High School Test Scores

ESUMS SAT scores were the highest in the district last year.  Average scores at ESUMS were:

458 Reading / 479 Math / 452 Writing.

The district average was 378 Reading / 376 Math / 390 Writing.  ESUMS average PSAT scores for juniors were also the highest in the district:

46.4 Reading / 49 Math / 44.5 Writing.

8th and 9th graders were tested via the new Readistep test.  ESUMS average scores were:

with 51% deemed "on track to be college and career ready" (national average is 27%).

More Math Victories!

The ESUMS middle school math team placed first in the New Haven MathCounts competition. Fourteen students competed, and 8 won individual medals (placed in the top 16).

Come Speak to the New Haven Independent at 1:30 Today (NHPS Budget)

A reporter from the New Haven Independent will be at ESUMS today to speak with parents about the newly approved NHPS budget.

BUDGET TODAY !!!

Today there is a NHPS Board of Education vote on the 2016 Budget proposal (5:30 pm, at Career HS); Wednesday they present the budget to the Finance Committee of the Board of Alders.  

Here is a link to view the 2016 budget and summary.

ESUMS is around page 57.  After the district equity report (which described ESUMS as one of the lowest-funded high schools in the city), the per-pupil amount is actually reduced from this year to next, and is about $1000 per pupil less than Career, $2000 less than Co-op, $4000 less than Hyde and $7000 less than Sound !!!  

New Haven residents, it would be great if you can arrange your schedule to show up at that meeting tonight.  Otherwise, all parents can contact members of the Board of Ed at the email addresses listed at: http://www.nhps.net/boe.

A Message From the Hospitality Committee

Hi Everybody!

     The sun is shining, and we hope that you all are having a great day so far!  On Friday, May 1st, there will be a middle school dance, and we were asked to provide snacks and refreshments for the kids that will be attending. Please use this link to see what has been requested, and to let us know what you can bring in.

     For the dance, please bring or send in your donation the day of the dance (5/1), and leave it in the office with Ms. Flowers. Or if your child is attending the dance, you can bring it in when you drop them off. If possible, please tape a note on whatever you bring in, reading "For School Dance". Please remember, we have a nut free school, so make sure that any and all snacks are nut free.
     The week of 5/4 is Teacher Appreciation Week. We wanted to show the teachers our appreciation by supplying yummy treats over the course of the week. While the PTO will be providing lunch for the teachers on Thursday (5/7), we are hoping that you can all help us with the desserts. 

     Please use this link, and let us know what you are able to bring in, and what day you can bring it in for.  For teacher appreciation snacks, please drop them off in the teachers lounge.

     Finally May 1 is also the first day of standardized testing.  We have been asked to send in packaged snacks and gum to make the testing more pleasant for the kids and to help them concentrate.  The entire middle school and part of the high school will participate — that is a lot of gum!!  Please send in as much as you can to the office on Thursday (4/30) and label it “For Testing.”

     If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail Sharon OR Jill.
Thank you,
Sharon Feuerstein & Jill Kelly

co-chairs of the Hospitality Committee

ESUMS PTO

Final Exam Schedule

Final exam schedule is as follows:  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday June 8, 9 & 10.  They will be full school days.  ESUMS will dismiss Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 11 - 17 @ 11:30 a.m.  June 18 & 19 will be full days and the final school day is June 22, Monday with an 11:30 a.m. dismissal.

Student Representative to be Elected to Board of Education

A message from New Haven Public Schools: 

At this time, we are asking for each high school to identify a Student Election Representative.  This individual can be any staff member in your school, regardless of their affiliation with student council, and will be my primary contact and an in-house resource for information regarding the elections. Please send me the name of your school’s Student Election Representative as soon as possible, so I can schedule a preliminary meeting with them to answer frequently asked questions.

I look forward to working with all of you, as we celebrate the power of student voice and student engagement in School Change.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.  I have included some highlights from the attached documents below.

More Math Victories!

Two ESUMS high school math teams placed 1st and 2nd in the New Haven High School Math Competition at SCSU.  Luke and Anisa were the top-ranked juniors.  8th graders Hizami and Prastik were the top-ranked "freshmen."  Congratulations to the teams and to Mr. Smith!

