The Principal's Newsletter - Westhill High School

Principal’s Weekly Message for the Week of: October 5th, 2026

Principal Rinaldi

Oct 4 2026 9:18 PM

Dear Westhill Families,

As we turn the calendar to October, the crisp autumn weather is fast approaching, and our students continue to bring fantastic energy to our classrooms, athletic fields, and extracurriculars every single day.

School Spirit & Cultural Celebrations

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 – Oct 15): We are proud to honor the vibrant histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latino communities throughout this month. Be sure to mark your calendars for Noche Latina on Thursday, October 22!
Spirit Week is Right Around the Corner: The wait is almost over! Our Student Council has been working hard to plan an exciting lineup of theme days, hall decorations, and pep activities to celebrate our Viking pride. Keep an eye out for daily theme announcements sent to student emails and join us as we celebrate what it means to truly be Westhill & P.R.O.U.D.!
Pinkout Day: Mark your calendars for Friday, October 30, as our school comes together in pink to show support and raise awareness.

Academic Supports & Fall Assessments

Student Responsible Use Agreements: Please note that signed Responsible Use Agreements are due by Thursday, October 1.
NHS Peer Tutoring: Our National Honor Society peer tutoring program is now officially open! Students looking for extra support in specific subjects or help organizing study routines can sign up using the form sent to their student email or by visiting their guidance counselor.
PSAT/SAT Testing Notice: A reminder for 10th and 11th-grade families that PSAT Day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21. Room assignments and special schedule details will be shared early next week.
End of 1st Quarter: The first marking period officially ends on Friday, October 30. Please review grade books with your student to ensure all work is up to date.

Campus Safety & Traffic Reminders

With cooler, damper mornings becoming the norm, fallen leaves can make crosswalks and roadways slick. Please remind your student drivers to take extra time and drive cautiously on campus. Thank you as well to all parents for continuing to follow our single-lane drop-off routine—your patience during peak arrival hours keeps traffic moving safely and efficiently.

Fine Arts & Career Opportunities

Carpenters Local 326 Presentation: Interested students are invited to join a special career presentation on Friday, October 2 at 7:30 AM.
Arts & Extracurriculars: Beyond the athletics schedule, our performing arts groups are in full preparation mode for the Fall Drama production, and our Marching Band continues to represent Westhill with pride at weekend competitions. Check the main calendar on our school website for complete dates and ticket information.

Important October Dates at a Glance

Date	Event / Deadline
Sept 30	SafeSchools Mandatory Training Due (Staff)
Oct 1	Student Responsible Use Agreements Due
Oct 2	Carpenters Local 326 Presentation (7:30 AM)
Oct 9	PDGE Goal Setting Due (Staff)
Oct 12	No School – Columbus Day
Oct 14–16	Early Release – Parent Conferences
Oct 16	Photo Retake / Make-up Day
Oct 21	PSAT Day (10th & 11th Grade Testing)
Oct 22	Noche Latina
Oct 28	Early Release for Students – Staff Professional Development
Oct 30	Pinkout Day \| End of 1st Quarter

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We can't wait to see our school filled with Viking spirit all month long!

With deepest gratitude,

Principal Rinaldi and your Westhill Administrative Team

Student Restrooms:

Please be assured that there are ample restrooms available to our students throughout the day. For safety reasons however student restrooms are locked at the end of each school day and then reopened by security once the next school day begins. For safety reasons during our lunch waves student restrooms located near classrooms are closed off to students while restrooms adjacent to our cafeterias are open for use. If your child should express any concern regarding the availability of student restrooms, please reach out to your child’s grade level assistant principal for assistance.

From the Office of Peter Rinaldi, Assistant Principal Grade 9:

The Class of 2030 is off to a great start at Westhill High School! Once again, Westhill is partnering with the RISE Educational Network to ensure a successful freshman year for all students.

Research shows that staying on track in 9th grade—meaning earning enough credits to promote to sophomore year on time—is the single best predictor of high school graduation. It is a stronger indicator than test scores, ethnicity, family income, or any other factor. To remain on track, a student should pass at least six classes, maintain 90% or higher attendance, and have zero suspensions.

How parents can help their 9th grader stay on track:

Make sure your child attends school every day, arrives on time, and comes prepared to learn.
Regularly check your child’s grades on PowerSchool.
Ask your child about their assignments, ensure they complete their homework, and help them prepare for exams.
Encourage your child to join clubs or sports teams.
Contact school staff whenever you have questions or concerns.

