Latin II students have been learning how to give directions and are about to be introduced to  the labyrinth in class. At the end of our unit, students built a labyrinth and lead partners through the maze, totum Latine. Each student had an opportunity to build, lead, and run a maze. 

We are excited to share that Kona, a trained and certified therapy dog, will soon be joining the LOLHS faculty. Kona has been trained through The Perfect Pup LLC, Deep River CT Therapy Dog Program, as well as, the Canine Good Citizen Program. He is certified through the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. and has been evaluated and is a member of Project Paws, The Time Buckley Project.
Kona, is a two year old a Cream Retriever, who will provide comfort and support to students and staff who may be feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed, as well as, helping to develop skills to address trauma, compassion, empathy, self-esteem and/or motivation. Kona offers non-judgmental support and unconditional love
Kona will working in the counseling office, life skills classes and be supportive during high stress times, such as testing and exams. Students will be instructed on proper procedures and appropriate interaction with Kona. He will be available at the request by faculty or staff and will only be placed in situations where students voluntarily participate to avoid unwanted contact.
If your child has a dog allergy, and you have not notified us previously of this allergy, please contact Melissa Seckla, School Nurse (860-434-7238 ext. 1004) so we can be sure to keep everyone safe while Kona is in the building.
Project Paws, The Tim Buckley Project supported Kona’s training and his tenure as the Region 18 Therapy Dog. To learn more about Project Paws, please visit their website at https://timbuckleyproject.org/. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Kona, please feel free to reach out to us at any time.
Sincerely,
Hildie Heck

Take a look at two important items regarding vaping.
First, a link to a Lymeline article about vaping; "In it Together". Second, is a Public Service Announcement created by LYSB students. (video below)

Last Friday, the Humanities class had a guest speaker via Zoom. Dr. Christopher Hammond, professor of mathematics from Connecticut College, gave a presentation on the use of arithmetic and geometry in Dante's Divine Comedy. As his professional biography explains:
 
"While pure mathematics occupies a great deal of Professor Hammond's attention, he also maintains an active interest in the liberal arts, particularly in topics relating to literature and religion. He is delighted whenever he can find connections between mathematics and the arts. He has given several talks on Dante's use of mathematical imagery in the Divine Comedy, as well as a lecture on the place of science and mathematics in Gulliver's Travels."
 
​The class had recently studied parts of The Inferno, and they found the talk fascinating - Dr. Hammond's scholarship and insight puts The DaVinci Code to shame! 

 By: Emma Griffith

​Maria del Mar came to our Spanish Honor Society meeting a few weeks ago and spoke about her time she spent in Argentina. Maria is a lactation consultant at Yale New Haven Health and works beside Emma Griffith's mother. She uses Spanish in her work all the time. Maria discussed with the club some of her favorite things about Argentina, including different types of food, dances such as the tango and even showed us some clips from Maradona, a famous soccer player from Argentina! It was very fascinating  to learn about a different country's culture!

The Lyme/Old Lyme Prevention Coalition is recognizing National Drug and Alcohol Fact Week (March 22-28) with a look at e-cigarettes, vaping and its impact on our youth.  We are proud to be working with youth leaders at both the High School (REACH) and Middle School (Upstanders) to bring awareness to peers, families, and the community.
 
Considerable progress has been made in reducing cigarette smoking among our nation’s youth. However, the tobacco product landscape continues to evolve to include a variety of tobacco products, including smoked, smokeless, and electronic products, such as e-cigarettes.  E-cigarettes are designed to deliver nicotine, THC (marijuana), flavorings, and other additives to the user via an inhaled aerosol. In 2018, more than 3.6 million U.S. youth, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, used e-cigarettes.
 
In 2019, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau partnered with the schools to survey student use in grades 6-12.  Data reveals that recent electronic cigarette use is reported by 10% of youth in grades 7-12 with use going up as students move to a higher grade.
 
E-cigarette aerosol is not harmless. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine – the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain – which continues to develop until about age 25. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can impact learning, memory, and attention. Using nicotine in adolescence can also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.  In addition to nicotine, the aerosol that users inhale and exhale from e-cigarettes can expose themselves and bystanders to other harmful substances, including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs.
 
Many e-cigarettes also come in kid-friendly flavors. In addition to making e-cigarettes more appealing to young people, some of the chemicals used to make certain flavors may also have health risks. E-cigarettes can also be used to deliver other drugs, including marijuana.  

You Can Take Action
We must take steps to protect our children from these highly potent products that risk exposing a new generation of young people to nicotine. The bad news is that e-cigarette use has become an epidemic among our nation’s young people. However, the good news is that we know what works to effectively protect our kids from all forms of tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes. We must now apply these strategies to e-cigarettes, including USB flash drive shaped products such as JUUL and Puff Bars.  
 

