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Art Department
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The Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework (October 1999) states, "In dance, music, theatre and the visual arts, people express ideas and emotions that they cannot express in language alone. In order to understand the range and depth of the human imagination, one must have knowledge of the arts." Each course incorporates art making, art appreciation, and art evaluation, using a fine art creative problem-solving approach in which art projects have no single solution. Field trips to art museums and exhibits are scheduled, and professionals in commercial and fine art are invited to discuss and demonstrate their work.
Director, Art Mr. John Mahoney
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Music Department
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The Music Department offers both curricular and cocurricular experiences in active music making. The Concert Choir and Concert Band meet daily as ensembles to rehearse, study and learn about music as an expression of people around the world from the past to present. Students rehearse their musical skills, learn to interact musically with other students and enhance their understanding of music. The Concert Band and Concert Choir are open to students who already have skills in playing an instrument and/or singing and those interested in developing these skills. Academic expectations for the Music Department include communicating effectively through the arts, higher level thinking, communicating.
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Health & Wellness
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The Health Education courses are designed to provide students with health-related knowledge and
skills that can lead to positive attitudes and behaviors related to their well being. The courses focus on emerging health concepts and issues, as well as current research on effective health practices and the motivation to change unhealthy behaviors. Physical Education physical education courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in a wide variety of physical activities throughout their lives and to help students to understand the relationship between physical activity and health.
Health & Wellness Director; Denise Boyd
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Special Needs Department
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Based on the individual needs of the students in these pre-vocational special education programs,a range of unleveled five-credit courses (e.g., reading, mathematics, life skills including Green Wave Café and job exploration etc.) may be offered in any school year and taught by the staff assigned to this program.
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Business Department
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Regardless of your career plans, the Business Department offers courses that will help you fulfill
many of your professional and personal goals. In response to National Business Educator Association initiatives, our goal is to provide students with curricula that reflect the application of course content to realistic business situations and engages students in learning situations that promote both academic and career success. Exploration of career possibilities is an integral component in all courses. Business courses develop the critical thinking skills, human relation skills and positive attitudes needed for career satisfaction and advancement in our complex and constantly changing workplace.
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Foreign Languages Department
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The Foreign Languages Department offers a five year sequence in French and a five-year sequence in Spanish. Language proficiency, or the ability to use language for purposeful communication, is the major goal of all Foreign Language courses. Conversation and culture are integrated in all teaching and learning situations in the Foreign Language class. In order to conform to the recommendations of the Foreign Languages Curriculum Frameworks, students should continue their study of French or Spanish through senior year. In addition, students are encouraged to begin the study of an additional Foreign Language during their sophomore, junior or senior year.
Foreign Languages Department
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Math Department
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"As science and technology have come to influence all aspects of life, from health and environment to financial affairs and national defense, so mathematics has come to be of vital importance to the educational agenda of our nation."Recognizing that mathematics is the 29 foundation of science and technology and that mathematical literacy is essential in this technological age, we require that each student successfully complete at least three years of mathematics. All mathematics courses will allow students to meet the following academic expectations as stated in the school’s mission statement: Demonstrate high level thinking skills to reason and problem solve and work toward mastery of course specific content.
Department Head, Math Margaret Doherty
Email: MegDoherty@Abingtonps.org
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Guidance Department
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Students and parents are encouraged to utilize services on an as needed basis in order to accomplish this goal. In general, services can be divided into four areas: Educational: Educational counseling can be initiated by students, teachers, counselors, or parents. Vocational: In the freshman year the initial meeting with students and again when course selections are made. During the sophomore and/or junior year, a career interest survey is administered, and students are encouraged to read career materials and talk with adults regarding vocational issues. As a junior and senior, students have the opportunity to meet individually with counselors to discuss vocational options. Personal: Counseling can be initiated by student, parent, teacher, or administrator request. Counselors work with problems that fall within the normal adolescent range. Psychological: To serve students’ learning and mental health, a school psychologist is on staff at the high school. The roles of the school psychologist include, but are not limited to, special education evaluations, counseling, mediations and crisis intervention. A consultation model is the primary avenue for the provision of counseling services, with the involvement of parents and outside services providers strongly encouraged. Guidance Department
Department Head, Kristin Ferioli
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English Department
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English courses are designed to give students opportunity to develop the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking in a literature-based, integrated language arts program. Our goal is to support students on their way to more effective language use and greater appreciation of the literary expression of others. Students will learn to use language to gain information, discover meaning, understand logical relationships, and make judgments through critical listening, reading and viewing; speak, write, and solve problems creatively; and communicate emotions, ideas, opinions, values, experiences, and information. All students read the written work of others as models of communication; they communicate their understanding of texts in writing through journals, reader’s logs, note-taking, essays, exams, creative writing and research papers.
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Social Studies Department
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“Knowledge of history is the precondition of political intelligence. Without history, a society shares no common memory of where it has been, of what its core values are, of what decisions of the past account for present circumstances. Without history, one cannot undertake any sensible inquiry into the political, social, or moral issues in society. And without historical knowledge and the inquiry it supports, one cannot move to the informed, discriminating citizenship essential to effective participation in the democratic process.” (National Standards for History, 1996) The Social Studies curriculum is designed to reflect the sentiment of the National Standards as well as the standards of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks. Our goal is to prepare students for active citizenship through the study of history, economics, geography and social science.
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Science Department
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The four year high school program of science offerings begins with an expansion of the nine year sequence of integrated science in grades K-8. The four year science program makes every attempt to provide a hands on, inquiry-based learning experience in the four basic areas of science (i.e., 36 physical science, life science, earth and space science, and technology.) Along with the ninth grade semester course, Critical Thinking and Design, students are required to elect three years of science and are encouraged to choose from a wide variety of elective courses. Level 1 courses require the completion of a science research project as an integral part of the course. Project requirements may
also be imposed by teachers of Level 2 and 3 science courses as a part of the variety of instructional strategies employed. Students are encouraged to consult with science teachers regarding specific details of any science course or level offered.
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