NRHS-Newsletter March 2013.pdf - New Rochelle High School

NEW ROCHELLE HIGH SCHOOLNEWSLETTERPrincipal’s MessageMarch 2013As we look forward to the coming of spring, only four weeks away at this writing, I am reminded of themany goals yet to be attained, tasks to be accomplished, and successes to celebrate. The talent andwork ethic of our students and staff is a model of educational proficiency and efficiency. Thoughrecent staff reductions have challenged us to be more efficient and do more with less, our outcomesremain positive with gains in nearly every academic, extra-curricular, and athletic area. Our schoolcommunity should be duly proud of what we accomplish by working together.Ongoing school improvement is a school, district, state, and national goal. You may know that in 2009, the Board ofRegents embarked on a Reform Agenda which underlies the implementation of Race To The Top (RTTT). The plan isto build the capacity of school districts to ensure all our students graduate high school ready to succeed in collegeand careers. The implementation of these College & Career Ready standards has already begun. Accountabilitystandards for this school year will be based on these new standards. Assessments will be aligned to thesestandards, and instructional data systems that measure student success and provide information to teachers andadministrators will be implemented.College and Career Ready is defined as the percentage of students who graduate with a score 80 or better on amath Regents exam and 75 or better on the English Regents exam. It has been determined that these data areimportant indicators of future student success. Students who graduate high school, but do so with a score below 80on a math Regents exam and below 75 on the English exam, are likely to require remediation in college. The StateEducation Department (SED) is implementing changes to the assessment program that will better support thedetermination of student readiness for college and careers, including aligning the state assessments to the NewYork State Common Core Standards beginning this year. However, the SED has acknowledged that it will take timeto implement the changes to our exams and graduation requirements, but they have determined that in the interimit is important to establish aspirational performance measures to be used by schools, districts and parents to betterinform them of the progress of their students, and to report those outcomes. Therefore, this year in addition toreporting cohort graduation rate results, the Department will also report on the aspirational measures ofachievement as follows:The percent of students in the cohort who earned a Regents diploma with Advanced Designation (i.e., earned22 units of course credit; passed 7-9 Regents exams at a score of 65 or above; and took advanced coursesequences in Career and Technical Education, the arts, or a language other than English); andThe percent of students in the cohort who graduated with a local, Regents, or Regents with AdvancedDesignation diploma and earned a score of 75 or greater on their English Regents examination and an80 or better on a math Regents exam.I share this information with you so that we may all work together to encourage and inspire out students to higherlevels of achievement, and thus greater rewards as they continue their growth and education in college and beyond.

Earlier this school year the revised Secondary School Code of Conduct was distributed to all students. Thisdocument is also available on the district and school websites. It contains new information regarding the Dignity forAll Students Act and a more well-defined dress code. It is the latter that I wish to call to your attention. As weapproach warmer weather there are two new sections in the dress code.1. Short shorts, mini and/or micro mini-skirts, see-through garments, tops with “plunging necklines”, croptops, halters, clothing that reveals bare midriffs or underwear, are prohibited and should not be worn toschool.( A guideline for the appropriate length of skirts, dresses, and shorts is no more than 3-4 inchesabove the top of the knee.)2. Pants may not hang down, restrict movement, or reveal underwear.Please be advised that students who are out of compliance will be warned initially, followed by disciplinaryconsequences, possibly including suspension, if non-compliance persists. I ask for your support in this regard as wework together to provide an atmosphere more conducive to our educational mission.As always we are grateful for your involvement and support, and wish you a happy spring and successful secondsemester.Donald T.ConettaDates to RememberMarch 19 Pops Concert 7pmMarch 20 College Night 6:45 pmMarch 21 College Fair 10 am – 12:30 pmMarch 25 - 29 Spring RecessApril 1 SCHOOL OPEN – Classes in sessionApril 9 PAVE Band 7pmApril 18 PTSA Meeting, 7 pmApril 25, 26, 27 Theatreworks production “Zombie Prom” at 7:30 PMApril 30 PAVE II-IV Vocal 7 pmMay 2 NRHS Springfest Instrumental 7 pmMay 7 PAVE 1 Vocal 7pmMay 13 NR Fund for Excellence Poetry out Loud 7pmMay 20 NRHS Springfest Vocal 7pmMay 21 Spring dance concert 7 pmMay 30 Best of PAVE 7pmMay 31 Musical Theater Class Performance 7 pmJune 6 & 10 Senior Awards 6/6 at 9:30 am and 6/10 at 7 pmJune 7 Senior PromSCHOOL NEWSThe Hispanic Culture Club and the United Cultures Club of N.R.H.S, will gather over 250 Latino teens fromWestchester, Rockland and Sullivan County at New Rochelle High School on Saturday, March 16, 2013, for “TheFirst Annual Westchester County Latino Youth Leadership Conference”. This will be a day of celebration, unity,inspiration, development and Latino empowerment.