College Tour Details, a Message from Mrs. Goodridge

Hello ESUMS Parents,

I hope you're enjoying a wonderful spring vacation, we are gearing up for a wonderful and educational college tour. Below you will find the dates for the mandatory parent session and the college trip itinerary. Please know during the parent session you will receive emergency forms, code of conduct, hotel information, college selection sheet, we will split the college tour in both RI and Boston - you will select the colleges best for your student. 

Arabic Festival Tomorrow

Will be held at Career High School, 140 Legion Ave. 10 am - 1 pm

Reminders for After Break

When school resumes next week, it might be easy to forget:

(1) The Arabic Carnival on Tuesday the 21st.  Parent volunteers should go to Career High School after 10 am.
(2)  Snacks for standardized testing begins Friday, May 1.
(3)  Refreshments for Middle School Dance, also May 1.  Please label your donations clearly, so they won't get mixed up with the testing snacks!  Sign up at this link.

Westport Maker Fair April 25

Coffee And . . . This Friday!

Please join us for Coffee And . . .
Friday, April 10, at 8am in the conference room behind the office.

Coffee, a light breakfast, and conversation.  See you there!

Free Tickets for Students

Live Webcam of School Building Construction Site

Very cool, but a little hard-to-find on esumsnh.net, right above Featured Albums.

Courant Math "Splash" Event April 18

Courant Splash, or cSplash, is an annual one-day lecture series taught by enthusiastic students, faculty, and others associated with the Courant Institute of New York University. Since 2006, cSplash has been providing a meeting ground for mathematically inclined students in the New York metropolitan area, exposing them to the beauty, utility, and ubiquity of mathematical ideas.  http://www.csplash.org/view-talks?field_hour_value=2 (use the period menu to see all of the talks)

PTO Meeting Thursday, 4:30

We will meet at the beginning of Mini-Expo, a competitive display of the high school's science and tech classes.  Don't miss it!

Free Tickets to TEDxYale

TEDxYale 2015: Moment of Impact 

"Connecting the world’s brightest minds with the world’s best ideas.”

Info on the conference: http://tedxyale.com/2015

TEDxYale’s fourth annual conference has as its theme “Moment of Impact.” The conference, an independently student-organized event licensed by TED, will be held at the Shubert Theater, 247 College St., on Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year’s conference will feature speakers from campus and beyond. Yale faculty participants include Willie Ruff of the School of Music, Teresa Berger of the Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music, Michael Pantalon of the School of Medicine, Phil Bernstein of the School of Architecture, and LuAnn Etcher of the School of Nursing. There will also be presentations by Yale alumni, students, and guest speakers coming to New Haven for the conference. 

To reserve free your free tickets follow the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eEBFN9L4ehh1AnEVzuXHwfuMh77FBSSZ86ajpXbFcrw/viewform

The New Haven Budget Affects Students and Schools

School nurses, library hours, food.  Call or write your Alder to voice your opinions.  

Math is Important -- the Literacy Council Agrees

Join the Literacy Council of Greater New Haven, on Wednesday, April 29 as they hold a Public Forum on "Why is Math Important?" The forum will take place at Gateway Community College (21 Church Street), and will begin at 5:00PM!

Math Camps!

Mostly for high school students; some are costly but most have scholarships.

• PROMYS (Programs in Math for Young Scientists) - PROMYS is a six-week summer program at Boston University designed to encourage motivated high school students to explore the creative world of mathematics in a supportive community of peers, counselors, research mathematicians, and visiting scientists.
• SUMaC (Stanford University Math Camp) - bringing mathematically talented and motivated high-school students from across the United States, and from around the world, to Stanford University for four weeks of serious mathematical pursuits.
• MathCamp - A joint venture between the USA and Canada, this 5-week summer program rotates to a different college campus each year.
• Ross Mathematics Program - an intensive summer experience designed to encourage motivated pre-college students to explore mathematics. During those eight weeks, students are immersed in a world of mathematical discovery.
• HCSSiM (Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics) - an intensive six-week residential program for enthusiastic students. Working in small classes and individually, participants will actively engage in the process of mathematical thought.
• SWIM (Summer Workshop in Mathematics) - a two week summer program at Princeton University for rising senior girls interested in mathematics.
• MathILy (serious Mathematics Infused with Levity) - Do you want to explore and create mathematics? Consider MathILy, an intensive residential summer program that emphasizes mathematics that is pure but applicable and has a core curriculum of discrete mathematics. 
• HSMC (Mathworks Honors Summer Math Camp) -  It is a six-week immersive residential program held at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

To find more summer opportunities, check the AMS list of Math Summer Camps or the AWM list of Other Programs.

