Nonnewaug High School Parent News
August 25th to August 29th, 2025
Good Afternoon, Nonnewaug High School Parents and Guardians,
We start this update by officially welcoming you to the 2025-2026 school year! Throughout the school year, you will receive timely information about happenings in our school community through these news updates. These news updates are also linked in the “Digital Backpack” emailed home each Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm. We look forward to working with you to best support your child throughout the year.
We are all excited to welcome back our returning students and anyone that is joining us for their first time at Nonnewaug. Nonnewaug is a special place with so much to offer. We hope that your student gets involved and explores the various opportunities at Nonnewaug.
Please see the document below as there’s much to celebrate from 2024- 2025. We thank you for helping our staff create a learning community where young adults are thriving. We look forward to more success this year!
First Day of School - The first day of the school year for students will be Wednesday, August 27th. Please see the schedule for the first three days here.
Please see our 2025/6 Scheduling Calendar so that you can track our weekly bell schedule. Our bell schedules can be found here.
Sincerely,
Mykal Kuslis - Principal
Declan Curtin - Assistant Principal
Marisa Christoff- Dean of Students
Sean McGee- Athletic Director
Follow Us!
@nonnewaug_high_school
@nonnewaug_ccrc
@nonnewaug_ad
@woodbury_ffa
@nonnewauggradnite
@NHSFineArts
Region14 School District FB and Instagram @region14schooldistrict
Save the Date!
Upcoming Events in Our School Community
9/2 and 9/3- Picture Day (in English classes); make-ups 9/25
9/11- Senior College Night
9/16- Blood Drive
9/18- 5:30pm- Open House for 9th grade families/6:00 for all families
9/25- Club, Activities, and Electives Fair, during Chiefs
9/26- Senior Field Day
10/2- Homecoming sports day, (football and XC on 10/3)
10/5- 10am-3pm, Woodbury FFA Alumni Car Show, See Flier here
10/9- Homecoming Dance, Grand Oak Villa
10/15- PSAT Day (½ day for all students)
GradNite Updates:
Please stay tuned as information is made available for GradNite 2026
Important Information:
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures - This year, parent drop-off will be behind the building at the cafeteria entrance. Staff will be on duty to greet students at 6:45 AM. Dismissal procedures will remain the same with parents being asked to pick up students in front of the agriscience building. Staff will be on duty to assist with traffic flow.
Handbook- We made several changes to the student handbook over the summer. Click here for the updated version of the student handbook. All changes are highlighted.
Parking on Campus- With the return of fall sports and other events at Nonnewaug, the Woodbury Fire Marshall would like to remind parents and spectators to only park in designated parking spaces. We have been informed that deputies of the fire department will be present at Nonnewaug Events and will be ticketing individuals who are not in designated parking spots.
School Meals -This year, every student has the opportunity to have breakfast and lunch at school each day. Breakfast meals will be served in the cafeteria daily from 6:50 to 7:20. The cost is $2.25 for breakfast with lunch costing $3.75 (unless your child qualifies for free/reduced meals). Click here to access the application for free/reduced mails. All students will need to enter in their PIN number to receive their meals. Cafeteria staff are happy to provide your child with their PIN if needed. More information about the Food Services program, including the link for MySchoolBucks, can be found here. Questions related to school meals may be directed to Tina Tanguay, Director of Finance and Operations at ttanguay@ctreg14.org or 203-263-4430.
Attendance - Regular attendance at school is required by state law, and is an important component of student success. Please use this link as a general attendance overview. Class time is an invaluable opportunity for students and teachers to interact and exchange ideas. In order to receive maximum opportunities for learning, students need to be present in every class. Attendance is so important that it is one of the criteria for granting course credit. (Course credit is granted on the basis of two criteria: passing grade and attendance in that specific class within the requirements of the school policy.) We appreciate your support in ensuring your child is in attendance daily.
Calculators- The math department would like to provide information on the best calculator to purchase. Please click here for the letter from the math department.
Here's our latest Chief Advocate news digest link: Advocate Link
GOFAN- This year, we will be moving to GOFAN as our system of payment for events at NHS. To purchase tickets ahead of time, please use this link . We will no longer be accepting cash at events.
Athletics/Clubs
Athletic Updates - We are excited to introduce Sean McGee as our new Athletic Director. Sean can be reached at 203-263-2186 x 2835. His email is smcgee@ctreg14.org. Arbiter Sports is now open for the fall season. Students MUST be signed up on Arbiter and have an updated physical uploaded to Arbiter Sports OR an updated physical handed into the school within the past 13 months to participate. Here is the link for sports registration: Student Registration. Many of our fall sports have started already. Please reach out immediately if your son/daughter wants to get involved.