From the office of Claudia Obas, Assistant Principal

Grade 9, 10, and 11 students who need to TAKE or RETAKE a photo, come down to the auditorium on FRIDAY OCTOBER 16. That is the ONLY day remaining to get photographed.

JUNIORS!!!!

PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

POST TO YOUR SOCIALS!

WE NEED EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!

https://raise.snap.app/donate/westhill-high-school-class-of-2028?share_type=clipboard

***

¡POR FAVOR COMPARTE ESTE ENLACE CON FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS!

¡PUB LÍCALO EN TUS REDES SOCIALES!

¡¡NECESITAMOS QUE TODOS PARTICIPEN PARA TENER ÉXITO!!

https://raise.snap.app/donate/westhill-high-school-class-of-2028?share_type=clipboard

Dear 11th Grade Families,

We have officially started the school year off with a bang! Despite campus construction, morning traffic, and parking adjustments, our students have acclimated remarkably well to the changes.

It was a true highlight to gather with our 11th graders—the Class of 2028—at our class assembly last week. Seeing how much taller and more mature they have grown, it is clear they are ready to grab this pivotal year by the Viking horns!

During the assembly, we walked students through key guidelines and expectations to ensure a safe, focused, and productive year:

ParentSquare: Our main communication tool for school announcements and updates.
Attendance & Cell Phone Policies: Updated guidelines designed to maximize learning time and minimize daily distractions.
Closed Campus & Parking Restrictions: Campus remains closed unless a student has explicit parental permission to leave. Please note that there is no parking for Juniors on campus or at St. Leo’s.
Academic & Post-Secondary Goals: We emphasized how crucial strong grades and consistent attendance are for graduating on time and maintaining flexible post-secondary path options.

Open communication is essential to your student's success. If you ever have questions or concerns throughout the year, please remember that your first line of contact is always your child’s classroom teacher or school counselor, who can provide the most direct support.

Thank you for your partnership. Here is to a wonderful year of continued growth, resilience, and success!

Warmly,

Mrs. Obas

11th Grade Administrator

See clip from Jr. Assembly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-iud09M8ZU&authuser=0

Also some news from Grade advisors:

Juniors,

We are starting strong with our first fundraiser of the school year on 9/22, and to make it a success, we need everyone's help!

Do you want to make junior and senior year unforgettable? Do you want to ensure we have enough funds to host amazing events?

If your answer is yes, please follow the steps below.

We can only succeed if every member of the Class of 2028 participates— and that includes YOU!

To launch on time, please complete these 8 steps:

1. Download the "Snap! Mobile" app. Open the app and click the “Fundraising” card at the bottom when you open the app.

2. Sign in to your old account (all of your previously used quality emails and phone numbers are saved), OR create a new account if you’ve never done Snap! Raise before.

3. Enter team join code: 779028491

4. Add your name and a photo of yourself

5. Enter parent/guardian emails (so your parents can help out)

6. Pick your sizes for the gear shop and prizes, if applicable

7. Enter at least 20 emails of your biggest fans and supporters

8. Enter at least 20 phone numbers of your biggest fans and supporters

From the Office of Rafael Escobar, Assistant Principal, Multi-Language:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we begin the school year, we want to reinforce an expectation that is essential to student success: students must be in class, on time, and prepared to learn.

To support this expectation, our school will be conducting periodic hallway sweeps throughout the school day. Hallway sweeps are designed to identify students who are out of class without authorization and ensure that all students are receiving the instruction necessary to be successful academically.

Every class period matters. When students miss class time, they miss direct instruction, classroom discussions, collaborative activities, and opportunities to receive support from their teachers. Frequent absences from class can lead to lower grades, failed courses, loss of credits, and difficulties meeting graduation requirements.

Students found in the hallways without an authorized pass during instructional time will be directed back to class and their information will be documented. Repeat incidents will result in progressive interventions and consequences designed to address the behavior and promote improved attendance.

The progressive intervention process includes:

• First Incident: Parent notification letter and review of attendance expectations
• Second Incident: After-school detention
• Third Incident: Two after-school detentions
• Fourth Incident: Parent meeting with school administration
• Fifth Incident: Restriction from participation in extracurricular activities, athletics, clubs, dances, and other school-sponsored events until improvement is demonstrated

In addition to these interventions, the school will review academic and attendance data for students who repeatedly miss class. This review may include current GPA, credits earned, attendance history, course performance, and other indicators to determine whether additional supports are needed.

