Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy New Year!
Would you like to learn how to stay connected with your teen, while giving them the space they need to become independent adults? Come to the Parent Club Meeting on Tue., Jan. 18 at 7pm to hear Abigail Sullivan Moore, author and past parent speak about her acclaimed book, The iConnected Parent. The book covers
- When to intervene
- How to teach children problem-solving skills
- Deciding with children before college how often to talk
It also shows parents why starting early on encouraging independence matters: what happens in grade school carries over into college and beyond. Bring a friend and come the Mortensen Theater and find out if constant contact is good for children and what is it doing to the parents.
Sincerely,
Margaret R. Williamson, Principal/Chief Administrator
Mark Your Calendars
Up Coming Parents' Club Meetings
Mar. 21, Parents' Club Meeting, 7pm
May 16, Parents' Club Meeting, 7pm
June 14, Parents' Club Meeting, 6:15pm, cookout
Jan. 17, No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 18-21, Midterm Exams
Jan. 24, No School, Staff Development Day
Feb. 9, Black History Presentation, AM Assembly
Feb. 18-21, No School, Presidents Day Break
Feb. 23, Early Dismissal, 12:16pm
Mar. 4, No School, Professional Development
Mar. 15, Empty Bowls Dinner, 6pm
Fall Sports Awards
For the names of student-athletes who participated in NWC's Fall sports, as well as for special awards and/or records that were set during the season, click here.
How You Can Help Northwest!
The Hospitality Committee is looking for your help with the annual Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon. The luncheon is scheduled for Thur., Feb. 3, 2011. We are looking for donations of various SALADS and DESSERTS to assist with the luncheon menu. Please forward an e-mail (indicate "NWC Luncheon" in the subject line) to Nancy Boccuzzi at naboccuzzi@sbcglobal.net letting me know what it is that you will be making. Thank you in advance for helping to make the Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon a success.
* One easy way to help our school is to recycle money you're already spending! Register your frequent shopper cards and earmark NWC for the contributions. Click here for Stop & Shop; click here for ShopRite; and click here for Target. You must re-register your Stop & Shop and ShopRite card every year.
Basketball Concession Help
The Tomahawk Club is looking for volunteers to work the concession stand during home basketball games for the boys and girls teams. Click here for a list of dates. The first opportunity to help is tomorrow, Thur. Jan. 6. Help is needed from 5:30pm until the conclusion of the Varsity game. You may sign up for just one game or more. It is lots of fun, so grab a friend and come and meet new people, while supporting NWC. Contact Gail Riley at riley137@comcast.net if you are available to volunteer.
NWC Hockey at Rentschler Field!
On Fri., Feb. 18 the Indians will be playing Enfield High School at 5pm outside at Rentschler Field as part of the Whale Hockey Fest. Tickets will be on sale for $10 for the NWC individual game or $30 for the entire Festival. Don't miss out on a great game of hockey at a cool venue, show some school spirit and support the hockey team.
Yearbooks on Sale
Yearbooks are still on sale, but get them quick. On Jan. 31 the price will increase from $70 to $75. You can order your book here. Remember seniors do NOT need to order books! Do you take pictures at your child’s functions? If so, feel free to submit them to Jennifer Puskarz, yearbook advisor, for potential inclusion in this year’s edition. Photos can be submitted through email jpuskarz@nwcath.org or by CD attn: Jennifer Puskarz.
The 27th Annual Saturday Night Live a Huge Success!
The halls of Northwest Catholic were sparkling on Sat., Nov. 20th, for the 27th annual Saturday Night Live. Although all the bills have not yet been tallied, indications are that this was another great success. Co-chairs Linda Moran Buda and Ellen Moran DeLorenzo express many, many thanks to all the parents, alumni parents, alums, faculty, and staff who bought tickets, donated items, baked desserts, set up, served, or cleaned up at the big event. Mark your calendars: The 28th Saturday Night Live will be held on Sat., Nov. 19, 2011.
