August 7, 2009

Dear Parents & Guardians:

I hope everyone is enjoying a good summer vacation. I want to take this opportunity to update you on some important information regarding the start of the new school year.

The first day of school for students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12, is Thursday August 27th  This will be a full day of school.

 Freshmen and Seniors will start in academics. Sophomores and Juniors will start in technology and must come to school dressed appropriately for shop.

ALL FRESHMEN are to report to the student dining hall upon arrival on the 27th for an orientation with administration and senior guides .  Freshmen will then be dismissed to their homerooms where schedules, handbooks, agendas, emergency cards and a variety of school related information will be distributed and reviewed.

Seniors Juniors and Sophomores will report to homeroom at 7:15 for their orientation.

Transportation is the responsibility of the sending towns. Most towns publish their bus schedules in the Hartford Courant and local town papers in mid-August. If you have any questions I suggest you not hesitate to contact your local Board of Education’s Transportation Office.

Enclosed are the bell schedule, school year calendar and general school assignment completion requirements.  Please note student half-days and no school days. The calendar is also available on our website, where you can view a list of important dates, and you can print the entire calendar. The school calendar will be updated on the website throughout the school year.  As per the district homework policy, the student must bear responsibility for managing his/her time in a way that homework can be completed and be submitted on time.

Renovation and Construction Project: The former shop wing is in the process of being demolished and removed.  Parking lot construction, paving and landscape improvement is to begin shortly and a plan has been coordinated to minimize the impact to faculty and students.   A targeted completion date of early autumn has been established bringing to a close Howell Cheney Technical High School’s Expansion and Renovation project.

Student Parking:  Students who wish to park on campus must register their vehicle with Mrs. Feeney, and display on their rear window the Cheney Tech Student Parking Decal. Parking spaces are limited, so decals will be distributed according to the following priority: 1. Work Based Learning students, 2. athletes during their season, 3. honor society members, 4. students with afterschool jobs (documentation required).

Board of Education policy mandates that students must wear Student ID badges at all times during the school day. Upper class students will have new Student ID badges issued on the first day of school in their homerooms.  Freshmen students will have their pictures taken and ID badges distributed as soon as possible once school begins.

All students will be required to wear Cheney Tech logo shirts during Academic Cycle.
All students will be required to wear Cheney Tech logo tee shirts and shorts for Physical Education.
All freshmen will be required to wear Cheney Tech Exploratory shirts during Exploratory Cycles.
(information regarding school apparel is included in the Cheny Tech online store on our website)

All students will be required to purchase 2 school locks (hall locker & gym locker).  $6.00 each
All students will be required to purchase safety glasses for shop. $2.00 each

Students will be given a free school agenda.
Replacement school agenda = $6.00
Students will be given a free lanyard to wear their student ID badge
Replacement lanyard = $2.00

Faculty and Staff:   I would like to introduce and extend a Cheney welcome to the new faculty joining us this school year including:

Gary Baier                            Automotive Technology                 
Michael Bantle                      Physical Education          
Emily Benedetto                   Special Education Department Head          
Michael Kirchhoff                  Science          
Roger Rougeot                      Electrical            
Anthony Urciuoli                   Social Studies     
Joseph Viola                         Media Specialist    
   
In addition, I am honored to inform you that I have been named Acting Principal.  I look forward to continuing to work together with students, parents and faculty in a learning community that provides the best in technical education to our students. 

Please visit the school website www.cttech.org/cheney for updated information.

We look forward to seeing all our students for the start of another positive and rewarding school year.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Sartoris, Acting Principal

Enclosures:  Calendar, Bell Schedule, Academic Assignment Requirements