• You have an important role to play in addressing this public health epidemic.
• Learn about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes and the risks of all forms of e-cigarette use for young people at   https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.
• Set a good example by being tobacco-free. If you use tobacco products, it’s never too late to quit. Talk to a healthcare professional about quitting all forms of tobacco product use. For free help, visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
• Adopt tobacco-free rules, including e-cigarettes, in your home and vehicle.
• Talk to your child or teen about why e-cigarettes are harmful for them. It’s never too late.
• Talk    early. Talk often.
• Get the Surgeon General’s tip sheet for parents, Talk With Your Teen About E-cigarettes, at https://ecigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.
• Start the conversation early with children about why e-cigarettes, including JUUL, are harmful for them.
• Let your child know that you want them to stay away from all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, because they are not safe for them. Seek help and get involved.
  • Set up an appointment with your child’s health care provider so that they can hear from a medical professional about the health risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
  • Speak with your child’s teacher and school administrator about enforcement of tobacco-free school policies and tobacco prevention curriculum.
  • Encourage your child to learn the facts and get tips for quitting tobacco products at Teen.smokefree.gov.

For more information or support-  Alli Behnke, MSW-  Prevention Coordinator LYSB [email protected]   www.lysb.org

Friday after our half day of classes, LOLHS faculty had an opportunity to WIN!... do What I Need ... addressing the social - emotional needs of the faculty. Before beginning however, they were surprised with a SWEET TREAT... A Cupcake Truck! This truck began at the LOLHS/MS campus and then moved on to each school in the district. After that excitement, teachers had the opportunity to plan, collaborate with their colleagues, practice yoga via zoom, or paint with Mr. Allik. A truly productive day!

On Wednesday, when the rest of the students were learning about course selection, the senior class took some time for some fun! The class officers organized a Family Feud game 3 different student teams against one faculty team. Needless to say... the seniors won each round!

On March 3, as a follow up to the Social Media themed advisories and the movie LIKE, a group of 15 high school students participated in student panels at the middle school - one for each grade. Each group zoomed into the advisory classes to discuss various aspects of social media and their perspectives on how to use it in a positive way and how to manage it in a more mature way.  After they shared responses to some questions and their opinions, the middle school students asked questions using the chat option.  
This was just another example of how LOL students are able to adjust to our circumstances and make it work! 

Dear Students and Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of the Class of 2022, 2023, 2024;
 
We have begun the scheduling process for the 2021-2022 school year.  This process includes receiving course level recommendations from current LOLHS teachers and choosing courses that reflect areas of interest as well as courses that will help with one’s future endeavors.  Once again, we will be using the PowerSchool On-line Scheduling Portal.  This method makes the scheduling process more efficient and timely.
 
The following dates reflect the timeline for the 2021-2022 Scheduling Process:
 
March 1st - March 12th: Teachers will initiate a discussion with each student to share their recommendations for the appropriate course and level to pursue next year. Students will indicate the recommended courses on their Course Selection Sheet and utilize it during the on-line registration process. The Course Selection Sheet must be turned into the School Counseling Department after the on-line registration is completed.
 
March 15th – March 29th: The PowerSchool On-line Registration Portal will open for all students on Monday, March 15, 2021 and close on Monday, March 29th.   It is our hope that parent(s)/guardian(s) will assist students with the on-line registration process. Step-by-step instructions to complete the on-line process are available on the LOLHS website: https://lolhs.region18.org/counselingguidance.  This information is also posted on Canvas that all students and parents can access.  Please remember, it is crucial to hit SUBMIT once the appropriate classes have been selected on the PowerSchool On-line Registration Portal. .
 
If parent(s)/Guardian(s) disagree with the level recommended for a particular subject, you may consider the Course Override Process and begin by communicating (in-person/phone/email) with the current LOLHS academic teacher as to the advisability of a course or level change.   If, after the discussion, you ultimately decide to pursue a Course Override, you will need to complete a blue Course Recommendation Override Form: this form is included in this mailing and available in the School Counseling Office. The deadline to complete this process and submit the paperwork to the LOLHS School Counseling Department is Wednesday, March 31, 2021.  Upon receipt of the Course Recommendation Override form, the course selection will be adjusted to reflect the new course or level.
 
During the week of April 12th: You will receive a list of the requested courses for the 2021-2022 school year.   Please review the course list to ensure it is complete and accurately represents the requested courses.   If the list is incorrect, please indicate the necessary corrections on the course list and return to the School Counseling Office by Monday, April 26, 2021.
 
As you begin the course selection process, please keep in mind….

• All LOLHS students must take a minimum of 6.5 credits including PE.
• 8 is the maximum number of credits you may select as the classes must fit into our 8 period schedule.
• Any time within the 8 periods which is not scheduled will be a study hall.
• Students must utilize the Alternative Section of the On-Line Scheduling page to provide backup choices

in case there is a conflict with the schedule and they cannot get another requested course. We ask students to select two – three alternative elective courses. Things change quickly during the scheduling process so a student is more likely to get a desirable schedule if they provide Alternative selections.

• Students’ course requests drive the development of the overall Master Schedule; students must make solid choices and be committed to their course requests for the 2021-22 school year.
• Upon receipt of their 21-22 schedule, students will not be able to change their classes to facilitate a late  arrival/early dismissal. Students are making a commitment to their course requests regardless of where the course falls within the daily schedule.

 
If you have questions about the PowerSchool On-line Registration Process, please feel free to contact Tracy Lenz at Lyme-Old Lyme High School at 860.434.2255 or [email protected].  As always, please feel free to contact a School Counselor if you have any questions about the courses to choose for the 2021-22 school year.
 
Sincerely,
Lyme-Old Lyme High School
School Counseling Department