February 4, 2017 | Volume 1, Issue 16

UPCOMING EVENTS For a list of home and away match-ups for our winter athletic teams, please scroll to the back cover of the publication.

February 6 - 6 PM at NBEAC Board of Education Meeting February 8 Early Dismissal due to Professional Dev. February 10 Paraeducators Scholarship Dress Down Day

SUPERINTENDENT SARRA PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR NEW BRITAIN’S IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES Recently, President Trump signed an executive order affecting travel to and from certain countries as well as certain parts of the United States refugee resettlement programs. Due to the uncertainty surrounding this executive order, some of our immigrant and refugee students and families may be experiencing anxiety or fear. Here in New Britain, diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We are home to over 150 students from the seven countries included in the recent executive order and over 2,000 students from 67 other countries around the world. We value and respect each and every one of them and remain dedicated to our task of providing each of them with the best education possible. CSDNB will remain strong in support of our immigrant and refugee families. Our teachers, principals, social workers and other support staff are ready to support our children and families who may be experiencing distress. We will continue to ensure that our schools remain a safe place for learning and teaching. In accordance with our Board of Education policies, we will not tolerate any bullying or discrimination that interferes with the learning or the rights of others. As always, we will continue to proudly welcome students from every race, religion and ethnicity.

February 13 No School February 14 - 5:00 - 6:30 PM HALS Multi-Cultural Night February 16 - 6 PM Smith School PTA Meeting February 16 - 7 PM NBHS PTO Meeting February 17 Early Dismissal due to Professional Dev. February 20-21 No School February 23 - 9:00 and 10:30 AM Mendelssohn: Concert for Violin, Piano & Strings at Jefferson School February 24 - 8 AM NBHS AAC Black History Month Assembly March 2 Read Across America Day

NBHS ROBOTICS CLUB ON DISPLAY AT RECENT PROVIDENCE BRUINS HOCKEY GAME On January 20, the NBHS Robotics Club and members of Mr. Eric Nelson's STEM class attended a demo at a Providence Bruins Hockey game. The trip was designed to provide the students an opportunity to display their work and creations and to allow passing children at the game a chance to play around and develop a passion for robotics.

CSDNB OFFICE OF FAMILY EDUCATION SERVICES - PARENT TIPS Studies show that parent involvement has a strong influence on children’s academic success. Involvement comes in many forms and it can be as simple as having conversations with your child about school work and school-related issues. To get a sense of your child’s life at school, ask questions that require more than a one-word response. Try one of these conversation starters:          

Tell me about the best part of your day. What was the hardest thing you had to do today? Did any of your classmates do anything funny? Tell me about what you read in class. Who did you play with/hang out with today? What did you do? Do you think _____ is too hard? What’s the biggest difference between this year and last year? What rules are different at school than at home? Do you think they’re fair? Who did you sit with at lunch? Can you show me something you learned or did today? It’s not always easy and you may not have all the answers, but one of the most rewarding and important things you can do for our children is to talk. And, listen.

Source: "Tips for Parents: Your Role in School Success." The Learning Community, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2017. Source: "Academic Success Begins at Home: How Children Can Succeed in School." The Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AMBASSADORS ATTEND MIDDLE LEVEL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Earlier this month, our three middle school student ambassadors –Jordan Benitez (Slade), Taliah Green (Slade) and Itati Serrrano (DiLoreto), traveled with their advisor, Mrs. Leona Clerkin, to Trinity College for the CAS-CIAC Middle Level Leadership Conference. At the conference, students from all over the state attended workshops on team building, leadership skills and qualities of great leaders. Finally, they attended an assembly with keynote speaker, A’Ric Jackson, whose mission is… “to Teach, Inspire, and Encourage all those who hear him, and to take the challenge of helping others pursue their goals and dreams.” You can hear a little from A’Ric at www.aricspeaks.com.

CONTACT OUR STUDENT AMBASSADORS! Our Student Ambassadors help play a big part in bringing the CSDNB message throughout all of our schools. If you want to reach out to them with any questions, comments or concerns, you can send an email to [email protected]. The e-mail account is monitored by Leona Clerkin, our District Coordinator of Fine Arts, but all e-mails are given to our Student Ambassadors to review.

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NBHS ALUMNI CERTIFIED BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF FINANCE Two members of New Britain High School’s Class of 2016, Karolina Osowiecka and Harwin Panyanouvong, have been certified by the National Academy of Finance’s college and career-readiness program. “It’s really special because it’s new and we’re a young academy,” said Sondra Sanford, AOF Director and Assistant Coordinator of Programs and Community Partnerships at NBHS. Joseph Pinchera, Principal of New Britain High School, said that he is extremely happy for both Karolina and Harwin and saw just how much effort they put into their studies at New Britain High School.

