. 20 Back to school night for parents-6:00pm-8:00pm

WHS Spirit Week Sept 17-21

Sept. 21 Pep Rally-Special Discovery schedule

Sept 22 Victory Dance

Sept. 24 Math Team meeting

Sept. 24 Board of Ed Meeting 7:30pm TMS

Sept 27 Sophomore photos

Sept. 27 How to pay for college 5-6pm in the auditorium

Sept. 27 College fair 6-7:30 in the Gym

October

Oct. 4 Senior Photos

Oct. 5 Deadline for senior yearbook picture submission

Oct. 6 Electronic Recycling 9-1

Oct. 8 No School-Columbus Day

Oct. 9 Board of Ed Meeting 7:30pm TMS

Oct. 9 PAC (Parent action council) Meeting 6:30pm in the RC

Oct. 10 PSAT Grades 9, 10, & 11

Oct. 10 Seniors-college visit day

Oct 11 Junior Photos

Oct. 11 Community Service Club meeting

Oct. 18 8th Grade Night

Oct. 22 Board of Ed Meeting 7:30pm TMS

Oct. 31 End of first marking period

November

Nov. 6 No School-Election day

Nov 9 ASVAB

Nov. 12 No school-Veteran’s day

Nov. 13 PAC (Parent action council) Meeting 6:30pm in the RC

Nov. 13 Board of Ed Meeting 7:30pm TMS

Nov. 15 Parent/teacher conferences

Nov. 19 Blood drive

Wolcott Public Schools Website The School calendar, Junior Packet, Newsletter, athletic schedule, lunch menus, student handbook, course of studies and much more can be found on the Wolcott Public School’s website http://www.whs.wolcottps.org/ .

Important Reminder:

“BACK TO SCHOOL” forms

There are currently 153 parents/guardians that have not completed the “2018-19 Back To School

forms,” which can found on the Parent Portal of Powerschool. It is extremely important that WHS

has current information on the Powerschool database. Please complete the on-line forms prior to

September 25. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Notification of 504

The Wolcott Board of Education is seeking to identify and notify the parents or legal guardians of

children who may be in need of the American with Disabilities Act, Section 504 services. The

purpose of the act is to prohibit discrimination and to assure that disabled students have

educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students. If you

have a child with a handicap that substantially limits one or more major life activities and who is

not currently identified, please contact your building principal or Mr. Walter Drewry, District ADA

504 Coordinator, at Wolcott High School – (203) 879-8164.

Back to School Night

Back to School Night:

I would like to extend an invitation to all Wolcott High School Parents/Guardians to attend our Back

to School Night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

Back to School Night provides an opportunity for parents/guardians to follow their son/daughter’s

schedule and meet their teachers. Teachers will present an overview of their course and provide

copies of their classroom expectations and grading policy, as well as answer any general

questions.

Please be sure to bring your child’s schedule that night as this will be the only way of knowing

which teachers to visit. You may print a copy of your child’s schedule from the Parent Portal or ask

your child for a copy of their schedule. During a study hall period you are welcome to go to the

East Commons for light refreshments.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Sincerely, Walter Drewry

Late Bus

Late buses are provided for students who remain after school for extra-curricular activities,

receive extra academic help, or to serve detentions. The late buses will arrive at 4:00pm and

depart the high school promptly at 4:15pm. The bus will not wait for anyone. These buses are

provided for students who remain after school for extra-curricular activities, received extra

academic help, or to serve detentions. The bus picks students up in the driveway by the doors that

go in to the gym area. All students are required to have a pass which you can get from an advisor,

teacher, athletics office, coach, monitor or main office to ride the late bus. If you do not have a

pass you will not be allowed on the bus, there are no exceptions made to this rule. All bus conduct

rules apply.

If you live on the Frisbie side of Rt. 69 you will be on bus B119.

If you live on the Wakelee side of Rt. 69 you will be on Bus B120.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Mrs. Regan at (203) 879-5614 x10.

WHS Attendance Policies –Absence or Tardy to School

To report a student’s absence or tardy Please call the Attendance line at (203) 879-8164 ext. 14, not the Nurse or School Counseling

office, to report a student’s absence or tardy.

Please clearly state:

The student’s name

The reason the student will be out

Your name and relationship

A phone number where you could be reached

Please be confident in leaving a message at ext. 14; the attendance line is checked continuously

throughout the day.

