Hall Parent Guide 2020-2021

A Parent Guide

How to stay connected and let go at the same time

Hints to Help You Navigate
Through Your First Year at Hall

HALL HIGH SCHOOL
975 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06117

860-232-4561

Please look at the Hall Website
http://hall.whps.org

for complete rules and regulations.

 

 
 

 
 
Hall High School 
(860) 232-4561 
 
Principal 
Mr. Dan Zittoun – ext. 5101 
 
Assistant Principals 
Mrs. Kim Ambroise (A-F) – ext. 5102 
Mrs. Meghan Zingle (G-N) – ext. 5104 
Mrs. Melissa Hickey (O-Z) - ext. 5103 
 

Grade 9 - School Counselors 2019-2020 

Name  Gr. 9  Ext. 

Mrs.Brianna Gasiewski  A - L  5134 

Mr. John Suchocki  M - Z  5129 

English  
Department Supervisors 

 
Mr. Tom Paleologopoulos,​ 860-232-4561 Ext. 5150

Math Ms.​ M​ onique Albani-Ethier​, 860-232-4561, 5147

Science Mr. Michael Rollins,​ 860-232-4561 Ext. 5146

Social Studies Ms. Jessica Blitzer,​ 860-232-4561 Ext. 5148

World Language Mrs.JocelynTamborello-Noble​,860-232-4561 Ext. 5018

Technology Education Mr. Brian Cohen,​ 860-231-5104

Physical Education/Health Mrs. Lisa Daly,​ 860-561-6639

Visual Arts Ms. Pamela Murphy,​ 860-561-6628

Music & Theatre Arts Mr. Andrew Mayo,​ 860-561-6629

School Counseling Mrs. Kim Ambroise, ​ 860-232-4561 Ext.5102

Pupil Services Mrs. Stacy Kellogg-Shove,​ 860-232-4561 Ext. 5122

 
For additional information, please refer to the Hall website:​ h​ all.whps.org 
 
 
 

Revised: 8/13/2020 

  

This year is going to look like no other and we understand the additional concerns that 
this may bring, along with the normal anxieties of sending your student off to a new 
school. These resources are to help you navigate this first year at Hall. We have 
included information about who to contact for answers to general questions, as well as 
information about this unprecedented school year. 

 
How can I get involved in my child’s education and in the life of the school? 

● Join the PTO (website ​HERE)​ and attend meetings and events. 
● Check the H​ all website​ regularly for important information. 
● Attend specific grade level counseling meetings, whether virtual or in-person. 
● Communicate with your child’s teacher and counselor when needed. 
● Sign up for parent conferences offered in November and February.   
● Monitor your child’s performance, study skills, and homework habits. 
● Monitor your child’s attendance. If your child is going to miss instruction due 

to absence or tardiness, please call or email the attendance office directly. 
● Be familiar with the rules and regulations of the school and the district found 

in the handbook that can be accessed ​HERE​.  
● Seek assistance from school personnel to help your child be successful, if 

needed. 
 

DAILY SCHEDULE 
 
We will be starting the school year in a hybrid model, with half of the students in face 
to face classrooms with teachers and other students and the other half of students 
participating in remote learning. In-person instruction and online learning will rotate 
on a weekly basis. 
 
The schedule for the first few weeks of school is below. Information about subsequent 
weeks will be communicated in a timely manner. 

 
 
 
You may see a sample of a daily class schedule ​HERE.​ Make sure to click on the “​High 
Schools​” tab. 
 
ATTENDANCE: 
 
Attendance  is  required  for  both  in  person  learning,  as  well  as  online  learning. 
Attendance  policies  are  the same for both.  If your child is going to miss instruction 
due to absence or tardiness, please call or email the attendance office directly. 
 
Please click ​HERE​ for contact information for attendance.   
 
For  students  taking  the bus, there are specific rules and protocols being implemented 
for  the  health  of  all.  If you have questions about transportation you may contact the 
transportation office at 8​ 60-561-6647. 
 
What if my child misses the bus? 

● Before  school:  ​you  will  have  to  make  your  own  arrangements  for 
transportation to  the  school.  Missing  the  bus  is  ​not  considered  an  excused 
tardy to school. 

● At dismissal: ​ you will have to make your own arrangements for 
transportation.  

 

 
 
There  will  be  no  late  buses provided as we begin the school year, as there will be 
no after school activities.  Students are expected to leave the school campus when 
their classes are done for the day. 

 
ACADEMICS: 

 
Suggestions for Student Success: 

 
Students have found success when they... 

