Science – Katia KingstonThe Science Department is very excited to announce that AP/ECE (1107 & 1108) Biology will be offered during the 2015-16 school year. This advanced-level course is open to juniors and seniors and is is designed to cultivate student understanding through inquiry-based investigations. Students will explore the following topics:  evolution, cellular processes – energy and communication, genetics, plant structure and function, information transfer, ecology and interactions. Students will establish lines of evidence and use them to develop and refine testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena using scientific inquiry and a mathematical approach. A successful completion of the course will guarantee earning eight UConn college credits. 

English – Laureen Anthony: Academic Leader

English meets adrenaline at the GHS annual poetry slam, Furor Poeticus. It returns for the sixth year to the LMC May 14 through 18. Over a dozen students compete to become the GHS Poet Laureate. Poets come to the slam with three poems that combine great writing with performance. A panel of judges score the poems on a scale of zero to ten, and the

high scorers advance to the next round. GHS alumnus Andrew Laro won the slam last year.

1

News from GHSGriswold High School Parent Advisory Council - May, 2015 Newsletter

English - Jessica GillespieThe Honors Sophomore History and English Classes are taking a field trip to New York on May 14 to further their study of the Holocaust and Genocide and to tie their experiences with studying global issues and reading world literature to real world artifacts. Students will enhance their knowledge of genocide and the Holocaust by touring the “Meeting Hate with Humanity”

exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. In addition, students will tour the Museum of Natural History to deepen students’ understandings of various cultures, including the cultures from which several pieces of literature we have studied this year originate. Along the way, students will be asked to make connections to their learning. For example, the Honors English students will visit the Hall of African Peoples, to see artifacts from Nigeria and other tribal peoples, to deepen our understanding of Things Fall Apart. We will visit the Hall of Asian peoples to see artifacts from India and China, deepening our appreciation of Nectar in a Sieve and one of the choice novels from the fourth quarter. Finally, we will visit the Hall of the Eastern Woodland Indians to see what Holden was talking about in The Catcher in the Rye.

Art – Kylene ThompsonMrs. Thompson is making and selling clay plant hangers to benefit the Art department. They cost $20 and all proceeds go back to the Art department materials budget for the 2015-2016 school year. So far we have made $140. The hangers are fully functional and come with a hanger and have a hole in the bottom for water drainage. They vary in color and size but are generally earth tones and are approximately 10 inches tall and 4 inches wide. Special requests can be accommodated if you would like a specific color.Also, Pins for Art Education is still actively selling pins. They are $10 and we have love hearts, I love Art, and new flower pins available for spring. You can also buy them at Small Potatoes Gift shop in Norwich CT. Check out pictures on the Facebook page “Pins for Art Education, support the arts at Griswold High School” online. Thanks for your continued support.

2

Art   – Paula Pauley Students in Drawing II are learning the basic elements of portraiture such as proper placement of the features of the face as it relates to observation and human anatomy.  After completing a sequence of learning activities in which they observe themselves in a portrait mirror and transition from shading in black and white to working in color, they will complete a final project entitled a creative self-portrait in color.  Look for their faces in early June.Art students in Art History II are completing huge

authentic Greek vases in red clay.  Students could make a project as large as the pottery kiln would fit.  Some are about 22 inches high and are decorated with authentic ancient Greek designs.  On display in the LMC are the final oil paintings created using the color black from Painting II students.  Students in this class are presently learning basic watercolor painting skills.  Their program will culminate with a painting reflection on the American artist James J. Audubon. Students in Mrs. Thompson’s Pottery I class are presently working on abstract clay forms that are a reflection on non-objective artist W. Kandinsky.Yearbooks! - A message from Greg SchoenThe yearbook has been completed and is in the process of being printed.  Yearbooks can NO LONGER be purchased online.  TO ORDER a book please write a check out to GHS Yearbook for $87.21 per book.  On the memo line, please write your child’s name.  The yearbook staff is creating the Senior Slide Show for their Senior Banquet.  The staff is looking for photos of students first day of school and pictures throughout the years.  Please email digital pictures to Mr. Schoen at gschoen@griswoldpublicschools.org or drop them off to room 4212.Mr. Schoen also would like hand back baby photos.  If you turned in a photo to Mr. Schoen, please have your child come to room 4212 to pick up the photo.

Questions? Please contact Mr. Schoen at gschoen@griswoldpublicschools.org

3

The GHS Wolverine Warrior Fitness Challenge – A message from Missy MooreThe GHS Wolverine Warrior Fitness Challenge will take place on Wednesday, May 13th (rain date May 14th) on the GHS football field and track. This event will include a one mile run, one minute of push-ups, one minute of curl-ups, and an obstacle course.  Sponsored by the CT Army National Guard and the GHS P.E. Department. See Mrs. Moore or Mr. Bruno to sign up and take the challenge!!! 

