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Principal’s Letter IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS To Parents/Guardians: It has been a great start to the 2016-17 school year. With that being said, it is hard to believe that ATTENDANCE the first trimester of the year is coming to a close. The opening of school after Labor Day seemed to be quite popular with the student body and the staff. This calendar change did impact a few things 203-245-6355 at the high school including the timing of our first spirit day, the fall play, and trimester one exams. Spirit day took place on the first Friday of school. The energy that day was exceptional as a majority Please call the attendance of the student body dressed in school colors. The band started the day with the traditional “wakeup line if your child : call”, the seniors enjoyed the afternoon picnic, and the day ended with an incredible pep rally. The feedback we received from students and staff was quite positive, and this was certainly a great way  Is tardy to start the school year.  Has an early dismissal In years past, trimester one exams would take place prior to the Thanksgiving holiday with trimester two beginning on the following Monday. This year, trimester one exams are scheduled on December  Is absent 5th, 6th, and 7th. The start of trimester two begins on Thursday, December 8th. In our continued effort to be environmentally friendly, we will not be issuing paper copies of trimester two schedules. Main Office Students can access their schedules on Infinite Campus. As a result of the change in the end of 203-245-6350 trimester one due to the start of the school year after Labor Day, the fall play, “The Strikes Again,” took place in November. I eagerly attended the opening night performance and was Guidance amazed with the efforts and performance of the cast and crew as well as the dedication and support provided by the Director, Joy Grabow, and Assistant Director, Clare Stone. I am already looking 203-245-6360 forward to the spring musical that is scheduled on March 30th, 31st and April 1st. There will be a 7:00 p.m. performance each night and a matinee on the Saturday at 2:00 p.m. On a similar note related to student performances, if you are looking for some entertainment in December, I hope you will consider attending the chorus concert that is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on the 14th. I can assure you that the student performances will be amazing under the direction of our Choral Director, Mr. Soja.

It has been well-documented that adolescents experience a great deal of stress and anxiety. The pressures teenagers experience is real and comes in many different forms. Social pressures, home- work, social media, and college applications are just a few of the stress inducers for our students. A club at Hand called LEAD has been working in concert with Madison Youth and Family Services with Important Safety Reminder a focus on alleviating student stress. They have already created several lesson plans that were re- For the safety of cently delivered during PAW (Advisory Groups) that focused on identifying stressors and creating options to reduce and/or manage stress. These student-created lessons have been very well- students and staff, received and the DHHS staff will continue to work closely with members of LEAD to do our part to Student Drop - Off is in assist our student body to reduce and/or manage the stress associated with being a teenager. As a back of the west suggestion, a few stress relieving outlets for our students can include participating in one or more of building in front of the our clubs, joining an athletic team, speaking with a counselor, signing up for a high interest elective course, exercising regularly, and getting a good night’s sleep. I look forward to sharing our continued “Tiger Door”. work on this topic in the near future.

I understand that we all have busy lives, but if your schedule allows, I would encourage you to PLEASE attend some of our winter athletic competitions. Our student-athletes compete in the very competitive SCC and genuinely appreciate our support when we attend their events. I have enjoyed NO STUDENT attending several sporting events during the fall season and look forward to attending additional events over the course of the school year. As you are aware, spectator behavior at sporting events can be challenging. We continue to communicate our spectator behavior expectations openly to the DROP - OFF entire student body. We expect there to be a great deal of positive and respectful energy atall sporting events, no matter the outcome of the competition. We will continue to address this over IN FRONT CIRCLE. the course of the school year and ask for your assistance with communicating these expectations to your children as well as serving as a role model yourself at all events.

