College Board announced that Newington High School has been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Bronze distinction.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

Newington High School had 41% of seniors who took at least one AP Exam during high school, [37%] of seniors scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, and [3%] of seniors who took five or more AP Exams!

Newington High School Currently has:

24 AP Courses

46 Sections of AP Courses

24 Teachers Teaching AP

College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 40 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.

Congratulations to NHS for achieiving BRONZE LEVEL recognition!

Marketing students at Newington High School recently developed comprehensive marketing plans for potential new menu items. Through a partnership with local favorites El Pollo Guapo and GoldBurgers, students pitched their concepts directly to the business owners. Each proposal was judged on how well the product aligned with the restaurant’s brand vision, the creativity of the name, and the effectiveness of the promotional strategy. To support their ideas, students conducted market research and established strategic pricing models in class. As a reward for their hard work, the winning groups will see their creations featured on the restaurants' special menus and enjoy a free sampling of their dishes.

El Pollo Guapo: "Hittin’ The Streets" - The winning team Abigail Pratt, Sasha Taschuk, and Zofia Cygan who created a dish featuring pork belly, sweet and spicy sauce, street corn, pickled onion, and cotija cheese, served with smooth avocado and lime.  Hittin’ The Streets is currently available on the special menu for the public to enjoy.

Charlie Foucault, manager, wrote:

"I feel this group hit the mark in multiple aspects. Not only did they create something that I personally would love to eat, I also feel it would be a big hit with our customers who currently enjoy our pork belly specials. Secondly, the creativity of the name not only worked for the mission behind their dish, but also matched how we would name a special. Lastly, the pitch was absolutely perfect. Not only did it give a backstory to the dish they wanted to represent, but they were able to pitch it fluently. They nailed the descriptive words (crispy, tender, silky smooth, etc) that not only made me excited for the dish but sold it for me."

GoldBurgers: "The Pack Preem" - Selected by owner Matt Crowley, this winning creation by Mitchell Kriedel, Wiktor Kurzatkowski, and Luca Tramadeo features loaded fries topped with nacho cheese, bacon, onions, lettuce, jalapeños, and a signature beef patty. The Pack Preem will debut on the menu shortly after January 19th. The winning team will head to GoldBurgers on Saturday, January 24th, to enjoy their creation together.

Matt Crowley wrote:

"Great combination of two main items. Great cross use of pantry ingredients to make a new fun item. Overall, this is a kitchen favorite at GoldBurgers and it may be able to make the big menu in the future if it takes off!!"

The Jack Miller Center (JMC), an educational non-profit committed to civic education, today announced the winners of the Teaching America250 Awards thanks to the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Awards will allow 51 teachers from across the country to develop and implement engaging educational projects focused on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Congratulations to Mrs. Zamsky Hunt (Social Studies teacher) for being one of the 51 teachers to win this award. Click HERE for the press release with information on her project!

Lead Custodian, Tom Fravel, received the Superintendent's Everyday Hero Award at the BOE meeting Wednesday evening. Tom was nominated for his courage, honesty, and selflessness in sharing his story in our Mental Health classes. He has made a profound difference within our school community and his lived experience has been a source of education, compassion and hope for all of us. He truly embodies what it means to be an Everyday Hero.

Thank you, Tom and Congratulations!!!

Members of the NHS Educators Rising chapter created their project for the State EdRising competition in March. They recorded a professional development lesson and had teachers participate in simple activities to be informed on the importance of group learning in the classroom after the COVID-19 pandemic. The lesson went well, and it felt great switching our roles from students to educators. Thank you so much to the following teachers who participated: Mrs. Amorosino, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Stammen, Mrs. Toney, Mr. Palaia, and Mrs. Mehl. You were great students!

Huge thank you to Liv Harris from Newington High School Broadcasting Club for videotaping and editing our video, making it "competition ready", Ms.Batista, our advisor, and RitaMarie Haeseler-Andrade for your support. 