This event will provide a forum for teens to build their skills, celebrate their strengths, hear from successful Latinorole models, and become inspired to follow their dreams and pursue a future full of opportunities.New York State Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. Along with otherlocal Latino professionals, he will serve as a role-model, for the attendees. Participants will participate in workshopsfocused on topics like: educational and career opportunities, healthy lifestyles, and culture and music.THEATER WORKS!Theater Works ran two very successful shows during the month of January. Because of the superstorm, we had topostpone our fall production of Arsenic and Old Lace, and two weeks later, some of the same students performed inour dinner theater production of Almost, Maine. Immediately following the weekend performance of Maine, studentsprepared and auditioned for our spring musical ZOMBIE PROM, which is now cast and getting up on its feet. We arelooking forward to a big turnout for our cast of over 50 students. April 25, 26, 27. Stay posted.The event dates are April 25, 26, 27 in the Whitney at 7:30 PM $10 for adults $7 for students and senior citizens.Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the performance.Athletic Department NewsThe success of the fall season has extended to our winter sports. I want to extend my congratulations to thefollowing teams and individuals:Coach Rasaun Young and the Boys’ Varsity Basketball on advancing to the Section One semifinals at the CountyCenter. The team will be playing Mahopac on Friday, March 1st at 5:00pm.Coach Bruce Daniele and the Girls’ Varsity Basketball on also advancing to the Section One semifinals at the CountyCenter. The team played Our Lady of Lourdes on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 3:00pmVarsity Ice Hockey on advancing to the Section One semifinals. While the team was defeated by the defending statechampion Suffern High School they displayed outstanding effort all season.Wrestler Nicky Barbaria finished in 5th Place at the New York State Wrestling Championships. Nicky had an overallseason record of 42-2!The following members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Indoor Track Teams qualified for the New York State championship onFriday and Saturday, March 1st and 2nd at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse:Ashley WigginsAlicia DonaldsonBriyah BrownTiana GillenwaterRachel DariusRasheeda BullJohari Privott-YeiserNicole RaglanVictoria Jones-AlleyneJustin AlleyneVarsity Cheerleading Coach Chrissy Stanionis, JV Coach Elaina Edwards and both teams on winning the UCANational Championship in Orlando, Florida on February 9 and 10. This was the first title for both teams!Skier Jonathan Yudell advanced to the New York State Skiing Championships.Swimmer David Stewart won the Section One championship in the 100 yard butterfly and will be one of theSection One swimmers participating in the New York State championship on March 1st and 2nd in Webster, NewYork.Spring season begins on Monday, March 11th. If your child is planning to participate on a team they need tomake certain that their sports physical is up to date.

MUSICCongratulations to members of the Concert Band and Huguenot Orchestra for their selection to the WCSMA2013 All-County Intermediate Band and Orchestra ensembles. Representing NRHS are Benjie Greenfield,Jesenia Laureano, Mark Poggioli, Eli Sills, Cassandra Sperry and Jessica Wekselblatt. Students were chosenbased upon competitive auditions at least year’s NYSSMA Solo Festival. The All-County Band performs at 11AM, Saturday March 16, while the Orchestra will be heard at 11 AM on the following day in the SUNYPurchase Performing Arts Center.VISUAL ARTSMAG Young Artists on the RiseTen students from NRHS were among the award winners at the annual juried show for high school studentsat the Mamaroneck Artists Guild. Shown from left to right are Brian Haynes(Best in Show),AlejandraHernandez (1st Place Ceramics),Andrea Sandoval (2nd Place Ceramics),Liam Albito (1st PlacePhotography),Tom Ford (3rd Place Photography), Jenna LoPachin (2nd Place Sculpture), Jonathan Seiden(3rd Place Sculpture), Jiayu Lee (Honorable Mention Sculpture), Artina Maloki (1st Place Painting-Still Life),Abi Wacha (2nd Place Painting-Lighthouse).K-12 Clay National Exhibition of the National Council of Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) will featureAndrea Sandoval’s sculpture pictured above (1st row, 3rd picture). Her work was one of 150 pieces selectedfrom nearly 1,100 entries nationwide. Her piece will be on display at the conference March 20-22 inHouston.Ms. Fraioli’s Clay Classes – Students have been designing family pots in Clay I while Clay II students havespent months creating jar forms based on their research of contemporary artists. Works by AlejandraHernandez and Andrea Sandoval are pictured above.