It continues to be a pleasure working with such amazing students and such a high-quality staff. Additionally, the ongoing support we receive from the community is very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter article. As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Anthony R. Salutari, Jr. Principal

Hands On Stage Strikes Back was performed on the Daniel Hand Stage November 17 - 19 un- der the direction of Joy Grabow and Clare Stone. Combining a James Bond-ish plot with 's famous trademark lunacy as Inspector Clouseau (played by Mac Stevens), this play found Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Declan Maloney) driven insane by Clouseau's incompetence, threatening global destruction unless Clouseau is eliminated once and for all. Of course, the bumbling Clouseau leads a kind of charmed life, emerging relatively unscathed (and complete- ly oblivious) from a phalanx of several unlucky assassins! Along the way, Clouseau donned a variety of costumes and hilarious accents, and his improvisational style was given free reign. Karate showdowns with his valet, Cato (Andrew Esposito), once again kept Clouseau on his toes, and lovely Isabella Reynolds played a would-be assassin (Olga Berriosiva) who found Clouseau amorously irresistible. Highlights included the memorable "I consider myself to be an expert on hands.... I have two of them?" scene between Clouseau and a beautiful French Woman (Ava Lombardi), and a dental extraction scene in which Mac and Declan reached the peak of their on-stage comedic antagonism. For good ol' fashioned slapstick comedy, they didn’t get much funnier than this. Congratulations to all involved in this production.

DHHS Salutes…

Seniors Emma Boey and Nicholas Cianfaglione for being selected for the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents' Award for their academic and leadership abilities and dedication to the community. They were honored at the Middlesex Superintendents’ Luncheon at the Saybrook Point Inn.

Meghan Leighton for being selected “Miss Be Thankful” by the Madison Lions Club Campaign to benefit eye re- search. Megan was chosen for this honor for her leadership, academic achievements, and community service.

Members of the Boys Soccer Team and Coaching Staff Congratulations on earning the Class L State Championship. Anne Elliott, Erin Elliott, Samuel Friedman, James Kim, Mitchel Kuperstein, Nicole Luongo, Gabrielle Martin, Kait- lyn Martin, Owen McGeary, Elana Morris, Caroline O'Neil, Megan Phillips, Isabella Reynolds, Michael Russell, Heather Whelahan, Eric Xia who were recently inducted into the National Honor Society. Guidance Office News

Financial Aid Night – The Guidance Office hosted Charles Wareham, Valark Financial Services, on Wednesday, October 19th, entitled, “How to Pay for College”. This was an informational meeting open to parents of students from all grades to offer options and insights regarding college funding strategies. If you were unable to attend and would like to receive information, there are some handouts available in the Guidance Office.

PSAT Testing – DHHS had 400 sophomores and junior students take the PSAT on Saturday, October 15th. The results of the PSAT will be available to students sometime after January 2017.

Junior Family Meetings – Over the next several months, the Guidance Counselors will be scheduling personal meetings with each of their Juniors and parents/guardians. During these meetings, the post graduate plans and/or college application process will be discussed. You will be scheduled an appointment; if you have a particular need, please feel free to call the Guidance Department at: 203.245.6360.

Open House for Prospective Students – The School Counselors will host an Open House for prospective incoming freshmen students on January 4, 2017. The students will attend classes, tour the school, and will be given information about the courses offered, and sports avail- able at DHHS.

SENIORS:

“Blue Forms” (Request for Transcript Form) – Please continue to submit a Blue Form for each additional application to our office three weeks prior to any college application deadlines.

College Outcomes – Once you begin getting decision results on your applications (whether you were accepted, deferred, etc.), please be sure to let your School Counselor know. Additionally, please log-in to Naviance and indicate the result for each college you hear from. Go to: (1) Colleges, (2.) Colleges I’m Applying To, (3.) Click on the yellow pencil “edit” button next to each college, (4.) Scroll down for “Result”, and use the dropdown arrow to make your selection.

Scholarships – A reminder, check the Scholarship List located in Naviance for regional or national opportunities. Log-in to your account, go to: (1) Colleges, (2.) Scholarships and Money at the bottom of that page, (3.) and Scholarship List to view a list of the scholarships currently available and criteria required for each application. Please be sure to check this list frequently, as scholarships arrive almost daily. The in- house scholarship application for local options will be available to students in February. Any questions, please see Mrs. Heller in the Guid- ance/School Counseling Office, or see your School Counselor.