Tuition Reminders
We are now approaching the end of the first semester when final examinations will be administered. Delinquency will prevent students from taking their examinations, athletic eligibility in CIAC sanctioned sports will be jeopardized, and mid-year transcripts will reflect incomplete grades. To avoid that situation, the past due balance must be paid or an arrangement reached with the Finance Office prior to the start of final examinations which begin on Jan. 18. Payments for delinquent tuition must be made payable and sent to Northwest Catholic High School. Payments may also be made by credit card or electronic check by accessing the Edline Finance Office page. Please address questions or concerns to Mr. Richard Puskarz 860-236-4221 x112 or rpuskarz@nwcath.org or Mrs. Miriam Abate 860-236-4221 x137 or mabate@nwcath.org.
Tuition Assistance
Families who would like to be considered for tuition assistance for the 2011-12 year need to complete the Private School Aid application. The form is available on Edline and from Mrs. Abate in the Finance Office. You may also apply on-line to PSAS. The Northwest Catholic school code is 1066. Deadline for completed applications is Feb. 7, 2011. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will not be considered for tuition assistance. Divorced, separated and not married parents must both complete PSAS applications. If your student currently receives any need-based scholarships from any source, you must reapply each year in order to have your scholarship renewed. Please contact Mrs. Abate in the Finance Office 860-236-4221, x137 or mabate@nwcath.org if you have any questions.
Admissions Events
The Admissions Office will be offering the make-up Entrance Exam on Sat., Jan. 22 at 8am. The application for admission, which also pre-registers a student for the exam, is available here. Please let your friends, neighbors and co-workers know about this opportunity. In addition, the Admissions Office will be hosting an information session on Thurs., Feb. 3 at 7pm in the Mortensen Theater. This event is geared to families of prospective students who were unable to attend the November Open House. Please contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions 860-236-4221 x140.
Drama at NWC
Kudos to the cast and crew of the fall play, Rumors. It was a huge success with standing room only at many performances. Mark your calendars now for the spring musical: 42nd Street, a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. Performances will be April 8, 9, & 10 in the Rice Auditorium.
Traffic Reminders
In order to facilitate the afterschool traffic pattern at NWC we ask you not to park your car in front of the school along the curb or in the curve by the Breen Center at dismissal. That space is for the busses and will provide them adequate room to maneuver and park. It is much easier for you wait in between the rows of staff cars as long as the students are careful as they cross to get to your car. Picking up students just after the rush will be the easiest solution for you and you may also consider using the pathway to NWC that's located on Sheep Hill Drive as a place to pick up or drop off your student - and to avoid traffic. Please cooperate to help ease congestion and to ensure safety. Thank you!
Cell Phones
We understand that sometimes parents need to communicate with students and that texting may be a simple way to do it. However, if you are going to do this, please, please remind the students that they are to keep the phones OFF during school so they will have to read the messages after dismissal. Also, if something of a personal or very serious nature comes up, we strongly recommend NOT texting this type of information. Please contact the office and an administrator will be happy to help.
It’s That Time Already: Course Selection for 2011-2012
Course selection is a very important process for both incoming and current students. It should be accomplished in consultation with parents, teachers, and the guidance counselors. Click here for procedures and a time line.
First-Semester Exams Begin Jan. 18, 2011
Tue., Jan. 18 8:15 - 9:45 A Period Subject
10:00 - 11:40* B Period Subject
Wed., Jan 19 8:15 - 9:45 C Period Subject
10:00 -11:40* D Period Subject
Thur., Jan 20 8:15 - 9:45 E or F Period Subject
10:00 - 11:40* G or H Period Subject
Fri., Jan. 21 8:15 - 9:45 I Period Subject
10:00 - 11:40* J Period Subject
12:00 - 1:30 Make-Up Exams for those absent at regular times.
Students must present must present a note indicating there was an illness or a $25 fee will be charged. Please report to the office.
*Students are to report to their second period exam room each day at 10am. The exam will begin at 10:10 and finish at 11:40. Buses will leave at 12:08pm.
For more information on Midterm exams click here.
Weather or Not ...
If the weather is severe, notice of a delayed opening or school closing will be posted on the NWC web site. Notice will also be posted on www.wtic.com; www.wrch.com; www.drcfm.com; www.nbc30.com; and www.wfsb.com. Announcements will also be made on WTIC-AM 1080; WTIC-FM 96.5; WZMX-FM 93.7; WDRC-AM 1360, and WRCH-FM 100.5, and on TV Channels 3 or 30. In the case of early dismissal, which is usually around noon, buses will run.
