SHS Art Show

Art Department invitations...

• View highlights of the 2022 SHS Art Show
• You are invited to view the SHS 2021 Art Show presentations! 
• 2021 National Art Honor Society members presentation

Visit the Art Department K-12 page

Our Philosophy

It is the goal of the Simsbury High School art department to provide students with an exceptional art education. We seek to nurture the artistry and creativity in all our students by providing experiences that are fun, rewarding and challenging. Our commitment also is to create within students a sense of pride and worth that allows them to be the best persons possible as well as the best young artists. Art is an expressive form of non-verbal communication important to the total education of the student at Simsbury High School.

The Art Department at Simsbury High School offers a wide variety of courses to meet the interests and diverse needs of our students. The Arts have been identified by the College Board, the U.S. Congress, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the U.S. Department of Education as part of the core curriculum that all students should participate in during their high school experience. The art program is intended for any student interested in art for enjoyment, in preparation for a post graduate portfolio, or as a career choice.

The Simsbury Arts Academy provides enrichment during the summer for K-12 students.
Click on the logo to go to the SAA website.

Go to the Athletics website.

Business and Finance Technology Department courses encourage independent FINANCE courses encourage making wise economic decisions related to personal financial affairs, the successful operation of organizations, and the economic activities of the country. MARKETING courses introduce students to the processes and functions involved in transferring business products or services to a consumer within an environment of rapidly evolving technology, interdependent national economies, increasing demands for ethical and social responsibility, and constant change. Students will develop the critical thinking competencies necessary for acquiring, interpreting, evaluating, and managing information.

Students may earn three college credits for Accounting 1, Accounting 2, and Personal Finance through the Tunxis Community College Career Pathways dual enrollment program.

All courses are offered at Level II. Students wishing to receive Level I credit or complete an independent study must complete the approved application process established by the department. See the department supervisor for more information.

FINANCIAL LITERACY GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

The Simsbury Board of Education has added a .25 credit financial literacy requirement to the set of mandatory courses. This requirement can be achieved through the completion of one of the following courses:

Financial Literacy-II .25 credit
Personal Finance-II .50 credit
PLATO-Personal Finance .50 credit
AP Economics-I 1.0 credit

In addition, the Department of Continuing Education may offer a financial literacy course during the summer if student enrollment warrants.

Business Department News

In January 2021 the National Business Honor Society (NBHS) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students launched their first issue of The LOCAL REVIEW.  NBHS students Joao Galafassi and Erin Harper coordinated this as a service project to support local businesses facing challenges of the pandemic

Beginning with the Class of 2023, each Simsbury High School student must complete a 1.0-credit “Capstone Experience” in grades 11 and/or 12.  A Capstone project is a student-driven, inquiry-focused, culminating endeavor that builds upon students’ unique interests, strengths, and prior knowledge.  The Capstone program at SHS helps students to grow personally and intellectually as they prepare to contribute to postsecondary schools, workplaces, and communities. 

The Capstone Handbook contains an overview of the Simsbury Capstone program with registration information and quick links to forms and instructional materials. (visit the last two pages)

More information is available on the Capstone Experience webpage.

Contact Information: Capstone Coordinator Elizabeth McKay

Comprehensive course and program information for Simsbury High School is published in the SHS Program of Studies book in January of each year.

The English program offers courses at two levels of achievement, ability, and interest for grades nine through twelve. This arrangement of levels ensures that all students are challenged and motivated. The sequential curricula incorporate instruction in language skills, composition, and literature.

The two levels of the English courses are: Level I - Honors or Advanced Placement, Level II - Competitive College Preparatory. Level placement is primarily based on teacher recommendation.

Summer assignments for English are posted on the Library Media Center's Summer Assignments page.

Proud partner with UConn Early College Experience

Through experiential learning, Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) courses offer students practical and essential life skills necessary for successful living and working in the 21st century. Students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills/strategies, as well as planning and teamwork skills. Lab work, research, projects, technology, and "hands-on" activities guide student learning in both Culinary Arts and Child Development and Human Services strands.

Health Services website

The Information Technology Department is located on the district website.

SHS Library Media Center website

The mathematics curriculum is structured to offer courses appropriate for a wide range of interests and abilities. The underlying philosophy reflects an attempt to blend the most desirable features of both modern and traditional points-of-view. Every effort is made to guide individual students through a sequence of courses which best suits them as indicated by their goals, aptitude, and past performance.

Students can meet the school’s minimum graduation requirements of four credits in math by successfully completing any combination of the courses listed in the SHS Program of Studies. In addition, Accounting (II), a course offered by the Business and Finance Technology Department, may be applied toward math graduation requirements. Please read the course description for details.

The three levels of the Math courses are as follows: Level I - Honors or Advanced Placement, Level II - Competitive College Preparatory, Level III - College Preparatory. Level placement is primarily based on teacher recommendation.

