Dear NCHS Family,

December is an incredible time of year not only for all the holidays we celebrate but for being the season of giving, showing appreciation, and helping those in need. I feel very fortunate to lead a school where our students come together with a commitment to help those experiencing hardships. The participation is astounding, and each year I have watched our charitable clubs grow and contribute substantially to local organizations. Our students have shown a high level of engagement through service and giving back to the community. Thank you to our students for their leadership, caring, and sharing kindness.  

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to partner with families and faculty at New Canaan High School. As the Principal, I am thankful for students who work hard to learn, parents who encourage, and dedicated teachers who genuinely care about each student. Thank you for your help, support, and sense of community.  There is no other place I would rather be!

As a reminder, there will not be any assignments due upon return from the holiday break or any tests at least for two days upon return. This is a great time to regroup and get ready for the busy weeks ahead. However, our college-level courses may require some homework. Additionally, if students are given study guides or other work assigned over an extended period, they may wish to take advantage of the time to catch up or complete this work.

I wish you a very happy, safe, and peaceful holiday season. I hope you enjoy spending time with your family and friends, and I look forward to welcoming you all back in the New Year.

Happy Holidays!

Bill Egan, Principal

This is the first time your student will have to study for important exams in every subject over a short period of time. Join us to hear some great advice from our 9th Grade Principal Ari Rothman, School Counseling Department Chair Cynthia Rivera, as well as a panel of our very own NCHS teachers. Don't miss these valuable tips on how your child can successfully navigate midterms and how you can support them at home.  

EVENT LOCATION: Virtual via Zoom. Link to follow.

Post Prom Co-Chairs Ally Dunlap and Meg Mehos need your help hosting this all-night party that is open to all seniors.

How can you help?

1. Click HERE to donate early and help us to manage and establish the event budget. We rely on parent donations to fund this event. 

2. Click HERE to fill out a short survey with your volunteer interests. 

3. Click HERE to send pictures for the Post Prom video! We want photos of groups of three or more from middle school years through high school. Please use JPEG format.

4. Email Post Prom Co-Chairs Ally and Meg with questions and suggestions! 

12/4    SAT 

12/11   ACT* 

2/5      ACT

3/12    SAT

* Denotes NCHS as a testing location 

Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.org.

Register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org.

FAFSA Workshops are designed to assist Seniors and their families in the completion of the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Please encourage your student to visit FAFSAct.org, or click HERE to register for one of the free virtual workshops, listed below. 

• Wednesday, December 1 at 6:00 pm (Solo en Español)
• Tuesday, December 14 at 6:00 pm.

For more information, please visit FAFSAct.org.

New Canaan, Darien and Staples High School are pleased to host a webinar about college admissions with best-selling author Jeff Selingo. Please join us on Thursday, December 2 at 7:00 PM for Mr. Selingo’s latest insights on college admissions trends. 

Click HERE to pre- register for the webinar. Pre-registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Jeff Selingo is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, College (Un)Bound, There Is Life After College and his newest book published last year, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions. For more than twenty years, his in-depth reporting and powerful storytelling has provided insight about the inner workings of universities and a practical roadmap for higher ed’s future to students, parents, college leaders, and business executives. 

Mr. Selingo’s newest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, takes readers on a journey through the selection process from inside three admissions offices, Emory, Davidson and U Washington, revealing what really matters to the gatekeepers of highly selective institutions and how the ultimate decisions are made.

Please click HERE if you are interested in purchasing a signed copy of Mr. Selingo's latest book.

If you missed the counselor presentation in October regarding Financial Aid, you can view it on the NCHS School Counseling page under video presentations or by clicking HERE.

Seniors may attend college visits and hear the latest news first-hand from schools in which they may be interested. Students must register for the visits on Naviance and ask for permission from the faculty to miss class. 

Those who are unable to meet with the reps should stop by the CCC BEFORE the visit time and fill out a form indicating their interest in the visiting school. Attendance is taken at these sessions, which are either in person or via Zoom. 

The visit schedule may be viewed through Naviance and on the NCHS School Counseling page.

The NCHS Senior Internship Program is looking for organizations and companies to host our seniors from May 17th to June 10th during school hours. Students intern 25 hours per week/5 hours a day during school hours.

If you would like to host an intern at your business/organization or for more information, please email Heather Bianco. We will accept in-person, remote, or hybrid internships.

The New Canaan High School Choral Program is wrapping their annual Grapefruit Fundraiser with 1000 boxes being delivered the first week in December and over 200 being donated to local food banks! 

There are boxes of fruit still available if you weren’t able to pre-order. Please visit the NCHS Choir website for more information about the fundraiser and about our program and student achievements.

The New Canaan community is invited to join the NCHS Concert Choir, Madrigal Ensemble and Bella Voce this holiday season to celebrate the work of our student musicians in a program entitled Celebrating Latin American Composers. This annual concert is free, open to the public, and will feature all three choral ensembles and student soloists in this one-hour performance. 

Ensembles will perform works by 20th-century choral composers, arrangers and poets from Latin American countries, celebrating their unique voice and musical influence. Pieces include a Mexican folk song (Dos Corazones), a Puerto Rican traditional Christmas aguinaldos (Abreme La Puerta), poems of love and protest from Argentina (Te Quiero & Indianas Suite), a Brazilian Ave Maria paired with songs from the indigenous Kraó tribe (Tres Cantos Nativos) and selections from the Broadway musical In The Heights. 

EVENT LOCATION: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, New Canaan

Catch the holiday spirit at the Carriage Barn Arts Center's annual "Deck the Walls!" holiday party on Thursday, December 2 from 7-10pm. Enjoy live music by "Bad Dog Buddy" whilst sipping on cocktails, champagne or craft beer.

Unique one-of-a-kind wreaths will be available to buy or bid on via an online auction, along with a selection of original artwork priced at $250 or less. Bidding ends on Sunday, December 5.

For more details and to buy tickets, click HERE.

Katherine Wintsch is the founder and CEO of The Mom Complex. She has been featured in the NY Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and more. Join a virtual conversation to find out how to make peace with our imperfections and learn to celebrate ourselves!

Register for this event at www.NewCanaanCARES.org.

EVENT LOCATION: Virtual via Zoom.