5/8/2026

STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER

55 Strawberry Hill Ave. Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Week Ending Friday, May 8, 2026

Mr. Matthew Forker, Principal

STAMFORD HIGH’S BRIGHTEST STARS READY TO TAKE THE STAGE FOR MILESTONE 5TH ANNUAL “KNIGHT OF EXCELLENCE”

Excellence has become a tradition as Stamford High School proudly announces the 5th Annual Knight of Excellence Award and Art Show which will take place on Friday June 12, 2026. As always, this premier schoolwide event is dedicated to celebrating the brilliance of our student body!

This year’s milestone ceremony will again honor a diverse cohort of individuals and teams across the three pillars of the Stamford High experience: Academia, Athletics, and the Arts.

Since its inception five years ago, the Knight of Excellence has grown into a program that shines a spotlight on students who have demonstrated the "Black Knight Spirit," which is defined by determination, leadership, self-reliance, grit, teamwork, and resilience.

The evening’s festivities will kick off with the fan-favorite “Mocktail Hour,” where nominees and presenters gather in a signature VIP Lounge to celebrate their achievements with friends and faculty.

Prior to the show, attendees are invited to experience the “Gallery Walk,” an immersive exhibition showcasing the tangible results of our artists, sculptors, jewelry creators, and poets ensuring that every unique contribution to the school’s culture is seen and felt by the entire community.

THIS WEEK’S UPDATE

Here are some quick updates and reminders for the academic week ending May 8, 2026.  Links have been provided, where applicable, to help with further details.  Have a great weekend with your families! 

MAY DATES TO REMEMBER

May 12: Incoming 9th Grade “Knight”

May 25: Memorial Day (No School)

May 26: IB Celebrations Night

May 27: Early Release / National Honor Society Induction Night

SHS GRADUATION DATE SET!

Wednesday June 17, 2026

2:00 PM

Boyle Stadium

(Rain Date Thursday June 18; Time TBD)

SHS ATHLETES NAMED FCIAC SCHOLARS

Recently the FCIAC recognized three SHS athletes from the spring season that exemplify the true definition of “student-athlete.”  Congratulations to our winners (bios from fciac.net): 

Amelia Battikha

Amelia Battikha of the Stamford girl’s tennis team and has a weighted GPA of 4.97 and has taken all International Baccalaureate classes throughout high school.

She is a member of the Soundwaters Research Intensive Science National Honor Society, and volunteers as a teacher at her parish.

Amelia has been a member of Stamford High School’s girls’ varsity tennis team since her freshman year and has been co-captain for the last two years.

She is committed to the University of Massachusetts for biochemistry at Commonwealth Honors College.

Isha Kotha

Isha Kotha of the Stamford girl’s tennis team, is a National Honor Society member and an IB Diploma Programme candidate, maintaining an exceptional 4.999 weighted GPA.

Additionally, she has been a member of Stamford High School’s girls’ varsity tennis team for three years. Isha is also a recipient of the Boston College Book Award, one national writing award, and three local writing awards.

Outside the classroom, Isha also volunteers for community organizations and is a member of extracurricular Stamford High School organizations. She serves as an EMT and holds leadership roles as an executive member of MYLC, Design Head for DECA, and secretary and treasurer of the youth committee for the Non-Profit Six Love

CJ Berlingo

CJ Berlingo of the Stamford baseball team and is a senior with a weighted GPA of 4.902.

He has been a member of the golf, boys ice hockey, and baseball teams all four years and was team captain as a senior for all three teams, one year after he was an assistant captain for ice hockey in his junior year.

CJ has been named to the FCIAC All-West Baseball Team after his freshman, sophomore and junior years from 2023-25, including being named to GametimeCT’s “Top 25 Players to Watch” for his senior season.

For golf, his sport in the fall season, he qualified for the FCIAC and state championships his senior year.

CJ and his teammates have won two Doug Robinson Boys Ice Hockey Tournament championships, and he was a team captain for both. He was selected to the All-FCIAC Boys Ice Hockey Division II/III First team and the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Division II First Team after his junior and senior seasons in ice hockey as well as being nominated Defenseman of the Year.

He is a member of FBLA, where he and his group placed third in the Sports and Entertainment Management segment at the state-wide competition, qualifying for Nationals.

SHS SCIENCE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY HOST EVENT

The SHS Science NHS recently hosted Dr Paula Wolf, CT State Apiary (Bee farm) inspector speaking to our students on Bee Life Cycles and Genetics

STAMFORD HIGH MANUFACTURING STUDENTS MASTER ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY

Manufacturing students assembled robots as part of a hands-on project, focused on real world manufacturing skills.

Through the activity, students practiced teamwork, precision, problem solving, and following technical assembly processes used in modern manufacturing industries.

Any students interested in 3D printing, robotics, drones, or a variety of hands-on learning please connect with Mr. Pirro for more information

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  

FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

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.

MEET THE COACHES “KNIGHT”

SENIOR “FUN DAY”

Calling ALL Seniors - Free Event - Games - Food - Prizes

Parents - Donations needed (see flyer)

Amazon Wish List - https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PNSOFFUNDU5Y?ref_=wl_share

Let us shop for you - Square link - https://square.link/u/yE3JtV1L

Volunteers Needed - June 3rd (rain date June 4th) - set up at 8:30am, breakdown ends around 3pm - come for an hour or stay the whole day! Email Suzette or Darcey

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.