2013 Katonah Art Museums' Young Artists – Works by AP Studio Art students, Marisa Collado, AlexandraFarias, Thomas Ford and Liam O’Leary appeared in the Katonah Museum’s annual show held February 3-10, 2013.Ms. Tarantino’s Studio Art Classes – Students worked on a variety projects in StudioArt classes ranging from contour drawings to posters. Shown below is SimphiweMnisi’s painting of a hand showing the initials of her name in sign language.Art Class Field Trip for Black History Month –Eight art classes toured the Gallery at IONA College on February 5 toview the art exhibit, Black Hair: Black Identity in honor of Black HistoryMonth. New Rochelle resident, Peridot Smith, the curator of theexhibit spoke to the classes and gave them a guided tour of theexhibit. Pictured left to right are students from Mrs. Brock’s Drawing &Painting class: Macarme Augustin, Peridot Smith – curator, DanielleLyerly, Kayla James, Breahna Showell.Guidance Department NewsCourse Selections for the 2013-2014 School YearChoosing an academic program of study is one of the most important decisions students make eachyear in high school. The choices students make with respect to challenging themselves with rigorouscourses and enrolling in meaningful electives have significant future consequences with respect to collegeadmissions and career preparation. The school counselors are in the process of meeting with their studentsin small group conferences to plan for their 2013-2014 program of study.During these group meetings, the counselors will review their students’ academic progress towardsfulfilling graduation requirements and will discuss how their high school courses will prepare them for theirfuture academic and career goals. They will also distribute the NRHS Student Program Guide and will reviewcourse offerings within each of the departments. Students’ projected course requests will be mailed homein mid-April for parent review and consent.In anticipation of these course selection conferences, we encourage all parents to have aconversation with their sons and daughters regarding their required courses, interest in electives, and desireto challenge themselves in honors or Advanced Placement courses. If you would like to receive a copy of theStudent Program Guide, please feel free to call your child’s House Office and one will be sent home with yourson or daughter.

What to Keep in MindMore than simply fulfilling graduation requirements, the high school program of study provides afoundation and preparation for life beyond high school. For example, most New Rochelle High Schoolgraduates will pursue a college degree after graduation and taking strong, college-preparatory high schoolcourses makes them more competitive in the admissions process. In a recent survey of college admissiontrends conducted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, 87% of admissioncounselors at selective colleges and universities attributed considerable importance to Grades in CollegePrep Courses and 81% of these counselors attributed considerable importance to Strength of Curriculum.Grades and the quality of the four-year academic program are considered equally important in selectivecollege admissions. Students are advised to push themselves with the most challenging program in whichthey can earn strong grades. Juniors may be tempted to lighten their senior program once they have takenthe core courses required for graduation, but they should not give in to that temptation. Carrying five majoracademic subjects in the senior year is the absolute minimum. Furthermore, electives should be taken inaddition to the traditional academic courses, not in place of them.If you have any questions about your child’s course requests for next year, please feel free to callhis/her counselor.New Rochelle High School College NightNew Rochelle High School’s annual College Information Night program will be presented by theSchool Counseling Department on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. All families in our New Rochelle HighSchool community are cordially invited to attend College Information Night. Eleventh grade students, withtheir parents and caregivers, will find this information especially timely as they begin the college decisionmakingjourney. Additionally, our ninth and tenth grade students, together with their parents, are alsoinvited and encouraged to attend College Information Night in order to acquire an early awareness of whatthe road to college entails.College Night will begin in the Whitney M. Young Auditorium promptly at 6:45PM with an openingpresentation, “The Changing Role of Parents through the College Transition Process.” Our guest speaker willbe Dr. Jill Greenbaum, a popular speaker in high schools, and regional and national conferences. Shemaintains a website, www.MajorInYou.com and writes regularly on her blog of the same name. She recentlyspoke at Clark University’s Admitted Students program about the changes and transitions parents willexperience as their sons/daughter’s move on to college. College Information Night will continue with twoworkshop sessions for parents and students to attend. Our guests from college admissions will sharevaluable information about the college application process, strategies in finding the right college match, andcurrent trends in college admissions. Please refer to the attached flyer for additional information about thecollege admission workshop panels that are being offered that evening.On the following day, March 21 st , over 100 college representatives will be participating in NewRochelle High School’s College Fair which will take place in the Daniel P. O’Brien Gymnasium from 10:00AMto 12:30PM. Many teachers bring their classes to the College Fair and all students have the opportunity toattend during their lunch or free periods.The college admissions representatives participating in College Information Night know NewRochelle High School very well and frequently comment about how much they enjoy meeting our studentsand parents. They are truly impressed with the commitment you make to support your son’s/daughter’seducational aspirations. Congratulations! The School Counselors forward to welcoming you to New RochelleHigh School’s annual College Information Night.