Travel Abroad!!! – a message from Jean Minski

Students and community are being offered a unique travel opportunity.  In the summer of 2016, there will be a trip to London, Paris, and Amsterdam.  They will experience history first hand by visiting the Normandy beaches and Anne Frank house, and art by visiting the Louvre.  This cultural experience is a life changing opportunity for our students.  See Mrs. Minski for details.

Business – Bhupal Babajiyavar: Academic LeaderThe business department will be having two trips in the month of May: the Financial Reality Fair and a Career Skill Workshop. Information below. Financial Reality Fair: The annual trip to the Connecticut Financial Reality Fair will be held on Wednesday May 20th, 2015. Students will need to get a permission slip from a business education teacher. All FPM students from both semesters will be eligible to attend this field trip. This is a valuable experience for our students because they are put into a real-world scenario with a future career in mind. Students will assume they are out of school and have a full-time job. They will start with nothing and will need to find housing, transportation, furniture, food, along with non-essentials items such as a cell phone. Students will randomly be assigned a credit score, be given their monthly income, and will set a goal of how much they expect to save.

4

Career Skills Workshop: The business department has been working with The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce along with educators from the area and we have created a Career Skills Workshop for any junior or senior who may not be going down the traditional route after high school or would like to reinforce their skills. If you know of any students who may benefit from this workshop please send me their names and I will speak with them about attending this workshop. The workshop is free and I have a sponsor who will pay for the transportation. To the right, you will find a flyer which the chamber has developed. This workshop will have different areas of focus run by local professionals which students will rotate around that include:-What are common interview questions?-How can you make your resume stand out from others?-What do local businesses have to offer for employment? (some employers who are attending are currently looking for employees and this could be a good opportunity for a student to land a job)-What skills do you need/currently have?

5

Student Council – a message from Chris ChamplinThe student council has been busy planning their end-of-the-year events.

1. Bicentennial Parade, May 16th: students have been creating posters for the parade to showcase their projects from this year. Students will be “marching” in the parade to show their support for the community and to help commemorate this momentous occasion.  

2. Campus Beautification, June 13th: The student council students will be volunteering their time to help get the campus ready for graduation.  Students will be working with the building and grounds crew to clean up after this long winter. 

3. Dodgeball Tournament June 12th: The students are hosting their annual student vs faculty dodgeball tournament.  Proceeds will be donated to a local cause.

4. Elections: Over the next few weeks elections for next year’s executive board will take place.  Interested students should see Mr. Champlin for an application.

Social Studies – Betsy Kowal: Academic LeaderThe Registrar of Voters held a voter registration drive at GHS on April 10. This event was sponsored by the Social Studies Department.

6

Give a Senior a Kiss! – a message from Katie Trudelle

You can do it one of three ways:

1. I can send home a note card in an envelope with your son/daughter/sibling and you can send it back with the money and the hand written note on the card.

2. You can send in the money and email me the note you would like written on the card.

2. You can come to the high school main office to fill out the card and leave the money and filled out card with the office staff. (We do try to avoid this as the office ladies are

often very busy....but certainly I will accommodate whichever method is easiest for you)

Let me know what you decide and THANK YOU for your support!!

7

Kisses Sale = May 18th- May 22nd Kisses Delivery = June 1st -June 5th

Contact: Katie Trudelle to purchase KISSES

ktrudelle@griswoldpublicschools.org

A “KISS” includes a handwritten note and 3 Hershey Kisses

Physicals!!! – a message from Jacquie Burzycki, RN

Is your child is entering 11th grade in the fall? If so, a current 10th grade physical is required. This is a state mandated physical and must be completed prior to entering 11th grade. The completed form must be dated no earlier

than June 1, 2014, and received by the school nurse prior to the first day of school.

If you would like a blank physical form to bring with you to your provider‘s office, they are available in the main office at GHS, or on our website under health services, where it can be printed onto blue paper. Most local pediatricians will have a supply of these state forms.

Please be sure the doctor’s office completes ALL of the asterisk boxes on the form as they are mandatory. If they are not completely filled out your child will be unable to start school. Blood work will also be required and the physical will not be complete without the results.

Vision and hearing screenings are not provided by the school in 10th grade as these screenings are assessed by the provider at this physical exam and the results must be recorded on the blue physical form. Students will not receive their schedule for the fall semester and will be sent home on the first day of school, students will be unable to return to school until the completed physical is in the health office. Please make sure your child starts the new school year off right and on time. Our contact numbers are (860) 376-7647 and Fax (860) 376-7677. It is best to fax or mail the completed physical to GHS to the attention of the school nurse.

8