3/13/2026

STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER

55 Strawberry Hill Ave. Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Week Ending Friday, March 13, 2026

Mr. Matthew Forker, Principal

SHS KICKS OFF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH!

3rd Annual Networking Event Celebrates Women’s History Month

Women's History Month kicked off with a resounding success at the 3rd annual networking event, which brought together c-suite executives from local and international organizations to mentor our junior and senior girls.

The event featured a dynamic panel discussion with distinguished guests: Janeene K. Freeman, Special Assistant to the Mayor of Stamford; Stacey Georgiou, VP of NBC Sports; Megan LeGault, CEO of Sound Federal Credit Union; and Claudia Poccia, CEO of Grace de Monaco. They shared their insights on navigating careers, the real meaning of success, and the importance of giving back to the community. Students were able to connect with these leaders and gain invaluable advice on their future paths.

As juniors and seniors, the girls begin to make pivotal decisions about their futures. We are committed to preparing them for success through academics, sports, clubs, and social events. A crucial component to personal and professional achievement is a strong network — a group of trusted people who can offer guidance, share experiences, and provide introductions that help shape them into their best selves. 

THIS WEEK’S UPDATE

Here are some quick updates and reminders for the academic week ending March 13, 2026.  Links have been provided, where applicable, to help with further details.  Have a great weekend with your families! 

MARCH DATES TO REMEMBER

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

March 18: SAT for SHS students in Grade 11 (4-Hour Delay for Grades 9, 10, 12). 

March 19: The “Cinderella Project” Formalwear (FREE) for students!

March 20: Eid-al-Fitr (NO SCHOOL)

March 23: NEASC Decennial Visit (More information to come!)

March 24: NEASC Decennial Visit

March 25: NEASC Decennial Visit

March 25: Early Release

March 31: SHS Women’s History Month Panel Discussion

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 

The SPS Family Climate Survey is now open!  We encourage all families to participate to share your thoughts and let us know how WE are doing for YOU!

Junior Meetings:

Over the course of two days this week school counselors met with their caseloads for Junior Meetings. During these meetings information was presented about graduation requirements, scheduling and postsecondary planning.

It is our goal that every student at Stamford High School creates a plan with their school counselor for what they want to do after high school. We will support and assist our students in taking the necessary steps to pursue that plan.

Students are expected to now schedule a one-on-one meeting with their school counselor. Parents/Guardians are strongly encouraged to attend. 

Mastery-Based Learning:

Mastery-Based Learning is an opportunity for students to earn 1 credit for something they have likely already mastered. For example, FCIAC recognition, Seal of Biliteracy, 480 on Reading & Writing from the SAT, 120 hours of employment and/or volunteering, etc.

Take the time to review the attached flyer to see if you meet any of the requirements. 

Next Steps:

• If you qualify, ask your school counselor to add MBL to your schedule

• Complete the Google Form and attach supporting documentation

• You will receive a P for MBL and it will go on your transcript

Questions? Speak with your school counselor.

COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER

The SHS College and Career Center Newsletter is up to date and can be found here. Follow the department on IG for updates and information @shscounselingdept 

Below are highlights, read the full newsletter for more resources and details.

• College Essay Writing Workshop March 24, 2026- Register on Naviance

• UCONN Admit Day Celebration March 26, 2026- Register on Naviance

• Virtual Financial Aid Family Night March 26, 2026 - Register HERE

• Resume Writing Workshop March 27, 2026- Register on Naviance

• College Admissions Panel April 14, 2026

• Rep visits are ongoing and the list can be found in Naviance!