Save the Date!
Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner
Sat., Mar. 26, 2011
6pm Cocktails
7pm Dinner and Induction Ceremony
Click here to see past Hall of Fame recipients.
34rd Annual Northwest Catholic Golf Tournament - June 6, 2011
The 34th Annual Northwest Catholic Golf Tournament will be here before we know it! This ever-popular event will again be held on the first Monday of June (June 6, 2011) at Wampanoag Country Club. The day includes an afternoon 18-hole event with lunch at the Club beforehand and dinner at NWC afterward (for both men and women) and a morning 9-hole event followed by lunch especially for ladies. Planning is now underway and we welcome new and returning participants to the Golf Tournament Committee which will begin meeting in Feb. If you are interested in helping to ensure another successful event to raise scholarship funds for deserving NWC students, please contact Patricia Walsh, Dir. of Advancement at pwalsh@nwcath.org or 860-236-4221 x138. Thank you!
“Relay for Life” to Return to Northwest Catholic in June 2011
West Hartford’s “Relay for Life,” supporting the American Cancer Society, will be held again this year at Northwest Catholic. Beginning at 12 noon on June 4 and ending at 9am on June 5. The Relay is sure to attract hundreds of people from many different fundraising teams who will walk our track to raise money for cancer research. Teddy Mucha '11 and Collin Paternoster '11 are coordinating the NWC team; for more information, contact Teddy at Theodora.Mucha@nwcath.org or Collin at Collin.Paternoster@nwcath.org or visit "Relay for Life". Please become part of this great opportunity to display the legendary Northwest Catholic hospitality while supporting an excellent cause at the same time!
Health Notes from Marilyn Adamo, RN
Now that cold and flu season has arrived, please take a moment to review some policies from the Health Office. State of Connecticut Laws or standing orders from the West Hartford Non-Public School Director, Dr. Neil Stein, dictate most of these policies. Also, please note that good hygiene in the form of frequent hand washing and covering the cough or sneeze are the keys to staying healthy. Adequate sleep, good nutrition and increased fluid intake help as well.
A licensed practitioner must prescribe all medications that a child takes at school, including over-the-counter medications such as cough syrups, allergy pills, etc. The school nurse is not allowed to accept a medication from a parent alone, with the exception of the pink Tylenol/Ibuprofen form that the parent may sign as it is a standing order from Dr. Stein. Tylenol and Ibuprofen are stocked in the Health Office and can be given as long as there is a signed pink form on file from the child’s parent. All prescription medication should be brought to the nurse’s office in the original pharmacy container with a permission form signed by the parent and the practitioner before it can be administered. It will save you time and insure that this regulation is met if you obtain an authorization form from the nurse (one was mailed this summer) and take it with you to the doctor. Your pharmacy will give you an extra container if the medication needs to be taken at school. If a medication is to be given twice a day, please give the first dose before your child leaves for school and the second dose in the evening at home. Likewise if a medication is to be given three times a day, please administer the first dose at home before school; the second dose can be administered when a child arrives home from school, and the third dose administered at home before bedtime.
To ensure the good health of all of our students and staff, please keep students at home for at least 24 hours after illnesses that include vomiting or fever. A student can always make up a test or quiz so please be considerate. Students who become ill at school need to be picked up within an hour of when you are notified.
A note from your child’s practitioner is required to excuse or re-admit a student to physical education programs when an injury is involved.
Please advise the nurse of any change in your child’s health, including new diagnoses, medication taken both at home and school, surgeries, fractures, communicable disease or any social or emotional issues. Students can be very sensitive to many life events that occur in families, and, while they are generally pretty resilient, these life events can affect a child’s health and well-being. Confidentiality is always respected but there are times when, with the parents’ permission, it is important to let a few key people know that there is a problem so we can make accommodations for the student.
Marilyn Adamo, the school nurse, is always happy to speak with parents and can be reached at x123. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions.
Volume XVII - Number Four - January 2011
