FHUHS Administration

As my first newsletter was unable to be published for I seemed to have greatly exceeded the allowable length (and do admit my letters can be a bit long), I wanted to reintroduce some thoughts from my opening. For those desiring some more details as to how we are incorporating technology into our classrooms (or beyond), please visit our website at http://fhuhs.org and read the Principal’s Newsletter from September 14th.

As I told those in attendance during our Open House, this has been the busiest opening I have ever had. Although that may seem like a slightly negative statement, the reasons for all the activity are largely positive. The Learning Annex, FHUHS’s new extension of our school, coupled with a rapid (and extremely energizing) classroom integration of modern technology, caused many more meetings. It also caused the most meaningful, positive and forward-looking movement seen in education to become system-wide at FHUHS: utilizing the communication tools our students use outside of school to improve learning inside our school. FHUHS will continue to ride that wave towards long-term excellence. With that in mind, the Student Council has already drafted a new cell phone/technology use proposal; teachers from every department have met with me about posting student work online, videotaping student work for worldwide feedback and creating blogs. While we have over 20 teachers trained and using Smartboards, as well as a variety of handheld devices used for student learning (iPods, Flip video recorders, etc.), we are working systematically to see that FHUHS becomes a leader with this new way of learning. Lastly, (so I can move on to other news!), all students should have brought home their Edline password information so parents may access their student’s academic information online. Edline is just one more step with our continual goal to improve the way we communicate and enhance our student performance. Some of you may also have seen an advertisement for a Technology Integration Coach, funded through federal grant money. This position will help expedite our use of technology for improved student performance by having all our faculty/staff become confident with applying today’s rapidly changing communication systems.

Mr. Ramey forwarded on a very nice email he received from Castleton Village School Coach Bob McIntyre regarding some of our student/athletes. It is well worth sharing as is one example of an activity they often assist with but seldom get any recognition. “Hey Eric, I wanted to share a great thing that happened at CVS for our 7th and 8th Grade soccer practice. Coach Wilson and a cast of Slater Soccer Athletes came out and ran a practice for us. The Soccer players – Emily McIntyre, Dustin Lewis, Jake Silver, Joel Link, Christian Doran, and Jody Fabian… were great with our kids. And well behaved. It was great of all of them to come out at 9:00 AM on a Saturday to do this. Mr. Wilson was great. Thanks Bob McIntyre”

On Saturday, the FHUHS Scholars’ Bowl Team, coached by Oliver Allen, traveled to Essex to compete in the Sue Pasco Memorial Tournament. The team competed against 14 other schools and won four games; three of the four games were won in the playoffs. Five students competed at the tournament: senior Adam Cecil, juniors Mike Wayne and Sophia Michael, sophomores Dakota Folmsbee and Brian Ward. Captain Adam Cecil and Mike Wayne each scored at least 200 points each over the course of the tournament, and everyone else on the FHUHS team were also formidable opponents.

Congratulations to Coach Don Huber’s boys for their well earned victory Friday night. The team played consistently hard throughout the game which is a testament to both the player’s determination and the coaching staff’s preparation. There will be other team highlights in future newsletters.

Reminder – Project Graduation will have a meeting Wednesday night (9/30) here in Room 2.

Have a great week,

Brett C. Blanchard, Fair Haven Union High School Principal