MCAS Exam Schedule

Attention Parents/Guardians of 

Grade 9 and Grade 10 students:

As we head into the final weeks of Term 3 and on the eve of the ELA MCAS, I am writing to remind parent/guardians of Grade 9 & Grade 10 students of the MCAS exam schedule. To earn a Canton High School diploma, all students must pass the English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science MCAS exams. Grade 9 students take the Biology Exam in June and Grade 10 students complete the ELA and Math Exams in March and May, respectively.

With the importance and impact of MCAS in mind, student attendance and punctuality on exam days is a high priority. Additionally, I want to discourage the scheduling of appointments on these exam days since dismissals are problematic. Once a student starts the MCAS testing, he or she must finish the section to completion. A student cannot start the exam, be dismissed and come back to restart the exam.  Since I have run into this issue in the past, I want to be up front with this information before the testing season starts.

I am certain that our students will be 100 percent prepared for the exams and will continue to perform in exemplary fashion. During our preparation, we will make sure that the testing environment is ideal for the students and conducive to academic excellence. 

As always, I appreciate your help and support.

ELA Exams -- Grade 10

Tuesday, March 22 -- ELA Composition

Wednesday, March 23 -- ELA Session 1& 2

Thursday, March 24 -- ELA Session 3

Mathematics Exams -- Grade 10

Tuesday, May 17 -- Math Session 1

Wednesday, May 18 -- Math Session 2

Biology Exams -- Grade 9

Tuesday, June 1 -- Biology Session 1

Wednesday, June 2 -- Biology Session 2

If you have any questions regarding MCAS, please contact Assistant Principal Henry McDeed at mcdeedh@cantonma.org

Get Schooled | STN 1st Place PSA

CHS Students take first place at Student Television National (STN) Convention

10 CHS students and Television Production teacher Mr. McDonough just returned from another inspiring trip to the Student Television (STN) Convention. Held in Atlanta, Georgia, STN offers students multiple opportunities to learn from professionals in the field, network with other students and compete in film production competitions. Over 3,000 students attended from various states and schools.

This year, Canton High School students achieved at the highest level with a first place finish in the Public Service Announcement (PSA) category! This is a "first" for CHS! (CHS had received an honorable mention several years back, but never a top distinction.)

CHS students Mia Tess, Jason Kaplan and Roni Polsgrove received the first place award for their PSA (see below). Competing against 25 other teams, students received a prompt and 6 hours to complete the project. The PSA had to be 30 seconds and address the prompt: "The (Financial) Challenge of College Access." Their hypothetical vendor was an online company called www.getschooled. com.

Mia, Jason and Roni said they were proud of their achievement and their PSA. "We trusted one another...we planned it really well which gave us time to have creative freedom.....We really stuck to the mission of the website -- 'many people are getting into college but can't always pay for college.' We think we conveyed the message."

Senior Mia Tess, the actor in the PSA, is interested in majoring in film production and is considering USC, Chapman, Loyola Marymount and UCLA. Senior Jason Kaplan, the cameraman, is interested in business and film and is considering Syracuse, USC and Miami. Junior Roni Polsgrove, the director, is interested in film directing and is considering NYU, USC, Chapman and the American Film Institute.


Congratulations on a phenomenal trip!

    First Place: Mia Tess, Jason Kaplan and Roni Polsgrove

CHS Artists On Display

Last week, Canton Public Schools and the Canton Garden Club partnered for a spectacular display at "Artists in Bloom" at Pequitside Farm. The creative exhibits exemplified a community partnership at its best. (See pictures below)

This weekend, the Canton High School Visual Art Department, in conjunction with The Artists Studio and Gallery, presents "Pathways to Passion" at Patriot Place in Foxboro. Each week in spring, this studio showcases the work of a local high school. Canton High School student artwork will be featured this weekend, March 18-20.

Come by and enjoy the fantastic artwork!

Location: The Artists Studio & Gallery of Patriots Place (Across from Davio's)

Friday, March 18 -- 5-9 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 -- 1-9 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 -- 12-6 p.m.

Artists in Bloom

CHS Students Earn 

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Presented by The Boston Globe and the School of the Museum and Fine Arts, Boston

Announcing the 2016 Massachusetts Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards!

