Welcome to Nashoba Regional High School January 12 th , 2008 9:00-10:30 a.m.

1. Welcome to Nashoba Regional High SchoolJanuary 12th, 20089:00-10:30 a.m. Welcome Chieftains Class of 2012

2. Agenda • Welcome • Introductions • Overview of School and Website (http://nrhs.nrsd.net) • Registration Process/Timeline • Building Tours (NHS and Student Council volunteers)

3. Mission Statement The Nashoba Regional High School Community works together to achieve high intellectual and ethical standards while discovering and developing the gifts and talents of all. Each member of our school community recognizes his or her role and responsibility in creating a learning environment based upon respect, trust, teamwork and enthusiasm.

4. Academic Acquire, integrate and apply essential knowledge; Read, write and communicate effectively; Define, analyze and solve complex problems; Study and work effectively Civic/Social Treat others and oneself with respect. . . Understand, accept and demonstrate one’s roles as a responsible and active member of the community. . . Participate in meaningful community and/or school activities that promote service. . . Cultivate and develop pro-social skills in order to minimize conflicts. . . Academic and Civic/Social Expectations

5. Facts about NRHS • Student Population at NRHS: 921 • Current class of 2012: 261 • 7 period day (rotating, 45 minute classes with a 65 minute long block) • Start 7:40 • Release 2:20 • 3-25 minute lunches organized by the subject • Multiple Extra-Curricular Activities (sports, music, drama, clubs, student governance) • Locker (shared for freshmen year only)

6. Why Nashoba? • We are a Massachusetts Compass School(one of only 23 high schools out of 300+ in MA). • Source: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sda/compass/cohorts.html?yr=07 • We are a Silver Medal School as determined by U.S. News and World Report(one of only 505 high schools out of 18,790 across the nation). • Source: http://www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools/

7. MCAS • Our MCAS Scores are consistently in the top 10% in MA. • #1 in MA in Technology and Engineering • Source: Boston.com

8. SAT Results • Our 2007 SAT’s scores are quite good (205 out of ~230 possible junior/senior test takers) • SAT average scores for Nashoba were: Reading 549, Math 554, Writing 544 while the state/national averages were: Verbal 513/502, Math 522/515, Writing 511/494. • College Placements are first rate (~90+% of graduating class attends college with 80% attending 4 year schools) • Recent examples include: Arizona State, Assumption, BC, BU, Clark, Colgate, Dartmouth, Duke, Emerson, Fairfield, Fitchburg State, Gateway to College (MWCC), Georgetown, Harvard, Hawaii, Hofstra, Holy Cross, Iona, Keene State (NH), Kentucky, Macalaster, McGill U, Merrimack, Middlebury, Middlesex Community College, NYU, North Carolina, Penn State, Plymouth State (NH), Princeton, RPI, Sacred Heart, Sienna, Skidmore, Smith, Stanford, Stonehill, Temple, Wisconsin, Vassar, Villanova, Williams, Worcester State, WPI, Yale, etc, etc.

9. AP Offerings/SAT Results • 2007 AP exam data shows a wide range of students taking tests and doing execptionally. • Biology, Chemistry, English Lit + Comp, Latin, German, US History, Psychology, Government, Calculus AB + BC, Music Theory,Studio Art, Spanish, French (newly offered in 08-09) • 264 tests completed, 188 students scored 4 or 5 (71.2%). The national average for students receiving a 4 or 5 is 34%. 183 students took at least one A.P. test (20.4% of the NRHS 06-07 population) • Source: collegeboard.com

10. Committed Teaching and Support Staff • Highly Qualified Teachers • We have a highly qualified teaching staff that is Massachusetts certified in their respective field and includes five doctorates and many other content and instructional experts. • We have a complete array ofSupport Services • Four Guidance Counselors • A full-time Adjustment Counselor • A part-time (.8) Career Counselor • A learning center program to meet the needs of all learners. • 2 Life Skills classrooms with comprehensive faculty and support staff • Academic Support Center Director with 2 academic liaisons • 2 full-time nurses

11. Our students experience low class sizes in terms of class average.

12. Curriculum SharePoint site • Access the Curriculum SharePoint site via the main page of the High School website under the “Students” section (Student and Parent SharePoint). The site will provide more specific information about freshmen courses by level, subject matter. • Username: SPNRH@nrsd.net • Password: nrsd • Website: http://web.nrsd.net/schools/nrh/curriculum/default.aspx

13. Extra-Curricular Opportunities • Athletics: Mr. Tom O’Brien (Athletic Director) • http://nrhs.nrsd.net/athletics.php • Music: http://www.geocities.com/nashobafom/ • Drama: http://www.nashobadrama.com/ • Clubs: http://nrhs.nrsd.net/clubs.php • Peer Mediation Program

14. Process for Developing a Schedule • Choose classes in March • Students/Parents use 1st and 2nd Trimester grades in combination with placement test results and 8th grade teacher recommendations • Receive recommendation from 8th grade teachers • Discuss at March Parent Conferences (3/27 and 3/28) • 8th grade teachers’ recommendations are of critical importance • Return Course Registration form to 8th grade teachers the week of March 31th, 2008 • Freshmen schedules are ideally mailed to 8th graders in late June • ***Please note that current 8th graders will need to pass an English, mathematics, science and technology/engineering, U.S. History MCAS in order to graduate***

15. Guidance Department • Ms. Jodi Specht (Li-Pe) (Director of Guidance) • Ms. Ellin Tsiaras (A-E) • Mr. Trevor Short (F-Le) • Mr. Dan Glover (Pf-Z) • Ms. Diana Durr (Adjustment Counselors) • Ms. Sue Allaire (Career Counselor) • Dr. Glenn Williams (Team Chair/School Psychologist)

16. Graduation Requirements • 90 credits to graduate • Full-year courses are 4 credits • Some science courses are 5, 6, or 8 credits • Semester courses are 2 credits • P.E. courses are 1 or 2 credits

17. Academic Levels • Non-Leveled (NL) • Courses are multi-grade electives that are grouped heterogeneously. • Accelerated (ACC) • Students who are recommended for this level demonstrate high levels of achievement and motivation. These courses either move at a somewhat faster pace than our college preparatory courses and/or include some additional materials that expand on topics being covered; therefore, more homework can be anticipated both in volume and in degree of difficulty. • College Prep (CP) • CP Courses are recommended for students who have solid levels of achievement and motivation and perform best when there is consistent explanation and repetition as well as structure and support in their instructional setting. • Honors (HON) • Honors courses are recommended for students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement through a combination of ability and motivation. • Advanced Placement (AP) • Upperclassmen specific course offerings. There will be 15 from which to choose. • Program of Studies • http://nrhs.nrsd.net/program.php

18. Sample Freshman Schedule

19. Additional Transitional Activities • Chieftain “card” opportunities throughout January and February. • Incoming Freshmen Parents/Students Night • March 10th from 6:00 - ~8:00 • Tri-Town Dance for 8th graders on March 7th in NRHS’s lower gymnasium (6:00-8:00). • Students will receive information about the clubs/extra-curricular activities. • Freshmen Orientation – TBA in late August: 9:00-11:30. • Parent Informational Coffees at the High School • Auditorium Foyer from 9:00-10:30 • 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11

20. Please contact us with any questions comments, or concerns!!! Jeremy Roche, Principal jroche@nrsd.net; (978) 779-2257 (x: 3101) Tracey Calo, Assistant Principal tcalo@nrsd.net; (978) 779-2257 (x: 3111) Brian Cote, Assistant Principal bcote@nrsd.net; (978) 779-2257 (x: 3116)