By Donna Hayward, Principal.
Greetings from Haddam Killingworth High School!
As we start off strong for second semester, we are already looking ahead to 2020-21. Once again, we will be using the online course selection process through the PowerSchool portal. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks about the course selection process.
In the meantime, I am as proud as ever to share good news and celebrations from the high school.
Athletic Update
Talbott name CHSCA Softball Coach of the Year
Congratulations to Head Softball Coach Jeff Talbott for being named the Connecticut High School Coach of the year! Talbott took over the program in 1999 and, is 300-169 in 21 seasons with one state championship and two Shoreline Conference titles. In 42 seasons, the Cougars have qualified for the State tournament 41 times. Pictured is the 2019 team with Coach after his 300th win.
Sportsperson of the Week: Juliana Gagliardi
Juliana Gagliardi was selected as the Sportsperson of the Week for The Source. She is having a great debut season on the high school gymnastics circuit this winter. A freshman, Juliana is one of three athletes from the HK/Morgan/Hale Ray co-op gymnastics team. Three meets into the season, Juliana has been recording scores in the high 8s and low 9s in all four of her events. Juliana is a Level 8 gymnast.
Culinary Arts
The culinary arts students were very busy throughout the fall semester. The basic food classes learned various cooking techniques such as sautéing, baking, roasting, pan frying, steaming and much more. They finished off the semester with another trip to CT Style showing off the winning gingerbread house from the annual gingerbread house competition.
The international cuisine class dove into recipes from many different countries, Italy, France, Poland, Greece to name a few. They finished off the semester with making food from different regions of the good ol’ USA. A new semester has started with new students in the culinary classes. All are very excited to learn all the tricks of the trade in the culinary world.
Child Development News
Students in Early Childhood Internship and Laboratory Experience wrapped up the year with an in-school field trip to the HK Cubs Childcare Center. The field trip allowed the students to see how the Childcare Center operates throughout the school day. Students were able to assist in the routines of the day, see caregivers handle the achievements and challenges of each stage of early childhood (infant, toddler, and preschool) as well as the transitions between activities.
The children from the HK Cubs refer to the high school students as the “Big Kid Friends” and enjoy working with them in the Center as well as the child development classroom. High School students lead an activity with the toddlers or preschoolers on Thursdays and Fridays. This activity, known as “Big Kid Time,” begins with a greeting, welcome song, read aloud, a fine motor activity (toddlers or preschoolers working the muscles in the hands and fingers) such as play dough, art, finger plays, and ends with a gross motor activity or exploration for toddlers (free play with toys that relate to the story and fine motor activity of the day.) Plans and preparations for the activity precede the delivery each week and a reflection and evaluation follows to discuss “Big Kid Time” outcomes.
Interns and the Laboratory Experience class also spend time in the Center working along with the caregivers to see the children in their regular routines.
In addition, Introduction to Child Development concluded in semester one. This class investigates growth and development in childhood, heredity and environmental influences on the individual, family strengths and stresses, physical, social and emotional development, and intellectual development. Students researched a theory of development to share with the class. Weekly observations of children in the daycare center linked the class content to behavior.
News from the HK Players
This year, HK Seniors Devin Coon and Arjun Badami will be directing One-Act plays as a culmination of their careers on the HK Stage.
Arjun Badami will direct, The One-Act Play “Disaster,” by Don Zolidis. Badami has been a member of the HK Players for four years, acting in eleven plays on the HK stage throughout his time in high school, including as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz and as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. The One-Act Play Disaster is the tale of a group of actors who attempt to put on a play about a thrilling heist, but fail miserably. The show includes such gags as furniture that falls and breaks, a smooth-talking con man who has stage fright, and a recent but still contemptuous breakup between one of the actors and the lighting person.
Devin Coon’s Show, “The Internet is distract- OH LOOK, A KITTEN!” is also a mad-cap comedy. In it, main character Micah only has forty-five minutes to finish her paper on The Great Gatsby. She just needs to check a few facts on the internet first. Unfortunately, the Web is a nefariously wacky place where boxing cats, Russian spies, and competitive streaming services threaten to take over Micah’s schoolwork, or worse. Will she finish her paper and escape with her life before the school bell rings? Come see the high-octane comedy that explores the rabbit hole of distraction we all go down every time we go online. The one-act plays are scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the HK High School auditorium. Admission is free.
