The development of the Windham High School Program of Studies and curriculum, and the construction of our 21st century high school building are proceeding as scheduled.  To better inform students, parents, and community members of the progress to date, the Planning Team, working with many members of the Windham school community, has developed the following questions and answers.  If you have an additional question that is not found here, please email your question to the high school and your question will be added to the FAQ’s. Please remember that the information contained below represents the high school planning that has occurred during the past two months.  Some aspects of the high school planning are on-going, and many aspects require the approval of the Windham School Board.  


1. When will Windham High School open its doors for the first time?
2. Who will attend Windham High School in August, 2009?
3. What is the status of the construction of Windham High School?
4. When can the students, parents, and community members view the high school?
5. When will the Program of Studies be available?
6. Will Windham High School offer a range of courses to its students?
7. How will the Windham High School Mathematics, Science, and Technology program prepare students according to their individual interests and needs?
8. How will the mathematics curriculum be developed?
9. How will Windham High School develop the science curriculum?
10. How will technology be integrated into the Windham High School curriculum and instruction?
11. How many credits will be required for graduation?
12. What is the minimum number of courses a student must take each year?
13. What are course competencies?
14. I am spending my freshman year at Salem High School.  How will those grades be reflected on my transcript?
15. How will Windham High School schedule classes?
16. What is a modified A/B blocked schedule?
17. How does the modified A/B schedule differ from that of Salem High School?
18. Why do two schools have two different scheduling models?
19. What are the primary differences between the two high school schedules-Salem High School and Windham High School?
20. What are the starting and ending times of the school day?
21. Windham High School is adopting an interdisciplinary approach to instruction in some curricular areas.  What is this approach to instruction?
22. Will Windham High School offer Advanced Placement courses in its curriculum?
23. What is International Baccalaureate?  Will Windham High School introduce “IB”?
24. What is NEASC, and what does “accreditation” mean?
25. Will Windham High School be accredited when it opens in August, 2009?
26. Can students travel to Salem High School to enroll in Career and Technical Education classes?
27. What type of media center is being developed at Windham High School?
28. What sports will be offered at Windham High School?
29. Can Windham students play for the teams of surrounding schools?
30. How will the athletic program be developed?
31. Will Windham High School have a weight room?
32. I heard we will not have a track for the Track and Field Program, is this true?
33. What schools will Windham High School compete against?
34. Will attending a smaller school hurt my chances of participating at the college level?
35. Will all the athletic fields be open for fall 2009 sports?
36. What type of musical groups will be available to the students once school opens? Will these be offered for class credit or as after-school activities, or both?
37. What classes for Performing Arts will be offered in 2009? Will there be a course in television production?  Is there a studio available for these classes?
38. Will there be a marching band program?
39. Will there be a theatre group for performing artists?
40. What visual arts classes will be offered? Will there be any technology-based art electives?
41. What after-school activities besides sports and musical ensembles will be offered in the fall of 2009?


When will Windham High School open its doors for the first time? Back to Top

Windham High School is scheduled to open for Windham students in August, 2009, on the date set for all Windham schools.

Who will attend Windham High School in August, 2009? Back to Top

The graduating classes of 2012 and 2013 will attend Windham High School in August, 2009.  Windham students in the graduating classes of 2010 and 2011 will remain at Salem High School and will graduate from Salem High School.

What is the status of the construction of Windham High School? Back to Top

The high school construction schedule is on time and on budget to open in August, 2009.  As of September 25, 2008, school construction is approximately 75% completed.

When can the students, parents, and community members view the high school? Back to Top

A community-wide “Open House” is scheduled for October 25, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. until noon.  The school will not yet be ready at this time, but students, parents, and members of the community will be able to see the site, the fields, and tour the first floor of the building.  Areas such as the theater, gymnasium, cafeteria, library/media center, art and music areas, and typical classrooms will be open for tours.

When will the Program of Studies be available? Back to Top

The Program of Studies is scheduled to be presented to the Windham School Board for review and acceptance in October.  The Program of Studies has been developed to offer students a high school education guided by current “best practices” in high school education.  Special planning occurred to allow a smooth and effective transition from Salem High School to Windham High School.

