March Newsletter SHS

The question of the winter: When will it ever stop snowing? I find myself writing this edition of the principal’s article while yet another storm is approaching and we wonder if school will be delayed or cancelled. It has been a long winter and I think we are all ready for some warmer weather, getting back to a light coat or sweatshirt, and for me personally, the start of the golf season. Please remember that each cancelled day of school backs up our projected last day of school. Currently we have had 5 snow days so the projected last day of school is now Tuesday, June 23rd. Let’s hope for no more school cancellations and an uneventful beginning of spring. I remind everyone that all dates and events are listed on our school calendar. Hopefully by the time of the next newsletter the graduation date will be officially set and we can announce it so families can continue planning. As you can see from the newsletter to follow, the school has many celebrations to share in a wide variety of arenas. This month’s accomplishments are a perfect reminder of all the good work happening at Suffield High School!

Science Fair Club by Mitchell Charkiewicz

Twelve students from the Science Fair Club have had their 8 projects approved by the Science Research Committee to compete in the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair during Science Fair Week, March 9-14, 2015 at Quinnipiac University. Individual projects will be presented by Lukas Baker, Madison D'Ostuni, Joseph Howarth, Matt Rogers and Tyler Zolciak. The team projects will be presented by the team of Erica Devin and Nicole Stryjek, the team of Yash Mehta and Jason Werenski, and the team of Rachael Roncaioli, Katie Baker and Caitie Kirschbaum. There will be a Science Fair Showcase at SHS on Monday, March 9th from 2:30-4:30 in the Commons for you to meet and greet these young scientists and see their science projects.

Band and Jazz Ensemble News By Joe Migliore

The SHS Band and Jazz Ensemble performed their annual Pops Concert on Wednesday, February 26th in the High School Auditorium. The Jazz Ensemble played standards of swing to rock, and the band performed pop selections and the 1812 Overture with audience participation.

National Signing Day

February 4th was National Signing Day for our two All Americans, Colton Grob and Jarvis Miller. Colton, who recently was awarded Connecticut Player of the Year, signed with Quinnipiac for soccer, and was also offered a full scholarship. Jarvis Miller signed with Penn State for football. Additionally, senior Katie McDonough signed with Stonehill College Women’s Soccer. She has received both an academic and an athletic scholarship to the school. Suffield High School is proud to have both all three athletes representing the school!

Rotary Club Student of the Month

Joseph Barnes was chosen for the Rotary Club Student of the Month. Joe is a very active student in the Suffield High School community. He is a member of the National Honors Society, is the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper The Messenger, and was the prior class president. Joe is also in the Wildcat Outreach program, the theater program, and is a news and crewmember of the WSHS Morning News program. Along with his outstanding work ethic, Joe also volunteers what’s left of his time to the Kent Memorial Library, a children’s reading program, and to his church as a junior deacon. When he is not busy with all of these activities, Joe enjoys hiking, working on mission trips, acting, and reading. He has been quoted as being known as a respectful and caring young man. Congratulations to Joseph Barnes!

Athletes of the Month

The Suffield High School Athletic Booster Club has chosen Lauren Izabel and Mitch Bielonko as the January Athletes of the Month. Lauren Izabel is the current captain of the track team. She has been on the team since she was a freshman, and plans to continue participating in the sport in college. Lauren not only has earned this award, but also has earned two coach’s awards and was the MVP. Most importantly however, Lauren holds the school record for SMR (sprint, medley, relay). Mitch Bielonko has been on the varsity ice hockey team for the past three years. Coach Boorman has described Mitch as being “one of the best defensive forwards ever to come through the program.” Along with this accolade, Mitch is also the best back checker on the team and for the past three years has been one of the top penalty killers. Congratulations to Lauren and Mitch for being outstanding role models for the Suffield High School community!

Annual Greenhand and Chapter Degree Installation Ceremony

February 12th was the annual Greenhand and Chapter Degree Installation Ceremony for the FFA. The ceremony and following reception honored freshmen and sophomores that received their pins for their next degree earned. The freshmen received their first degree pin, the Greenhand, by passing a test on FFA knowledge, facts, and the creed. During the ceremony, five students recited the creed to the audience. “It was very powerful and inspiring,” reported FFA member and chapter treasurer Ally Greene. For the Chapter Degree, the sophomores had to achieve certain requirements, such as public speaking, to be awarded this pin. It was also announced that Suffield High School has been honored to be the host of the 2016 State FFA Convention. Congratulations to all the participants and to the Suffield chapter of FFA!

Superintendent Search

The Suffield Public Schools Board of Education, functioning in the role of Superintendent Search Committee, recognizes the importance of communicating information regarding the search for the new superintendent to school district employees, parents, and members of the community. To that end, school district employees, parents, and all other interested persons throughout the school community are invited to access information about the search process through this special webpage: https://www.suffield.org/SuperSearch

March 4 and March 5 Focus Group Meetings - PDF

Man of La Mancha Spring Musical

Dream the Impossible Dream! Suffield High School proudly presents Man of LaMancha March 19th, 20th, 21st at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the door, from cast and crew members, or at lunch in the commons at SHS, students $7 and adults $10. Doors open at 7:00.

