WHHS Celebrates Homecoming WHHS Celebrated Homecoming in Early October
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Fall 2014 whhs.whschools.org WHHS Celebrates Homecoming WHHS celebrated Homecoming in early October. The 2014 Homecom- ing kings and queens are, respective- ly, David O’Brien and Megan Patter- son for the freshman class; Jakai Manning and Destany Velez for the sophomore class; Luis Fernandes and Sophia Chavez for the junior class; and Jason Wilkerson and Oriana Or- sini for the senior class. The annual The WHHS 2014 Homecoming Court was Homecoming festival set for Oct. 4 crowned during the Homecoming Pep Rally. was canceled due to heavy rain and will be May 9. Medical Program Ranked No. 1 Urban Debate League Nabs Honors Senior Tatiana Gay and sophomores Andrew Gor- don and Evelyn Fabian performed very well at a Yale Urban Debate League competition at Yale in October that covered topics on cyberbullying, download- ing music online, and social me- dia. Tatiana was named the top speaker at WHHS teacher Valerie Cosenza teaches the certified the tourna- nursing assistant class how to safely move a patient. ment, and she and her teammate from the Sound WHHS has been ranked No. 1 in the state in the area School were the 5th-place team. Andrew, com- of medical careers out of 37 high school programs, peting for the first time, was named the 9th place thanks to last year’s high scores on the Statewide Ca- novice speaker. Students celebrated their success reer and Technical Education Assessment, with WHHS with one of their Yale University Debate Team students scoring a mean of 93.6, as compared to a coaches, Ani Sivaram. state mean score of 70.5. Students in the certified nursing assistant class take the test each year. Teach- er Valerie Cosenza was honored at the Connecticut Girls Soccer Honored for Sportsmanship Career and Technical Education Conference October The WHHS girls soccer team has been awarded the 22. The full-year course dedicates the first semester Greater New Haven Soccer Officials Association’s to “home care” and CNA responsibilities, and the sec- Female Sportsmanship Award. The head coach ond to working in medical facilities, such as convales- and captains were honored November 2 at The cent homes, three days a week. Country House in East Haven. 1 Principal, D122 Mrs. Gardner (203) 937-4360 x7109 Dear WHHS families: [email protected] It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the end of our first Assistant Principal, E105 WHHS marking period for 2014-15! Students have surely Ms. Martinez (203) 937-4360 x7110 gotten a lot done in the classroom during these first few [email protected] months of the new academic year, and we thank you all for Assistant Principal, A-F, Grades 10-12, D115 helping to make the “back to school” transition a smooth one Mr. DellaCamera (203) 937-4360 x7139 for our staff and students. [email protected] We hope you continue to stay involved in your child’s educa- Assistant Principal, G-N, Grades 10-12, D127 tion by checking Parent Portal through the Power School Mr. Shand (203) 937-4360 x7107 website at www.ps.whschools.org. Should you require assis- [email protected] tance, such as username and/or password, please email por- Assistant Principal, O-Z, Grades 10-12 [email protected] or call 203-937-4300. Mrs. Robles (203) 937-4360 x7103 We also have a few sections in this newsletter issue that we [email protected] encourage you to cut out and keep to help you stay on top of Absence line: all that goes on at WHHS. Below is a list of important dates 203-931-6899 for the next few months, and on page four, we have a helpful column of math websites and log-in information that stu- Important reminders for all grades dents can use at home if they don’t have their math book Parents and students are being asked to with them, need to review the day’s lesson, or want to take take the WHHS School Climate Survey at practice tests and quizzes. whhs.whschools.org. Results are anony- mous and help improve our school. Please try to check our school website at whhs.whschools.org at least once a week for news, reminders and deadlines. Need help registering your child on In- There’s always a lot going on at West Haven High School! foSnap? Stop by the WHHS computer lab on the main floor Tuesdays & Wednesdays Pamela B. Gardner from 2:30-8 p.m. until Nov. 10. Principal Friday, February 13, will no longer be a half-day of school. It has been changed to a full day of school. Cut and Keep Dates To Remember Nov. 7 MDA Sportstacular Dec. 12 PTSA Leslie’s Jeweler’s Fundraiser Nov. 8 SAT (at WHHS) Dec. 18 Holiday Band Concert Nov. 8 PTSA Mohegan Sun Bus Trip 3:30-10:30pm Dec. 24-Jan. 2 Winter Recess Nov. 15 HBCU