Transcript Honors Designation at Northfield High School

Honors Designation
at Northfield High School
Prepared for 5/7/12 – revised 5/29/12
Meeting Agenda

Introduction


Honors Designation Overview


Ryan Parkman, NMHS Principal
Reflections & Observations


Laurie Gossens, WSSU Superintendent
Panel of teachers and parents who participated on NHS
visiting team to Kearsarge Regional High School.
Questions & Answers

Moderated by Jerry Cassels, NMHS Guidance Counselor
ENDS POLICY:
ACADEMIC COMPETENCE (E.01)

All Supervisory Union students will meet or exceed
high academic standards by acquiring the knowledge
and skills essential for reading, writing,
communication, mathematics, science, social studies,
the arts, and technology.
 The Supervisory Union will eliminate the
achievement gap of disparate performance
between identical student groups and will make
yearly progress toward eliminating the
achievement gap.
THE CALL FOR
HETEROGENEOUS GROUPING

NEASC (New England Association of Schools and
Colleges) recommends that NMHS research
grouping models and adopt grouping practices that
reflect the diversity of the student body, foster
heterogeneity, reflect current research and best
practices, and support the achievement of the
school’s mission and expectations for student
learning.
(Specifically requested for 5-year report due March
1, 2012 – original recommendation in NEASC report
from May 6-9, 2007.)
WHAT IS HONORS
DESIGNATION?

Heterogeneously grouped classes in which
students enter into a contract requiring them
to engage in challenging educational
experiences that go beyond the standards in
areas of critical thinking, analysis and
application. These students will also have to
maintain a higher level of mastery in each
course. Specific requirements for each course
may vary.
HOW DOES HONORS DESIGNATION
INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES?
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Increases the number of students that have the ability
to earn Honors.
With Honors Designation, there will be ten sections
in which students have the opportunity to earn
honors compared with only four separate sections of
those classes.
Higher Expectations for every student in each
class.
Expect every student to be college ready:

College is any post-secondary training.
NHS COURSE OFFERINGS
2012-2013

English:


American Lit., Language Arts 9-10, World Lit.,
Honors World Lit., Language and Comp., Honors
Language and Comp., AP Lit. and Comp.,
Diversity in Lit., Crime in Lit., British Lit., and
Public Speaking.
History:

U.S. History, AP U.S. History, World History, AP
World History, Psychology, Introduction to
Sociology.
NHS COURSE OFFERINGS
2012-2013

Mathematics:


Pre-Algebra, Algebra (1a/1b), Geometry (1a/1b),
Algebra 2, Honors Algebra 2, Functions Statistics
& Trigonometry, Honors Pre-Calculus, Calculus,
AP Calculus, Math for Business, Personal Finance.
Science:

Science 1, Science 2, Forensic Science, Intro to
Engineering, AP Biology, AP Environmental
Science, Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Physics,
Astronomy, Environmental Science & Sustainability.
WHERE IS THE CHANGE?

Incoming Freshman:


Incoming Sophomores:

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
U.S. History, American Lit. and Science 1.
Science 2.
All students in these classes can earn Honors
Designation.
Still offer eleven Honors or AP courses in
separate sections.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?



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Study Group of teachers to meet throughout
the year.
Examine the number of courses offering
Honors Designation.
Continual monitoring of course offerings to
meet policy on class size.
Expand course offerings through Virtual
learning.
SCHEDULING STRUGGLES

Singleton classes:

Science 2 example:

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Currently offering three sections w/lab during periods
2/3, 3/4, & 6/7.
The 2/3 section forces students into Honors World Lit.
and AP World History.
The 3/4 section forces students into Honors World Lit.
and some lose Health and/or Spanish II/III.
The 6/7 section forces students into Algebra 2.
Honors Designation in Science 2 will allow all
students to take the other courses they requested.
WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE
HETEROGENOUS GROUPING?

Champlain Valley Union High School (VT) –


Students in 9th and 10th grade are placed in
heterogeneously grouped classes, there are no honors
sections or any form of honors designation. AP
courses are available, mostly for upper grades.
Colchester High School (VT) –

Students may earn Honors distinction through high
achievement on the Habits of Learning Rubric used in
many of the courses in the Green House (students in
the 9th & 10th grades).
WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE
HETEROGENOUS GROUPING?

Stowe High School (VT)

No honors versions of any courses are offered at any
grade. AP courses are available, mostly for upper
grades. Currently ranked #1 in Vermont by US News.
Kearsarge Regional High School (NH) –

Honors Designation: An Honors designation option is
offered to all students who wish to pursue advanced
academic studies in World Languages and all
heterogeneously grouped courses (9th & 10th grade).
PANEL OF TEACHERS AND
PARENTS FROM VISITING TEAM


Reflections and/observations on Honors
Designation and their involvement in this
process.
Question and Answer session:

Moderated by Jerry Cassels.
HONORS DESIGNATION
INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Thank you for coming tonight and for your
interest and support in the education of the
youth of Northfield.