Message from the Health Office In order to protect the health of all students & staff, we ask parents/guardians to keep their children home when they are ill. Students must stay home from school if they: *Have a fever over 100.4; recorded by a thermometer *Have a severe cough *Have an undiagnosed rash; *Have vomited in the past 24 hours; *Have more than one episode of diarrhea; *Have copious yellow/green mucus discharge from nose; *Complain of severe earache, with or without fever; *Until treatment for conjunctivitis is initiated; *Have an active infestation of head lice; *Have a communicable illness. And communicate with your child’s medical provider for advice. The flu season is approaching - please encourage your children to:  fuel their system in the morning with a good healthy breakfast,  get plenty of rest,  wash their hands frequently,  contact your medical provider for guidance regarding the flu vaccine, Washing hands is one of the most important means of preventing the spread of infection. Connecticut State law requires each student in grade 10 to have a physical examination performed by a MD, APRN, DO, or PA. Tenth grade physical examinations are due before entry to the eleventh grade. Forms (State of CT, blue, HAR-3, rev 4/2012 forms) are available in the DHHS Health Office & at http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/deps/student/health/har3_final.pdf . If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Donna Konarski, RN or Mrs. Cathy McGrady, Health Paraprofessional II at 245-6370, DHHS Health Office. Yearbook Yearbook orders: Students can purchase yearbooks online at www.jostens.com for a special price of $75.00 (Hurry, before the price reverts to the regular price of $80!).

Senior Family Ads: The deadline for graduation ads has been extended to December 12th. Don’t miss out on this one opportunity to include a special message/photo in the 2016 yearbook. You can place your ad online at www.gradad.com.

Business Ads: If you would like to advertise your business in the yearbook, please contact one of the yearbook advisors. The yearbook typically reaches over 700 homes each year. We greatly appreciate your support!

Any questions concerning yearbook should be addressed to one of the advisors:

Julie Johnson (rm 310) [email protected]

Josh Young (rm 328) [email protected]

The Madison Foundation Artist Education Fund Introducing the first annual, engagement calendar featuring artworks by Daniel Hand High School students; proceeds to benefit The Madison Foundation Artist Education Fund. Purchase a 2017 Engagement Calendar showcasing the artworks of some of our most talent- ed young artists. The calendars are available for $10.00 each. They make great gifts!

To order online contact: [email protected] Watch for calendars for sale at local retailers too. You may also support our efforts by sending a tax-deductible check to: The Madison Foundation / Artist Education Fund P.O. Box 446, Madison, CT 06443.

To learn more about the Artist Education Fund, visit: themadisonfoundation.org/?s=Artist+Education+Fund

Visit to Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts Students from Mrs. Gaskell’s and Mr. DelRusso’s AP Drawing and Painting Studios classes had the opportunity to visit the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts to participate in Life Drawing Classes and tour the campus. Substitutes Needed The Madison Public Schools is in need of Teacher and Food Service Substitutes. Looking for a flex- ible work schedule plus an opportunity to work with students? To find out more information and/or to apply on-line, go to the Madison Public Schools’ website at: https://www.applitrack.com/madison/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp? internaltransferform.Url=

SAT/ACT PREP CLASS SAT Class A review course will be offered at Daniel Hand High School to prepare students for the April 5th SAT. The class will meet for 10 sessions, Monday - Thursday afternoons from 2:10 – 3:10. The first class will be on Monday, March 20th and the last class will be on Tuesday, April 4th. The fee for the course is $150. For more information send an email to: [email protected] Interested students should sign up in the main office with a check for $150 made out to DHHS. Class size is limited to 30 students.