MAN OF LA MANCHA is a remarkable show and one of the great theatre successes of our time. This is a play-within-a-play, based on Cervantes’ “Don Quixote.” We have a poignant story of a dying old man whose impossible dream takes over his mind. It’s All the Same, Dulcinea, I’m Only Thinking of Him, The Impossible Dream, I Really Like Him and Little Bird remain in your thoughts and in your soul well after you see the show.

His dream is Everyman’s dream. His tilting at windmills is Everyman’s great adventure. Somehow, the footlights disappear, time is telescoped and the “Man of La Mancha” speaks for humankind.

The SHS production stars Bryan Donahue as the wandering knight Don Quixote, Caelie Flanagan as the an inn’s serving girl Aldonza, and Hayley Ouellette as Quixote’s Squire Sancho.

2015 March Sports Update

The girls basketball team finished the regular season with a record of 15-5. The girls defeated Avon for the first time in 3 years, 46-45 on February 3. Suffield goes into the state tournament ranked 6th in class M, with a first round matchup against Northwestern Regional on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. The boys’ varsity basketball team has recorded the most regular season wins in the last 8 years. The team is ranked number four in the conference and they won the first round NCCC tournament game on Saturday, February 28.

The Unified Basketball team has participated in four games so far this winter season. The team has had some big baskets scored this year by James Mark, Arianna Mueller, Travis McCray, and Katie Dorman. Congratulations to the Unified Basketball team and keep it up!

The indoor track team completed a very successful season with multiple top 10 finishes at the Class M State meet and the girls team finishing fifth overall. Three school relay records were broken and two relays and one individual competed at the State Open.

Dance team has been really excited to create their own routines for multiple games this season. Their choreography skills are definitely improving and they have really enjoyed performing their own work. It is fun to dance at half time when the basketball teams are doing so well! They have also enjoyed cheering on Suffield with the cheerleaders and fellow students. The cheerleading team competed with an amazing performance at NCCCs and is now preparing to compete at States.

The ESW Wrestling Team finished their regular season with a 10-2 overall record. The team competed in the Class M State Divisional Tournament over the weekend placing 3 wrestlers who will advance and compete in the state opens this weekend. Freshman John Nieroda placed 5th, Senior Steve Sobota placed 3rd, and Senior Khamri Thomas placed 1st.

Wildcat Hockey is playing exceptional hockey. The Wildcats are ranked in the top 3 in the division in all four Connectecut high school hockey polls around the state. The Wildcats have won seven games in a row while playing an extemely tough schedule: D1 Simsbury, #1 ranked Branford, rival Fermi/Enfield, etc. In addition, the Wildcats are undefeated in the Nutmeg Hockey Conference. The team is playing with confidence, perseverence, and 100% effort.

Suffield Boys swimming had its last home swim meet on Friday, February 27th. They have had many personal best times this year with Adam Hart, Kinser Bonner, and Matt Winter all qualifing for the class S state swim meet later in March.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake Off

December had the 800 hallway smelling like heaven. Mrs. Haefner’s Foods 1 classes had the competition of a lifetime – a chocolate chip cookie bake off. Every period was separated into four groups. Cookie recipes included deep fried chocolate chip cookie balls, chocolate chip cookies with Oreos inside, and even chocolate chip cookies with vanilla pudding in the middle! The turn out was the following:

Period 1 winners were Calvin Uzell, Jack Quinlan, Jaidan Campbell, and Brittney Kinsley judged by Ms. Kessler, Ms. Michaud-Bagley, and Ms. Rose.

Period 2 winners were Logan Rozabski, Matt Skinner, Austyn Burke, and John DeCasperis judged by Ms. Lombard, Ms. Goodwin, Ms. DeAngelis, Ms. Beringer, Ms. O’Malley, Ms. McCluskey, and Ms. Sullivan.

Period 5 winners were Caelee Sorto, Jake Pasquariello, Michael Ulitsch, and Alexis Bergamini judged by Mr. Bosworth, Ms. Fischer, Ms. McKenna, and Ms. Martin.

Period 6 winners were Holly Ouellette, Marissa Munter, and Deni Markov judged by Mr. Charkiewicz, Ms. Bianchi, and Ms. Kehoe.

Finally, period 7 winners were Bryan Donahue, Connor Donahue, and Joe Piazza judged by Ms. Lombard, Ms. Kruk, and Ms. Anderson. Congratulations to all the winners!

Chili Cook Off

During Christmas break, local teacher Mitchell Charkiewicz was the Judge for the End of the Year Chili Cook Off in San Antonio, Texas. He was also the Judge for the New England Regional Patriot Chili Cook Off on Saturday, January 17th in Somers, CT. Mr. Charkiewicz is a Lifetime ICS International Chili Society Judge.

Suffield Public Schools
350 Mountain Road, Suffield, CT 06078
Phone: 860-668-3800

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