Students Tardy to School

WHS hours for students are 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. When a student comes in to school tardy due to

a legitimate appointment that could not be made after school hours, the student must arrive with

the official note from the office he/she visited that morning. Without the official note the tardy is

considered unexcused.

As stated in the WHS Student Handbook: “Students will receive disciplinary action for every tardy

that follows the third (3rd) tardy, regardless if a parent calls in or if a parent note is sent to school.”

Parents may excuse only 3 tardies for the year before disciplinary action may take place.

Students arriving tardy must report to the Attendance Office to check in and be given a pass to

class. Students purposely bypassing the Attendance Office will be referred for disciplinary

action. Students should always enter the building through the main lobby doors.

WHS Attendance Policies - Early Dismissals

WHS hours for students are 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. Early dismissal from school for routine

appointments which should be scheduled after school hours is discouraged. As stated in the WHS

Student Handbook, page 21:

“Dismissal may be made only by an administrator or by the school nurse. In the case of illness, the

school nurse, after consultation with a parent, shall determine whether a student may be

dismissed.”

Only if it is absolutely necessary for a student to be dismissed for a legitimate reason that cannot

be scheduled after school hours, the procedure is:

The student should bring a note to the Attendance Office upon arrival in the morning where

they will be given an Early Dismissal Pass.

Be sure the note gives the correct time and the reason for the dismissal. Parents picking up

their student must sign them out in the Attendance Office.

Any legitimate appointment must be followed up with an official note from the office the

student visited to be considered as an excused absence.

This process eliminates unnecessary classroom disruption. Calling into classrooms where

instruction is taking place deters from successful learning of students, and is generally

discouraged by the administration.

Parents, Consider Joining WHS Parent Action Council (PAC) PAC is a vital link between the school, community and the parents it serves. Thus, parents are urged to join and take an active part in the PAC. It’s never too late to join. Please see the Membership form below:

Wolcott High School Parent Action Council

We meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm in WHS RC

Next Meeting Tuesday Oct. 9

Meeting dates are:

Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March, 12, April 9, and May 14th

*What is PAC? PAC is similar to PTOs at other schools. We meet on the second Tuesday of every

month during the school year at 6:30 p.m. in the Resource Center. We limit our meeting time to

one hour. By attending a WHS PAC meeting, you are given an opportunity to meet other parents,

communicate with school administrators, and to participate in planning for school related

programs, events, etc. In essence, the PAC is your opportunity to be involved in your child's

education.

100% of our PAC membership dues are returned to the students, so if you have not already

become a member, we encourage you to join. As a member, you will receive regular updates on

what is happening within the school and most recently we have been including minutes of our

monthly meetings for those who cannot attend. In the past, we have been able to award several

significant scholarships to graduating seniors attending institutions of higher education. We have

also sponsored or contributed to activities for each class. For each year that you are a member of

PAC, your son or daughter will earn points towards the PAC scholarships which are awarded to a

limited number of Wolcott High School graduating seniors. Please note that for a graduating senior

to be eligible for a PAC scholarship, their parent or guardian must be a member of the Parent

Action Council. Thank you for your support!!

To keep up to date like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/whspac.

Sincerely,

Kris Cammarata PAC President

Wolcott High School Parent Action Council

Membership Form

School Year 2018-2019

Please Print

Parent/Guardian Name(s)__________________________________________

Street Address___________________________________________________

City State Zip(if other than Wolcott)___________________________________

Home Phone____________________ Cell Phone_______________________

Email Address____________________________________________________

Contact Preference_______ Email ________Home Phone _______Cell Phone

Student Name____________________________Student Grade_____________

Student Name____________________________Student Grade_____________

Student Name____________________________Student Grade_____________

Student Name____________________________Student Grade_____________

Student Name____________________________Student Grade_____________

I am interested in helping with_________________________________________

I have great ideas that I want to share___________________________________

For each year that you are an active member of PAC, your son or daughter will earn points towards

the PAC scholarships which are awarded to a limited number of WHS graduating seniors. Please

note that for a graduating senior to be eligible for a PAC scholarship, their parent or guardian must

be an active member of the PAC.

We meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm at WHS Resource Center

*to be added to our mailing list please email us at

WolcottHighSchoolPAC@gmail.com-”add me” in the subject line

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP FEE: $10.00 Checks made payable to WHS PAC

Attach payment to membership form and send into school in an envelope marked WHS PAC or mail to:

WHS PAC

457 Boundline Road Wolcott CT 06716

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/whspac

Shop at Price Chopper?

WOLCOTT HIGH SCHOOL Code: 38633

Tools for Schools- September Happenings

Bonus Opportunity on September 6th!

On September 6th, our Facebook Page will feature a post about the Price Chopper Tools for Schools program.

Have someone from your school comment on the post by listing your school´s name and code. Then, ask parents, friends and faculty to like your comment!

Schools that have over 100 likes* for their comment will automatically earn 5,000 bonus points.

*Please note: Your school has from September 6-13 to reach the 100 likes.

The Online Super Bonus Bingo keyword for September is: Quality

Important Senior Yearbook Information

Attention INCOMING Senior Class 2019 and Guardians,

If you plan on submitting a professional senior portrait for your senior yearbook next year, please

book your appointment NOW as the deadline to submit will be Friday, October 5th. Students at

Wolcott High School have used Treasured Moments Photography and Images in the past. These

studios book fast and will not guarantee our deadline, so please be diligent about making your

appointment as soon as possible. The studios are also aware of our deadline and specifications for

the senior photos.

If you choose not to have a professional photo taken, your student portrait taken by Treasured

Moments Photography at the beginning of the year at school will be used in the yearbook. Below

are the specifications any photographer taking your senior portrait must adhere to. If your photo

does not meet the requirements listed, we will use the photo you will have taken in school. Please

continuously submit photos of you and friends so every person is pictured within the yearbook.

Should you have any questions please feel free to email whsyearbook@wolcottps.org.

Disclaimer: The Yearbook Staff will review all photos and determine final yearbook

content. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be used in the book.

SAT Problem of the Month

Join the Math Team Come one, come all and join the Math Team! Our first practice is being held on Monday, September

24th after school in B204. Extra credit is awarded for attending and trying out some problems!

Community Service Requirement

What is the community service requirement?

All WHS students are required to complete 40 hours of community service as a requirement for

graduation. It is required that students complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service each year.

What is the purpose of the community service requirement?

The purpose of the community service program is to provide all WHS high school students the opportunity to have a positive impact on our local community while learning that service to others is an on-going part of life.

Community service is also a part of the college process (college applications) so keep track of your community service. It’s a good idea to keep a copy of your log each year. Senior year and the college application process will be here before you know it.

What qualifies as community service?

Community service hours must be completed at a non-profit organization.

A student may volunteer for a single organization or at a variety of organizations.

Students are encouraged to complete their hours in areas related to their personal interests.

Paid experiences do not qualify.

Working without pay at your job or for a family business does not qualify.

Students cannot earn hours for donating items or money...only their time.

How do I prove my community service hours?

The Community Service Log can be found on the www.wolcottps.org site.

Schools->Wolcott High School

In the left hand column click on Forms ->Community Service Log download

Students must print out the log and have it signed by the community service supervisor. The parent of a student may not sign as the supervisor.

When hours are completed, students should return their log to their Discovery Teacher. Hours earned over summer should be turned in at the beginning of the school year in September. The deadline for submitting community service logs is June 1st of each school year.

Don't forget to have your community service log signed for any hours completed over the summer

Keep an open mind when looking for community service opportunities

o any fundraiser or community event would be a great way to volunteer (the Wolcott Community News is a great place to look for these events)

o maybe you can volunteer in an area you love like your favorite hobby or future career area

o even the elderly in your neighborhood might need some help

o Sign-ups for community service opportunities can also be found in the Career Center.

Join the Community Service Club

Do you need community service hours or just like to help others?! Then come join the Community

Service Club! Our next meeting is Thursday, October 11th after school in B204.

Shop at ShopRite?

Please sign up for ShopRite for Education so that our school can earn points for supplies: It only takes a few minutes.

Go to www.shopriteforeducation.com and use our school code 17903 and enter in their ShopRite card number.

Mrs. Boulanger’s Nutrition & Fitness Tip of the Month

10 Tips for Fall Fitness

Fall is a super season for shaping up, experts say.

