Principal's Letter
Dear Parent/Guardian,
It seems like it was yesterday when we first started this school year. It’s hard to believe that I am announcing our graduation. The commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m. on the EHS Athletic Field.
Senior exams begin on June 11. Underclassmen will begin their exams on a half-day schedule starting Tuesday, June 17 and continue through June 20, the last day of school. The many activities and warm weather that fill these spring days make it essential for all of us to monitor closely the focus required for academic success. Since the final exams count for 10% of a student’s grade average in a full-year course and 20% in a semester course, please emphasize with your son/daughter the importance of final exams and encourage appropriate preparation.
We also continue to ask for your assistance with our dress code. As the weather becomes warmer, student dress becomes more casual. In particular, we are concerned about bare midriffs and inappropriate clothing such as short shorts, tank tops, short skirts, improper t-shirts, and outfits that are suitable for picnics or the beach but not school. Please review our guidelines (found in the Student Handbook) and exercise parental discretion in helping us to maintain an educationally productive school climate.
Please remind your son/daughter of our policy to dispose of all materials left in student lockers on the last day of school. This policy is announced daily for the last two weeks of school and all students are given opportunities to clean out their lockers on the last three days of school. Your sons/daughters must clean their lockers and return all books and library materials. All lockers will be emptied of all contents on Friday June 20, starting at 10:00 am. Students should plan accordingly.
Both Mr. Moccio and I want to express our thanks and appreciation to the students, parents, faculty and staff for their support and encouragement throughout the year. We have enjoyed working collaboratively with our school community to ensure continued educational success. We know that the tradition of learning and maturing here at Ellington High School will continue to grow and wish each of you the very best. We look forward to a positive conclusion to our school year and wish you a pleasant and relaxing summer.
On behalf of the faculty and students at Ellington High School, I would like to send our best wishes to Mrs. Joanne Marriott and Mrs. Ginny Hogan on their retirement. Their dedication, knowledge, and rapport with students are outstanding. One of the biggest challenges that I’ve faced as the principal of EHS is finding new teachers that are the caliber of our retirees. The expertise and experience that Mrs. Marriott and Mrs. Hogan have shown in the field of education will be sorely missed. Also leaving EHS to teach math at Ellington Middle School is Ms. Chrissie Gallucci. In addition to teaching math at EHS for several years, Ms Gallucci has served as the advisor for the Class of 2008. We wish these exceptional educators all the best!
Also leaving us at the conclusion of this school year will be our security officer, Mr. Erwin McKinney, and our guidance intern, Mr. Todd Giansanti. Mr. McKinney, more commonly known as E.T., will be moving to the lone star state of Texas. His work here to provide a safe learning environment for everyone was outstanding. We will miss his presence in our school. Mr. Giansanti served as our guidance and school-to-career intern. He has provided an invaluable service to our students as a counselor, confidant and educator. We wish him all the best.
Finally, as many of you know, our assistant principal, Mr. Steve Moccio will take over on July 1, 2008 as the new principal of Windermere School. Mr. Moccio and I started out as the new administrative team at EHS three years ago. During that time I have come to know Mr. Moccio as a dedicated professional of the highest caliber. Together we have developed a shared leadership model at EHS that has led to an increased sense of community focusing on high academic and social expectations. His experience here will be put to good use at the elementary level providing Windermere students a link to their future. We will all miss Mr. Moccio here at EHS and wish him all the best.
Sincerely,
Neil Rinaldi
Principal
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