The SMFA (Boston) received over 15,000 entries in Art, and about 2,500 writing entries. They had over 50 judges who looked at or read the entries, and had to make hard choices based on the 3 criteria: originality, technical skill, and personal vision. The following CHS students were recognized for their exemplary work. 

All awardees will receive a certificate for each award. Additionally, all Gold and Silver Key winners will receive a Gold or Silver Key pin mailed to their home. Gold Key work will go electronically to New York to compete against all the other Gold Key work from around the country for National Medals. Medalists will be notified by the National Office in Mid-March. 

Gold and Silver Key winners will be invited to a ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts on March 12, 2016. Gold Key winners' work will be featured at an exhibition at EF, Education First, from March 5–20. 

Congratulations to our

2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners!

Grace Lehane – Drawing & Illustration, Gold Key

                            Mixed Media, Honorable Mention

Michaela Mancuso – Digital Art, Gold Key

Venice Morris – Photography, Silver Key

Mia Tess – Art Portfolio, Silver Key

Nicky Cao – Photography, Honorable Mention

Abby Capraro – Photography, Honorable Mention

Melody DeMers – 2 Drawing & Illustration, Honorable Mentions

      1 Painting, Honorable Mention

Molly Grey – Mixed Media, Honorable Mention

Hannah Morin – Painting, Honorable Mention

Additionally, Congratulations to our

2016 Scholastic Writing Award Winners!

Lauren DiTullio – *Poetry, Honorable Mention

Lee Dasol – *Poetry, Honorable Mention

*During this week, CHS will post these poems on the blog

Grace Lehane, Gold Key -- Drawing and Illustration

"Freckles"

Grace Lehane, Honorable Mention -- Mixed Media

"Eye Contact"

Michaela Mancuso, Gold Key -- Digital Art

"Under the Bridge"

Venice Morris, Silver Key -- Photography

"By Myself"

Mia Tess, Silver Key -- Art Portfolio

"Video Still"

Nicky Cao, Honorable Mention -- Photography

"Mimic"

Abby Capraro, Honorable Mention -- Photography

"Determination"

Melody Demers, Honorable Mention -- Drawing and Illustrations

"Expression"

Melody Demers, Honorable Mention -- Drawing and Illustrations

"Landscape"

Melody Demers, Honorable Mention -- Painting

"Flora"

Molly Grey, Honorable Mention -- Mixed Media

"Made of Beauty"

Hannah Morin, Honorable Mention -- Painting

"Dawn"

2016 STEAM EXPO

Wednesday, March 16

4-8 p.m. at Canton High School

Our 2016 STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts- Mathematics) Expo will take place on Wednesday, March 16^th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Canton High School.  You and your child will NOT WANT TO MISS this incredible event.  Come early and stay as long as you’d like! We will have dinner available for purchase in the cafeteria. 

Our theme this year for the STEAM Expo is SUSTAINABILITY.  In order to save paper, all program information and details about the evening is available to you  by clicking on the attachment.  The attachment includes a QR code to scan in order to view the program on your phone. We will have “give-aways”, raffles and more than 30 interactive booths for children and parents of all ages, preschool to age 90!  Some of the questions you and your child will encounter at the Interactive Booths include:

• How can we help our feathered friends?
• How can you solve a simple problem in a complicated way using recycled objects?
• How can you design a green building of the future?
• Can you make music from garbage?
• How can everyday objects be turned into new technologies?

Click on the attachment for the full program.  Don't forget you can scan the QR code to save paper!

We hope to see you there next Wednesday, March 16th!

2016 Artists in Bloom

The Canton K-12 Visual Arts Department annually partners with the Canton Garden Club to put on an amazing display of student artwork and floral designs. The event is a great showcase of the talent in the schools and the community, and a visit will spark your excitement for spring. Kudos to K-12 Visual Arts Coordinator Joyce Stenmon and her entire department for their phenomenal work with the Canton community. 

Location: Pequitside Farm, 79 Pleasant Street

Saturday, March 12 -- Noon to 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 13 -- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $5

Congratulations to 

Canton's Future Problem Solvers!

