DECA Starts School Year with 100% Membership Award

The Wolcott DECA Chapter began the 2008-2009 school year by receiving an award for enrolling all WHS marketing students as members. This is the 6th consecutive year the chapter has earned the award. The chapter will be recognized for this accomplishment at the upcoming State Leadership Conference to be held at the Aqua Turf on October 23rd.

DECA is a national association of marketing students dedicated to the development of leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

Spanish National Honor Society News

The members of the Spanish National Honor Society have volunteered to tutor students in Spanish I, II and III during their studies.  Any student needing help in Spanish should see Mr. Jayson in the Instructional Center or any Spanish teacher.  Take advantage of this opportunity!

Members will be planning several visits to the elementary schools to present cultural lessons in order to promote interest and diversity.

Spanish Club News

Newly-elected officers for 2008-2009 are Spencer Kane, president, Danielle Taylor, vice-president, Steve Catalina, secretary, Alia Carangelo, treasurer, and Ryan Pelletier, publicity.  Over three hundred students have joined the Spanish Club.  Members traveled to Boston on October 7th and visited the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum.  Several community service projects are planned for this year.  Thirty-one members volunteered for the Wolcott Special Games; unfortunately, they were cancelled due to the weather.

DECA Minds Its Manners

On April 3rd, Wolcott High marketing classes learned about the importance of Business Etiquette. Author and motivational speaker Karen Hinds spoke to DECA members about a variety of topics including dressing for success, interpersonal skills, networking and general corporate protocol. She also advised students on ways to take full advantage of their current part-time work experience.

Ms. Hinds presentation was arranged through the Wolcott High Career Center and was funded by the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board.

SkillsUSA

WHS SkillsUSA student’s gathered together for a Pizza-Pajama-Picture-Party on Feb. 5, 2008. The purpose of the activity was to work on our scrap book, to work on club unity, and to work on membership retention. Flyers were made, were handed out, put in newsletters, posted on bulletin board and throughout the school so all members may attend. 16 members attended this social event.

We made a wonderful scrap book, ate a lot of pizza, and laughed for hours.

Jackie Bly                         April Schmaltz            Megan Pabey                           

Elizabeth Pizzuto             Diona Greco               Tiffany Mundo  

Rachel LeSage                 Kayla Kalaitzidis         Nicole Galipault

Chet Crofut                      Gina Godin                 Angie Dominici

Nicole Galipault                 Danielle Cyr               Bridgette Delipier

Mrs. Lofgren (Advisor)      Kaitlyn Lofgren

On April 29th current members of the Spanish National Honor Society will welcome twenty-three new members into the Don Quijote Chapter at Wolcott High School.

Students in Spanish III, IV and V classes who qualified to be inducted are Jennifer Ali,

Daniel Arsenault, Iona Brockie, Ariel Bruni, Bethany Conroy, Inacio Dias, Gina DiVirgilio, Briana Giordano, Sergio Goncalves, Richard Hegeman, Zahbia Iftikar, Karyssa Keeley, Susan Mantiglia, Jamil Rancourt, Shawn Rodrigues, Scott Rossignol, Farrah Saleh, Christopher Sheahan, Crystal Sheehan, Rachel Spagnoletti, Allysa Testa, Paula Vasquez and Erik Vitale.  Officers Diana Filar(president), Michelle Slavin(president), Stacy Finke(vice-president), Lauren Signor(vice-president), Thais Correa(secretary), Terri Jackson(secretary), and Jaclyn Albino(treasurer) conducted the candle-lighting ceremony and explained the origin and guidelines of Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica. 

Current members are Stephanie Anderson, Laura Denny, Sara Finke, Kaitlkyn Longo, Adam Marco, Justin McWaid, Mikala Ouellette, Aubrey Solla, Allan Tablan, Paul Tablan, Danica Ackerman, Doris Bejleri, Ashley Briglia, Jamie Caron, Katherine Connolly,Nicholas DiBattista, Elise Grazuna, Alexandra Inglese, fatima Kolenovic, Julienne LaChance, Geoffrey McCallum, Kristen Onofreo, Mackenzie Ouellette, Brian Stankus, David VanFleet and Allison Yusov.

