Newington High School Principal's Newsletter
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Good afternoon,
Happy Friday! Another beautiful week. I can not wait to see those who are attending the senior prom all dressed up!
Here's this week's learning: NHS Family of Learners enjoyed watching the baby chicks hatch (see picture above); students heard from two Newington Police Department Detectives in Forensic Science classes; seniors heard from Alison Silver (Personal Protection Consultant and Speaker ProtectUS) Newington PD and Fire, and administration about the importance of good decision-making (see mock car crash below; students cooked authentic Italian cuisine; and students enjoyed their trip to MakerspaceCT in Hartford.
Students hear from many former students about their careers in creative media. This week:
Sebby Fortuna, NHS and Media-alum (2011) now teaching Media in the Careers Department at Berlin High School, 2014 NHS grad Evan Field, who owns his own creative arts in media business, and one of the NHS Broadcast/Media program's biggest stars, 2022 NHS graduate, Andrew Schilling, just finishing up his Bachelor's Degree in Film Studies & Production at Hofstra University.
Last week students heard from three professional writers which included Chris DeFrancesco, Public Relations at UCONN, 2007 NHS grad Tristan Mason, aspiring creative writer and English/LA teacher in New Britain. and 2011 NHS grad and Media class alum, Rachel Thatcher Cotton, editor of The Boston Globe magazine.
Please click the link for the School-Based Health Center's May Newsletter---> May SBHC Newsletter
All my previous newsletters are posted on the website.
We value your feedback, so please reach out at any time with any highlights, questions, or concerns.
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BELL SCHEDULES: Click HERE to view all our bell schedules.
DAY CALENDAR: Click HERE to view our NHS 2025-26 Day Calendar. (UPDATED 4/16/26) ***reflects the updated last day of school voted on by the BOE - is now June 22, 2026
REPORT CARD SCHEDULE: Click HERE to view the Report Card Schedule for our 2025-2026 school year. Please note that snow days will impact this schedule. (UPDATED 4/16/26)
ANNOUNCEMENT SLIDES: Click HERE to view our announcement slides. (updated daily)
CLUB DIRECTORY: Click HERE to view our club information. (get involved!!!)
ATHLETICS: Click HERE for the Winter Sports Schedule
Next week's schedule:
Monday, May 18: A day
Tuesday, May 19: B day
Wednesday, May 20: E day
Thursday, May 21: O day
Friday, May 22: C day
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May 18 - Incoming 9th grade Transition Night - 6:30 pm, NHS cafe (students and parents/guardians)
May 19 - Early release day (12:25 dismissal)
May 19 - Chorale concert, 7:00 pm
May 20 - Scholars' Breakfast - invite only -invitations went out
May 20 - Sophomore and Junior College Admissions Rep Panel (see info below), 7:00 pm, NHS auditorium
May 21 - Themed Thursday = Staff dress as students and students dress as staff Day. Upload pics HERE for a chance to win a free breakfast. May 25 - Memorial Day Schools & Offices Closed
May 27 - Athletic Awards Night - 6:30 pm - NHS Auditorium
May 28 - AM & PM Awards - invite only
May 29 - Senior Class trip (tickets must have already been purchased)
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FAMILY OF LEARNERS HIGHLIGHTED |
We were notified that two of our students in Spanish 5 ECE course were named as finalists in the EESmarts writing competition! The prompt asked students to paint a persuasive picture with words (either poem or comic) and the theme was energy and/or environmental issues.
368 students submitted entries from across CT, and only 33 received an award (only 6 being of high school age), so Newington took 1/3 of the high school prizes!
On Tuesday, David Veliz (11) and Aidan Rodriguez (12) were recognized in an award ceremony and we found out that David placed 2nd and won a $250 Amazon gift card for his comic strip and Aidan placed 3rd for his poem and won a $100 Amazon gift card.
Congratulations David and Aidan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Allyson Ambrocio (10) was awarded a Silver Award in the The Connecticut Student Writers Contest for her entry titled: The Know-It All Ocean.
Annually, over 1,500 students from across Connecticut submit entries demonstrating their passion for the craft of writing. From this large pool of poetry, essays, stories, drama, and artwork submissions in Poetry, Prose Fiction, Prose Nonfiction and Art are chosen to be published or honored from each grade level. Allyson was honored at UConn’s Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.