Great news for the Canton Future Problem Solving Program again this year! The program has five teams and four individuals advancing to State Bowl. Thank you to Susan Crespi and Sue Bronstein, Canton Future Problem Solving Program Co-Coordinators, for providing the following information.

The following teams have been invited to compete at State Bowl at Clark University in Worcester on Saturday, April 2:

JUNIOR DIVISION - TEAM

Hansen Elementary School  

Grade 5 - Coach: Lorna Martin

Isabella Cox

Erika Duffin

Abigail Martin

Grace Powers

Galvin Middle School 

Grade 6 - Coach: Michelle Lynch

Carolyn Clogher

Jordana Hersh

Emily Lynch

Grace Sweetland

MIDDLE DIVISION - TEAM

Galvin Middle School  

Grade 8 - Coaches: Michelle Lynch/Jen Prendergast

Arielle Galinsky

Katie Lynch

Lydia Prendergast

Galvin Middle School  

Grade 8 - Coach: Sameer Apte

Sohil Apte

Ali Kabbara

Anna Mak

David Walker

SENIOR DIVISION - TEAM

Canton High School 

Grade 11 - Coach: Jen Pendergast

Christine Lee

Meryl Prendergast

JUNIOR DIVISION - INDIVIDUAL

Luce Elementary School 

Grade 4 - Coach: Jenn Rhodes

John Flaherty

MIDDLE DIVISION - INDIVIDUAL

Galvin Middle School 

Grade 8 - Coach: Vijay Addanki

Anvitha Addanki

Galvin Middle School 

Grade 7 - Coach: Janice Troy

Christopher Cummings

Galvin Middle School 

Grade 7 - Coach: Madhuri Valluri

Harshitha Valluri

Congratulations to these students and their volunteer coaches for a job well done! A HUGE THANK YOU to administration, teachers, administrative assistants, and custodial staff who assist us in making this program an exceptional experience for our students. Great teamwork! We wish the all the teams and individuals GOOD LUCK at State Bowl.

World Language Week!

Once again, the World Language Department has coordinated a fantastic World Language Week, featuring several afterschool events and classroom activities. We look forward to having fun and learning as we continually enhance our cultural awareness, live our core value of "inclusive community" and hold all cultures in high esteem. 

2016 CHS Musical: Once on this Island

Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m.

Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 19 at 2 p.m.

To buy tickets online...Click the following link

Once On This Island tickets

From the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Seussical, Ragtime) comes the Olivier Award-winning Once On This Island. This highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including Best Musical, Book and Score.

Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island, Daniel, with whom she falls in love. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over which is stronger, love or death, the stakes being Ti Moune's life. When she pursues Daniel, who has returned to his people, Ti Moune is shunned because of her lowly status. 

Her determination and capacity to love, though, is not enough to win Daniel's heart and Ti Moune pays the ultimate price; but the gods turn Ti Moune into a tree that grows so strong and so tall, it breaks the wall that separates the societies and ultimately unites them.

The CAPE Spelling Bee, Friday March 11!

Tickets Now on Sale! Place your Good Luck ad! Adult Team spots are filling fast, reserve yours today!

CHS will have at least two student teams! Students: if you are interested in developing a team, please contact English Department Coordinator Rebecca Ashley asap.

Click on the link below to buy tickets, place your good luck ad in the Bee program or buy a Letter Poster to be hung outside the auditorium the night of the Bee (can be taken home after to adorn bedroom or business walls!)

https://cape.ejoinme.org/MyPages/CAPESpellingBeeMarch2016AdsandSponsors/tabid/744502/Default.aspx

Cheer on your favorite speller or team while supporting the Canton Public Schools. 

A great event for a great cause!

Email mkelley16@comcast.net with any questions. We hope to see you there! 

CANTON IN EUROPE 2016

CHS Students Visit Italy over Feb. Break! 

Check out this video (above) and the photos (below) that capture the many great memories and experiences of CHS students and staff. Thank you to Mrs. Swanson for coordinating and supervising another great trip!

Celebrating Black History Month

Canton Families Embracing Diversity (CFED) invites you to celebrate Black History Month on Wednesday, February 24 at 7PM in the Canton High School Distance Learning Lab.