A Couple of NHPS Budget Meetings Next Week

There is a public hearing on Monday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m. at Career High School to discuss the NHPS budget.  This is an important meeting as Superintendent Garth Harries will be making the case for the district's budget request.

In addition, Mayor Harp has added 4 new nursing positions to the Budget for this coming fiscal year.  Currently, there are 31 full-time nursing positions for 53 school sites serving New Haven district school students.  The city of New Haven provides funding for nurses in schools not NHPS.

The four positions will increase the nursing coverage in schools that now have a nurse less than full time.  Many New Haven schools have a nurse on site for just 2 or 3 days during the week.  It is imperative NHPS parents attend Monday's meeting to show support for the additional nurse positions and to support the school district's budget.

Change in Dates of Spirit Week!!

Dear Parents,

Our apologies for the inconvenience. Please note that there has been a change to the previously published dress down calendar. Note changes to ESUMS website: www.esumsnh.comand earlier communication.

Due to scheduling conflicts, we will hold a School Wide Spirit Week for school funds during the week of Monday, March 30  through Thursday, April 2. Also, note that there is no School on Friday April 3. THERE WILL BE NO DRESS DOWN DAYS ON APRIL 6th, 7th, 8th NOR 9th. The 5th dress down day will be on Friday April 10th, the last day before break. This is a half day.

The cost for these 5 days is $5. Money will be paid to Homeroom/ First Period Teachers.

Monday March 30th – Sports Team Day – Represent your favorite team of whatever sport you want!
Tuesday March 31st – Decade Day – Go through your old clothes and show off your style!
Wednesday April 1st – Wacky Tacky Day – Too colorful? Mismatch? PERFECT!
Thursday April 2nd – Twin Day – Pair up with another teacher or student and be TWINS!!

We look forward to seeing that sprit!

UCONN Summer Program

UCONN MENTOR CONNECTION:  A REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE FOR TALENTED TEENS 

Get a glimpse of college life this summer and immerse yourself in a research or creative project with peers with similar interests at UCONN Mentor Connection July 12 – August 7. If you are a current 10th or 11th grade student, you have until March 27^th to apply. Program cost is $5800.

Newhallville Community Cleanup, 4 Saturdays in April & May

Great opportunity to get student volunteer hours.  Read more on this Newhallville Blog.

A Few Recent Independent Articles on Education in New Haven

RAND Study for New Haven Promise
Restorative Justice
State Policy on Charter Schools

Another Free Science Lecture, April 4

Hello fellow science enthusiast!  We would like to invite you to the first public lecture of 2015. Yale Professor Judy Cha will be presenting: "Watching Atoms Dance". The lecture will be followed by hands-on science demos and lab tours.

Computer Science Career Fair at Gateway, April 7

http://www.cttalent.org

Science Saturday This Week

Science on Saturdays: Nu Frontiers in Neutrino Physics

Saturday, March 28^th, 10am-12pm.

Sterling Chemistry Laboratory, 225 Prospect St. New Haven.

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

ALL AGES WELCOME!

Science Saturdays is a special science demonstration and lecture series that brings the excitement of research and the passion of scientists to the community.  Each event involves a lecture by a Yale professor and engaging science demonstrations run by Yale college students. This weekend, come hear Prof. Bonnie Fleming (Physics, Girls Science Investigations) talk about neutrinos.

Parent Meeting on School Choice and Charters

Sign up here.

High School Dance Moved to Friday, March 27, at ESUMS

Everything is still the same: they still need refreshments, parent help, etc., but perhaps it will be a bit easier at the school.

Movie Night (Afternoon) to Benefit the Drama Club, Wednesday

You Really Can Have It All

Working mathematician is also a successful NFL lineman -- Article.

How Did ESUMS Do at the State Science Olympiad This Weekend?

Great!  5th place team overall, Jacob Feuerstein and Tess Berni placed 3rd for meteorology, and Jacob Feuerstein and Adrian Joseph placed 1st for disease detectives!  (These are the only results I've heard so far -- please send more or comment if you know them.)  