College Fair Jan. 8 Alumni Day Nov. 17-18 Senior Portraits 2pm – 8pm Jan. 15 NHS Induction Nov. 21, 22 Laramie Project – Fall Play – 7:30pm Jan. 20-23 Midterm Exams (tent.) Nov. 29 PTSA Fundraiser at Barnes & Noble, 11am -4pm Jan. 31 Children’s Theater – 10, 11:30am Dec. 3 Financial Aid Night January PTSA Tip A Teacher, Duffy’s (tent.) Dec. 5 DECA Winter Wonderland Dance (tent.) Feb. 16-17 Mid-Year Break Dec. 6 SAT (at WHHS) Dec. 8 Winter Sports Parent Meeting Feb. 26 DECA Fashion Fest Dec. 10 Choral Concert Feb. 27 CAPT Prep Session – Science 2 SCIENCE Students’ Water Quality Testing Work Assists Area Initiatives → Project Search Program WHHS science students are continuing to work in the Project Search Program, a collaborative research effort between Yale Uni- versity, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and local high schools that monitors environmental sustainability of CT rivers and watersheds. For over a decade, WHHS Honors Bi- ology students have researched water quality at Oyster River at Yale’s West Campus. Students from WHHS also go to Cove River in fall and spring. This year, as a member of the WHHS Science Re- search Club, freshman Bobbie James will evaluate all data collected over the years, under the mentorship Students study water chemistry, non-point of Mr. Dickson and Yale University’s Thomas Par- pollution, stream flow, habitat assessment lapiano, to identify any significant changes and/or im- and micro invertebrates, as certain indicator provements. This data will also be shared with DEEP species can help identify the river’s health. and other state programs to secure grants to continue and improve Project Search. → Environmental Science Class A WHHS Environmental Science class conducted water tests this week with the goal of assisting the Regional Water Authority in ongoing water quality monitoring. Students visited Sleeping Giant State Park, the Whitney Water Museum and a few other spots to collect and test water this week with WHHS teacher Dr. Regina Milano. The work was part of an ongoing partnership with the Re- gional Water Authority and part of Project WATER. The data col- lected by students will be entered into a database and used to measure and predict water quality in watersheds. In the photo on the left, WHHS students use a special tool to evaluate water from a river at Sleeping Giant. WHHS Hosts Panel on Medical Career Paths Teachers Using Lessons From Special Summer Program WHHS science students heard from three WHHS science teachers have begun teaching students with Yale School of Medicine graduate students special project-based units they helped develop with area edu- Oct. 14 in the College/Careers in Medicine cators this summer at Quinnipiac University in a program and Science Panel in the WHHS auditorium. called ORTIS. The units emphasize STEM (science, technology, Yale School of Medicine students Fari engineering and mathematics) concepts. The WHHS Biology Ngongoni, Deolu Aromolaran and Ronnye team, led by teachers Kevin Dickson and Shannon Cribbin, in- Rutledge spoke to Westies about their goals, troduced freshmen to the ORTIS units involving photosynthe- different paths to reach medical school, and sis and DNA fingerprinting. Students were given a scenario in their lives as medical students. The WHHS which they had to find an alternative way to create oxygen us- National Honor Society coordinated the ing what they had learned in class and their imagination as en- event and hopes to sponsor similar events in gineers. WHHS was the first school to attempt an ORTIS unit. the future for different career paths. WHHS teachers’ insight and success will assist other schools. 3 MATH Need Help With Math Homework? View video lessons on Homework Video Tutor to practice algebra and ge- Cut and Keep and Cut ometry or for homework. This link is great for students who missed class, Math Boot Camp In 2nd Year need the day’s lesson again, or want to prepare for a test or quiz. The WHHS Math Boot Camp Web address: www.PHSchool.com/math. launched its second year with Under “Student Resources” click on “Textbook Companion Sites.” a new group of freshmen the Click “PH Mathematics 2004 .” week before school started, focus- ing on small group instruction and Click on the picture of the textbook you would like to view. skills needed for algebra classes. Click on “Homework Video Tutors.” Eighth-grade teachers recom- Choose the appropriate chapter, lesson, then the objective. mended students who could ben- Need To Access Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 Books Online? efit from the initiative. Partici- Visit www.PHSchool.com/math/. pants’ progress in their regular math classes will be monitored.