Come hear our keynote speaker discuss "Combating Xenophobia: The Affects of Cultural and Racial Stereotypes in the Media."  

The Canton High School Chamber Singers and a spoken word artist will also be performing.

All are welcome!

Mobil Mart donates for CHS STEAM activities

Frank's Mobil Mart and Global Partners LP recently made a $500 donation to Canton High School for the fifth straight year for STEAM-related activities. These donations have been used to develop the CHS Robotics Club Program. Pictured in the photo is Owner Frank Freiha, Global Partners LP regional manager Dan Pereira and CHS Principal Derek Folan.

Thank you to Mobil Mart and Global Partners LP!

CPACSS Workshop -- Wednesday, Jan. 13, 7-9 p.m.

CPACSS Workshop: WHAT ARE TESTS TESTING?

Presenter: Joseph Moldover, Psy.D., ABPP/CN, Clinical Psychologist and Board Certified Neuropsychologist

Dr. Joseph Moldover is a clinical psychologist with specialty training in developmental neuropsychology. His work focuses on building a complete understanding of an individual’s learning and behavior through the use of psychological and neuropsychological assessment techniques, psychotherapy, and school consultation. 

This presentation will be about helping parents understand neuropsychological and school evaluations.

Wednesday January 13th

7-9pm

CHS Library

CPACSS provides workshops, support and parent networking for families in the district who receive special education services (IEPs, 504 Plans, OT, PT, Speech, etc.) or any who are interested in learning more.  Please join us as we continue to grow and create an active, vibrant network.

https://www.facebook.com/CPACSS/

SAT AND ACT PREPARATION PROGRAM

FOR CANTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Academic Approach flyer

Be sure to click on the link above or the link on the CHS homepage to access the full schedule and syllabus. 

To Register Click this Link

Academic Approach is offering a hybrid 24 hour SAT and ACT prepar
ation course for Canton High School students that will prepare them for both the April 9th ACT and the May 7th SAT*. The course will begin with a diagnostic test on Saturday, February 6th from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. Classes will meet for 90 minutes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45p.m. to 4:15 p.m., beginning on Tuesday March, 8th.

*Students must register themselves for the official SAT and ACT.

Each student who signs up for a course will receive the following:

Highly Customized Classroom Teaching: 
Academic Approach classrooms are efficient and effective because of the level of customized teaching we achieve through our detailed diagnostic reports and extensive online and in-print coursework materials. Diagnostic and practice exams will enable Academic Approach to tailor the teaching to the most common and immediate test preparation needs of the entire class as revealed by a score-report analysis.

Expert Tutors Mentoring Students: 
At Academic Approach, we see test preparation as a teachable moment: an opportunity to engage students in real learning. We, as tutors, are warm, supportive, teaching professionals who know how to make a classroom experience effective in raising scores, academically enriching, and, just as importantly, fun.

Communication and Support
At Academic Approach, we understand and appreciate that, in order for our programs to succeed, parents often require information and guidance. Our local directors supervise all programs and insist on their quality: alerting you to absences, offering access to online score reports, and providing you with all the support you need along the way. Signing Up: To register please fill out this registration form.

Cost: Academic Approach’s customized classroom program for Canton High School students is $500.

A DRONE at Canton High School!

Students capture amazing aerial footage for the LipDub

A Drone. An Experienced Pilot. Cameras. Students learning. Amazing aerial footage.
Simply Awesome!

TV Production teacher Mr. McDonough and the CHS student team coordinating the upcoming CHS LipDub worked side-by-side with Pilot Michael Kolowich and his son Robert -- and their drone -- to capture aerial footage of the CHS campus during the December vacation.

Mr. Kolowich donated his time to teach the CHS students how to navigate the drone and record a variety of shots. The results (which will be featured in the CHS LipDub) are breathtaking and the learning experience was priceless.

A big thank you to Mr. Kolowich and his son Robert! A big shout out to Nick Buser for setting this up! Kudos to Mike Noone, Mia Tess, Jason Kaplan, Nick Buser, Steve Gorham and Mr. McDonough for working so hard to make the CHS LipDub 2.0 great. The LipDub is scheduled to be filmed in early February.