Dance Postponed Due to Snow; New Date TBA

New Haven Promise & School Change Study

The New Haven Promise Board of Directors invites you to attend a study briefing focused on the early progress of New Haven Promise and the New Haven School Change initiative, designed to improve student educational outcomes in the City. The study — conducted by the RAND Corporation and sponsored by The Peter & Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation — will be presented by RAND sociologist Dr. Gabriella C. Gonzalez.

Delivering remarks will be Yale President Peter Salovey, New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp, New Haven Promise Executive Director Patricia Melton and New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Garth Harries. There will be a question-and-answer session following the presentation and remarks. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2015
10:30 am to Noon
Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Seminary Room (4th Floor) 177 College Street New Haven
To RSVP, please contact Patricia Melton at (203) 776-6473 or patricia@newhavenpromise.org 

Call for Volunteers!

9 Ways You Can Help ESUMS This Spring!

(1)  High School Dance:  will be happening this Friday, the 20th!  Donations of baked good, drinks and other snacks can be dropped off at the school on Friday or brought in the evening directly to “the parish hall in front of Betsy Ross School” which is 150 Kimberley Ave. New Haven.  Please contact the student government (esumsstudentgov@gmail.com) with questions.

(2)  Arabic Carnival:  Ms. Zenait will need parent volunteers for the Arabic Carnival, April 28 at Career High School.  She will be sending out details soon, but mark your calendars.

(3)  Snacks for Testing:  Please donate snacks to make the standardized testing more pleasant for the students.  Gum is especially welome, but anything without nuts would be terrific.  Please drop your snack donations off or send them in with your student on May 1.

     Ideally we would like to have one snack and one piece of gum per child for each of 4 testing days.  That is a lot!  Organizations like Costco will make "in kind" merchandise donations to non-profits like the PTO, if you'd like to approach their managers and fill out some forms.

(4)  Middle School Dance:  We would like to recruit parent chaperones and ask for refreshment donations for the dance on May 1.  Volunteers can contact Darcey Cobbs-Lomax or Mila McKeown to sign up.  A sign-up sheet for refreshments will be posted in April.

(5)  Costumes for Drama Club:  The drama club will hold its production of Alice vs. Wonderland on May 7 & 8.  The kids are looking for costumes -- costumes you may already have at home, financial donations, or sewing skills.   Contact Ms. Robinson for details.

(6)  Donate School Uniforms:  The school uniform exchange has far too many small 6th-grade-size uniform pieces and no large high-school-size ones.  Donations of clean, gently used or new, large clothing, even adult clothing that complies with the school dress code, would be very helpful.  

(7) Welcome New Families:  Parent volunteers can also help out at the new student orientation on May 21, 6-8 pm, at the University of New Haven. 

(8)  Help out at Field Day:  Please mark your calendar for this year's middle school field day which will be held June 3, weather permitting.  We will need parent volunteers and food contributions; more details will follow as the event draws closer.   

(9)  Practice:  Remind your child to use Membean and IXL to practice their vocabulary and math skills.  If your child can't remember his or her password, please contact Ms. Corcoran.  You and your child can also preview or practice the new standardized tests (Smarter Balanced/Common Core) using their online practice tests. 

(10)  No-Cost Fundraising:  Keep sending in those boxtops and using our Amazon fundraising link.  We've collected 550 boxtops and raised $138 from Amazon so far this year. 

Thank you so much for all your help!

How Did ESUMS Do at the TSA TEAMS Science & Engineering Competition?

The 9th & 10th grade team placed 3rd in the state, with a possibility of attending the national contest.  Congratulations to all!

How Did ESUMS Do at History Day?

8th grader Melina Joseph's essay will go on to the State level competition.  Congratulations, Melina!

How Did ESUMS Do at the State MathCounts Competition Today?

Amazing!  2nd Place Team in the State!  Prastik Mohanraj won 1st Place Individual Student, and Hizami Anuar won 2nd Place Individual Student.  They will both go on to the National Competition! Congratulations to Prastik, Hizami, Jacob & Owen!

How Did ESUMS Do at the State Science Fair This Year?

Pretty terrific!  Congratulations to Jacob, Sumi, Lauren, and Prastik!

(Click on image to read it more easily.)

Hooray! Blasting Begins for the New ESUMS Building!

