The Rebel Crier

We were thrilled to host the first ever Festival of Cultures and NFHS last weekend! Seeing the diversity of traditions in our local area was inspiring, and created new connections for our school community! In addition to the showcase in the dining commons, attendees were treated to several performances including: There is A Girl (Chinese traditional dance) and The Pomegranate Turns Red (dance) by HuaXia Chinese School; Irish Gaelic Circle; The Moon Presentation My Heart - Por Un Corazón (instrumental) by YiMing Qi, Yijia Qi, Gloria Sun; Rancho Portugal Canta e Danca; Calling for the Green Shade by Phoenix Dancing Art Group; Telpochcalli: The Traditional Mexican Performing Arts & Theater; and Andy McGann Branch, Comhaltas.

Thank you to Mrs. Planz, Mr. Chapleau, Jim Hunt, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Edel, Mrs. Onofrio, Mrs. Scappaticci and Mrs. Lian for their participation and help with the event, and especially Mr. Fabrizio-Garcia who thought of this incredible event and made it happen for our community!

Click here to access a special AI Edition of the Learning Commons's monthly newsletter,

"News From The Rebel Shelves".

In This Edition:

• What's AI and How Does It Work?
• Artificial Intelligence and Education: What's At Stake?
• 6 Things to Know About AI
• AI Terms to Know
• How to Engineer the Perfect AI Prompt

We have an incredible school for our students and staff to come to every day, and it takes a collective effort to keep it that way! Unfortunately, we have had some incidents of students not respecting the facility. If your student sees something happening, please encourage them to report it so that we can ensure all members of our community are respecting our facility and everyone in it!

A reminder that students' personal devices must be in the holder designated by their classroom teacher. They MAY NOT be in students' pockets or on their person during class or when they go to the bathroom.

All food must be consumed in the dining commons, not in classrooms. Eating in bathrooms is prohibited (and unhealthy!).

Unfortunately, too many students are taking advantage of breakfast passes to go and socialize, missing valuable class time. Breakfast passes will no longer be issued from classrooms after 7:45am.

Single occupant bathrooms are exactly that- for ONE person. If there is misuse of these bathrooms, there will be disciplinary consequences for being in an unauthorized area of the building.

Attention Seniors and Families!

The NFHS College and Career Center has been busy developing a comprehensive list of local and national scholarships, along with useful resource links for financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

We are excited to announce student Scholarship Support Sessions will be available during all lunch waves from February 11 to February 14. Students are encouraged to visit the College and Career Center during these sessions and any day during study hall or senior privilege time to get assistance with scholarship searches.

Our Financial Aid and Scholarship Resource list will be updated as we receive new information, so please check back frequently for available opportunities! This is also where you will find essential information and resources for financial aid and scholarship planning.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to:

Val Romanello | romanello.valerie@newfairfieldschools.org

Kim Laughlin | laughlin.kimberly@newfairfieldschools.org

Stay tuned for more information about a local scholarship kick-off event and workshop for seniors!

On Tuesday, February 5, twenty-four New Fairfield High School juniors and seniors toured the Danbury and Waterbury campuses of Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC), gaining valuable insight into academic programs, career pathways, and student services. The visit included a welcome from admissions staff, student testimonials, and campus tours. At the Waterbury campus, students explored Allied Health labs, Manufacturing, Engineering, STEM, Hospitality, Automotive, Horticulture, Business, and Visual and Performing Arts programs, along with Workforce Development and Career.

Thank you to Mrs. Dighton, Mr. Garofola and Mrs. Romanello for organizing this program!

ATTENTION ALL NFHS Students & Parents:

Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors!!

Get a '25 Yearbook now before they sell out!!

The FINAL Deadline Extension for '25 Senior Ads is 2/10/25!

This is the last and FINAL deadline extension for Senior Ads. It is almost time to go to print!

Don't forget to purchase an Ad for your '25 Senior to celebrate this achievement!

Please reach out if you are unsure if you have already purchased a yearbook, and I can let you know.

All senior ads, personal & business, are due by 2/10/25

Click on the QR Code on the attached flyer to place your ad and buy a yearbook today!

You can click on this link too: https://yearbookforever.com/

Thank you for supporting the NFHS Yearbook!

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Ms. Giddings

In the weeks ahead, two full-length SAT Practice Test opportunities will be offered to NFHS juniors; these are optional, but we encourage students to take advantage of them. This can allow students to become familiar with the SAT, build stamina, and receive personalized data with resources for growth prior to the March SAT administered to all students. Students may choose to take only one Practice Test or they may choose to take both Practice Tests as a pre/post experience.

The dates / times of these Full-Length SAT Practice Test opportunities are listed below.

• Wednesday, January 29th, 11:30-2:15PM (Registration Closed)
• Wednesday, February 26th, 2:15PM-5:00PM
• (Space Available! submit the Google form linked HERE)
• (This is an after-school time.)

*Note that students will need to arrange their own transportation home on these dates.

We are excited to provide this SAT Practice Test opportunity to our students to support them in transferring their learning at NFHS to the SAT and enhance their achievement.

Essay Topic

"From Flags to Factions: Examining Student Expression and School Policy"

Click here for a detailed description of this year's topic and fact pattern.

Prizes

Winner: $2,000

(2) Runner-up: $1,000

Visit the website for complete information:

https://www.ctbarfdn.org/essaycontest/essaycontest.html

The Connecticut Poetry Society is excited to invite your students to participate in the Lynn DeCaro Poetry Competition, a special contest for young poets in grades 9–12 across Connecticut. This competition was established in memory of Lynn DeCaro, a gifted member of CPS who passed away from leukemia in 1986. It honors her passion for poetry and encourages students to explore their creative voices.

Key Details:

• Submission Deadline: March 15
• Eligibility: Open to Connecticut students in grades 9–12
• Prizes:
• 1st Place: $150
• 2nd Place: $100
• 3rd Place: $50
• Entry Fee: None
• Submission Guidelines:
• Up to 3 unpublished poems per student
• Any form, with a 40-line limit per poem
• Submit electronically via Submittable
• No contact information should appear on the poems themselves (this will be collected via Submittable).
• Work created with AI software will not be accepted.

Winning poems will be featured on the Connecticut Poetry Society’s website, and winners will also receive a free two-year membership in the Connecticut Poetry Society.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with your students and inspire them to take part in this enriching experience. Their voices and creativity deserve to be heard and celebrated.

For more information and to submit entries, please visit:
Connecticut River Review Submission Portal

In this year’s scholarship essay contest, public high school seniors in Connecticut

are asked to respond in 1,000 words or less to ONE of three questions with serious

thought, some research (with cited sources), and, most importantly, awareness of

the true cost of workplace hazards on the lives of workers.

1st Prize: $2,000

2nd Prize: $1,500

3rd Prize: $1,000

Follow this link for complete information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecUibvVkfS1usR0KhTwjYyZN7QP7FSfoxdwk_G1X5t94Ueig/viewform

Schools and offices are closed

Details about course recommendations and registration will be emailed next week.

Come see this classic musical on the NFHS Theater stage!

All juniors and freshmen will test on Tuesday, March 25. More info to come.

Join our K-12 instrumental groups for this community event, 6pm in the old high school gym.