Will Windham High School offer a range of courses to its students? Back to Top

 Windham High School will offer a range of classes and learning opportunities.  The high school programs will offer instruction designed to meet the individual needs of its students.  Honors courses and Advanced Placement courses will be offered in many curricular areas.

How will the Windham High School Mathematics, Science, and Technology program prepare students according to their individual interests and needs? Back to Top

The Windham High School Mathematics, Science, and Technology program will offer a wide range of courses for each student to explore his or her passions and to approach course material in a manner appropriate to a personal learning style. Each discipline offers introductory, advanced, and elective courses for students to investigate the topics of study most suited to their interests and needs.  The Program of Studies has more information on course selection.

How will the mathematics curriculum be developed? Back to Top

Windham High School will open with a wide range of mathematics course offerings for Windham students.  The schedules of all Windham ninth and eighth graders have been reviewed to be certain that the mathematics offerings will meet all students’ needs.  Instruction will emphasize problem-solving and conceptual understanding.

How will Windham High School develop the science curriculum? Back to Top

Students will have the opportunity to enroll in Integrated Science and Honors Integrated Science during their first year of high school.  New labs and 21st century technology will enhance all science curricula.  Ninth grade students who seek to excel in science, have demonstrated high abilities in the sciences,  and who commit to Chemistry and Physics (in order to fulfill state-mandated units of study that are contained within Integrated Science) will have the opportunity to enroll in Honors Biology. A wide range of science electives will be offered to students in the upper grades of high school, including Advanced Placement courses.  The Program of Studies contains complete information about these courses.

How will technology be integrated into the Windham High School curriculum and instruction? Back to Top

All students and teachers will be required to utilize technology in all areas of the curriculum.  In addition to this school-wide integration of technology, the Windham High School technology curriculum will include two additional areas of technology education: the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) program, which will focus on computer use, maintenance, and programming, and the Applied and Materials Technology (AMT) program, which will focus on modern, real-world technologies and career paths in technological fields. All students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in computer use through ICT study and in the creation of digital portfolios.

How many credits will be required for graduation? Back to Top

There will be a total of 28 credits required to graduate from Windham High School.  The Program of Studies contains additional information on graduation credits and specific requirements.  These requirements are subject to the approval of the Windham School Board.

What is the minimum number of courses a student must take each year? Back to Top

Students are encouraged to enroll in eight courses per academic year.  Students are required to enroll in a minimum of seven credits per academic year.  This is subject to the approval of the Windham School Board.

What are course competencies? Back to Top

Course competencies are new assessments of curriculum mastery, and are required to be in place in all New Hampshire high schools by the 2008-2009 school year.  High school curricula must include competencies by which students demonstrate that they can apply their knowledge and skills in different ways.  Windham High School, along with all New Hampshire high schools, will develop course competencies for our curricular offerings.

I am spending my freshman year at Salem High School.  How will those grades be reflected on my transcript? Back to Top

Grades and credits earned at Salem High School will be part of each student’s school record.  The records will be sent to Windham High School and the grades and credits will be used to meet each student’s Windham High School graduation requirements.
 
How will Windham High School schedule classes? Back to Top

Windham High School will operate on a modified A/B blocked schedule.

What is a modified A/B blocked schedule? Back to Top

An A/B schedule operates with eight instructional periods, each about ninety minutes in length.  On Day A, students meet for four periods of instruction, and on the next day, Day B, students meet for four additional periods of instruction.  This every other day cycle continues throughout the entire school year.  The schedule is “modified” in that all classes, periods one through eight, meet on Mondays for approximately forty-five minutes.   At the end of each week, each course will have met three times- one short block of forty-five minutes and two long blocks of ninety minutes (approximately).

How does the modified A/B schedule differ from that of Salem High School? Back to Top

Salem High School operates on a “4X4” schedule.  Under this model of scheduling, students enroll in four courses (only) during semester one and four new courses during semester two.  At the end of the school year students have been enrolled in eight courses.

Why do two schools have two different scheduling models? Back to Top

There are many more than two high school scheduling models.  Each school adopts a model that best serves its own students’ and curricular needs.  Research, most prominently cited in Breaking Ranks and Breaking Ranks II, and the NEASC standards for high school accreditation, cite the need for schools to develop flexible learning schedules that will support innovative approaches to teaching and learning, rather than a specific model of schedule.