Congratulations, Allyson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Congratulations to the following students who were inducted into the Science National Honor Society: Andrew Alemany, Mason Amuso, Mia Anctil, Luke Bacaoco, Daniel Bieszczad, Kevin Brown, Matthew Brown, Michael Byrnes, Aylin Cachiguango, April Chavarry, Zachary Dabre, Brady DeMarco, Daphne Donofrio, Gavin Flor, Mikobin Foster-Salters, Noah Gajes, Sasha Haripaul, Ryan Hughes, Brayden Karanian, Harrison King, Margaret Krusewski, Justyna Kusnierz, Ashley Kuwaye, Gabriel Lapin, Matilde Lomba Alves, Chase Lopez, Averly Lowe, Nathan Lu, Max Matthews, Izabella Medina, Benjamin Michaud, Sophia Michaud, Lacie Montana, Dorothy Nguyen, Ella Nunez, Natalie Pade, Erinn Piechowicz, Josie Piela, Joana Pinhancos, Ella Rossi, James Salvadori, Addison Stafford, Olivia Szablowski, Michael Tekien, Eldho Thomas, Sierra Timmons, Jack Vendetti, Erik Wang, Gabriela Zacharias
Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Art National Honor Society is having its first-ever Empty Bowls Event this month. Empty Bowls started in 1990. It is an event hosted all over the world where artists create bowls and then sell the bowls along with a traditional meal of soup and bread. All proceeds are donated to the local food pantry to address food insecurity in the community.
Since we are doing our event in the spring, we decided to serve ice cream instead of soup. We will have our event on May 27th at 2:30 in the auditorium lobby area. For $12 you get to choose a handmade ceramic bowl to keep, and we will fill it with ice cream and toppings for you to enjoy. All proceeds will go to the Newington Food Bank. Below is a link to purchase tickets.
Thanks for your support!
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Congratulations to Santiago Rodriguez who signed his letter of intent to run track and field at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). In addition to celebrating this accomplishment, we also wished him great success in his upcoming steeplechase event in Portugal (previouse highlighted in my March 13 newsletter). Santi was joined by his family, coaches, teammates (pictured above), and staff.
Way to go, Santi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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NHS has been awarded ten (10) $600 scholarships for courses at both the Hartford campus and Storrs campus. Please click THIS link for the information.
Large overview of the program:
- Each course is part of a one-week immersive exploratory college experience.
- Students will be taught by university professors and will experience a taste of college coursework
- Students will also take “Foundations for College Success”. This workshop series supports learning in three domains: College and Career Readiness, Personal and Leadership Development, and Academic Skills Development. Students will walk away with the start of a college list, a Raise.Me account to help earn scholarships, a Resume, and an academic skills toolkit for success.
- Storrs courses are Residential; Hartford courses are Commuter.
- The week in Hartford kicks off with a family day at The Hartford Yard Goats on us (3 tickets, food, beverages, and an exclusive Pre-College Summer reserved pavilion)
- Our website is BEEFY and has a ton of information about what we do with the students each week: https://precollege-summer.uconn.edu/.
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The Performing Arts Boosters is hosting a LIP SYNC BATTLE on June 4th at 6:00 pm in the NHS cafeteria. email nhspab06111@gmail.com with any questions. Grab your friends and show your skills. $150 for 1st place!! (see THIS flyer as well as the picture above) |
On May 20th at 7:00 PM, the School Counseling Department will be hosting a panel of College Admissions Representatives in the NHS Auditorium to discuss applying to college, the college admissions process, and frequently asked questions. We will have college admissions counselors from:
> Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)
> Springfield College
>Quinnipiac University
> University of Connecticut (UConn)
School counselors will also review what was discussed during junior individual planning meetings, where students should be in their post-secondary research, and what students should be working on over the summer months in order to be ready for senior year. A chance to ask related questions will be provided at the conclusion of the presentation.
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Hello class of 2026 family and friends!
