News

‘Streetchat’: New Canaan High School Students’ (Newest) App for Cyberbullying

By |

Just as New Canaan High School administrators renew a “geo fence” that prevents the use on campus of Yik Yak—a smartphone app that some students last year used to post derogatory and often graphic comments about others, anonymously—a new mobile platform has emerged that offers all of that plus photos. So many NCHS students have been using “Streetchat” this week to attack classmates, administrators and parents—all against the company’s own terms, their identities in no way protected should law enforcement seek to investigate— that the company late Monday issued this statement through the app itself:

“New Canaan High School, at this rate, Streetchat’s going to be prohibited at your school shortly. Here’s a few ways to make sure Streetchat doesn’t get blocked at your school. Do NOT insult faculty and staff. Do NOT target each other personally.

News

Students Petition District To Restore New Canaan High School Pep Rally

By |

New Canaan High School junior Mike Cognetta, 16—a varsity lacrosse, wrestling and football (safety) athlete—says his experience of the annual Prep Rally at Dunning Field has been that it’s a mutually supportive, bonding experience for students and teachers alike. “It really holds us up and brings us together more when we’re supporting one thing—our pride for the school—it just feels good,” Cognetta said Friday afternoon from inside CT Sandwich Co. on Pine Street, a popular spot. The teen’s signature is one of more than 600 on a petition to restore the Pep Rally, which he said has been cancelled by the district after one student came to last year’s event inebriated. The Pep Rally typically is held on the Friday evening of Spirit Week, leading into New Canaan High School Homecoming Weekend, which is next weekend.

News

Rising NCHS Seniors Reflect on the College Process

By |

The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. [Editor’s Note: This being the summer before senior year for the New Canaan High School class of 2015, we asked our intern Alex Hutchins, a rising senior himself at NCHS, to talk to classmates on how the often consuming process of researching colleges is going for them this summer. We have some terrific and frank responses here, so a heartfelt thank-you to Alex and to each of the rising seniors who participated. -Mike]

Margot Tucker, ’15

I did most of my college visiting during February break this past school year, so I spent this summer going back to the colleges that I really liked and interviewing there. I’ve also written a couple of essays, but haven’t gotten around to doing all the supplements just yet.

Bunny Potts

Board of Ed Recognizes Two New Canaan High School Seniors, 13 Retiring Educators

By |

The Board of Education on Monday honored two graduating New Canaan High School seniors and 13 educators who are retiring after this academic year. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kolek (who is herself retiring and earned kind words from Board Chair Hazel Hobbs during the meeting, held in the high school’s Wagner Room), spoke for a few minutes about both seniors who received Student Leadership Awards from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education or “CABE,” as well as the teachers and administrators soon to retire. Here’s a snippet from Kolek on each honoree. Students

(CABE each year recognizes two students for distinguished leadership in school activities and daily lives, “And I have the pleasure of presenting those awards tonight,” Kolek said.)

New Canaan High School senior Kit Mallozzi (also a NCHS Students Advocates Award winner, headed to Syracuse University in the fall): “One has only to talk to Kit for a few minutes and it’s clear, she’s one of the world’s great optimists. Her nomination submission portrays Kit as someone who embraces life, a friend to all and a ray of sunshine.

News

New Canaan Public Schools: Cafeteria Health Inspection Results

By |

For the second straight time, cafeterias in New Canaan Public Schools largely aced the most recent round of unannounced inspections by the New Canaan Health Department. Each school scored 95 or better out of a possible 100 during inspections recently conducted by sanitarian Carla DeLucia. DeLucia told NewCanaanite.com that the school cafs consistently are clean and well-cared for. “We rarely have issues,” she said. “If there is an issue, it gets fixed immediately.