Music and Performing Arts website

Solange Agrawal

Titles: Secretary to Assistant Principal

Email: 

sagrawal@simsburyschools.net

Phone Numbers:
School: 860-658-0451

Physical Education and Wellness

The Physical Education and Wellness program has been created based upon the SHAPE America and National Health Standards. Through a variety of different units, students will receive instruction that focuses on the core concepts of accessing health information, self-management of healthy behaviors, analyzing internal and external influences, communication skills, decision-making, goal-setting skills, and advocacy. In addition, students participate in lifetime fitness and team-related activities that encourage communication, sportsmanship, teamwork, diversity, and leadership skills. This wide variety of experiences offered is designed to allow each student the opportunity to experience activities that would benefit him/her in the present and in the future.

The Physical Education and Wellness courses fulfill graduation requirements for PE and Health. Students with medical excuses are still responsible for fulfilling their physical education and wellness requirement. Students who are removed from class due to a medical reason that cannot be addressed through modification of activities will make up their requirement at another time.

All Physical Education and Wellness courses are graded and count towards GPA and honor roll.

Go to the District Pupil Services Page

Go to School Counseling website

The Simsbury 9-12 Comprehensive School Counseling Program is essential for the well-being of students in our community. It advocates for all students in their development of academic, career, and personal/social needs. The program is based on the premise that all students experience general stages of growth and development and have age-appropriate developmental tasks to accomplish. In this ever-changing society, the School Counseling program encourages the development of personal responsibility as capable citizens, productive workers, and lifelong learners.

Simsbury’s Comprehensive School Counseling Program is designed to provide intervention with a proactive and preventative approach to all students in grades 9-12. The program consists of a planned, sequential School Counseling curriculum, individual planning, responsive services, and system support.

School counselors are available to students and parents for issues concerning academics, educational plans, career plans, and personal problems. Counselors listen and discuss the possible ways to handle issues. The counselors adhere to confidentiality. This applies to the information gathered from student discussions as well as students’ records. However, when a student is at risk of harming him/herself or hurting others, parents and other support staff are informed.

Students are assigned to a counselor in alphabetical order according to the student’s last name. Every effort is made to have students assigned to the same counselor(s) for all four years.

Students may initiate a conference with their counselor by emailing their counselor requesting a specific date and time. Counselors will confirm the meeting by replying to the student’s email. Parents may also request conferences by emailing the counselor. If assistance is needed in setting up appointments, please call the School Counseling Office. Counselors will also initiate conferences with students and parents. Parents are urged to make appointments with the counselor when questions or concerns develop.

The Science Department strives to incorporate the most current pedagogy while presenting fundamental science concepts. Many courses emphasize the process of science or the lab approach. In these courses, students are introduced to science concepts through the lab process. In Advanced Placement courses, the content is emphasized and reinforced in the lab.

The sequence and variety of the courses offered allows students to select fields of science which meet their needs and interests and also enables them to utilize the skills and concepts acquired in previous courses.

The two levels of the Science courses are: Level I - Honors or Advanced Placement, Level II - Competitive College Preparatory. Level placement is primarily based on teacher recommendation.

Simsbury High School seeks to provide every student with a rich and challenging education in social studies. Students research and explore a core set of social studies themes as they are challenged to become critical, ethical, and creative thinkers. Through the study of civics, history, geography, economics, and the social sciences, students acquire skills and knowledge essential to understanding and applying those fields in their daily lives. As a result, students leave Simsbury Public Schools as life-long learners who appreciate the past, understand the present, and are prepared for the future.

The two levels of the Social Studies courses are: Level I - Honors or Advanced Placement, Level II - Competitive College Preparatory. (Level placement is primarily based on teacher recommendation.)

All students must have 1 credit of United States History and 1/2 credit of Civics.

The Technology and Engineering program is open to all students in grades nine through twelve. The purpose of the Technology and Engineering curriculum is to provide students with an opportunity to develop the 21st century skills needed to become productive members of our technological society. Students are encouraged to explore and develop individual interests as well as creative and intellectual abilities related to technological careers, problem solving, and the design method. Technology and Engineering articulates five specific strands. Students in grade nine are encouraged to explore introductory courses in multiple strands.

Students wishing to receive Level I credit or complete an independent study must complete the approved application process established by the department. See the department supervisor for more information.

La Voz Abril/Mayo (PDF)

History News 2022 Award Spotlight (PDF)                     History News Magazine Cover (jpeg) -  Features alum Josh Picoult and Katy Hitson

The World Language Connection was honored in 2011-2012 for a CABE Excellence in Educational Communications award

Communicating in another language is of paramount importance in today’s workplace, both nationally and internationally. Courses in Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish are available to all students. Grouping in the World Languages Department is designed so that each student may develop communication skills at an appropriate pace and level. Placement within these groups is based upon the student’s demonstrated performance in class, formative and proficiency assessments, and teacher evaluation of each student’s ability and potential. Instruction in world language classes is conducted in the target language to the greatest extent possible.