“We are extremely happy for Karolina and Harwin. Once again, our students at NBHS make us proud every day. Becoming NAFTrack certified is an amazing accomplishment. One thing is for certain, Karolina and Harwin will be successful in any career path they choose.” The program normally takes four years to complete, but AOF has only been in existence for three years. Yet, Osowiecka and Panyanouvong managed to achieve certification within that time frame. “It was pretty intense,” said Osowiecka. “I took a lot of AP classes my senior year, which basically placed me on junior standing my first semester at Central Connecticut State University.” In Panyanouvong’s case, he completed all his requirements between his junior and senior years. Panyanouvong noted that it was difficult, but definitely worthwhile, saying “it’s made me who I am today.”

This rigorous program offered by the National Academy of Finance (NAF) via nearly 700 career-focused high school academies strives to produce graduates who are both college and career ready. NAF students are offered courses in five career themes: finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering and health sciences. All courses are created jointly by both educators and business leaders. To become certified, students must pass the courses within their field of study, as well as complete a 120-hour paid internship. Osowiecka worked at Polmart, while Panyanouvong worked at HRA helping prepare income tax returns. Osowiecka is still employed at Polmart, doing everything from cashiering to assisting in the post office inside the store. Panyanouvong – who is majoring in international business and marketing at CCSU - plans to return to HRA for his third year, also going for a higher certification in tax preparation. “It’s the hands-on approach, connecting the dots for students to see what a real career looks like,” said Sanford. “We have to applaud our partners for that. It makes a huge impact on their academic success. The students are evaluated by the employers, which is more powerful because they’re treating our students as actual employees.” In addition to becoming certified, Osowiecka – who is majoring in mathematics and actuarial science - was also awarded a Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment) scholarship, one of only 10 students in the state. She will receive four years’ tuition at Central Connecticut State University, as well as an internship with The Travelers and four years’ mentoring. Superintendent Nancy Sarra said the district is proud of the students’ accomplishments and excited by the opportunities that the NAFTrack program provides. “We are always trying to better prepare our graduates for the competitive world of college and careers. This is a testament to the work that is being done at New Britain High School and is something that other students can look towards in achieving their goals.”

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PULASKI SKI & SNOWBOARDING CLUB HOSTS ANNUAL SKI TRIP The Pulaski Ski and Snowboarding Club, led by Joseph Body (DiLoreto Dean of Students and former Pulaski Campus Safety Officer), hosted its 17th Annual Ski Trip to Smugglers' Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont. This year, about 56 people attended the trip and they all had a great time learning how to ski and snowboard together and shred up the terrain. Years ago, this started out as a trip for Pulaski Middle School students and has since morphed into a program that invites and encourages all CSDNB staff members and students to attend. This year, there were students and staff members from Pulaski, DiLoreto, and New Britain High School.

Coach Bus transportation was included in the trip and the participants spent two nights and three days at the resort. The resort was housed on the ski slope and across the street from the majority of the off-mountain activities such as the indoor heated pool, ice skating rink, fun zone, snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling and more. For the beginners in the group, ski and snowboarding lessons were mandatory before they hit the slopes. This allowed them to have a basic understanding of the fundamentals so they could safely participate in the sport and enjoy themselves while building upon the basics they were taught. For those more experienced, they were able to hit the slopes right away. Everyone had a great time and plans are already being made for next year’s trip. If you would like to attend on Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend in January 2018, please contact Mr. Joseph Body via e-mail at [email protected].

CUSTOMER REVIEW REGARDING A REFURBISHED SNOW BLOWER FROM THE NBHS AUTO SHOP Students in the New Britain High School Auto Shop, under the direction of Mr. Kevin Shubert, recently auctioned off several snow blowers they repaired and refurbished. We received a note from a staff member who was a high bidder on one of the snow blowers and is now more than happy with her purchase. The note reads as follows (edited for privacy): “When Mr. Kevin Shubert from NBHS sent the emails about the snow blowers, I decided to buy one. As you can see, buying the snow blower for only $100.00 was a blessing! What impressed me the most was the manner in which the two students who fixed the machine communicated with me when I picked up the snow blower. The two students brought out the equipment and explained the procedure of using it and most importantly, what safety precautions to follow when using the equipment. I was very impressed with their knowledge and with the service they provided, as well as the time they provided me. The students' names are Christian Malave and Alan Panzardi. They are both seniors and are both part of the Automotive Technology program at New Britain High School. I'm very proud of them. Thank you very much for allowing our students these type of opportunities. As I watched them explain things to me, it filled my heart with joy. I saw them as productive members of society.”