NEW ROCHELLE HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHTWednesday, March 20, 2013Opening Presentation at 6:45PM Whitney M. Young AuditoriumThe Changing Role of Parents through the College Transition ProcessPresented by Dr. Jill Greenbaum, Author of Choosing the College that’s Right for YouThis presentation will help parents reflect upon their role in their children’s lives during thecollege search process and later, when they move on to their freshman year in college.Navigating the Admission Processat Highly Selective Institutions(Room 207)Barnard CollegeBinghamton UniversityCornell UniversityUniversity of RochesterThe Selective, ComprehensiveUniversity(321-322)Boston UniversityFairfield UniversityQuinnipiac UniversitySyracuse UniversityThe Public University Experience(Room 367)University of MassachusettsPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity of VermontCollege NightWorkshop Session 17:45PM – 8:30PMCollege NightWorkshop Session 28:35PM – 9:20PMEn español: El Camino haciala Universidad(Linda E Kelly Theatre)Manhattanville CollegeDaniel Bonnet,NRHS Class of 2006Brianna Berrios,NRHS Class of 2013Ramon Govea,NRHS Class of 2013Cesear Zepeda,NRHS Class of 2013New Rochelle High SchoolCollege FairMarch 21, 201310:00 AM to 12:30 PMDaniel P. O’Brien GymnasiumThe Power of SUNY:The State University of New York(Whitney Young Auditorium)University at BuffaloDelhi State College of TechnologyPurchase CollegeWestchester Community CollegeFinding the Right College Fit(James Gaddy Library)Clark UniversityFordham UniversityIona CollegeUrsinus CollegeScience, Technology, Engineering,and the Applied Mathematics(STEM)(Room 121-122)City College (CUNY)Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteStevens Institute of Technology