● Have a separate folder and notebook/small binder for each class.  
● Have  one  homework  folder  (with  pockets)  for  daily  unfinished  and  finished 

assignments  
● Routinely  work  in  the  same quiet place. ​A workstation where a teen can work 

uninterrupted  is  what teens need most.  When participating in online learning, 
students  should  find  a  location  where  they  can  be  comfortable, but focused and 
engaged in class activities.   
● Students  will  be  asked  to  have  their  cameras  on  during  class  to  promote  a 
positive  learning  environment  where  students  and teachers can benefit from the 
connections  made  through smiling, facial expressions, and visual representation. 
Students  are  asked  to  present themselves on screen as they would if attending 
school in-person. 
● Complete one assignment at a time (monotask over multitask) 
● Refrain from using electronics (phones, television, etc.) while working. 
● Complete their least favorite subject first. 
● Check  PowerSchool  periodically.  If  a  grade  or  assignment  is  underlined,  they 
can  click  on  it  and  see  a  teacher’s  comment.  Many  teachers  will  write  brief 
explanations for a large assignment or make a comment about a specific grade. 
● Use  the  Google  Calendar  App  to check Google Calendar regularly, which lists 
assignments found on teachers’ Google Classrooms. 
 
What if I want to check on my child’s academic progress? 
The  most  effective  way  to  communicate  with  teachers  is  through  e-mail  or  voice 
mail.  E-mail  addresses  for  school  staff  are:  ​first  name_last  [email protected].​   A 
voice mail/e-mail listing is available on the H​ all website.​  In addition, performance 
can be monitored by logging on to the parent portal (P​ owerSchool​). 
 
PowerSchool: 

PowerSchool  is  the  student  information  system.  The  Parent  Portal  allows 
parents to use any computer with internet access to view their child’s 
academic  progress  on  an  ongoing  basis​.  Y​ ou  can  find  information  about 
PowerSchool, including access H​ ERE​. I​ f you have any questions about 
accessing PowerSchool please call the main office at ​860-232-4561.​  

  
Google Classroom: 
Google  Classroom  is  a  learning  management  tool  used  by all teachers at Hall. 
Google  Classroom  and  Google Meet will be used on a daily basis to provide 
the  online component of our hybrid learning model. Students join each of their 
teachers’  classes  using  a  code  that  the  teacher  provides  them at the beginning 
of the year.  Teachers will post assignments and other relevant resources. It is 
important  that  students  access  and review their WHPS email and connect to 
their Google Classroom account on a daily basis. 

 
What if my child needs extra help from their teachers? 

Teachers are very accommodating. Teacher availability is dependent on their 
teaching schedule. Students should contact teachers to set up either in person or 
virtual meetings.   
 
What are the homework expectations at the high school level? 
Expectations vary from course to course. Homework expectations are included in 
your child’s syllabus for each course. Concerns/questions about homework should 
be discussed directly with your child’s teacher. 
 
When are progress reports issued and who gets them? 
Mid-way through each quarter, parents will be notified that progress reports can be 
viewed on PowerSchool. 
 
When are report cards issued? 
Report cards are issued approximately one week after the close of each quarter. For 
quarters 1, 2, and 3 report cards are given to the student. At the end of the school 
year they are mailed home. 
 
SCHOOL COUNSELING 
School counselors can help you and your child with many questions and concerns that 
may come up throughout their time at Hall High School. Questions that can be 
answered by your school counselor may include: 
● which courses do I need to graduate (Graduation requirements ​HERE​) 
● how to make schedule changes (level changes, adding/dropping courses, etc.) 
● how to select courses from year to year (course selection process, Advanced 

Placement (AP) and Early College Experience (ECE) course  
● how to make post-secondary plans (college, career-readiness, etc.) 
● social/emotional concerns 

 
Please see the School Counseling website ​HERE.​  
 
 

SOCIAL: 
What  if  I’d  like  to  encourage  my  child  to  get  involved  in  school  activities,  clubs, 
and/or sports? 

Hall  High  School  has  over  50  clubs  and  activities,  covering  a  variety  of  student 
interests, that students can join at any time.  You can see a full list of our clubs, and a 
welcome  video  from  many  of  them  on  the  website  ​HERE.​   Clubs  will  only  be 
meeting virtually for the start of this school year. 
Information  about  sports  for  fall,  winter and spring can be found on the “Athletics” 
website H​ ERE​.  Practice and game schedules, as well as daily updates can be found 
here. 
 
What if I am concerned that my child is being harassed? 
Instruct  your  child  to  see  their  school  counselor  or  assistant principal immediately. 
If they are not comfortable doing this, please call either staff member yourself. 
 
What  if  I  am  concerned  that  my  child  may  be  involved  in  risky  behavior  (drugs, 
alcohol, etc.)? 
Share  your  concerns  with  the  school  counselor,  assistant  principal,  school 
psychologist, or social worker immediately. 
 
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC DEVICES: 
 
• Cell phones  must be turned off and put away in classrooms to prevent disruptions to 
the  learning  environment  except  at  the discretion of the teacher when deemed useful 
as an instructional tool. 
• Cell phones may be used in the hallway during passing times only.  At all the other 
times cell phone use is restricted to the cafeteria and outdoors. 
•  Student  safety  is  important  at  all  times,  as  is  maintaining  a  productive  learning 
environment.  Electronic  music  devices  and  earphones/earbuds may be used in the 
hallways  unless  they  negatively  impact  safety  or  the  learning  environment,  as 
determined  by  staff.  Students  should immediately remove earphones or earbuds at 
the  request  of  any  staff  member.  Refusal  to  do  so  will result in confiscation of the 
equipment and a disciplinary referral.