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BOOKS DONATED TO CSDNB BY THE BACON FAMILY FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS In December, we received a donation from the Bacon Family, founders of Charlotte's Litter. The donation was copies of the books, "Good Dogs, Great Listeners" and "Dogs of Newton." Each elementary school library media center received copies of the books. Charlotte’s Litter, a program supported by Newtown Kindness, was founded in honor of Charlotte Helen Bacon, a young avid dog lover, who tragically lost her life on December 14, 2012 in Sandy Hook. Her family and friends received comfort and love bestowed upon them from local Comfort and Therapy dogs. In honor of Charlotte and the care they received, Charlotte’s Litter was founded. "Good Dogs, Great Listeners" will be used in first grade while "Dogs of Newton" will be used in third grade throughout all of our elementary schools to support social emotional learning through literature. The books will provide teachers in grades one through three and the elementary library media centers a resource to support social emotional learning. "Good Dogs, Great Listeners" was written by the Bacons and "Dogs of Newton" were written by their son, Guy. We thank the Bacon family for this generous donation. They will be formally recognized at an upcoming board meeting in the next few months.

NBHS SGC FOCUSES ON THE POSITIVE AT RECENT MEETING During the January 18 meeting of the School Governance Council, members focused on several positive things occurring at the high school, including a donation for scholarships from Total Energy Connections and students who have been recognized statewide for their achievements in music and science. Student representatives also discussed the need for juniors and seniors to have adequate meeting time with guidance counselors and teachers shared strategies for scheduling meetings and managing the demands of the college application process. The next council meeting will be on Wednesday, February 15 at 6 PM in the school media center. If you have any concerns regarding the school community, please contact council chair Rita Zapor at [email protected].

NBHS HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL ALUMNI PANEL ASSEMBLY Earlier this month, New Britain High School held their First Annual Alumni Panel Assembly. The assembly was held for senior advisory groups and featured four recent graduates. They spoke to the seniors about their college experience, such as the differences between high school and college, what it takes to be a successful college student, stress management, and more. Seniors were able to partake in a question and answer portion at the end. The questions they asked were thoughtful and meaningful and resulted in great dialogue between our seniors and our alumni. The goal for next year is to get more alumni involved and to be able to create smaller group settings each with an alumni to facilitate.

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Photo Credit: New Britain Herald

SPORTING EVENTS Below is a list of home and away games for New Britain Sports. Unless otherwise noted, all high school home basketball game and wrestling matches take place at New Britain High School.

February 4 - 9 AM Varsity Wrestling at Enfield High School February 6 - 6:45 PM Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Middletown February 7 - 3:30/4:30 PM Slade at DiLoreto HALS at Pulaski February 8 - 7:30 PM Varsity Wrestling vs. Southington

NBHS BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS TOP BRISTOL CENTRAL The following was published in the New Britain Herald on Saturday, February 4: New Britain 52, Bristol Central 51 The New Britain boys basketball team got a three from Jordan Williams with 35 seconds left in its game against Bristol Central to win the game 52-51 on Friday night. Williams finished the game with 17 points and the Hurricanes have now won four of their last five. Jahfari Newman had a huge game in the win as well as he posted a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. New Britain 55, Bristol Central 36 The New Britain girls basketball team made easy work of Bristol Central on Friday night as it outscored the Rams in every single quarter. Dejia Santana led the way for the Hurricanes as she scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but it was a very balanced effort. Inanna Rice scored 13 points, while Brianna Clarke had a big game with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Inanna Rice and Isaiah Jenkins named NB Herald Players of the Week Inanna Rice (NBHS Girls Basketball) and Isaiah Jenkins (NBHS Boys Basketball) have been named the players of the week by the New Britain Herald. Rice scored a game-high 16 points in the win over Plainville and has really come on as of late. The junior forward was a spark plug last Tuesday and has been that consistently this season. Jenkins naturally plays with high energy and although he is just a sophomore he likes to have people follow his influence. He knows he belongs; now it is just a matter of keeping the energy level up to where he helped bring it. For the full article, please visit our Facebook page and search: Rice Jenkins NBHS.

February 9 - 3:30/4:30 PM DiLoreto at Pulaski Slade at HALS February 9 - 6:45 PM Varsity Girls Basketball at Wethersfield February 10 - 4 PM Boys Indoor Track - Class LL Championship February 10 - 6:45 PM Varsity Boys Basketball at Rocky Hill February 10 - 6:45 PM Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Rocky Hill February 13 - 5:15 PM Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Hartford Public February 14 - 3:30/4:30 PM Pulaski at Slade HALS at DiLoreto

February 14 - 6:45 PM Varsity Boys Basketball vs. E.O. Smith February 17 - 6:45 PM Varsity Boys Basketball at Newington

Consolidated School District of New Britain | www.csdnb.org Find us on Social Media: @CSDNBCT (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube) 2017 Intellectual Property | Copyright in this publication is owned by the Consolidated School District of New Britain and no part of it may be reproduced without the permission of the District. For further information, please refer to www.csdnb.org. If you would like to submit a news story, please e-mail Matthew Cannata at [email protected]. Stories are written by Matthew Cannata and Joanna Mechlinski. Newsletter designed by Pawel Figat.