May-June 2009

Dear Parent Communities:

We are almost finished with another school year and with great success. Traditionally this time of year brings art exhibits, awards programs, proms, and concerts. With the warmer, sunnier weather, we can enjoy attending outdoor tennis, track and field meets, lacrosse, as well as, baseball and softball games.

This Hall Update is the last issue for the 2008-2009 school year. First, I’d like to welcome King Philip and Bristow students, their parents, and students new to Hall. Our administration, faculty, and staff are committed to providing the best education possible for each and every one of our students and look forward to serving the newest members of the Hall community. Hall High School is a unique school and has much to offer each and every student. We continue to strive for excellence in academics, athletics, fine and performing arts, student leadership and community service. We encourage students new to Hall to become actively involved in the life of our school.

During the summer, you will be receiving additional information, i.e., grade 9 orientation, athletics (Go Warriors!), etc. I look forward to meeting the class of 2013 and I hope you are as enthusiastic as I am to get started!

In celebration of several of our students and staff who have been recognized for achievements as well as accomplishments at the local, state, and national level, we proudly flew the Hall High School flag for:

excellence in family/consumer sciences:
* Mrs. Harrington’s Human Development students: Erin O’Rourke, Olivia Almon, Minh Leu, and Anna Bersin won 2nd place for their poster When Rainbows Fade

excellence in social studies:
* Leah Igdalsky earned an honorable mention in the National Peace Essay Contest
* Sarah Torogyan for earning 3rd place for her essay on Armenian Genocide
excellence in community service:
* Rakhi Agrawal, Madeline Mailly, Jenny Piccone, and Dana Honor,
co-presidents of AIDS Awareness and their fundraising efforts
excellence in science:
* Madeline Mailly for qualifying for the national level of competition in the Chemistry Olympiad
excellence in athletics:
* Matthew Berman who was selected as a National Football Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award winner
* Daniel Barzach and Dylan Rausch, swimmers, received recognition as Academic All-Americans
* Harry Mullins and Koreen Shoham were selected for the 2009 Connecticut High School Scholar-Athlete Awards

excellence in technology education:
* Mr. Bacon’s Robotics Team members: Feng Chen, Nika Rivilis, Dan Rodowicz, Gabe Isko, Brandon Tober, Li Zhang, Connor Gallegos, and Woosung Lee won 1st place in the high school division and 3rd place overall for the International Fire Fighting Robot contest at Trinity College

excellence in leadership:
* Nadia Balagou who has been accepted to the Girls’ Leadership Workshop run by the Eleanor Roosevelt Center in Hyde Park, NY

excellence in World Language:
* Talya Markus was one of 25 students nationally who has been accepted for a 5 week summer study program in Beijing, China through the China Institute of New York

excellence in art:
* Mrs. Joanne Barry-Dutro, art teacher, has been chosen as the recipient of the West Hartford Art League’s Community Partner of the Year for her collaborative work with Sheri Ellis from Conard for their work on the ArtWalk mural executed on the side of Jerry’s Artarama in Elmwood

excellence in social studies:
Mr. Steve Armstrong, Social Studies Department Supervisor, for being selected to receive the Louis Addazio Award from the CT Council of Social Studies

excellence in theatre arts:
* Sean Harris and Scott Sampietro’s theatre classes have been selected to represent the United States at the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinborough, Scotland in 2010!

We love to celebrate accomplishments!! Please remember to let us know if someone in the Hall Community is deserving of recognition because

“Together we are proud . . . Together we are Hall High!”

Overall, this has been a great year and one we can all be proud of.

Finally, to the students and parents of the class of 2009, thank you for all your support for the past 4 years. You have improved upon the excellence at Hall and have left a strong foundation for future students. I wish you good luck and all the best in your endeavors– don’t be strangers, come back to visit!

Have a wonderful summer!

Sincerely,

Donald J. Slater, Ph.D. Proud Principal of Hall High School 

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