Upcoming Home Games
Wednesday, 8/27: Field Hockey vs Immaculate 4:00PM
Thursday, 8/28: Girls Soccer vs Holy Cross 4:00PM
Tuesday, 9/2: Golf vs Shepaug @ Crestbrook Park 3:00PM
Friday, 9/5: Volleyball vs Terryville 5:15PM
Friday, 9/5: Boys Soccer vs Lakeview 3:45PM
Friday, 9/5: Football vs Torrington 6:00PM
Tuesday, 9/30: Boys and Girls Cross Country vs Northwestern and Shepaug 3:45PM
Clubs- Each year, Nonnewaug High School offers an array of clubs and activities. We hope to involve as many students as possible in clubs and extracurricular activities, providing them with opportunities to make social connections, broaden their interests, and, in many cases, grow in a leadership capacity. Click here for a list of our club offerings
What's Going on in the Arts?
The Artistic Pulse: Region 14’s Fine Arts Newsletter created by Mrs. Odell
Congratulations to NHS’ 2025 Scholastic Art Award Winners (located under “Woodbury”)! https://sites.google.com/ctreg14.org/2025awardwinners/home
School Counseling/CCRC
Please click here for your student’s School Counselor. We want to welcome Danielle Hutchins to the team
Welcome back Nonnewaug families! We are excited for a new school year.
Senior Families:
9/11 at 6 pm Senior College Night - join us to learn about the college process and get your initial questions answered. This night is intended for parents/guardians of our senior class who plan to attend college.
The Permission to Release Educational Records form must be printed, completed, and returned (emailed or hard copy) to Kathy Green (kathygreen@ctreg14.org). Any senior planning to apply to college or trade school will need their transcript sent as part of their application. This form permits us to send them.
If there is an issue or error with your students schedule, please have them contact their school counselor. Parent consent via email is required to make schedule changes.
Updated Cell Phone Policy
Cell Phone Policy Changes
Each classroom is equipped with phone holders, placed in a secure location.
Upon entering the classroom, students are required to place their cell phones in the designated phone holder ONLY, and they should be set to silent. Students will be required to use the holder. The phone is to remain in the holder if the student is leaving the room (i.e. going to the bathroom) and returning. Attendance will be taken for each class by teachers checking phones in the phone holder. If a student does not put their phone in the phone holder, they will be marked absent.
In the case of an emergency, students can request permission from the teacher to access their phones discreetly.
Special accommodations, as determined through the PPT or 504 process, can be made for students with documented medical or accessibility needs. These cases should be discussed with the school administration.
Students are not allowed to use cell phones or any recording devices to take pictures of students and staff members without their knowledge and/or consent. Students are also prohibited from posting pictures or video of students and staff members on the Internet.
At the beginning of, and periodically throughout the academic year, the cell phone policy to include phone holder usage will be communicated to all students and parents/guardians.
Students are responsible for their own cell phones and should not handle other students’ devices.
Nonnewaug High School will take reasonable measures to ensure the security of the phone holders.
Any listening device including but not limited to air pods, earbuds, and headphones are a distraction to the educational process as well as a safety concern. These devices should not be used during any academic classroom time. During passing time and other non instructional periods (study hall, lunch), only 1 air pod can be in at a time.
Region 14 Vision of a Learner/Region 14 Goals
Region 14 students:
THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY – They evaluate an issue or problem and develop a solution or opinion using multi-disciplinary thinking, originality and imagination.
COLLABORATE AND COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY – They find effective ways to work together and express, listen to, and exchange ideas and information in many forms.
DEMONSTRATE EMPATHY – They understand and respect the ideas, beliefs, and values of others to foster an inclusive environment.
TAKE INITIATIVE – They take ownership of learning by inquiring, setting goals, taking action, and consistently reflecting.
PERSEVERE – They persist through challenges to achieve goals and build resilience.
ADAPT AND ADJUST – They remain flexible and open to new ideas, and they adjust to new situations.
Region 14 Goals:
Academic Performance - The district will strive to improve academic performance for all students on multiple assessment indicators and the staff will be committed to continuous improvement
Communication - Region 14 will develop partnerships with all stakeholders in the school community to highlight the exemplary programs the district offers
Safety - Region 14 will provide safe and secure facilities equipped with technology, enabling a 21st century learning environment that supports the values of the district
Budget - Region 14 will prepare a budget that meets the needs of every student and communicates the needs and priorities of Region 14 in a clear and concise manner.