Another successful annual Mock Competition for the Newington Deca Chapter is in the books! This week, Newington’s Deca chapter has hosted their annual Mock Competition to help prepare competitors for the CT State Competition coming up later this winter! The Sasha Taschuk, Vice President, helped to request guests to judge role plays, organize fellow students to coordinate the competitor’s, and transformed the library into a similar competitor setting they will see later this winter. New and returning competitors showed their innovative ideas in the business world through well presented role plays and got to learn new tactics from fellow peers. A special thank you to all of the judges who provided valuable feedback to help our competitors.  Guest Judges included Jake Knowlton (NHS and DECA Alum), Richard Dorval (Men's Wearhouse), Molly Rusgrove (NHS and DECA Alum), Aidee Tlilayatzi (NHS Alum), Al Cruz (NHS and DECA Alum), Michael Dipasquale (Traveler's Insurance), Amy Perotti (NHS alum and NPS Board of Education) and Matthew Plourd (NHS alum and Town council).  Well done Newington Deca!

The state Deportment of Motor Vehicles hos lounched its onnuol teen sofe driving video contest, ond the Connecticut high school thot submits the most entries will win $6,000.

The contest, with co-sponsor Trovelers, colls on teens to creote a 45-second video thot promotes safe driving to peers. Both schools ond individual students can win prizes.

It is free entry for ages 14 to 18. The deadline is February 2,2026. Use the QR code to the left to get started! lf you hove any questions, please do not hesitate to emoil me Ernie at ernie.bertothy@ct.gov.

Here is the link to the flyer with all information---> Teen Safe Driving Contest!

The Local Scholarship booklet for this school year has been released on the NHS School Counseling website (click here for link). Students will be submitting their local scholarship applications online. Seniors received information on the local scholarship application process during advisory on January 7th. Additional information on the local scholarship submission can be found on the NHS School Counseling website, School Counselor's Google Classrooms and in my weekly parent newsletters. 

It is that time of the school year to start thinking about course requests for the 2026 - 2027 School Year. Students in advisory on January 7th will be provided an overview of the course selection process and graduation requirements. 

School Counselors will be visiting English classes to assist students with making course requests in the PowerSchool Portal on the below dates:

 February 6th - 9th Grade 

February 9th - 10th Grade 

February 10th - 11th Grade 

The ‘Course Request’ screen on students’ grading portal for the 2026 - 2027 school year will open on February 6th and remain open until February 13th. During the Month of January, teachers will discuss course recommendations for the next school year. When the “Course Request’ screen on students’ grading portal opens on February 6th, you will see teacher recommendations. 

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their school counselor to discuss appropriate courses and graduation requirements. 

This document outlines all the courses offered at Newington High School and provides information about graduation requirements, credits and grading. This document will be helpful in understanding the course selection process and in helping students choose elective courses. The 2026 - 2027 Program of Studies is available on the Newington High School website (click here).

The January 7th Course Selection & College Credit Night presentations can be found here.

This event highlighted the programs offered at NHS and reviewed information about graduation requirements, grading and course levels.

If you have any questions, please contact your student’s school counselor.

Students and parents/guardians can now see on their PowerSchool Student and Parent website account credits that students have completed and need to complete for graduation (this feature does not work in the mobile app). To find the “Graduation Plan Progress Screen '' on the grading portal users should click on the “Grade History" tab on the left hand side of the screen. Then on the top right of the screen click the blue button “View Graduation Plan Progress.” The screen will look similar to the picture above (based on student credit status):

Each requirement has a “status” column that shows how many credits a student has completed to date and a “completion” column that shows a visual of student progress towards that requirement:

Dark green- credits completed, based on courses students have passed and completed. When a requirement has a completion bar that is shaded completely dark green students have completed that requirement.

Light green- credits in progress, based on courses students are enrolled in for the current school year.

White- student still need to complete these requirements in future years.

Yellow- student requested course(s) in this graduation requirement that have not been completed yet This status will show up when students begin to request courses for next year.  