Subject: ESUMS Blasting - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Next Four (4) Weeks

Dear Campus Students, Faculty and Staff,

 Please be aware that the blasting phase of construction for the Engineering and Science University Magnet School (ESUMS) will begin next week.

 Blasting  will continue with two events per day  (mornings after 9:00 a.m. and afternoons before 5:00 p.m.).  This activity will continue for approximately four (4) weeks.

 Many of you may have experienced the vibration of the initial test and early blasts both yesterday and today.  These were conducted to validate that the activities are within permitted safe seismic limits.

 This is very similar to the blasting conducted for Westside Hall using the same safeguards and safety protocols.  These safeguards include and are not limited to, notification to city and university safety/emergency personnel, perimeter security and seismic monitoring.

 Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the Office of Facilities or the Office of Campus Safety & Security.

Subscribe to This Blog

Would you like to receive these PTO Announcements conveniently in your email?  Scroll all the way down the bottom of this blog page and click on the subscribe link.  It looks like this:

Free Online Resources Available to ESUMS Students

Hopefully you have already heard your student mention Membean.  It's a great online vocabulary building tool that all ESUMS students can (and should!) use.  Try it out yourself and encourage your student to use it!

IXLis a similar program for math, but it has more explanation and problems.  Topics go from basic math through pre-calculus, and there is a new section for learning English grammar.  IXL is available for free to every ESUMS student -- if your child doesn't know his or her login information, please contact Bridget Corcoran for help.  

Another online resource to explore as a parent is the set of "Smarter Balanced" practice tests associated with the Common Core in Connecticut.  Please try out these tests yourself to get an idea of what your student will be asked to do on test days (in May) and encourage your child to try them out to get familiar with the interface (it is a bit tricky).  

All of these are great supplements for "no homework" nights!  

Magnet School Lottery Applications Are Due Friday the 13th

REMINDER: NHPS Enrollment Applications are due Tomorrow, Friday, March 13th. Visit: http://www.newhavenmagnetschools.com/

The School Placement Process (formerly called the lottery) will be open to the public and held at 10:00 am on March 31st @ 54 Meadow St in the 2nd floor Boardroom.

Summer Programs 2015

Have you seen this great list of high school summer programs, put together by the ESUMS Guidance Department?

Don't Forget that PTO Meeting Tomorrow!

5 pm, following the Open House.

Please feel free to come early (at 4) to participate in the open house and introduce prospective families to ESUMS.

Bring or Buy -- Send in a Pi(e)

Parents, please send in a pie or two to help the kids celebrate Pi Day on Friday!

High School Students to Attend Brownsville Song

Senior English students and students from African-American/Latino Experience will be traveling to Long Wharf Theater to see Brownsville Song in April.  Mr. Maroney and Ms. Criscuolo have taking workshops at EDLAB  through the theater's education department.  It should be a great field trip.  

Workshop for First-Generation College Students & Families

Wed Mar 11, 2015, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
“Preparing Your Child For College and What to Expect When They Get On Campus”
Sponsored by: Southern Connecticut State University

CMT & CAPT Announcement

All of the 8th, 10th and some 11th grade students will be taking either CMT Science and CAPT tests this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Please be sure students have a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast.  Students will be allowed to chew gum during the testing period only.  Chewing gum aids concentration.  We wish all of our students success and wish all of our families a wonderful week!  Welcome Springtime!

Get Ready for Pi Day Friday!

Coffee And . . . Wednesday!!

Please join the PTO for coffee and conversation on Wednesday morning, March 11, 8 a.m. in the meeting room behind the school office.

Mini-Expo April 2

ESUMS will host its 2^nd Annual Mini Expo on Thursday, April 2^, 2015 in the gymnasium at 130B Leeder Hill Drive from 4:30pm to 7pm. Three to five industry professionals will be assessing the student groups for each content area, and the group with the highest aggregate score in each category will move on to compete in the Connecticut Student Innovation Exposition (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Entrepreneurship and 3D Modeling). 

New Haven Public Schools' Magnet Schools Video

Video: Ms. Blue speaks at the 16-minute mark.  New Haven magnet schools are doing some great things!

A Couple of Yale Opportunities

Thursday, March 5, 4pm - 5 pm, Green Cafe at Marsh Botanical Gardens, 227 Mansfield St., for those interested in plant science, gardening, history and food.  (free event, every Thursday)

Saturday, March 7, 9 am - 12 pm, Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival, 6th - 12th grade, math activities.  Details and registration at tinyurl.com/JRMFYale2015.  $10, with fee waivers available.

Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Science in the News: Science of the Aging Brain, New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm St.

Saturday, March 28, 10 am - 3 pm, Green Careers for Women, Kroon Hall, 195 Prospect St.  Register at bit.ly/GCWL2015.

Saturday, March 28, 10 am - 12 pm, Science Saturday: Nu Frontiers in Neutrino Physics, Sterling Chemistry Lab, 225 Prospect St.

Get Ready for the College Tour!

A Welcome for Ms. Heba, Our New Middle School Arabic Teacher

Dear Parents/Guardians,  “As-Salamo Alikom” Peace Be Upon You.

I am Abir Zenait, the lead Arabic teacher at ESUMS and instructor in the high school. I am writing this letter to invite you to an Introductory Welcome for the new ESUMS Arabic teacher, Ms. Heba AlKahouli, who will replace Ms. Hajjar for the rest of the year. Let’s have a little break and get closer to Ms. Heba while we enjoy my special Arabic Coffee & Sweet. The welcome will be in my room “329” between 10:00-12:00 on Monday 3/2/2015

Interesting School Summary

Ct Mirror

Very out-of-date, though.  Remember when the school day was 9:30-3:50??  Also somewhat misleading in many categories: they apparently don't consider Engineering to be Technology Education, and they don't know about Arabic as a world language.  But interesting overall.

Ms. Hajjar is Leaving ESUMS

Ms. Hajjar has found a full-time position in another town.  Click to read her letter.  We will miss her so much and wish her all the best until perhaps she can return one day -- Mahbruk!  

ESUMS Launches Writing Center

esumsnh.net

We are proud to announce the opening of the ESUMS Writing Center. Our tutors are working in conjunction with University of New Haven. They have been trained by the Director of the Writing Center at UNH (Dr. Mary Isbell) and are excited to work with our students, grades 6-12, on improving all aspects of their writing.  If you are interested in utilizing the ESUMS Writing Center, or would like to refer a student, please contact Ms. Robinson or any of the tutors listed below.

Reminder: Mixed Bags

The Mixed Bags fundraiser is one which Ms. Anna has personally organized.  Funds raised will support the school and school programs.  PTO volunteers would be most welcome to help with paperwork and distribution of the bags.  Please return your order forms this week.  Of course, anyone who can't find a mixed bag they like can always make a direct donation at Support ESUMS.

Reminder: Parent Volunteers Needed for Open Houses

Please contact Dr. Kerrison to volunteer.  Volunteers will welcome visitors, lead tours of the building, and answer questions from prospective parents and students.  It's only an hour commitment.

Congratulations to Odia and Mama!

From esumsnh.net: Odia Kane has been selected as a 2015 Women of Innovation honoree in the Youth Innovation and Leadership category.  This year the Committee reviewed over 200 nominations and faced a difficult task selecting finalists from an outstanding group of nominees.

Mama Soumahoro (10th grade) has won FIRST place in an arts and writing competition, honoring Black History Month, sponsored by the Connecticut People's World Committee. Her poem "Song of the Shadows" earned her the top spot. She will be honored and given her prize on Sunday Feb. 22 at 4 pm at the People's Center 37 Howe St. in New Haven

Nonviolence Presentation Saturday, Feb. 28

Event is free and features Joe Brummer, who sometimes conducts workshops at ESUMS.

Peabody Tour Opportunity

ConBio's exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Peabody Museum's Dry Collection (including bird and mammal species) is coming up THIS WEEK on Friday, February 20th at 1:00pm-2:00pm. There are still open slots to join the tour! You will be able to see an abundance of interesting specimens including some endangered species! If you are interested, please sign up here.  

Financial Aid Workshop Next Wednesday (at Yale, but for any college)

Cool Solar Energy Tool

Ever wondered if your house is a good candidate for solar power?  This website looks at your roof in Google Earth and gives you a rough estimate of what solar panels would cost and how long it might take to "pay for itself."  This and other interesting articles are on engineering.com.

Interested in Bugs?

Meetings of the Connecticut Entomological Society are free & open to the public.  Next talk is on tsetse flies, Feb. 20 at 7:30.

Science in the News -- Tonight!

