4/3/2026

STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER

55 Strawberry Hill Ave. Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Week Ending Friday, April 3, 2026

Mr. Matthew Forker, Principal

EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION:

WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY

On Tuesday, March 31, the Stamford High School Women’s History Month Club hosted an inspiring "Women in our Community" event, building on the contributions of local leaders with our students. Organized by Dr. Downer with the support of Mrs. Dowling, the day was a powerful celebration of female leadership and personal growth.

Session 1: Voices of Leadership

Approximately 100 students gathered in the small auditorium for a panel featuring Mayor Caroline Simmons, Dr. Shieva Ghofrany, and Representative Maureen Pollack. These empowering speakers shared their personal journeys and career paths, offering students a firsthand look at the resilience and dedication required to become influential leaders in today’s world.
 

Session 2: The "Glow Up" Blueprint

Following the panel, 25 invited young women participated in a more intimate "Glow Up" session. This small-group discussion, led by Dr. Ghofrany, Representative Pollack, and Ms. Carde (LCSW, SHS MTSS), focused on a "Blueprint for Empowerment." Students engaged in vital conversations regarding self-esteem, body image, and the importance of etiquette in professional and personal spaces.

Special Acknowledgments

A huge thank you to our student leaders: Zahra Fadil, Women’s History Month Club President; Farrah Khessibi, Vice President; and the student volunteers who made this event a success: Carolyn Carrera Reyes, Darcy Churchill-Joell, Ian Ashmeade, Miriam Nundhini Mascarenhas, Jayce McLennon, Juan Manuel Garcia-Ortiz, Sara Ospina, and Zaniyah Williams.

Their set up for the event with putting up the WHM display and assistance during the panel discussions were instrumental in making this a truly impactful day for the SHS community!

THIS WEEK’S UPDATE

Here are some quick updates and reminders for the academic week ending April 3, 2026.  Links have been provided, where applicable, to help with further details.  Have a great weekend with your families! 

APRIL DATES TO REMEMBER

April 1-3: Passover

April 3: Good Friday (No School)

April 5: Easter Sunday

April 6-10: Spring Break (No School)

April 15: NGSS Testing (3-Hour Delay); More info to come

April 22: Early Release

SHS GRADUATION DATE SET!

Wednesday June 17, 2026

2:00 PM

Boyle Stadium

(Rain Date Thursday June 18)

STAMFORD ART STUDENTS FIND INSPIRATION AT NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART THROUGH STATE GRANT

On Tuesday, March 31st advanced students from Ms. Wheeler's class and Mr. Eaton-Koch's class in the SHS Visual Art Department traveled along with art students from Westhill to the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, CT. 

Thanks to the "Every Child Art Experience Grant " awarded by the State of Connecticut to Mr. Eaton-Koch and the SHS Visual Art Team, students could review works of art + design in person at the museum.  Each student was given a new sketchbook to take notes and study artwork through sketching. Students will be applying their research to inspire them for future projects they will be completing this spring. 

For AP Art students attending the trip, they will be making a new artwork to add to their Professional Portfolio which will be submitted to the College Board for review in early May.

The New Britain Museum is a hidden gem in Connecticut offering an intimate setting for students to see artworks by famous artists like Georgia O'Keeffe, Dale Chihuly, and Andrew Wyeth. 

Thanks to the State of CT Office of the Arts for this opportunity and go check out the museum for yourself!

CELEBRATING OUR CREATIVE LEADERS: THE 2026 CAS ART AWARDS

On Monday, March 30, the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) hosted the 31st Annual High School Outstanding Arts Awards Banquet at the Aqua Turf Club. This prestigious event honored seniors from across the state for their excellence in the arts, scholarship, and leadership. Stamford High School was proud to recognize two exceptional students, Zoe Guaman and Jayleen Valle, who were nominated by the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Department for their deep commitment to their respective crafts.

Stamford High School 2026 Honorees:
 

Zoe Guaman (Performing Arts): Since her sophomore year, Zoe served as the lead costumer for our fall plays and spring musicals, earning multiple HALO and Sondheim Award nominations. As Vice President of the Strawberry Hill Players, a captain of the improv troupe, and a dedicated IB Theatre student, she perfectly exemplified creativity and leadership.
 

Jayleen Valle (Visual Arts): As Co-President of the Art Club and the National Art Honor Society, Jayleen left a lasting mark on SHS, including her extensive work on the 6th-floor mural. Throughout her many art classes, she was a constant source of positive energy and a vital contributor to our creative community.

Our honorees were supported at the event by their families, as well as SHS Strawberry Hill Players Advisor, Annie Dunn, with VAPA teacher Timothy Eaton-Koch, Assistant Principal Mrs. Rebecca Nixon, and VAPA Department Leader Dr. Module Downer.

Congratulations to Zoe and Jayleen on this well-deserved honor!

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.