College Fair Daniel P O’Brien GymnasiumThursday, March 21, 2013 from 10:00AM to 12:30PMALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGEALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY & HEALTHSCIENCESALFRED UNIVERSITYBOSTON UNIVERSITYBRYANT UNIVERSITYCAPRI COSMETOLOGY LEARNING CENTERCEDAR CREST COLLEGECOLLEGE OF MT. ST. VINCENTCOLLEGE OF NEW ROCHELLECOLLEGE OF ST. ROSECOLLEGE OF WESTCHESTERCONCORDIA COLLEGECULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICACUNY BARUCH COLLEGECUNY BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGECUNY CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORKCUNY HUNTER COLLEGECUNY JOHN JAY COLLEGECUNY LEHMAN COLLEGECUNY MACAULAY HONORS COLLEGECUNY WELCOME CENTERDAVIDSON COLLEGEDOMINICAN COLLEGEEMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITYEMMANUEL COLLEGEEMORY COLLEGEENDICOTT COLLEGEFAIRFIELD UNIVERSITYFIVE TOWNS COLLEGEFLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYFRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGEHAVERFORD COLLEGEHIGH POINT UNIVERSITYHOFSTRA UNIVERSITYIONA COLLEGEJOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITYLABORATORY INSTITUTE OF MERCHANDISINGLONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY: POST CAMPUSMANHATTANVILLE COLLEGEMERCY COLLEGEMERRIMACK COLLEGEMIAMI UNIVERSITY, OXFORDMICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYMITCHELL COLLEGEMONROE COLLEGENEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYNEW YORK SCHOOL OF COURT REPORTINGNYACK COLLEGEPAUL SMITH’S COLLEGEPENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITYPOLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF NYUPOST UNIVERSITYQUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITYRANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGEROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITYRUTGERS UNIVERSITYTHE SAGE COLLEGESSAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITYSAINT PETERS UNIVERSITYSCHOOL OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTONSETON HALL UNIVERSITYSPRINGFIELD COLLEGEST. ANSELM COLLEGEST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITYST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITYST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGEST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGESUNY UNIVERSITY AT ALBANYSUNY BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITYSUNY BROCKPORT STATE COLLEGESUNY UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALOSUNY COBLESKILLSUNY DELHISUNY FARMINGDALE STATE COLLEGESUNY FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYSUNY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYSUNY MARITIME COLLEGESUNY NEW PALTZ STATE COLLEGESUNY ONEONTA STATE COLLEGESUNY OSWEGO STATE COLLEGESUNY PURCHASE COLLEGESUNY ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGESUNY WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGESUNY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER OFWESTCHESTERSYRACUSE UNIVERSITYTEMPLE UNIVERSITYTUFTS UNIVERSITYUNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMYUNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORTUNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUTUNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTSUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANUNIVERSITY OF VERMONTWILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITYTHE VOLUNTEER CENTERUNITED STATES ARMYUNITED STATES MARINESUNITED STATES NAVYNEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

College Planning Conferences with Junior ParentsThe New Rochelle High School counselors look forward to conducting a college planning conference thisspring with all juniors and their parents or guardians. Your parent participation in the college decision-makingprocess is very important. The counselors invite you to call their offices to schedule this conference.Early spring of the junior year is traditionally the time when the formal college decision-making processbegins. By now, PSAT scores have been distributed, students have an academic record based on two and one-halfyears of achievement, and course requests for senior year are being made. This information is important inidentifying a range of colleges which may provide the right academic and personal fit. Furthermore, the springmonths are ideal time to make campus visits to the colleges which students are considering.Calendar of School Counseling EventsDeadline for the April 13 ACT March 8College Night March 20College Fair March 21Deadline for the May 4 SAT April 5Tour of SW BOCES Center for Career Services April 12(Parent permission required)ACT April 13Deadline for the June 8 ACT May 3SAT May 4Advanced Placement Exams May 6-17Deadline for the June 1 SAT May 2SAT June 1ACT June 8

Family University April 30thSave the DateOn Monday evening, April 30, 2012 from 5:30pm to 9:30pm, the New Rochelle community willhave an opportunity to participate in the forth annual Family University. Family University is aprevention program that brings together middle and high school students and their parents withthe goal of increasing awareness of the protective factors that promote healthy development ofyouth. The evening will be co-sponsored by New Rochelle FOCUS (Families Organized to Curbthe Use of Substances), the New Rochelle High School PTSA, the PTAs of Albert LeonardMiddle School and Isaac E. Young Middle School, Student Assistance Services, and the CitySchool District of New Rochelle’s Safe Schools, Healthy Students programs.The 2012 Family University will consist of a parent keynote presentation by Dr. Judith Siegel,Associate Professor at the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Dr. Siegel willaddress parents on the topic Helping Teens Handle Stress. Mr. Luis Quiros, adjunct professorat Fordham University will present a keynote address in Spanish to our Hispanic parents on thetopic The Immigrant Educational Experience in Westchester County. The evening will alsoinclude a series of parent, Hispanic parent and student workshops. A light dinner will beprovided by Applebee’s of New Rochelle.Registration forms for Family University 2012 will be arriving in the mail shortly. For moreinformation about the Family University program visit www.nrfocus.edu