5/29/2026

STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER 

55 Strawberry Hill Ave. Stamford, Connecticut 06902 

Week Ending Friday, May 29, 2026 

Mr. Matthew Forker, Principal 

STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES RECORD-BREAKING CLASS OF 2026 IB GRADUATES 

A record-breaking 51 seniors from the Stamford High School (SHS) Class of 2026 have completed the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). SHS is one of only 11 schools in Connecticut to offer this globally recognized, college-preparatory curriculum. Since launching the program in 2018 with just 12 students, SHS has expanded its offerings to include the Middle Years Programme (IBMYP), allowing students to participate in rigorous IB coursework during all four years of high school. 

The program's popularity has skyrocketed, with nearly 400 students in grades 9–12 enrolled this past school year. The curriculum is highly respected by over 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities for building critical thinking, research, and writing skills, often earning graduate college credit or advanced standing. 

To honor their achievements, SHS hosted a recognition ceremony on Tuesday, May 26, where the 51 seniors received their official IB regalia. These students will proudly wear their honors during the formal Stamford High School graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 17 at 2:00 PM at Boyle Stadium before heading off to their respective colleges and universities. 

THIS WEEK’S UPDATE 

Here are some quick updates and reminders for the academic week ending May 29, 2026.  Links have been provided, where applicable, to help with further details.  Have a great weekend with your families!  

JUNE DATES TO REMEMBER 

June 2: Senior Scholarship Breakfast 

June 3:  Senior Class Meeting/Senior FUN Day 

June 5:   Senior PROM (Italian Center) 

June 9: “Meet the Coaches” Knight 

June 12:  Knight of Excellence and Art Show 

June 15: Graduation Practice #1 (Details to Follow) 

June 16: Graduation Practice #2 (Details to Follow) 

June 17: GRADUATION! Class of 2026! 

BOYLE STADIUM RECEIVES ITS ANNUAL “FACELIFT” 

Graduation prep continues here at Stamford High School!  The AP Art Students and Mr. Eaton-Koch were out in Boyle Stadium updating the school crest to celebrate the Class of 2026! 

STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS GET CREATIVE (AND A LITTLE NUTTY) AT COVE ISLAND EXCURSION 

Photography II Students with Mr. Eaton-Koch took an excursion to Cove Island on Thursday morning to take photos for their end of year photography portfolios and the upcoming Knight of Excellence Art Show on June 12th.  Students used both digital and film cameras to practice composition, framing, and lighting.  The outing did get a little "nutty" as several squirrels took a strong interest in our student photographers - it may have been because some peanuts may have been offered in exchange for a good pose. 

SCHOOL COUNSELING 

MBL (MASTERY BASED LEARNING) UPDATES: 

Any seniors hoping to earn their MBL credit must submit documentation via Google Form by Monday, June 1st. If approved, the P will be added by June 8th. Be sure your counselor is aware so this can be added to your schedule as a spot for the P to be added. Flyers with QR codes are below and the link is here: https://forms.gle/RrRfgTwbLfxVgJ5p6 

SENIOR SURVEYS 

All seniors must complete two required senior surveys:
1. RISE Survey- click link here: https://tinyurl.com/4pzefvfe
2. Naviance, Graduation Survey 25-26 follow the directions here: 

• Login to Naviance through your school Gmail- click the waffle and find the Naviance app 

• Click on About Me at the top of the screen 

• Look for 'Surveys from your school' and click on it 

• Click on the Graduation Survey 25-26 

• Answer all of the required questions and be sure to submit at the end. 

If you have any questions, see 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 and daily posts! @shscounselingdept   

Senior Scholarship Ceremony- June 2, 2026 (seniors must self-report their scholarships to be recognized at this ceremony) 

TWO SHS SENIORS HONORED 

On May 26th, Stamford High School seniors Kathryn Diem and Cal Gillin were awarded the Maureen Tobin Memorial Scholarship from the PT Council at the Board of Education meeting. 

2026-2027 SPORTS INFORMATION 

Black Knight Athletics Registration – Opens May 5th for the 2026–2027 school year. 

Registration for all Stamford High School athletic programs (Fall, Winter, and Spring) will open on May 5. 

All student-athletes must complete registration online through Final Forms. A parent/guardian must register the student first – Then the student will get an email in their school email where they will log on and complete the registration. You can register here - https://www.stamfordathletics.org/about 

Registration instructions can be found here:
https://www.stamfordathletics.org/about/registration-process 

All athletes are required to have a current physical, which must be uploaded to Final Forms and approved by the school nurses (nurses check the website regularly to approve) prior to participation in: 

• Any summer activities 

• Tryouts for the 2026–2027 school year (Fall starts; golf 8/10, football 8/13 & rest 8/24) 

Instructions for uploading a physical can be found here:
https://www.finalforms.com/blog/end-of-year-reminder-how-to-upload-a-physical-in-finalforms 

Please note: Student-athletes who do not complete the full registration process (including an up to date physical) will not be permitted to participate.

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.