Hello and happy Friday EHS Families,

It has been a busy few weeks at EHS. Winter sports are in full swing, our choral concert was held last night, and last week OKP put on a three night performance of They Promised Her The Moon! The fun continues next week when the band puts on their winter concert on Thursday the 18th at 7pm. We hope to see you there!

During this season of giving, I have been so heartened to see and hear of all the different fundraisers, toy drives, food drives and more that have taken place in our building by various groups. Donations have been made to children's hospitals, food banks, foster organizations, and others in need. This is just another example of our students Suiting Up and Standing Up for our greater community.

I want to personally wish each and every teacher, staff member, student, and family member a wonderful holiday season. I hope you all have a great holiday break!

With gratitude,

Jon Mitchell

EHS Interim Principal

Believe it or not, there are only 15 school days left until the end of the first semester and the start of our midterm exams. Our midterm exams will run from Tuesday, January 20th through Monday, January 26th. During Midterm Exams, EHS will have two exam periods per day, with school ending each day at 11:05 am. 

For those students who have an exam during the first exam period but not the second exam period:

Students who have an exam during the second exam period but not the first exam period:

Students should not be dismissed early from their exams. Our makeup exam day is for students who missed an exam for an excused reason. Please see the exam schedule below, which can also be found on our annual bell calendar.

A Block

7:35 am - 9:10 am

B Block

9:30 am - 11:05 am

C Block

7:35 am - 9:10 am

D Block

9:30 am - 11:05 am

E Block

7:35 am - 9:10 am

F Block

9:30 am - 11:05 am

G Block

7:35 am - 9:10 am

H Block

9:30 am - 11:05 am

Exam Makeup 

7:35 am - 11:05 am

A reminder that students and families can always check out the School Counseling Website for regular announcements and links to resources.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION : Click here

If you were unable to attend our Financial Aid Workshop on November 19th, please reference the attached slide deck from our presenter. Our presenter, Monica Kedzior, has also graciously offered to assist any families with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Her contact information is below. She is available to meet in person with families as well. Please contact her directly to set up an appointment. CT State also offers FAFSA Workshops over the coming months. Their upcoming workshop schedule may be accessed through the link below. 

It is critically important that students are submitting a transcript request form for EACH college they are applying to. School counselors do not automatically send transcripts and letters of recommendation, so it is imperative that students complete the request form to ensure their materials are sent to their colleges. As students add additional colleges to their list beyond any initial application submissions, they must be sure to fill out another transcript request form to let counselors know about the additional schools. Many times colleges are missing materials because students did not submit their request form.

Students with January college application deadlines (UCONN regular decision deadline is Jan. 15th) are required to submit their transcript request form(s) before the holiday break to allow adequate time for counselors to submit materials.

The College Application Checklist is posted in the Class of 2026 School Counseling Google classroom. Students who are planning to apply to a four-year or two-year college should utilize the checklist to manage their college application tasks.  

Please also reference the College Application Next Steps document posted in the Google classroom for guidance on requirements after you submit your applications.

If you were unable to attend our College Planning Seminar on November 5th, no worries! Please reference the recorded presentation and slide deck posted below.

Today’s job market is changing faster than ever, and the career path many parents grew up with — choosing one job and staying in it for decades — is no longer the norm. The average American will hold around 12 different jobs in their lifetime, and many will move through multiple career paths as industries evolve. Most  “good-paying” jobs now require some level of education or training after high school, whether that’s a certificate, technical program, associate degree, or a four-year degree. 

The 9th graders will be participating in a school counseling lesson next week: Post-High School Options, which will help students understand what their options are after high school, what are the benefits of pursuing each, and how can some be combined to create a personalized pathway. This lesson will be expanded upon in February with a career lesson that helps students identify personal qualities and how they relate to different careers. T

Families can support this work by starting to have conversations at home. Here are some conversation starters for families to consider:

What kinds of activities make you lose track of time?

Which adults in your life have jobs you find interesting?

Are you interested in college, trade school, military, internships, or straight into the workforce?

What classes or electives have sparked the most interest recently?

What are your biggest strengths, and how do you think they might show up in your future career or life?

And share your experiences! What was your path after high school? What do you wish you knew at their age that you know now? What are the values that guide your life decisions? Starting these conversations at home will help students make informed decisions as they plan out their four-years of high school and beyond.

Your EHS Student Council will have a new shipment of Spirit Blankets available for purchase for your high school student! This is a fundraiser for our organization.

The blankets are arriving within the first two weeks of December and will be available through our school store! If the blanket is intended to be a gift, you are able to pick it up well in advance of the holidays.

These blankets are the D-Luxe Nubay, 60" X 80" sized, machine washable, and durable for indoor and outdoor use! There is an imprint of the Ellington Knight on one side and a repeating imprint on the other with a black binding/edging holding the two together!

Check out the picture below:

Here are a couple FAQ's about the blankets...

Go to the EHS School Store to purchase the blanket.

The cost of the blanket is $ 85.00. Remember, this is a fundraiser for the EHS Student Council, but the blanket is worth every nickel!! (can't use penny anymore)

You will receive notification from the school store that your order is ready!

That's it!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact David Helmin, dhelmin@ellingtonschools.net.,Faculty Co-Advisor or Matthew Lane, mlane@ellingtonschools.net

, EHS Student Council: ,