What are the primary differences between the two high school schedules-Salem High School and Windham High School? Back to Top

Under a “4X4” high school schedule, each student is responsible for only four courses at any one time.  This can allow students to concentrate their studies and their efforts as they focus on only four subjects, and this may be considered beneficial.  However, others have noted that students can experience long gaps of time between sequential courses, such as mathematics or world language study.  A student might study Spanish II during the fall semester of one school year and not study Spanish III until the spring of the NEXT school year.  This pattern has been cited as a limitation of the “4X4” schedule design. Performing arts classes that perform throughout the entire school year also cite scheduling difficulties when instruction occurs in a “4X4” model.

Under an A/B schedule, a student does not experience these gaps in the sequencing of courses or learning experiences.  The student continues to study each (and every) subject during the course of the entire school year.  For example, a student would complete the Spanish II curriculum in a class schedule that would meet three times each week (one forty-five minute period and two ninety minute periods) during the span of the entire school year.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that this assists in bringing continuity to learning and instruction, allows reinforcement of prior learning, and may be preferred in courses such as mathematics and world language study.   In an A/B schedule, a student is enrolled in all of his or her courses concurrently.  Empirical evidence does not conclusively suggest either model; rather, the flexibility of the scheduling of the learning time to encourage and allow innovative, student-centered instructional practices that emphasize stronger connections between academic study and real world applications is furthered.

See the Windham High School Schedule.
See a Sample 9th Grade Student Schedule.
See a Sample 10th Grade Student Schedule.

What are the starting and ending times of the school day? Back to Top

The start and end of the school day has not yet been determined.  This information should be available in the near future. 

Windham High School is adopting an interdisciplinary approach to instruction in some curricular areas.  What is this approach to instruction? Back to Top

Windham High School will be different from area high schools in several key areas.  Interdisciplinary learning will be one of these key areas. The emphasis of interdisciplinary instruction is to enable students to understand knowledge and develop skills across multiple curricular areas.  This instructional strategy emphasizes critical thinking and higher-order thinking skills. 

Will Windham High School offer Advanced Placement courses in its curriculum? Back to Top

The curriculum of Windham High School will include a range of Advanced Placement course offerings.  For almost all students, eligibility for Advanced Placement courses begins in the junior year of high school.  Windham High School will offer a variety of Advanced Placement courses.

What is International Baccalaureate?  Will Windham High School introduce “IB”? Back to Top

International Baccalaureate is an established curriculum that is recognized around the world for its academic rigor and interdisciplinary connections.  Schools that seek to become an “IB” school must first be established, and then initiate a multi-year application process.  Interest in developing Windham High School into an International Baccalaureate school remains high. 

What is NEASC, and what does “accreditation” mean? Back to Top

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is the regional accreditation agency for schools and colleges.  Its most important role is to accredit schools.  As part of this accrediting process, the Association determines that schools are operating in accordance with the NEASC standards for accreditation.  When this determination is made, typically after a thorough self-study and a three day visit by an outside team, a school is said to be “accredited”.  The planning of Windham High School is proceeding in accordance with the NEASC standards of accreditation.

Will Windham High School be accredited when it opens in August, 2009? Back to Top

By the standards and procedures of NEASC, it is not possible for any school to be accredited when it first opens its doors.  A school must first be in operation for at least one year before it can apply as a “candidate” for accreditation, the first step toward the process of accreditation.  This multi-year process is well known to schools and colleges, and students are not penalized in any way for simply attending a new school.  Indeed, several well-regarded southern New Hampshire high schools have opened within the last decade or so.

Can students travel to Salem High School to enroll in Career and Technical Education classes? Back to Top

Yes. The Salem Career and Technical Education Center is a regional center and will continue to provide career and technical education to Windham students.  Windham High School will provide transportation for our students to travel to Salem High School for their technical classes.  Students will receive their core academic instruction at Windham High School.  This is the model that is used throughout the state of New Hampshire.

What type of media center is being developed at Windham High School? Back to Top

Our media generalist, Kathleen Kirwin, is working to develop a media center that offers a wide range of resources, both electronic and conventional.  The media center is located to the immediate left as students enter the front door and will be the intellectual hub of our school.

