Robert E. Fitch High School

Robert E. Fitch High School
101 Groton Long Point Rd.
Groton, CT 06340
JANUARY 2016 Newsletter
Our mission at Robert E. Fitch High School is to educate our students to become outstanding citizens equipped with
21st century learning skills. The faculty and staff collaborate with home and community to promote academic
excellence, personal wellness, and social awareness. We guide students into deeper cognitive awareness and
increased levels of understanding, and we encourage our students to use their individual talents to their fullest
potential. Our graduates are informed, responsible adults who respect diversity and value life-long learning.
ADMINISTRATION
Joseph A. Arcarese
Principal
jarcarese@groton.k12.ct.us
860.449.7200
Sean McKenna
Assistant Principal Academics
smckenna@groton.k12.ct.us
860.449.7214
Erin McGuire
Assistant Principal Student
Services
emcguire@groton.k12.ct.us
860.449.7224
Adam Diskin
Dean of Students
adiskin@groton.k12.ct.us
860.449.7268
SCHOOL PHONE
860.449.7200
SCHOOL NURSE
Heather Lemire
hlemire@groton.k12.ct.us
860.449.7211
ATHLETICS
Marc Romano
Athletic Director
mromano@groton.k12.ct.us
860.449.7200 ext. 3238
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
On behalf of Mr. Arcarese and the administrative team, I would
like to wish all our students, families, faculty and staff a very
happy, healthy new year!
A reminder that there is no school on January 18th in
observance of the MLK holiday.
All the best in 2016,
Sean McKenna
Assistant Principal
MIDYEAR EXAM SCHEDULE
(providing there are no snow days)
Joseph A. Arcarese
January 12
Last Day of Classes – 1st Semester
January 13
Mid-Year Exams Periods 1A & 2A
January 14
Mid-Year Exams Periods 3A & 4A
January 15
Mid-Year Exams Periods 1B & 2B
January 19
Mid-Year Exams Periods 3B & 4B
Social Studies Department
January 2016
We hope that your holiday has been filled with joy, peace, and as much relaxation as possible.
As we begin our second semester of the 2015-2016 school year we want you to keep a few things at the
forefront of your mind (i.e., Mid-Year Examinations and identifying and utilizing the varying ways the students
and parents can receive support from the Social Studies Department).
We enter 2016 with Mid-Year Examinations right on our heels. We want to remind you the examinations will
take place on the following days in January:
th
 January 13 (Wednesday);
th
 January 14 (Thursday);
th
 January 15 (Friday); and,
th
 January 19 (Tuesday, after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Holiday).
Students will be dismissed at 11:59 a.m. on each of the listed days.
As we all know, each Spring semester brings a bevy of activities, testing, unpredictable weather, and grade
promotions; therefore, we strongly encourage our students to continue to be active participants in their
education. What does that mean for students, parents, and teachers? It means that homework and review
should not be an option but a requirement and necessity for success. According to Patricia Bogdanovich’s
September 2014 article, Homework or No Homework, homework reinforces, “…learning in the classroom, as well
as giving students the opportunity for independent learning and developing research skills.” It can also, “…foster
retention and understanding of the academic content” (p. 3).
To ensure all students are supported, class websites, PowerSchool, and Schoology are just a few resources used
by our Social Studies teachers to communicate between school and home. These tools allow parents/guardians
access to student grades, view all future homework assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects. If there are any
questions or concerns about any assignments or your child’s grades, please feel free to contact his or her
teacher.
While students are encouraged to meet with teachers for academic assistance, Falcon Academy is available to
all Fitch High School students. Falcon Academy meets after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
between 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Peer tutors are available to assist with academic content, homework, and
preparation for quizzes and tests. Contact Dean Adam Diskin to sign up for this afterschool program.
All of us from the Social Studies Department, we wish you a Happy and Successful New Year!!!
The Social Studies Department~
SCHOOL NEWS
Juniors/Seniors
Wednesday
Jan. 6th is
Alumni Day
Members from the
Class of 2015 will speak about their college choice.
This will take place 9:00-10:10 in the Media Center on Wednesday, Jan 6th. Snow
date is Jan. 8th.
Pick up your pass in the Career Center by Tuesday, January 5th.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN OF STUDENTS
NOTE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS FOR ARRIVING LATE TO SCHOOL
 If you son/daughter will be late, call Diane Strong at 860 449-7213 PLEASE provide
a written note the following day to be submitted by your son/daughter to Mrs.
Strong
 Students arriving before 7:30 MUST sign in at the security desk then report to their
class.
 Students arriving to school after 7:30 MUST sign in at security desk and then
report to Mrs. Strong to get note to enter classroom
FALCON ACADEMY
THE FALCON ACADEMY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS UP AND RUNNING!
The purpose of this after school program is to add to the layer of student supports
with the goal of providing students with additional opportunities to demonstrate
academic expectations through peer tutoring. This program demonstrates Fitch
High School’s commitment to CARE MORE, ACHIEVE MORE, and BELIEVE MORE.
WHERE: LIBRARY
TIME: 2:15- 3:15
DAYS: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
*transportation is provided at 4:00
FALCON CAFÉ
The Fitch High Culinary Arts Students, under Dr. Harwell’s direction, are
given the opportunity to explore the many aspects of the restaurant industry
as a possible career choice through the New Falcon Café. The
development of good work habits, sanitation, attitudes and cooperative
working are stressed. In the past, the Falcon Café was a classroom activity.
This year, students are planning the menus, preparing the foods in the
classrooms and in the Cafeteria kitchen with their own space, and have a
new designated Dining Room.
Falcon Café
Dining Room Serving Days for the Month of January
January 14th
January 15th
Hours: 10:45 am – 12:30 pm
All Meals are $4.00 and include a beverage and dessert
ATHLETIC NEWS
WINTER SPORTS
COACHES CONTACT INFORMATION
WinterBoys
Basketball-
Alick Furtick furtick33@gmail.com
Girls
Basketball-
Rocco
Sansone
Melissa
CheerleadingRobinson
cbrs@cox.net
robinson_family5@yahoo.com
Wrestling-
Mark
Kosman
markkosman@me.com
Fencing-
Chris
Stocker
christopher.stocker@navy.mil
Indoor Track- Rich Kosta rkosta@groton.k12.ct.us
Boys Swim- Ken Berg
pinkharley44@yahoo.com
Hockey-
Randy Craig randycraig@comcast.net
Unified
Sports
Christina
Scala
cscala@groton.k12.ct.us