August 1, 2008

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 is Wednesday, August 27th  This will be a full day of school.

The first day of school for Grade 12 is Thursday, August 28th This will be a full day of school (Yes, seniors are getting one extra day of summer vacation!)

 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 the senior mentors.  From 8:30 – 11:30 the freshmen and their senior mentors will participate in team-building and leadership activities that will be facilitated by the counselors from Riverfront Adventures. These fun activities, which will be held on the athletic field, are designed to help the freshmen get to know each other and to bond as new classmates. After lunch, the senior mentors will take the freshman on a tour of the school. Freshmen will then report to their homeroom where the homeroom teachers will distribute academic schedules, student handbooks and student agenda books. They will also give out school insurance forms and, along with the senior mentors, answer any questions the students may have.

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 and school year calendar. 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 we did last school year, Cheney Tech will be hosting seven shops from Prince Tech in Hartford to help them out as they undergo their building renovation/expansion project. Prince Tech students and teachers will arrive at Cheney by 8:30 am and depart by 11:30 am. Their automotive, auto body, electrical, masonry, and plumbing shops will return to their classes in the lower shop wing. Prince Tech’s carpentry and manufacturing technology students and teachers will share space in our new carpentry and manufacturing shops. A Prince Tech administrator and nurse will be traveling with the students and teachers to Cheney. Cheney Tech welcomes back our fellow students and teachers from Prince Tech, and we will continue to do everything we can to make them feel welcome in their “home away from home.”

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 are to wear their 2007-08 Student ID badges until the new 2008-09 badges are issued.

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.

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

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,

Bruce R. Sievers, Principal

Enclosures:  Calendar, Bell Schedule