“Read Across America Day”

Members of the Spanish National Honor Society celebrated "Read Across America Day" on Monday, March 3rd at Wakelee School.  Diana Filar, Lauren Signor, Aubrey Solla, Allan Tablan, Kaitlin Longo, MacKenzie Ouellette, Danica Ackerman and Dave VanFleet read Dr. Seuss classics to children in three kindergarten classes.  In addition, each youngster received a bookmark to commemorate the special day.

DECA Shows Its Heart

 For its Valentine’s Day promotion, the Wolcott High school store conducted a “Pennies War.” The winner was the sophomore class. For their prize, each 10th grader was eligible to purchase snacks and beverages from the school store for just ½ price.

All proceeds from this promotion will be donated to the American Heart Association.

Danbury Mall serves as Marketing Classroom

By Kyleigh McDonald, DECA Reporter

On January 11th, 50 DECA Marketing students attended a field trip to the Danbury Mall. This trip was a part of a learning unit on visual merchandising. Students were to pick a store such as, Hollister or Abercrombie& Fitch and write a research paper based on their findings. Students hope to use visual merchandising techniques found at the mall and apply them to the WHS School Store.

Spanish Club News

Officers and members distributed chocolates to all departments and staff members at Wolcott High School.  This activity recognizes all the adults in the building and shows the students' appreciation for all that is done on their behalf all year.  Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Spanish National Honor Society

Members are preparing their next presentation for Read Across America Day at Wakelee School.  All kindergarten classes will be visited and Wolcott High students will read a Dr. Seuss book to the children.  Each youngster will receive a bookmark to take home.

Members have offered to help tutor Spanish students at WHS in the Instructional Center during their free periods.  Students and parents are reminded of this service each semester.

News from the Peer Helpers

This past month has been quite busy for the Peer Helpers of Wolcott High School.  Red Ribbon week is celebrated every October to promote drug and alcohol awareness and education.  This past Red Ribbon event at Wolcott High saw Peer Helpers organizing a contest between the classes.  As a pledge of a drug free lifestyle, students bought “red bricks” and built “walls” in the cafeteria.  The senior class came out victorious with a total of 154 bricks sold, with juniors in a close second with 96 bricks. This activity raised enough funds to celebrate with an ice cream social for the winning class.

Also this month a group of Peer Helpers dressed in the spirit of Halloween and visited all first grade classrooms at Wakelee Elementary School to educate students with safety tips. 

Skills USA ~ Touch- A -Truck

By Bridgette Delpier SkillsUSA- Secretary

Wolcott High School Skills USA members had a loud and fun filled day on Sunday October 4, 2007 at Wolcott’s first annual touch a truck fundraiser sponsored by the Junior Women’s Club of Wolcott. Skills USA members included Danielle Cyr, Bridgette Delpier, Stephanie Palmer and Sara Boisvert. We helped the club to keep things going smoothly by organizing the lines and crowds to see all the trucks and also during the landing of the life star helicopter. This community service project was one of the loudest, exciting and most interesting ones I have seen. Without a doubt, I would have to say everyone there truly saw the kid inside of them come out.        

DECA Develops Its Leadership Skills

On October 12th, thirty members of the Wolcott High DECA chapter attended a series of leadership workshops held at the Aqua Turf. Topics such as Building Trust within Your Organization, Creating Synergy in Your Relationships, and Practicing Professional Etiquette were all presented in a manner that was both mentally and physically challenging for the members in attendance. In all, over 800 students and chapter advisors from 23 Connecticut high schools participated in this annual Fall event.

Backpacking Club
Advisor: Mr. Bonczek
The Backpacking Club gives students the opportunity to push themselves to their limits and beyond. Participants will experience increased physical fitness through active participation in backpacking-related activities, such as wilderness survival training and exciting backpacking adventures.

Community Service Club
Advisor: Mrs. Nevins
The Community Service Club is a newly formed organization that provides students with multiple opportunities to participate in community service activities in school and in the surrounding community. Students maintain records of their community service throughout the year and awards are presented at the end of the year to students who accumulate significant community service hours.

Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
Advisor: Mr. Helmlinger
DECA is a student organization centered around the cluster occupations of marketing and management. The organization is based on the principles of Vocational Understanding, Civic Consciousness, Social Intelligence and Leadership Development. Students will be actively involved in leadership conferences, community projects and marketing preparation for competitions. Chapter officers will be elected. At least two field trips/conferences are planned. Wolcott High School state competition winners will be eligible to compete at the national competition. Approximately 12,000 DECA students from around the United States and Canada compete at this national event. All Marketing I and II class members are required to become DECA members. Other business students and any students interested in marketing, business and entrepreneurship may join with advisor permission.

Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
Advisor: Mr. Tutalo
FCCLA is a student organization centered around family and consumer science, food service, and technology. This vocational organization is open to all students interested in developing leadership skills and participating in state and national competitions.

French Club
Advisor: Ms. Noury
The Wolcott High School French Club is open to all students taking French. Some activities students will enjoy include holiday parties, a book fair, an end of the year dinner and occasional French-related field trips.

Library Club
Advisor: Mr. Cabata
The Library Club is composed of students who help in the Library Media Center during their study periods. They learn about library and audio-visual services. Occasional celebrations are arranged for Library Club members in appreciation of their contributions to the school.

Math Club
Advisor:  Mrs. Vilag
The purpose of the Math Club is to offer students of mathematics the opportunity to compete with other schools from around New England and to share ideas with other students who like math. There are six competitions during the year held after school, but students also meet to plan events and to discuss mathematical problems after school.

Newspaper
Advisor: Mr. Cabata
Membership on the school newspaper staff is open to all students who would like to contribute their time and talents to the publication of the Wolcott High School Newspaper the Electric Eagle, which can be found on the web @wolcottps.org

Nursing Assistant Program
Advisor Mrs. Lofgren RN, BSN

The Wolcott High School Nursing Assistant Program is entering another successful year. This class is offered to male and female students who are in their junior or senior year. The students have hands on experience during their clinical phase of the program at a local nursing home and hospital. Upon successful completion of class, clinical, and the state exam they will become a certified nursing assistant (CNA).

This experience of patient care, medical terminology, and clinical is beneficial to anyone interested in the medical field. The students are also involved with community service. We have participated in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk, blood mobiles, Multiple Sclerosis Walk, Toys for Tots and Teens, and canned food and clothes drives.

The Nursing Assistant Program is a great stepping stone for any medical field such as nursing, physician assistant, medical transcriptionist, medical secretary, physical or occupational therapy, just to mention a few. It also looks great on a college application.

If anyone is interested in the program or has any questions please contact
Mrs. Lofgren, Wolcott High School 879-8164 or clofgren@wolcottps.org.

Chorus
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
An organization for students who like to sing, the Chorus annually presents a holiday concert and a spring concert. Outside school activities include a Broadway Musical in New York City, a tour of Wolcott's middle and elementary schools, the regional and all-state festivals, nursing homes and Christmas caroling.

A Capella Choir
Advisor: Ms. Solocius
Students audition to participate in this choir held one evening a week. Public performance of a cappella music (music with no accompaniment) is the objective of this club.

Barbershop Quartet
Advisor: Ms. Solocius
Boys audition for this group that practices once a week. Increasing knowledge of barbershop harmony through the mentorship of professional quartet members and public performances are the focus of this group.

Choralettes
Advisor: Ms. Solocius
Girls may audition for this group that rehearses once a week after school. Public performance of vocal music in women's voicing is the aim of this group.

Concert Band
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
The concert band will perform instrumental music for the annual winter and spring concert.

Dance Team
Advisor: Mrs. Sforza
An organization for students who enjoy dancing, the Dance Team performs with the Marching Band at home football games, the Thanksgiving Day game, and the pep rally. Students can audition to perform in events outside of school and in various dance competitions. The Dance Team rehearses on Sunday evenings.

Grey Jazz Band
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
The Grey Jazz Band meets after school each week. The Gray Jazz Band studies the fundamentals of Jazz through a hands - on rehearsal approach.