There's still time to get your "yearbok"and "banner "raffle tickets for a chance to win a FREE yearbook and/or banner. Two lucky winners will receive one of these great prizes! Click these flyers for more info:
- LET’S GET FLOCKING!! Join us as we “flock” to surprise your friends, neighbors, or your graduate with a fun and festive display! All proceeds will benefit the NHS Project Graduation. Click this link for more info: Project Grad "Let's get flocking"
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BRUNCH + BINGO = the perfect Saturday (May 30)! Grab your friends and join us for a fun-filled morning of delicious brunch, 10 rounds of bingo, and awesome prizes! Cash is recommended for the 50/50 raffle! Come hungry, bring your lucky charm, and get ready for a great time supporting a fantastic cause! (see flyer above)
- Your Support Is Needed - We are asking for community support to help make this year’s Senior Project Graduation a special and memorable night for our seniors. Please click What is Project Grad? for more information. Donations can be made through the Project Grad site or via Venmo.
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4.Triple the chances, triple the fun! Support Newington High School Project Graduation and enter the Triple Chance Prize Drawing! Drawing: June 1st at 7PM Don’t miss your chance to win big while supporting a great cause—grab your tickets today!
5.Newington High School Class of 2026 Yard Signs are available! Get yours today and display for everyone to see! You can purchase them at the project grad store. Please click: Project Grad Class of 2026 Lawn Sign for more info.
6 Help support NHS Project Graduation 2026!
We’re collecting water and Gatorade—please see flyer for drop-off details and locations.
All of these can be found in the Project Graduation Store through THIS LINK
7. Graduation Banners are now available through our store.
8.Skip the cooking and enjoy a night out while supporting a great cause! Join us on June 1st at Puerto Vallarta to support Newington High School Project Graduation. Enjoy delicious food, great company, and help make graduation night memorable for the students!
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Below are the important dates, times, and information for seniors as we approach graduation. This is a shortened summary of the events/schedules ahead of us. Mr. Ficocelli will be sending out updates about graduation via StudentSquare!
April 30th - Advisory Period - Senior Class Meeting was held in the Auditorium:
- Graduation Information
- Complete this survey as soon as possible! The survey needs to be completed prior to graduation.
May 15th:
- Senior Prom - The Aqua Turf - 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Friday, May 22nd:
Last Week of May:
- Graduation tickets mailed home to students in good standing. Students not in good standing (academic, attendance, and financial obligations) will receive letters that their tickets are on hold.
- Senior delinquencies must be paid in cash to the main office from this date onward.
Week of June 8th-June 12th:
- Periods 7 & 8 Exams (Seniors Only)
Tuesday, June 16th:
Wednesday, June 17th:
Thursday, June 18th:
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Friday, June 19th:
7:30 am- 9:30 am – Mandatory Rehearsal #1/Cap & gown distribution - NHS auditorium
9:45 am- 11:00 am – Senior Graduation Walk: Elementary/Middle Schools
11:30am – Senior Gathering - Outside of Event Center - Pass out yearbooks and signing
*Final senior credit check conducted following this rehearsal
Monday, June 22nd - Mandatory Rehearsal #2:
8:00 am – Arrive to School
8:30 am – Assemble by House in Auditorium
9:00 am – Load Buses
9:15 am – Depart for Oakdale Theatre
9:45 am – Begin rehearsal at Oakdale Theatre
11:30 am – Depart Oakdale – Return to NHS
4:45 pm - Return to NHS to depart for Oakdale on NHS Buses. Please be back at NHS on time. *You CANNOT drive yourself to the Oakdale!
Monday, June 22nd - Commencement Ceremony:
4:45 pm – Assemble by House in Auditorium
5:00 pm – Load Buses
5:15 pm – Depart for Oakdale Theatre
6:00 pm – Arrive at Oakdale Theatre
6:15 pm – Assemble in staging area
6:45 pm – Begin processional
7:00 pm – BEGIN COMMENCEMENT!
*You MUST plan for your own transportation home.
* The All-Night Graduation Party will begin 1-hour after our ceremony ends. The latest time to enter is 11:15 pm. The event ends at 5 am.
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Sharing Anonymously For Everyone ( S.A.F.E) - This form can be used to report concerns to the school including but not limited to: concerns for the safety and well-being of others, acts of bias or prejudice by students or faculty, and other incidents (such as harassment) safely and anonymously.
Please fill out this information to the best of your ability so we can address the issue, providing as much detail as possible.
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Kindness Is Something Simple (K.I.S.S) is a way to recognize the kind acts of others. You may complete the form so that a staff member or student receives a Hersey's kiss attached to a K.I.S..S card. Take a few seconds to recongize someone anyday of the school year!!!
