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STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER
55 Strawberry Hill Ave. Stamford, Connecticut 06902
August 25, 2025
Mr. Matthew Forker, Principal
"BEGINNING OF THE YEAR" FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is Incoming 9th Grade Orientation Day?
Tuesday August 26, 2025. The school day will run from 7:25 am-11:45 am.
Orientation Day is for incoming 9th grade students only.
Bus departure locations will coincide with bus drop-off locations.
When is the first day of school for all students?
Wednesday August 27, 2025, is the first day for ALL Stamford High students and will be an “A” Day!
Where is bus transportation information located?
Bus routes will be available on August 22, 2025 through the Parent Portal.
For transportation questions, please refer to the SPS website.
Instructions to find information:
Where do students get dropped off?
Walkers may enter through the main entrance (55 Strawberry Hill Avenue) or the rear of the building (Building B, near the tennis courts).
Bus Riders will be dropped off in the rear of the building (Building B, near the tennis courts) or near the main entrance.
Note: Where students get dropped off in the morning, is where students will depart in the afternoons.
Parent Drivers may not enter the front loop for drop off but can drop students off in the rear of the building near the tennis courts (Holcomb Ave) or on Strawberry Hill Ave. Note: Please allow extra time for traffic in both the front and rear of the building.
How do I access PowerSchool?
To log into your account:
Student Accounts
Username: Your ID Number
Parent Accounts
Username: Usually, the personal email address associated with the account.
ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERSCHOOL FORMS COMPLETED FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR!
Please log into PowerSchool with a PARENT account to complete the following forms:
2025-2026 Media Consent
2025-2026 SPS Educational Technology Device Agreement
2025-2026 Stamford Public Schools Responsible Use Agreement
Household Income Survey 2025-2026
Additional information about completing these forms can be found here.
If you have any issues accessing your account, or completing your PowerSchool Forms, please contact Melissa Correa at mcorrea@stamfordpublicschools.org
Questions regarding student schedules should be directed to the student's GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.
Where do I find the SPS Family Guide?
The 2025-26 SPS Family Guide is now available to view and download. This guide provides parents/guardians with essential information about Stamford Public Schools. It is available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Ukrainian and may be accessed at any time by clicking the family guide icon on the SPS homepage.
What if there are classes my student didn’t sign up for or they are missing a class?
Should there be an issue with your student’s schedule, counselors will contact them directly through their SPS Gmail account with instructions on how to remedy the conflict.
Use the link here:
Students are to attend all classes as they appear on their schedule. If an error exists, please fill out the form.
What should my student bring to the first day of school? What supplies should my student have for High School?
High School is really no different than any of the other grades. The basic things you have needed every year pretty much stay the same. Some of these items include (but are not limited to):
Pens
Pencils
Notebooks
Folders
Planners/Organizers
Additionally, the classroom teachers will also let students know what types of materials they will need for class, so focus on having the basics until you receive further instruction from your student’s teachers.
How do I report an absence for my student?
All absences must be reported to the school. Please fill out this form when you know your student will not be in school:
Do we have a cell phone policy?
We do! Simply, phones are to be stored in classroom phone caddies during classroom instruction. For more information, please read our FAQ with more specifics.
Can students leave campus?
Only students in grades 11 or 12 are eligible to leave campus.
Per BOE Policy 5112, students in grades 11 and 12 are eligible. “Open Campus” is defined as:
Closed Campus – students are not allowed to leave campus at any time during the school day.
Open Campus – School principal permits some students to leave campus during designated times with parent permission.
Off Campus Time: The following are the only times students may be permitted to leave campus: lunch, approved early dismissal, approved late arrival, and study halls.
Students in grades 9 and 10 are NOT PERMITTED to leave SHS during any time of the day.
How can I help my students find success?
Reestablish appropriate sleep routines.
Establish after school routines. High School is very demanding, time-wise. With after school sports and activities, the time commitment is far greater than middle school. Plan accordingly, making sure there is time for family, homework, dinner, etc. because many of our students will be putting in long days if they are active after school.
Review all school communications with your students. Emails and links have important information, so take the time to look through all materials so that your family is in the know. Communicate with teachers as needed.
Will my student have a locker?
Students may have personal lockers.
If a student wishes to have a locker, they will inform their first period teacher, who will then submit a list to our security staff. From there, students will be given a locker and combination.
If a student does not wish to use a locker, they do not have to.
What is the process of playing sports at Stamford High?
If any student is interested in trying out for a sports team, tryout dates and times can be found on our Stamford Athletics website:
To REGISTER:
Please note that a current physical and sport registration is required to play any sport at SHS.
How much is school breakfast and lunch?
School breakfast and lunch are FREE! Students simply put their school ID number into our POS system.
When will my student eat lunch?
SHS lunch will run from 10:33-12:34 over three 30-minute lunch waves. Depending on where your student is physically in the building will determine when they eat.
How do I join an afterschool club or activity?
With over 50 clubs and organizations, SHS has opportunities for ALL students. Students may ask any adult to learn more about clubs and organizations!
How many courses will my student take this year?
In most instances, students will take 4 courses in Semester 1 (September to January) and 4 courses in Semester 2 for a total of 8 courses. Courses are 84 minutes in length.
What if I have a technology concern?
Please use this link for all technology matters! https://www.stamfordhigh.org/student-life/technology-hub
How do I contact school officials should I need to?
For academic concerns:
Your teacher is the best way to begin a conversation.
Emailing teachers directly is encouraged. All teacher emails are delivered in the same format: first initial last name@stamfordps.org
For example, teacher John Smith (jsmith@stamfordps.org)
You may also contact your student’s School Counselor for matters that fall beyond the classroom, to help set up meetings with teachers, for future course selections, and for college planning.
For other concerns:
We have two Multi-Tiered Support Specials on staff for the 25-26 school year. They can assist with academic concerns, attendance, social-emotional concerns, peer relationships, as well as assisting as a liaison for families.
Ms. Joann Carde (jcarde@stamfordps.org)
Mr. Dan Ostasiewski (dostasiewski@stamfordps.org)
Grade level Administrators: Each grade level (9-12) is assigned an Assistant Principal:
Grade 9: Mr. Jonny Ortiz
Grade 10: Mr. Matthew Moynihan
Grade 11: Mr. Christian Paulino
Grade 12: Mrs. Rebecca Nixon
Assistant Principal for Specialized Instruction
Ms. Catherine Albrecht
All emails are available at www.stamfordhigh.org
How do I find out information about things happening at school?
There are many ways to find out information about SHS some of which include, but are not limited to:
Principal’s Weekly Message: Sent via email every Friday by Mr. Forker.
Instagram: Athletics, Teams, Clubs, Organizations, School Closings and Delays, the SHS PTO (FOSH), and the Principal all have active Instagram accounts that post daily. This is a great source of information and one we feel most students engage in on a regular basis, so please follow all accounts that pertain to your interests.
Some “Insta” Accounts to get you started:
@ stamford_high_principal Principal
@StamfordBlackKnights Athletics
@shscounselingdept School Counselors
@shsroundtable School Newspaper
@unknightednation U Knighted Nation Group
@stamfordhighfosh SHS Parent Organization
School Website: We have a newer platform for our website and will post up to date information to help inform our school community. Our website can be found at www.stamfordhigh.org
FOSH (Friends of Stamford High): This is our parent PTO, designed to aid and support events at the school, fundraising, and giving back to the students and families who attend SHS. To learn more, volunteer, or participate in any way, you can find information at www.foshpto.com
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