NITE-IN-HAND Planning for 2017 Nite-in-Hand (NIH) celebration is well underway! Nite-in-Hand is an evening celebration held graduation night at Daniel Hand High School. It allows Madison's graduates to spend the entire night celebrating together in a safe, substance-free environment. Planning meetings take place the 1st Tuesday of each month, in the DHHS library, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Whether you have worked before on NIH or never before, we need you! Whether you have a senior or an under- classmen, we need you! A successful NIH depends on great parent participation. Great opportunity to meet many wonderful people from this community! Please visit our Facebook page "Nite-in-Hand" and understand why this tradition is so loved and appreciated by many! If you have any questions, please contact: Maribel Friend [email protected] Joanne Combs [email protected]

Music Notes The Tiger Marching Band and Flag Squad had another successful fall season. Their 2016 halftime show featured the music of Kansas and Santana, and they played over 20 other tunes, from various eras, in the stands of the Surf Club. After a week of band camp to prepare, the band hit the ground running on the fourth day of school by performing at the first home football game on September 9th. Several other home games and a trip to Notre Dame-West Haven in Halloween costumes were other highlights of the season. On December 8th, the Tiger Band will travel to Orlando, FL to perform in the Main Street Parade in Magic Kingdom. Our second annual marching band banquet will take place on December 20th at Woodwinds. Mark Your Calendar

December 5,6,7 Frist Trimester Exams (See Schedule Below) 6 PTO Meeting- Guidance Career Center 8 First Day of Trimester 2 8-11 Disney Trip DHHS Band 14 Choral Concert 22 Report Cards Distributed 23 Early Dismissal 26-Jan 2 Holiday Break/No School January 3 School Resumes - PTO Meeting -DHHS Library Media Center 10 Board of Education Meeting 16 No School - Martin Luther King Day 24 Early Dismissal for Students- Professional Development Day for Staff Exam Schedule DATE TIME EXAMINATION Mon., December 5, 2016 7:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. 1st period class 10:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. 2nd period class Tues., December 6, 2016 7:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. 3rd period class 10:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. 4th period class Wed., December 7, 2016 7:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. 5th period class 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 6th period class

Our primary purpose is to graduate successful life-long learners who are responsible citizens in the global community. Daniel Hand High School students, in collaboration with educators, par- ents, and the Madison community, will develop as motivated, self-reliant, creative, and ethical individuals who respect differences in others. Core Values and Beliefs Statement: The Daniel Hand High School community believes that the mission of our school is to support all students by providing them with challenging educational opportunities which will prepare them to be globally aware citi- zens of the 21st century. To succeed in this mission, we recognize that our students must demonstrate com- petence in oral and written communications; understand effective and responsible use of technology; and develop critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. In addition, it is critical that our students respect and contribute to the diverse, multicultural community and international community in which they live. DHHS PTO Greetings! Studies show the more connected parents are to their teenagers’ lives, the less isolated the kids feel and the more successful they become as adults. A great way for you to be informed and involved in your child’s high school experience is by attending the monthly DHHS PTO meetings. Meetings are generally held the first Tuesday of the month at 8:00 a.m. (school calendar permitting) at DHHS. These meetings are a wonderful opportunity for an open forum discussion regarding curriculum, sports, and navigating through your child’s high school years. Most meetings feature a guest speaker from one of the DHHS departments.

Please support DHHS PTO by becoming a member today! Your $25.00 membership dues support the purchase of school equipment, books, and core program enhancements. The PTO also supports the fall and spring Blood Drives, Staff Appreciation Breakfast, Art Receptions, College Fair, and special event programming such as profes- sional speakers or school-wide assemblies.

Membership dues: $25.00 per family (a tax deductible contribution) Please complete the information below and make checks payable to DHHS PTO. Return to the main office or mail to: DHHS PTO Attn: Treasurer 286 Green Hill Road Madison, CT 06443

Corporate Matching: ______Company Name

Your Name: ______

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Schedule 2016-2017 DHHS PTO Meetings All meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. and are held in the Library or Guidance Center depending upon room availability. Every effort is made to hold our meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Tuesday, March 7, 2017 Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Tuesday, May 2, 2017