9/19/2025

STAMFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER

55 Strawberry Hill Ave. Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Week Ending Friday, September 19, 2025

Mr. Matthew Forker, Principal

MAYOR SIMMONS VISITS SHS TO HIGHLIGHT FINANCIAL LITERACY

Mayor Caroline Simmons stopped by the Stamford High School CTE (Career and Technical Education) department on Tuesday to see our students in action! The visit emphasized the value of our community partners, including CT Financial Scholars, Webster Bank, and Members Credit Union, in teaching students’ essential financial literacy skills.

Mayor Simmons stated, "I am grateful to Webster Bank for their generous support of the Connecticut Financial Scholars program. Thanks to these important programs, thousands of young people will gain the skills and confidence they need to manage their finances and prepare for their futures."

Stamford High School's partnership with CT Financial Scholars is helping to shape our students' futures. This collaboration offers professional development for teachers and creates valuable opportunities for students, reinforcing the critical need for financial literacy and equipping them with the skills they need to succeed.

Special thanks to CTE Department Leader Dorothea Mackey for organizing this event, and to CTE teachers Doug Taylor, Brenda Zanga, Ashley Dougherty, Paula Yates, Ryan Piro, and Suzanne Rixon. Their dedication to professional growth through this partnership is key to equipping our students with the skills they need for a successful future!

(Left to right) Nancy Kail, Executive Director, CT Financial Scholars , Karina Saltman, Senior Managing Director, Community Investment, Engagement, and Philanthropy, Webster Bank , Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Webster Bank  Kristy Berner as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Webster Bank  and Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons  are joined by Stamford High School students, educators and Webster Bank staff to announce a three-year, $300,000 grant for CT Financial Scholars at an event this week at Stamford High School.

THIS WEEK’S UPDATE

Here are some quick updates and reminders for the academic week ending September 19, 2025.  Links have been provided, where applicable, to help with further details.  Have a great weekend with your families! 

SEPTEMBER’S UPCOMING DATES

September 23:       Rosh Hashanah                No School

September 24:       Rosh Hashanah                No School

SHS ANNUAL “PINK OUT” RETURNS!

The Stamford High School Pink Out is our highly anticipated and impactful event each fall. So far, SHS, through the sale of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and donations has raised and donated over $120,000, with the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital as our main beneficiary. This initiative truly showcases our community's spirit of supporting one another and certainly a highlight of the fall!

If you're new to this event, here's how it works: We sell T-shirts, long sleeves, and hoodies with a winning student-designed logo. The proceeds are then donated directly to the Bennett Cancer Center. This organization has provided exceptional care to many members of our community, including our students and the beloved Curt Tinnin.

Last year, we were proud to donate over $8,000, and we're aiming to match OR EXCEED that amount this year.

Get Ready to Pink Out!

Pink Out Week will be the week of October 6th, which includes home athletic events, special events, and ending with a home football game against Fairfield Warde High School on Saturday, October 11th.

You can now pre-order your Pink Out gear with this year's design by clicking the link below. When you check out, there's an option to donate a shirt to a student who might not be able to afford one. This small gesture can make a big difference.

Pre-order your Pink Out gear now!

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to SHS Biology teacher Ms. Cole, who was recently awarded 8 NEW microscopes for her classroom through the ATEC (Algae Technology Educational Consortium) Equity Grant which supports classroom teachers to successfully deliver STEM curricula.

ECS STUDENTS USE SMART ROBOTS TO KICKSTART SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECTS

ECS Workplace Learning 3 students in Mr. Piro’s class use smart robots to begin learning about design and assembly which they will implement into the prototyping phase of their senior capstone projects.

Don't forget to follow the Counseling Department on IG for all important updates and information. @shscounselingdept

CLASS OF THE WEEK

This week in Mr. Barron's Biology class, students learned about the scientific method by studying crickets' behavior to various foods (apple, tangerine, corn syrup, and fruit with vinegar)

PICKLEBALL CRAZE HITS STAMFORD HIGH!

Mrs. Paci's Period 2 Physical Education class is diving into the world of pickleball! Did you know it's the fastest-growing sport in America? The students at Stamford High are up for the challenge, learning a new lifelong sport that's taking the nation by storm.

Hashtags #Pickleball #PhysicalEducation #StamfordHigh #SHS #Stamford #BlackKnights #Sports

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.

WINTER SPORTS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Final Forms registration page at https://stamford-ct.finalforms.com/ 

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.