Our goal is not simply to enforce rules, but to partner with families to ensure students are attending class consistently and maximizing their opportunities for academic success. We appreciate your support in discussing the importance of attending every class period with your child and reinforcing these expectations at home.

Thank you for your partnership and support in this matter.

Sincerely,

School Administration

From the Office of Rob Ayala, Assistant Principal Grade 12:

PSAT Day is Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026

All grade 10 and 11 students across the State of CT will be taking the PSAT.

The test is completely digital and students may use their own computer as long as they have been updated and approved by Ms. Letson, the Multi-media specialist. Computers will be checked during the weeks of October 5th and 12th.

Grade 10 and 11 students will come to school at regular time to take the test. Students in grades 9 and 12 will have a 4 hour delayed start (come to school at 11:25 AM). Following the PSAT we will be running periods 3A and 4A. Lunch will be served during period 3A.

From the Office of Raina Brown, Assistant Principal for Special Education:

From the Office of Dick Cerone, Director of Athletics:

FALL SPORTS REGISTRATION CLOSED

Registration for the fall season has officially closed. Registration for the winter and spring seasons is currently open. If you plan on playing a winter or spring sport you should complete the registration as soon as possible. Students may switch their sports prior to the start of the winter or spring season should they choose to do so. Here is the link to FinalForms, our online registration platform:

https://stamford-ct.finalforms.com/

Nicole Morse and Tanya Small Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Specialist (MTSS):

Christine Wheeler, Department Head for English:

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, please read and enjoy these quotes from some renowned Latinx authors:

“A book does not discriminate against any reader. All are welcome at the table of literature.”

*Julia Alvarez, Dominican-American author

“Accept the children the way we accept trees—with gratitude, because they are a blessing—but do not have expectations or desires. You don’t expect trees to change, you love them as they are.”

*Isabel Allende, Chilean-American author

“The beauty of literature is you allow readers to see things through other people’s eyes.”

*Sandra Cisneros, Mexican-American author

“A true friend is the one who holds your hand and touches your heart”

*Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian author

Camille Quattrocchi, Department Head for Health, Physical Education & JROTC:

Welcome Back! We hope everyone had a nice summer.

All students are required to take 1 credit of Physical Education and 1 credit of Health Education in order to graduate. Students will also participate in the required State of CT Physical Fitness Assessment, typically during 9th grade. In addition our department offers many engaging electives for students.To see all our course offerings and descriptions select Health and Physical Education under course descriptions. SPS Program of Studies

PE classes will take place outside providing weather conditions are acceptable so dress appropriately. In addition, laced sneakers are required for participation in all Physical Education classes to ensure safety. No Crocs, slides, flip-flops, slippers, boots, UGGS, bare feet or anything that is not a laced sneaker will be permitted. Due to construction we will be using the front field. When indoors we use the main gymnasium, weight room, fitness center, auxiliary gym for yoga and dance class, and pool for swim class.

Healthcare Occupations Pathway - For more information on the Healthcare Pathway Health Science - Stamford Public Schools or contact Camille Quattrocchi

Public Safety Pathway - For more information on the Public Safety Pathway Public Safety - Stamford Public Schools or contact Stanley Lamour

JROTC - We welcome our new JROTC Instructor CSM Veronesi. For more information on JROTC visit Westhill JROTC or contact William Weber or Caterina Veronesi

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The Future Medical Professionals (FMP) Club will be raising money for the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital. We are asking all staff and students to wear pink every Friday during the month of October to create awareness and support those impacted by breast cancer. The Westhill official Pinkout Day will be Friday October 30th. FMP will be selling pinkout t-shirts for $10, Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelets for $2, and pink awareness ribbons for $1 starting Monday, September 28th. These can be purchased before school, after school and during lunch waves in room 513 or from FMP members. All money raised will be donated to the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital. All purchases are cash only and donations are also welcome.

Any questions contact Camille Quattrocchi

Westhill Intramural Activities will begin Monday August 31st and run through the spring (final week will be communicated in May).

AM Team Sports - Soccer and Basketball Mondays-Fridays from 6:40AM-7:20AM. Students can only enter through the back corner gym door closest to the freshman building (see photo).They can get dropped off by the freshman building door and walk path or if dropped off in front of the building, follow the path around the building to this door. You cannot enter through the building or gym lobby. Sneakers are required to participate and students must sign in with staff.