Men's Ensemble
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
Males audition to participate in this club, which meets one time a week. Public performance of vocal music in mens voicing is the goal of this group.

Scarlett Jazz Band
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
The Scarlet Jazz Band meets after school each week. Students perform a variety of jazz styles in preparation for public performances.

Showtime
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
Each year Wolcott High School presents an ensemble of student talent for two nights. The show consists of a variety of acts including: singing, dancing, and comedy. An additional performance of "Battle of the Bands" that feature Rock and Roll Bands of Wolcott High school students has become an annual tradition.

Symphonic Band (The Marching Eagles)
Advisor: Mr. Duffy
The Wolcott Marching Eagles includes the Band, Honor Guard, Color Guard and Dance Line members. Activities include WestPoint and UCONN Band Days, home football games, parades and various field trips. The Symphonic Band will join the Concert Band in their annual winter and spring concerts. Rehearsals are held after school and weekends.

Show Choir
Advisor: Ms. Solocius
Students audition to participate in this club/class held one evening a week. Public performance of vocal music put to dance movements is the focus of this club.

Peer Helpers
Advisor: Mrs. Sweeney-Bizier and Mrs. Fontanella
A peer helper is a student who cares about others and talks with them about their thoughts and feelings. Each year fifteen students are selected to be peer helpers. They receive several days of training and perform service to students such as welcoming of new students and helping students to feel more a part of the Wolcott High community.

Skills USA
Advisor: Mrs Lofgren BSN, RN
Skills USA is a national professional organization for students enrolled in career and technical education. The purspose of Skills USA is to create a common bond among all students enrolled in trade, technical, and health occupations. It helps develop leadership in educational and social activities, respect for work, and enthusiasm for learning. Students are actively involved in leadership conferences, community service projects and state competitions. State Competition winners are eligible to compete in the National Competitition. Chapter Officers are elected.

Spanish Club
Advisor: Ms. Jackson
Limited to students presently studying Spanish, the Spanish Club is WHS's largest club. Students enjoy day trips to New York City and Boston, as well as dinner parties at Christmas time. Dues for each school year ($3.00) are used to defray costs of our day trips. Service projects include the distribution of fruit baskets to needy Hispanic families in Bristol and Waterbury during the holidays.

Spanish Honor Society
Advisor: Ms. Jackson
Sponsored by the American Association of the Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, our "Don Quixote Chapter" was established in January of 1987. Membership is limited to those students in Spanish III, IV, or V who have maintained an average of "90" or better in their last two semesters of Spanish. A formal ceremony is held annually for new members who meet the criteria for induction. The honor students are available to tutor students during their study periods.

Student Council
Advisor: Ms. Avcollie and Ms. Lawlor
The goal of the Student Council is to provide the opportunity for students to organize and plan, to assume leadership roles, to gain recognition and identity, and to experience self-governance.

Student Theater
Advisors: Mrs. Reis and Ms. Solocius
Participation in Student Theatre is open to all students who have an interest in acting or dramatic productions. The student production takes place in the spring. Such classics as Westside Story, The Music Man, Guys & Dolls and Bye Bye Birdie have been among our performances over the past years. Students participate in acting, dancing, staging, sets, and painting. Musicians have the opportunity to perform in the pit. Auditions are held in December.

Students Against Substance Abuse (SASA)
Advisor: Ms. Fawcett  
This club is dedicated to sponsoring and supporting chemical free activities. Through these efforts the club works to eradicate drug use and tolerance for any chemical abuse.

Weather Club
Advisor: Mr. Caplan
Under the guidance of Mr. John Bagioni, the meteorology instructor at Wolcott High School, members analyze weather data and provide forecasts for the school. Membership is limited to students who have achieved in the Meteorology Class.

Yearbook
Advisor: Ms. Fredericksen
The organization produces the senior class yearbook each year. Membership is limited to a staff of seniors, although many underclassmen are often asked to participate to gain experience to facilitate the production of their own books in the future. The production process requires a lot of dedication and time on the part of senior students.