What sports will be offered at Windham High School? Back to Top

The exact offerings of the athletics teams that will be at Windham High School are under careful study and review.  To assist in this decision- making process, we are talking with many of the local youth programs, the middle school, and Salem High School to gather information on what the current students from Windham are participating in.  We also recently conducted a survey of this year’s freshmen at Salem and eighth graders at Windham Middle School on what they plan on participating in next year at Windham High School.  These data, and a review of our fields and facilities, will guide our discussion with the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association, and ultimately shape our programs. 

Can Windham students play for the teams of surrounding schools? Back to Top

The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for high school athletics, is very specific regarding student participation.  The Association allows schools to form a cooperative team if doing so will allow two schools that could not otherwise individually field a sport do so for the sole purpose of allowing students to compete in NHIAA sanctioned athletics.  There are many criteria that must be met. Students are not allowed to individually play on another school’s athletic team.    

How will the athletic program be developed? Back to Top

The athletic program will be developed based on student interest, the physical development of the student-athletes, and the rules and requirements of the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association.  Each member of class of 2012 and 2013 was surveyed during the first week of school to gain the latest information on student interest in co-curricular activities (to include clubs and other student-life organizations).

Will Windham High School have a weight room? Back to Top

Yes, the high school will have a weight room and a cardiovascular room.  Student-athletes, and all students, will be trained in the safe use of the equipment and encouraged to stay healthy through exercise.  Our Human Performance physical education classes will utilize these facilities on a regular basis.

I heard we will not have a track for the Track and Field Program, is this true? Back to Top

At present, the high school facility does not include a track and field.  Plans to develop this program and this facility are on-going. 

What schools will Windham High School compete against? Back to Top

Depending on the sport, the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association schedules schools into either Classes or Divisions based on school enrollment. With an anticipated enrollment of 650 students, we can anticipate that we will be placed in Class I, competing with such schools as Souhegan, Hollis/Brookline, Milford, Portsmouth, Bow, Bedford etc.  Competition is ultimately governed by the NHIAA.

Will attending a smaller school hurt my chances of participating at the college level? Back to Top

No.  One advantage of attending a smaller school is that there are more opportunities for those wishing to participate in extra-curricular activities than would be available at a large school.  You and your coach will be able to better present yourself to those schools that best fit your educational and athletic pursuits. 

Will all the athletic fields be open for fall 2009 sports? Back to Top

The favorable weather pattern during the summer months allowed our fields to get off to a great start, as was confirmed by a UNH turf management consultant.  The turf has been growing for several months on the softball, football, and the soccer/lacrosse fields.  Construction continues on the baseball/field hockey field.

What type of musical groups will be available to the students once school opens? Will these be offered for class credit or as after-school activities, or both? Back to Top

Several instrumental and choral ensembles will be offered in the curriculum, depending on student interest. Classes in which students have been enrolled during the day will be offered for credit. There will also be ensembles that meet after school and will be considered co-curricular activities.

What classes for Performing Arts will be offered in 2009? Will there be a course in television production?  Is there a studio available for these classes? Back to Top

There is an array of electives in the  Performing Arts program, such as band and choral ensembles, and general music or theatre offerings for non- performers,  depending upon enrollment and student interest. There is a 900 square foot television studio in the building with editing booths, a recording area, and control room for future offerings.  There are plans for Television Production, depending on student interest.

Will there be a marching band program? Back to Top

The marching band will be a future elective, depending on the level of student interest.
 
Will there be a theatre group for performing artists? Back to Top

There has been a high amount of interest based on the student surveys for a theatre group.  We are planning an after-school club for students who wish to become actively involved in plays and musical theatre productions. 

What visual arts classes will be offered? Will there be any technology-based art electives? Back to Top

The classes offered during year one include Fundamentals of Art and several electives, such as Drawing, Painting, and Ceramics.  We anticipate having technology-based art electives in subsequent years.

What after-school activities besides sports and musical ensembles will be offered in the fall of 2009? Back to Top

Many clubs, organizations, and activities are planned for Windham High School.  These clubs will be formed to meet the interests of the students.  The goal of the co-curricular program is to offer multiple opportunities for each student to become involved in student life at Windham High School.