PM Fitness Center - Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:20-3:20 PM - report to the Fitness Center, room 2. Sneakers are required to participate and students must sign in with staff.

Any questions contact Camille Quattrocchi

You can follow our Instagram Pages

@ westhill_healthandpe

@ westhill.fmp

Robin Konrad, Department Head for Visual and Performing Arts:

From Ms. Ramsey’s Art Partners:

Art Partners continues to build an inclusive creative community. This dynamic group is working with positive and negative space using stencils and “air brushes”.

Several of us have Instagram accounts. Check out what is happening in our classrooms by following us!

Mrs. Tamara Dilworth @artwithmrsd

Mrs. Robin Konrad @rkonart

Ms. Nina Zachary @mszwhsart

Lisa Forbes, Department Head for Social Studies:

Welcome to 2026-27!

Did you know? UConn Early College Experience (UConn ECE) is a concurrent enrollment program that allows motivated Connecticut high school students to take UConn courses at their high schools for both high school and college credit. Every course taken through UConn ECE is equivalent to the same course at the University of Connecticut. Students benefit by taking college courses in a setting that is both familiar and conducive to learning. The University of Connecticut certifies high school teachers to serve as UConn ECE Instructors and teach UConn courses. Established in 1955, UConn Early College Experience is the nation's longest running concurrent enrollment program and is accredited by The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.Mission UConn Early College Experience is committed to providing access to, and preparation for, post-secondary education programs through its ability to offer University of Connecticut courses to high school students. UConn Early College Experience is committed to excellence in education by fostering a relationship between higher education and partner high schools to create an effective transition for students who have made college a goal or have not considered it and want to try a college class.

We have several courses that are ECE in social studies such as United States History, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

More information: https://ece.uconn.edu/

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, and Chile celebrates its independence on September 18. Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of people with roots throughout Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Students honor September 11th by promoting positive messages:

Ashley Katz, Department Head for School Counselors:

Welcome back! The school counseling department would like to welcome back Ms. Devine back to Westhill! She was at Turn of River last year. Another announcement is that Aland Joseph is our new college & career counselor.

Here is some helpful information:

Scholarships 2026-27 Database

RISE Network SENIOR SURVEY!

We want all of our students to graduate with a plan, as well as the skills and

confidence needed to achieve that plan. This survey is designed to collect information about your

plans after high school so that school counselors and staff can support you.

Senior meetings for post high school plans are already happening. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s school counselor to set up an appointment.

Please fill out the free and reduced lunch application to receive:

Free lunch

Fee waivers for college applications

Fee waivers for SAT, ACT and AP exams

FREE UCONN ECE courses

FREE TUTORING!!!!

Ferguson library free tutoring

link to register: https://b1c.org/engage/volunteer-form/

Building One is currently looking for Westhill students in grades 10–12 who would be interested in serving as tutors and mentors. Students would commit to volunteering two afternoons per week from 3:30-5, working directly with younger children to help them complete homework, reinforce what they are learning in school, and—just as importantly—build confidence and positive relationships with caring older role models.

The program runs October through June, four afternoons a week, at Rogers School. It’s a wonderful opportunity for high school students to gain meaningful service experience while making a tangible difference in the life of a younger student. We also incorporate enrichments, giving our volunteers the chance to help spark curiosity and excitement around movement, science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

I wanted to introduce you to Gia, Building One Community’s Academic Enrichment Coordinator, who oversees the program and works closely with our volunteers. Gia, I’ll let you take it from here to share more about the opportunity, the schedule, and what we are looking for in student volunteers.

Follow our department on Instagram @Westhillcounselors

Carley Grant, Department Head for Science:

Ms. Rajshri Suryawanshi is leading the charge in student innovation by bringing the nonprofit organization, Engineering Tomorrow (a nonprofit founded by professional engineers) into our science classrooms. Our student ambassadors are already busy collecting orders from science educators for hands-on lab kits. The best part? These kits are 100% free, with college-level mentors supporting students through live Zoom sessions.The program will soon be rolling out to all high schools across our district, giving even more students access to meaningful, hands-on STEM experiences. The 2026–2027 catalog features 17 labs across Engineering/Technology/STEM/CTE, Physics/Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Biology/Life Sciences, Anatomy/Physiology, Earth/Space Sciences, and Robotics. Topics range from Aerodynamics and Electric Vehicles to Genetics, Green Hydrogen, and Semiconductors. Stay tuned for photos and videos showcasing our students’ exciting hands-on work and innovation!