How many New Year's Eves have you spent vowing to get more fit in the coming year? And how many times have you failed to follow through?

"December 31 over a drink is too late to set goals and make promises," says Justin Price, owner of The Biomechanics, a personal training and wellness coaching facility in San Diego, Calif.

Fall, on the other hand, is a great time to start a fitness program because "'you're going to create good habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months," says Price.

Chris Freytag, a fitness instructor and fitness expert with Preventionmagazine, agrees.

"With the change of seasons comes a renewed time to rethink and restart," she says. "'What's so

special about January?"

Besides, says Freytag, a mother of three, moms with school-aged kids "think of September as the new year."

Here are 10 ways to start making the most of the season. And who knows? This year, you might be in great shape before that New Year's Eve party rolls around.

1. Take advantage of the weather. Fall can be a treat for the senses: the crisp air, apple picking, pumpkin carving, a gorgeous canopy of fall foliage, and the crunch of leaves underfoot.

These months are a great time to exercise outdoors and enjoy cooler temperatures.

"Walking, hiking and cycling are all awesome in the fall," says Todd Durkin, MS, fitness coach and owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, Calif.

Discover park trails and take in some new scenery, whether you're walking, biking, or in-line

skating, he suggests.

In places where snow falls early, try cross country skiing or snowshoeing. Or, if you live near the beach, get out and play volleyball, throw the Frisbee around, or play a vigorous game of fetch

with your dog.

"It's a great time to do beach activities because it's so much less crowded," says Price.

If you're near a lake, try kayaking or canoeing, for an excellent whole-body workout and a great change of pace.

And remember, it doesn't have to seem like exercise to be a great workout.

"Raking leaves or doing some fall outdoor yard work is a great way to get the heart pumping, and

it's great calorie-burning," says Freytag.

2. Think outside the box. Always wanted to learn to tap dance? Attempt to box? Master the jump rope? Ask any schoolchild: Fall is a great time to learn something new.

Many classes at gyms and elsewhere get started in the fall, so look around and see if something

intrigues you.

And with the kids in school, parents have more time to check out those classes, Freytag says.

Fall is the perfect time to gain new physical skills, Price says, because you burn fewer calories when you begin a new activity (thanks to the learning curve). If you learn something new now,

by next summer, you'll have mastered the skill -- and you'll burn more calories doing it, just in time for swimsuit season.

3. Be an active TV watcher. Many people get geared up for fall premieres of their favorite

television shows, says Freytag. "If you're going to sit down and watch hours of TV, get moving," she suggests. "Make a date with exercise and TV."

While you watch, you can walk or run in place, do standing lunges, do tricep dips off the couch,

or lift weights. During commercials, do push-ups or sit-ups. In a one-hour show, you probably have close to 20 minutes worth of commercial interruption.

4. Integrate exercise into your life. You already know the obvious suggestions: park farther

away from your destination; take stairs instead of elevators; take a walk during your lunch break. Here are a few that are less obvious:

If you're spending the afternoon taking kids to soccer practice, instead of reading a book or visiting with another parent, "why not walk around the outside of the field while they practice?", suggests Price. "Or (if you feel comfortable) warm up and cool down with the

kids."

Or try "walking meetings," like those Price and his colleagues at Biomechanics often hold. '"We go for a walk, we brainstorm, and we figure out who's going to take what responsibilities," says Price. "'Things get achieved much more quickly," he says, and

everyone feels better for doing it.

You can even get moving while you get motivated -- for fitness or other life goals. '"Get some inspirational music or find a motivational talk and download it to your iPod," suggests Durkin. Walk while you listen for 30 minutes.

5. Rejuvenate yourself. Fall is the time to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit, says Durkin. Get

a massage after your run. Learn to meditate. Take an art class. Treat yourself not just with exercise but other activities that promote wellness, he says, so you can feel good physically,

mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

6. Remember the 30-day rule. "'It takes about four weeks for the body to adapt to lifestyle changes," says Price. That's why people who give up on their fitness programs tend to do so

within the first 30 days.

So, when the alarm goes off in the morning and it's darker and colder, don't roll over and hit the snooze button.

"Try to stick with a program for a month," Price says. "After a month, behavior patterns will have

adapted and it will be much easier to stick with it after that."

