Essex Agricultural and Technical High School
Encyclopedia
Essex Agricultural and Technical High School is an agricultural and technical high school located in Hathorne section of Danvers, Massachusetts
.
The school is home to over 400 high school students.
There are 3 departments; Animal Science
, Plant Science
and Environmental Science
.
Students participate in hands-on learning using school-owned farm animals and farm equipment. The school is home to heavy machinery, many plants and various animals including horses, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, cows, snakes, and exotic birds. There is also a cat named Oreo who is a stray that wanders campus and is popular with staff and students.
, history]], and literature
also allows for three different agricultural fields which students will choose after a brief trail. All students take MCAS testing, Certification of Occupational Proficiency as well as testing for higher education. The school uses an eight day calender with academic class on four days and agricultural on the others. Students also have physical education for all four years and computer classes for the first two and a career exploration class offered by the guidance department.
. Since then it has expanded to a massive campus. It will soon be merged with Essex North Shore Vocational due to financial issues.
Beginning in the freshman year there is an honors level offering for each course in addition to the middle and basic levels of the courses offered. (as of 2011)
Science
Biology I, Biology II, Chemistry, Chemical Science, Physics, Environmental Issues
History
American History I, American History II, World History Post 1850, International Relations, Global Studies
Math
Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Algebra II with Trigonometry, Calculus
English
American Lit I, American Lit II, World Lit I, Modern World Lit
Plant Science:
Greenhouse and Garden Center Management which prepare students for a field as a florist, floral designer, and an operator at either a greenhouse or garden center. Students work at an on campus greenhouse and take part in two flower sales every year one in December and the other in Spring.
Landscape/Arbor which focuses on construction allowing students learn basic auto maintenance, landscape design and construction and operation of machinery including lawnmowers, Bobcat skid loaders and tractors. It also focuses on the arbor field such as logger and allows students to maintain and operate chainsaws as well as climb trees and take trees down.
Natural Resources/Park Management which focuses on forestry, trail design and maintenance.
Animal Science:
Veterinary Technology and Equine Science focuses on the equine field and allows students to work with a dozen horses on campus.
Veterinary Technology and Research Animal Management which focuses on which prepares students for a field as a veterinary technician.
Companion animal and pet shop manager which focuses on preparing students for a field in animal care.
The school's athletic teams, known as the Essex Aggie Rams, compete in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association
Commonwealth League; most teams are cooperatively run with North Shore Technical High School
in Middleton. Teams are fielded in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, Danvers is most widely known for its association with the 1692 Salem witch trials, and for its famous asylum, the Danvers State Hospital.-17th century:The land...
.
The school is home to over 400 high school students.
There are 3 departments; Animal Science
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, Plant Science
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and Environmental Science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
.
Students participate in hands-on learning using school-owned farm animals and farm equipment. The school is home to heavy machinery, many plants and various animals including horses, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, cows, snakes, and exotic birds. There is also a cat named Oreo who is a stray that wanders campus and is popular with staff and students.
Curriculum
The Aggie requires the basic four parts of curriculum: math, scienceScience
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, history]], and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
also allows for three different agricultural fields which students will choose after a brief trail. All students take MCAS testing, Certification of Occupational Proficiency as well as testing for higher education. The school uses an eight day calender with academic class on four days and agricultural on the others. Students also have physical education for all four years and computer classes for the first two and a career exploration class offered by the guidance department.
History
Essex Aggie was founded in 1913 on land granted to the school by the decedents of Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
. Since then it has expanded to a massive campus. It will soon be merged with Essex North Shore Vocational due to financial issues.
Academics
Academic classes meet on alternate days from agricultural classes at the Aggie. Each year you will have four core academic classes which meet for 90 minutes each, including English, mathematics, history and a science.Beginning in the freshman year there is an honors level offering for each course in addition to the middle and basic levels of the courses offered. (as of 2011)
Science
Biology I, Biology II, Chemistry, Chemical Science, Physics, Environmental Issues
History
American History I, American History II, World History Post 1850, International Relations, Global Studies
Math
Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Algebra II with Trigonometry, Calculus
English
American Lit I, American Lit II, World Lit I, Modern World Lit
Agricultural
The Agricultural aspects of the Aggie are divided into three fields: Plant Science, Animal Science and Environmental Science. Plant Science and Animal Science are also divided further into specific fields.Plant Science:
Greenhouse and Garden Center Management which prepare students for a field as a florist, floral designer, and an operator at either a greenhouse or garden center. Students work at an on campus greenhouse and take part in two flower sales every year one in December and the other in Spring.
Landscape/Arbor which focuses on construction allowing students learn basic auto maintenance, landscape design and construction and operation of machinery including lawnmowers, Bobcat skid loaders and tractors. It also focuses on the arbor field such as logger and allows students to maintain and operate chainsaws as well as climb trees and take trees down.
Natural Resources/Park Management which focuses on forestry, trail design and maintenance.
Animal Science:
Veterinary Technology and Equine Science focuses on the equine field and allows students to work with a dozen horses on campus.
Veterinary Technology and Research Animal Management which focuses on which prepares students for a field as a veterinary technician.
Companion animal and pet shop manager which focuses on preparing students for a field in animal care.
Extracurricular activities
Student groups and activities at Essex Agricultural and Technical High School include Aggie Awareness Club, art club, drama club, environmental club, equestrian club, National Technical Honor Society, natural health and wellness club, newspaper, outing club, peer leaders, tech club, and yearbook.The school's athletic teams, known as the Essex Aggie Rams, compete in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association , comprising 365 high schools in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, is an organization that sponsors activities in more than thirty sports. The MIAA is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations , which writes the rules...
Commonwealth League; most teams are cooperatively run with North Shore Technical High School
North Shore Technical High School
North Shore Technical High School is a public application-type high school located in the city of Middleton in the U.S. state of Massachusetts under the North Shore Regional Vocational School District. It currently serves ninth through twelfth grade students from 16 communities all on the North Shore...
in Middleton. Teams are fielded in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball.