June 5, 2020 Good afternoon Daniel Hand High School students and parents/guardians,
Please see below for a few updates and information.
Class of 2020 Updates and Reminders: 1. There are four student speeches delivered during the graduation ceremony. Three are given by the students who ranked 1-3 in the class. The fourth is titled, "Class Remarks." Any senior may submit a speech for consideration. The speech should be no longer than five minutes in length. Speeches need to be submitted electronically to Mr. Brine or Mrs. LaVista by today, June 5th. This is a hard deadline.
2. Due to space restrictions, the Class of 2020 Graduation is an "invitation only" event. Families will be allowed one car per graduate. Although this restriction seems overly strict, please know that there are 279 seniors in the Class of 2020. The parking area that will be used for this special event contains 271 parking spots. I am working on a few adjustments (cutting down a fence and moving trash containers) to gain the additional 8 spots that are required for each graduate.
3. For planning purposes, all graduates will have an assigned parking spot that will be arranged alphabetically. Parking will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be organized and managed by Daniel Hand staff and the Madison Police Department. More specific details will be shared with the Class of 2020 and their families in the very near future.
Updates and Reminders: 1. For seniors, the last day to submit assignments to teachers is Friday, June 12, 2020. For underclassmen, the last day for submission of assignments is Monday, June 15, 2020.
2. If you need a refresher regarding the details of trimester three grading, I suggest you visit our website. Detailed information about grading can be found by clicking on the General Info link and then the Grading link.
3. If you would like to purchase a yearbook, please email Ms. Johnson and Mr. Young directly. Quantities are limited! If books sell out, we will not be able to order any more. We want every senior to be able to have a yearbook if they want one. If you would like a book but are in need of financial assistance, please contact Mr. Salutari.
4. All financial obligations, especially for seniors, must be paid before the end of the school year. Payment must be made electronically through Infinite Campus.
5. June 18 is the last day of school. Students should be especially mindful of due dates and the importance of work completion and submission to ensure a successful outcome in all classes.
A few years ago, several topics that dominated the media created some division among our student body as well as stress among some of our faculty and staff. After several professional conversations, our faculty and staff agreed that no topic is off limits for discussion at the high school level. In fact, part of our responsibility is to help high school students appropriately deal with and discuss difficult topics. The faculty formed a committee under the following direction; Daniel Hand Strives to Graduate Enthusiastic Learners Who Are Respectful and Tolerant. The committee defined a school-wide approach that we now follow when engaging in discussions around these types of topics. Posters were created and are displayed throughout our school. The content of the poster is as follows:
Respectful Dialogue fosters mutual understanding. Share opinions; validate them with solid evidence. Listen respectively and ask genuine questions. Seek to understand rather than judge. Reconsider positions in light of new evidence. Learn and grow by entertaining multiple perspectives. Expand your filter bubble. We the People, of the United States of America… Democracy depends on all of us!
As if the impact of Covid-19 was not enough, now topics of police brutality, black lives matter, protest, violence, riots, and vandalism, are only some of many that our students most likely want and need to discuss. If school was currently in-person, I would be asking all teachers to remind students of respectful dialogue. Additionally, I am confident that we would be engaging students in these conversations based on their individual needs. It is difficult, or almost impossible, to determine our students' needs in the virtual world. I want to remind the entire school community that Daniel Hand High School is staffed with incredible faculty and staff that are here to support you. In the virtual world, I am asking that you reach out to us if you need any support or would like to talk about any of the issues going on in the world. I encourage any student to email me directly and I will find a time to talk with you about any topic you feel is important. I am sure any faculty member at Hand would embrace an opportunity to support any and all of our students. I do ask that if and when we engage in conversations about any topics that we keep in mind the importance of respectful dialogue. It is okay to disagree but I recommend we all work towards disagreeing agreeably. I cannot wait for the time when students, faculty, and staff, return to the building. In the meantime, please contact us if there is anything you need.
See below for what I believe to be a fitting Friday "Quote of the Day" from Theodore Bikel.
"No doubt, unity is something to be desired, to be striven for, but it cannot be willed by mere declarations."
Please remember to observe social distancing expectations while making responsible and healthy decisions.
Enjoy the remainder of the day and the weekend.
Stay healthy.
Mr. Salutari
Daniel Hand High School 286 Green Hill Road • Madison, CT 06443 • (203) 245-6350 |