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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".
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A Few Important Things to Note:
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Attendance - Join us in emphasizing the importance of being in school. Attendance is critical to the success of our students. It not only contributes to academic success, but fosters relationships between students and teachers and students and their peers. NHS course work is rigorous and moves at a fast pace, so every lesson is vital to a student’s learning. When students miss school, they miss opportunities to ask questions, deepen their learning, participate in class discussions, and build connections.
We hope that families vacation during school vacation time and do their best to schedule appointments outside of school hours, or at the very least, have their student attend school prior to or immediately after an appointment. When students are pulled from school, it puts them at a disadvantage. If the choice is made to vacation during a time when school is in session, students will only be given one day per absence to submit their work.
If a student is going to be absent a Parent/Guardian must either call Magee House Office on extension 1525 or submit a note through ParentSquare directly to Corina Muir. If a note is submitted through ParentSquare a phone call is not necessary. If a call is made, a note will need to be entered in ParentSquare or brought to the Magee Office to be considered excused (for the first 9 absences for state reporting purposes. These absences, unless extenuating and cleared by administration, will count toward the loss of credit). For any absence beyond 9, a medical note, court documentation, etc. must be presented in order to be excused (for state reporting purposes only. These absences, unless extenuating and cleared by administration, will also count toward the loss of credit).
If a student is absent for medical purposes, medical documentation needs to be brought to the Magee Office office when the student returns to school. Once processed by the Magee Office, the documentation will be given to the nurses.
If a student is tardy, they must enter through the main entrance, sign in on the tardy kiosk and bring their pass to class. For delays or special schedules, they must report to the Magee Office to receive a tardy pass to get into class.
If a student is being dismissed early, a note must come from a Parent/Guardian either through ParentSquare or with a physical note brought to the Magee House Office.
NHS sends an automated message every morning at 9:45 am alerting families of any attendance change. This includes absences, late arrivals, early dismissals, and any message sent via ParentSquare. Therefore, we ask that you do not call if you receive this alert from ParentSquare if you have sent a message to Mrs. Muir via ParentSquare, only if you have not sent a message.
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Electronics - Given the distraction electronics can cause and the potential for inappropriat use, here is our policy:
- Electronic devices are to be used responsibly. Students should follow the individual teacher's classroom rules. Students should NOT have them out in class unless directed by the teacher. If a student is caught with a cell phone or electronic device in violation of our policy while in a classroom, the teacher will confiscate the phone or device, it will be brought to the house office, and it will not be returned until a parent/guardian comes to school to claim it. If a student refuses to turn over their electronic device they will be sent to the main office and the device will be confiscated by administration. Refusal to turn devices over to administration will result in the student being sent home.
- Unauthorized audio/video taping of images (including staff), student altercations, internet postings, and use during emergency drills and procedures (ie. lockdowns, shelter in place, fire drills, etc.) will result in immediate revocation of privileges for the student. The parent/guardian will be notified and appropriate disciplinary consequences will be issued.
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Parent Square - click HERE to obtain all the information about our new School Messenger.
Academic Integrity - Academic integrity is an integral aspect of any institution of education. Students are responsible for demonstrating their understanding of content standards and skills in an ethical manner. Academic dishonesty occurs when a student cheats, plagiarizes, shares assignments, or otherwise misrepresents someone else’s work or ideas as their own.
Cheating includes but is not limited to providing another student with information regarding assessments, copying another’s work, having prior knowledge of assessment materials not provided by the teacher, having unauthorized assistance in answering questions, and/or submitting work that another has completed on a student’s behalf. Plagiarism is a form of cheating that results from misrepresenting words or ideas that are not one's own. This includes the use of technology including artificial intelligence (AI). Students are subject to disciplinary and academic consequences that may impact acceptance into various national honor societies.
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School nurse information:
Names: Callie Lawrence and Audra Rappoccio
email: hsnurses@npsct.org
phone number: 860-666-5611 x 1163 or 1164
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If you have any questions, concerns or highlights, please don't hesitate to contact me. You can reach out via the following ways:
- phone: (860) 666-5611 x 1190
- email: ttigno@npsct.org
Proud Principal,
Terra A. Tigno
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