Parents: Volunteer for Science Fair

The New Haven Science Fair is looking for judges and mentors.  Anyone with a science or engineering background can help out.

Committee Discussion of AF Charter School Tonight, 5:30, Martinez School

New Haven Independent describes all the issues and details.

New Date for New Haven Point-in-Time Homeless Count

Feb. 18, sign up here.

New Haven Fresh Start Pardons Sessions

Minds in Motion Program

Registration for the February 28 MonroeMinds in Motion™ has been extended to Monday February 16.  Read the brochure, select your workshops, and register now. Registration is also open for MIM Milford March 7, MIM Middletown March 14 and MIMWestport March 21. Register today because workshops are sure to fill up fast. Registration for MIM Milford closes February 27. Registration for MIM Middletown closes March 2, and registration for MIM Westport closes March 9. 

Good Article -- Think Carefully on Social Media

NY Times: Don't wreck your future using social media -- offensive jokes often fall flat with long-term consequences.

Teenagers Need More Sleep to Perform Well in School

NY Times says 9 hours.

A Fun Engineering Bio

Lonnie G. Johnson
(1949– )
He was an engineer for NASA, but Johnson may be most famous for inventing the Super Soaker!
Background: Johnson was born in Mobile, Ala., and attended college at Tuskegee University. After completing his master's degree, he joined the U.S. Air Force.
Invention: Johnson began working as an engineer for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1979. During his time at NASA, Johnson worked on the Galileo mission to Jupiter, the Mars Observer project, and the Cassini mission to Saturn. He earned multiple awards from NASA for his spacecraft control systems.

But Johnson is possibly best known for inventing the Super Soaker water gun. The inspiration hit him while he was working on an eco-friendly heat pump. "I accidentally shot a stream of water across a bathroom where I was doing the experiment and thought to myself, 'This would make a great gun'," Johnson said. The Super Soaker's success allowed him to work for himself and fund his own research in green technology. Johnson holds more than 100 patents.
Did You Know? Johnson considers a robot that he built in high school one of his top three inventions, along with the Super Soaker and his work for the Galileo project.

Free Practice SAT on Monday

C2 Education Westport will be hosting a free testing event to celebrate Presidents’ Day. Students will have the opportunity to take practice tests for the New SAT, current SAT, ACT, or Grade Level Testing.

Free Homework Help during February Break

C2 Education is offering Free Homework Help in your community!

Whether a student is having difficulty with a certain problem, preparing for a big test, or writing an important essay, they are welcome to stop by for assistance from one of our skilled tutors*.

Homework Help is available 2/16/15 - 2/19/15 from 1:35-3:25 pm. Seating is limited.  For the best experience, we recommend calling to reserve a spot and avoid a wait.

Subjects available:

--English

--Biology

--Algebra I & II/Geometry/Pre-Calc

--Reading & Writing

--Chemistry

Unlike other programs, which tend to be one-size-fits-all, C2 Education’s tutoring programs are personalized to meet the unique needs of each student.

*One two-hour session per student allowed.  Non-C2 students only.  

Principal Blue-Ellis Attends Prestigious Educational Summit

Press Release

Two Opportunities for Student Council / Student Government

2015 Challenge to Educational Citizenship Award:  Every year the State Student Advisory Council on Education accepts applications for the "Challenge to Educational Citizenship Award Program."  Projects should demonstrate good citizenship, a commitment to others, civic awareness, leadership, responsibility, teamwork, and an opportunity to students to help others.  The application is due April 17th.

Jack Kent Cook Foundation Scholarships for 7th Graders

National Scholarship Opportunity from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

As a member of Magnet Schools of America, we are proud to let you know about the following scholarship opportunity for 7th grade students as part of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Young Scholars Program.

Coffee And Tomorrow, 8 a.m.

Sorry for the late notice!  We'll be discussing PTO budget and funding policy.  Do not miss it!

NHPS School Change – Initiatives under Consideration

Read the latest updates.

Parents: Volunteer to be an Expert on Powerschool & Naviance

“Parents Engaging in Their Children’s Education Using Technology"

Train the Trainer Series is a training series to create Leaders in our schools that would then train our parents on the various tools available to help our students. 

We will be hosting training on Naviance, PowerSchools and the NHPS App. The training will cover the many ways that parents can use these technology resources to be more engaged in their child's education, and will allow parents leaders to better explain to other parents how to get the most out of these valuable resources.