Freshman field trips to Soundwaters are underway! By mid-October, seven classes will have experienced the Marsh Restoration Program with the remaining classes heading out into the Marsh in the Spring. Students explore the impacts of climate change by collecting data across the diverse habitats of Stamford Harbor. Contributing to long-term studies, they examine the challenges of climate and human impacts and explore potential solutions and mitigation strategies. You can read more about the program HERE. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher directly.

In Ms. Leveille’s Forensics class, students stepped into a simulated crime scene, carefully observing the environment to identify key evidence and reconstruct the events. Working in teams, they document initial observations, sketch the layout, and mark physical clues ranging from footwear impressions to scattered artifacts. This hands-on exercise allows students to apply forensic methodology and critical thinking to a realistic investigation.

Jon Russo, Stamford Agriscience Program Coordinator:

Coming into this school year we’re excited to announce the completion of our temporary relocation. Our program is now housed in rooms 301-304, 306, 313, and 315. Thank you to the tremendous support of Administration and the Facilities team for helping us make this transition possible. We’ve hit the ground running, and look forward to what else the year has in store for us.

Support our program! Ag Swag Sale Preorders are open until 9/30. Our annual Pie Sale fundraiser is also live, please see an Agriscience student to order.
Please follow our program and teachers on Instagram to stay in the loop! @stamfordffa, @russoteachesag, @docmartinagrisci, @magnano.teaches.ag, and @aquino.agventures

Kim Kumar, Department Head for Business:

Our Cybersecurity classes participated in the National Cyber Cup ( Capture the Flag)

The event occurred Wednesday, Sept. 23 (7am) through Thursday, Sept. 24 (10pm). We had many teams from Westhill participate and one did exceptionally well! Preliminary results show "charmingrainbow_8570" tied with 2,245 points in first place. But based on the length of time, they placed third

"charmingrainbow_8570" team members:

Krishnajith Subramanian
Krish Donikena
Marcus Jake

Rachit Jha

Congratulations to all the students who participated and their teacher Ms. Esker

Ann Herz, Department Head for World Language:

We are excited to announce a new course: AP Spanish Literature. This course will be available to students who want to accept the challenge of a college course and have passed AP Spanish Language and Culture.

We will once again be offering the Seal of Biliteracy to juniors and seniors. Students should watch their gmail for information later on this year. It will be available in most languages and students do not need to be enrolled in a WL class in order to take the test.

Michael Capriotti, Department Head for Mathematics:

A few topics from the Math Department at the beginning of this October Message:

I would like to remind parents we are now about halfway through the first Quarter, now is a good time to check in with your student about current mathematics grades. Looking ahead to the middle of this month, please do not forget about parent conferences in the middle of October. Parent Conferences are a great way to communicate with the teacher about the student a couple of weeks before the end of the Quarter.

For our parents of students who are taking AP Calculus AB with Mrs. Jenner, AP Calculus BC or Multivariable Calculus with Mr. Capriotti, or AP Statistics with Mr. Morse, please consider applying for UConn credit through the ECE program. ECE registration will close on Friday, October 16th.

Lastly, the math department is continuing to administer Quarter Exams for every district course, including Math Applications, Integrated Math 1 CP and Honors, Integrated Math 2 CP and Honors, Integrated Math 3 CP and Honors, as well as CP PreCalculus. Quarterly Exams will count as 1 Summative exam grade and are always administered at the end of each academic Quarter. The 1st Quarterly exam will be given near the end October. More information will be coming in a future Principal’s Weekly Message about exact dates.

Steven Angelo, Department Head for Special Education:

We are very happy to welcome some new team members to our department! Please join me in welcoming Stephanie Roones, Elizabeth BobyrCambria, and Victoria Loiacono. Ms. Roones will mainly be co-teaching in the science department, Ms. Loiacono will mainly be teaching in the math and science department, and Ms. BobyrCambria will mainly be co-teaching in our English department. We are very happy to have them on our team!

If you have any questions you can reach out to me at sangelo@stamfordpublicschools.org

Have a Great Week Vikings!

For the most up-to-date version of the Principal’s Newsletter:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ_ss1NfowhvFTlKJ9C2_KeoYDg8ca4QlxFcUVH1lwljlqg-XOmTdrjc_lXOkk5uVqcxInKetMZbdNZ/pub