Scholarship Highlights:

• Mickey Lione Jr Scholarship fund is open for SOPHOMORES- $7,500- scholarship found in the College and Career Center- deadline: April 1, 2026 @2:05PM to Ms. Vazquez

• Kuriansky Legacy Scholarship is LIVE Form & due April 2, 2026 2:05PM

• Bobby Augustyn Scholarship is LIVE- find it here & due April 15, 2026 @2:05PM

• Allyson Rioux Scholarship due April 17, 2026- scholarship found in the College and Career Center

• SHS Class of 1951 Form & due April 20, 2026  @ 2:05PM

• SHS GE Scholarship Form & due April 20, 2026 @ 2:05PM

• Wanemaker Voice Scholarship Form & due April 20, 2026 @ 2:05PM

• Amy Shapiro Scholarship Form & due April 20, 2026 @ 2:05PM

• Amy Shapiro Needs Based Scholarship Form & due April 26, 2026 @ 2:05PM

• Manhar Patel Science Scholarship Form & due May 1, 2026 @ 2:05PM

OUT OF THIS WORLD!: STUDENTS REACH FOR THE MOON

Our young scientists in Kate Keeler’s Period 4 Science class are making history as they embark on an extraordinary journey through the Plant the Moon Challenge. This global science experiment challenges students to examine how we might sustain human life on the lunar surface by growing crops in extraterrestrial conditions.

In a monumental "giant leap" for the classroom, these students have become the first ever to plant using actual Moon soil. This week, the class reached a critical milestone in their experiment: the transplantation of Heirloom Daikon radish seedlings.  These hardy seedlings were moved from their initial starter environments into specialized planters filled with regolith—a material that mimics the exact chemical and physical composition of the soil found on the Moon's surface. 

The project isn't just about planting; it’s about meticulous data collection. In addition to studying lunar geology, students have been immersed in the study of phenology, the rhythmic timing of biological events in relation to climate and habitat.

To track their "lunar" garden’s progress, students are utilizing phenology rulers donated by the GLOBE program to capture high-precision data on:

• Plant Height: Measuring daily growth spurts to see how regolith affects structural development.

• Leaf Color: Monitoring the vibrancy and hue of the radish greens to detect nutrient uptake and potential stress levels.

As these Daikon radishes take root in their lunar simulant, our Period 4 scientists are providing vital data that could one day help NASA and other space agencies feed astronauts on long-term missions. We are incredibly proud of their dedication to this "lunar-ready" research!

Stay tuned for our next update as we see if these radishes can truly thrive under the stars!

BRUCE MUSEUM GENEROUSLY SPONSORS ENRICHING TRIP FOR ART STUDENTS

Tuesday, March 10th, was a rewarding day for art students from Stamford and Westhill High Schools. Sponsored by the Bruce Museum, the group enjoyed a curated tour of the museum's impressive collection, with Ms. Jamie Murphy chaperoning the Stamford High students on the excursion.  

Students explored highlights such as the Connecticut Impressionists and the current, critically acclaimed exhibitions: Radiant Earth by Puerto Rican-American artist Gisela Colon and states of becoming by renowned Polish American artist Ursula Von Rydingsvard and Ants: Tiny Creatures, Big Lives.

The day was made complete by a pizza lunch and a presentation from paper artist Tatiana Ginsberg of Diu Donne, who collaborated with Von Rydingsvard on her paper-based works. Our students demonstrated remarkable engagement, asking thoughtful questions about materials and meaning, sketching and hanging work for the museum’s collaborative display, and interacting with the presentation materials. It was a wonderful opportunity to have the art communities from both schools together for this valuable learning experience.

ACTION PICS OF THE WEEK!

From our “in-house” photographer Mr. Barron (SHS Science Department) who recently attended the SHS-ND West Haven basketball CIAC playoff game.

SHS ATHLETES RECEIVE HONORS

Congratulations to the following student-athletes who were recently named to All-FCIAC/All-State teams:

Girls Hockey

ATTENDANCE GRADE RECOVERY (AGR) INFORMATION

Questions about the AGR process?

Grades 9 and 12: jcarde@stamfordpublicschools.org 

Grades 10 and 11: dostasiewski@stamfordpublicschools.org

SHS “U-KNIGHTED NATION” TUTORING

If any student needs extra academic support throughout the school year, the SHS U-Knighted Nation organization is here to assist!  Made up of student volunteers, the UKN tutors are available to assist and help ANY student that may need it.

CELL PHONE POLICY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)

For cell phone Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.

“OPEN CAMPUS”

Parents and families, as a reminder, the SPS “Open Campus Policy” is only permissible for students in GRADES 11 and 12.