Please note the Graduation Planner for students that transferred to Newington High School may not be accurate.

Students and parents/guardians should contact their school counselor with any questions regarding the graduation planner or requirements. Graduation requirements can also be found in the NHS Program of Studies (linked here).

Foodshare

Newington Food Bank

Newington Public Schools recognizes that some members of our community may be facing financial hardship due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, changes to SNAP benefits, or any changes to household size and/or income. We understand that these circumstances can create challenges, including potential food insecurity for some families.

Please know that the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program continues without interruption. Students who qualify for this program also receive breakfast, and these services remain fully funded and available to all who participate. Families can apply for benefits at any time throughout the school year and if approved, the benefit is for the entire school year. Families that experience either a permanent or temporary loss of income, including those currently not receiving wages, are encouraged to apply or reapply for free or reduced benefits. The link for information on free and reduced-priced meals, which includes the link to apply online or to print an application, can be found here: https://www.npsct.org/free-reduced-meal-info

Additional support can be obtained by visiting the following websites:

If you have any additional questions, please reach out to the Newington Public Schools Food Service Department at foodservices@npsct.org or 860-665-8635.

Our school counseling department has created a new FaceBook page! Click on the QR code to the left or this link:  https://www.facebook.com/NHSCounselors to obtain information about college and evening programs. As the year goes on, the content will change based on things that are relevant at that time of year.

During advisory tlast week school counselors met with senior students by house to provide information on the post-secondary process. Linked here is the presentation that has several resources at the end: Class of 2026 Senior Packet (click here) and the NHS application resource page (click here).

Stay connected with all the happenings with NHS sports and school spirit! Go to eyeofthestorm_nhs on Instagram!

We look forward to seeing you at all our events and participating in school spirit!

If you have any questions, please email senior Abbie Pratt at apratt84922@my.npsct.org.

All drop offs should occur at the west side of our building (in the back by the Event Center, prior to making a right onto Veteran's Drive). Students who are being dropped off should enter from the north side of our building, by the student parking lot. Doors will open at 7:05 and close at 7:34. After 7:34 am, all students will need to enter the building through our main entrance.  

All pick ups should occur in the same location.

The map below outlines the student drop off in blue. You will note the "student drop off section" and the blue star(*) which indicates where the students will walk to get to the North entrance. We are asking you to abide by our protocols to keep everyone safe. Thank you!

There is absolutely NO student drop off at the gym entrance or along the cones that indicate "no parking/no drop off". 

Wrestling with Character LIVE is an interactive entertainment experience with something for everyone! Family and friends will be entertained with action packed, high flying professional wrestling combined with sketch comedy, singing and dancing, sound and visual effects and audience participation the likes of which have never been seen before in Sports Entertainment and Professional Wrestling. 

Audiences will be part of an interactive environment where they can cheer on favorites like ‘Swish’ Marbury accompanied by mascot Dunks, dance along with Shockwave the Robot, jeer the sinister Professor U. Spite, come face to face with the Middle Earth’s RATROM and have to be on the lookout the dastardly Bully and resident SuperHero - ThunderOus SuperKidd!

Audiences will be captivated by larger than life, relatable characters who engage in storytelling that will remind long-time fans of why they fell in love with professional wrestling. Friends and family who are entertained by sketch comedy, theatrics and special effects and theatrics will be laughing and participating in the live performance!

WwC LIVE partners with community organizations to assist in fundraising for school, youth leagues and non-profit organizations. Bring family friendly entertainment to your private birthday, campground, corporate event of any size specific to your event. Add an unique family oriented attraction to your community fair or carnival. 

Wrestling with Character LIVE is more than wrestling, it is an engaging and interactive entertainment experience like no other!

www.wrestlingwithcharacterlive.com 

Facebook: wrestling with character LLC 

Instagram: @wrestlingwithcharacterlive 

Business Inquires: 860-874-1244

If you have any questions, concerns or highlights, please don't hesitate to contact me. You can reach out via the following ways:

Proud Principal,

Terra A. Tigno