Training will take place on Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19, from 9:00am - 12:00pm at Columbus Family Academy, 255 Blatchley Avenue.  Interested parents should contact Daniel.Diaz@new-haven.k12.ct.us immediately!  

Handouts from CPLT

The documents handed out at yesterday's CPLT meeting are now available.

Drama Club -- Another Round of Auditions

MathCounts Team Advances to State Competition

The ESUMS 8th Grade MathCounts Team placed 4th in the New Haven County Chapter Competition on Saturday.  They will advance to the State Competition in March along with the teams from Dodd Middle School, the Foote School and Hopkins Middle School.  Individual team members Hizami Anuar and Prastik Mohanraj also won individual awards, and the sixth grade participants performed well in their first meet.  Congratulations to all!

Cultural Activity for Feb. Break-- Kids' Brazilian Carnival

Care to Debate the Proposed NHPS Charter Elementary School?

Pro or Con, there will be an opportunity for public comment at the Governance Committee meeting, Feb. 17 at 5:30 pm. Details are in the links from this NHI article summarizing the issues.

Two ESUMS Seniors Found Skateboard Company

Story in the New Haven Independent.

Something Fun for your Friday Early-Dismissal Afternoon

Yale Center for Engineering Innovation and Design
"Engineering Makes Scents -- Engineer a signature scent for you or your Valentine"
1-3 pm, 15 Prospect St., free & open to the public.

Honors Breakfast Thursday

Students who received honors and their parents are invited.  High school 8-9 a.m., middle school 9:15-10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12.

Principal's Report February 2015

Please read Ms. Blue's Report.  Highlights: Honors (Schools of Distinction Grant, Cantinas Entertainment Award, Verizon App Challenge Finalists, Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Finalists, UNH Outstanding High School Senior Program, Selma (movie), Hour of Code, Teacher and Staff Professional Development, UNH Partnership, Community Service, Math Competitions, Assessments and Data, Planning Ahead.

Jeans for Teens

The student council is collecting gently used jeans for homeless teens.  Please bring to room 122 by Feb. 13.

Please Support Ms. Anna's Mixed Bags Fundraiser!

mixedbagdesigns.com  - there you can check out designs in a larger format than the catalogs.  All order forms with payment should be sent to the school no later than Wenesday, February 25.

ESUMS Wins Schools of Distinction Best Practices Grant

(HARTFORD, CT)—The State Department of Education today announced the winners of a new grant designed to help top-performing schools share best strategies for boosting student performance and replicate those practices throughout Connecticut.

The first Schools of Distinction Best Practice grants were awarded to four schools: Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Engineering and Science University Magnet School in New Haven, Clark Lane Middle School in Waterford, and Masuk High School in Monroe. They will serve as Spotlight Schools and help lead efforts to replicate their award-winning programs in schools throughout the state.

“With this grant, we want to shine a light on the best practices for improving student performance and make them available to other schools and districts in the state,” said Interim Commissioner of Education Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell. “These four schools have earned recognition as Schools of Distinction by excelling at high levels of performance. By taking their best ideas and putting them into practice, we will strengthen our efforts to turn around underperforming schools. The winning proposals will serve as models for others to follow, and we will be working with them to help disseminate their ideas and practices.”

New Haven’s Engineering and Science University Magnet School (Grades 6-12) received $40,000 for a school climate and culture program focused on attendance, behavior management, and engaging families in their children’s education.

“In efforts to prepare young people for success in college, career and life, engagement has become one of our top priorities,” said New Haven Superintendent of Schools Garth Harries. “It is an honor to be recognized by the State Department of Education for the best practices that Engineering and Science University Magnet School has implemented to meet each individual student’s needs. We look forward to sharing our successes throughout Connecticut to improve student learning.” 

Citywide Parent Leadership Team Meeting

Make sure your school is represented at this meeting.  We encourage parent leaders to engage, participate and provide us with Feedback.

Join us for our next   

Citywide Parent Leadership Team Meeting

Wednesday  February 11^th at 5:00 p.m.

Wilbur Cross High School Cafeteria

Dinner served promptly at 5:00 p.m.

Please let us know if you need child care

Contact 203 946 7005 (Hunter)

Or email Daniel.diaz@new-haven.k12.ct.us