7. Strive for the 3 Cs. Freytag calls commitment, convenience, and consistency "the three Cs", and says having all three will lead to a successful fitness program.

First, exercise takes commitment. When a client complains to Freytag about a lack of time, she responds: "Tell me something I haven't heard before. We're all busy; that's just part of our lives.

"You have to start planning exercise, just like you do everything else," like meetings, dinners, and getting kids to lessons and practice, she says. "Put in on the calendar, because later always turns into never."

Convenience means choosing a gym that's close by, or an activity you can do at home, or a time when you're not likely to be interrupted.

Finally, there's consistency. "I'd rather see a brand-new client work out for 10 minutes a day

rather than one hour every month," Freytag says

8. Deal with darkness. The best way to enjoy fall is to exercise outdoors. But it is getting darker earlier, and staying dark later in the morning, so be smart and safe.

"Just because it's 6 p.m. (or a.m.) and dark doesn't mean you can't work out," says Durkin. If

walking or running outdoors, he says, "wear a reflective vest and carry a flashlight."

When cycling, affix a light to your helmet or bike.

If possible, use trails or a local school track to avoid vehicle traffic. Try to work out at the same time every day, so drivers get used to seeing you.

9. Dress in layers. When exercising outside, layer your clothing. Before your body warms up,

you may feel chilled, but once the blood gets pumping, you'll feel overdressed.

These days, there's no lack of great weather gear. Freytag and Price recommend clothing with wicking, often called "DriFit."' This fabric wicks moisture away from your skin so you're not

exercising with wet fabric hanging on you.

Freytag suggests three layers: "The inner layer should be a moisture-wicking fabric, so it wicks away sweat and you're not chilled. The second layer should be a warmth layer, and the third

layer should be a protective layer (like a windbreaker or rain slicker, depending on the weather)."

"And don't forget the sunglasses," she warns. UV protection is important year round. Fall sun can be blinding at certain times of the day.

10. Find your motivation. "People are motivated by different things," says Durkin. It's

important to first discover what your individual goals are, whether it's losing weight, strengthening and toning, or preparing for a race or event, says Durkin.

But goals aren't enough to get you there; you have to be motivated by the day-to-day workouts, he says. So choose something you'll enjoy doing and will be likely to keep up, whether it's

walking or hiking with a friend, working with a trainer, or taking part in a "boot camp" class.

Creating a challenge for yourself will motivate you, as will encouragement and accountability, he adds. "You want to know when you're doing a good job, and when you're not," says Durkin.

Remember too, that anything worth having takes work.

"Tell me something you can do three times a week for 10 minutes and be great at? It doesn't exist," he says. "If it was easy to be great, everybody would be great."

By Barbara Russi Sarnataro

Source: https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/10-tips-fall-fitness#1

SkillsUSA Free Electronic Recycling Day

ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)

ASVAB- Friday, November 9, 2018

Are you not sure what career direction to follow? On Friday, November 9, 2018 the ASVAB (Armed

Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will be administered at our high School. Taking the ASVAB

and completing the workbook which accompanies the results will provide you with information that

will help to determine a career direction. The test is administered at no cost to you. Please note

that you are under NO military obligation of any kind if you decide to take this test. Remember, the

ASVAB is the most widely used aptitude assessment program in American school today. If you are

interested in this valuable career exploration program, please sign up in the School Counseling

Department.

Youth Voices Wanted

The CASA Coalition is looking for students interested in getting involved in making a difference in

improving the physical and emotional health of Wolcott students. If you or a student you know

might be interested, please contact us at CASAcoalition@wolcottps.org for more information.

Understanding Vaping and E-Cigarettes

This fall, CASA will be working on several initiatives in collaboration with Wolcott Public Schools

and the wider community. One of these relates to raising awareness about the increasing

percentage of teens in Wolcott and the nation who are being exposed to and trying e-cigarettes or

vaping. The following tip sheet and other resources can help parents and other adults talk with

teens about why avoiding E-cigarettes is crucial to teen brain development and overall well-being.

Support CASA’s Work for a Healthy Wolcott at Our September Car Show

Come have a great time and support CASA’s work. Adult and youth volunteers needed! If you’d

be willing to help us prepare before the Car Show weekend OR to give a few hours of help the day

of the event, please contact us.