Souhegan High School
Encyclopedia
Souhegan High School is a Coalition of Essential Schools
high school
located in Amherst, New Hampshire
. Students from Amherst and Mont Vernon
attend Souhegan for 9th through 12th grades. There are about 872 students and over 160 faculty members. The name is derived from the Souhegan River
, which adjoins the school property, and the Souhegan Valley region of New Hampshire (which was, in turn, also named for the river). The principal of the school since 2010 is Jon Ingram, formerly principal of Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School.
and other towns, but found no support. A proposal for a cooperative district with Bedford
came to a vote in 1961, passing overwhelmingly in Amherst, but being defeated in Bedford. In November 1964, Amherst and Milford entered into the state's first Authorized Regional Enrollment Area (or "AREA") agreement, a long-term tuition agreement under which Milford would retain ownership and absolute control of the high school and Amherst would pay tuition to Milford based upon Milford's per-pupil costs of the preceding year, plus a share of the school's capital debt, but had no voice in the school's governance; the agreement was irrevocable while the debt was carried. Mont Vernon joined the AREA agreement and additionally sent its middle school students to Milford. The marriage of convenience was awkward from the start. Amherst was dissatisfied with the high school and its lack of voice, and "Milford felt that Amherst had educational ideas too rich for Milford's blood." The school boards of Amherst and Milford tentatively planned in 1976 to not renew the AREA agreement in ten years' time when the high school's capital debt was anticipated to be paid off. The Amherst School District appointed a committee to examine the alternatives, including building a high school of its own. The committee commissioned a study by an architectural and educational planning firm, which was published in 1982.
Beginning in 1984, the two towns were each permitted to send one non-voting delegate to the Milford School Board, as was the high school's student body. Despite the tentative plan from nine years earlier for the towns' school districts to go their separate ways, negotiations for a prospective new AREA agreement began in 1985 with Amherst and Mont Vernon seeking significant improvements to the high school. The debt and the AREA agreement expired as expected at the end of the 1985-1986 academic year while negotiations continued; its tuition terms continued under annual tuition agreements in the interim.
A regional school district was proposed and put before the voters of all three towns in 1988. The proposal was defeated at the Milford School District's special deliberative session. Days later, the Amherst School District held its special deliberative session where Amherst voters established the Souhegan Co-Operative School District. Mont Vernon followed suit within the week.
The school opened in 1992, on property previously owned by the Amherst School District, adjoining the Amherst Middle School and sharing some outdoor facilities. The school added a second building in 2003, called the Annex.
The school is part of the SAU-39 school district, which includes the middle and elementary schools in Amherst and Mont Vernon.
.
, based on a "teacher as coach" philosophy where students and teachers are treated as equal. As such, Souhegan is known for not having bells, students addressing staff members by their first names, and no hall passes.
The "Souhegan Six" are:
Grading based on these Learner Expectations is on a scale of "Does Not Meet", "Approaches", "Meets", and "Exceeds". These grades correlate to "F", "C", "B", and "A" on a traditional grading scale, respectively. Souhegan does not include "D" in the grading scale, any grade that would be a "D" is automatically an "F" or "NC" (No Credit).
At the end of 10th grade, all students must present their Division 1 binder at a Division 1 round-table . Division 1 binders include work from 9th and 10th grade and are meant to demonstrate the students academic growth in each learner expectation. Division 1 round-tables generally include teachers, parents, and friends of the student. The Division 1 Exhibition is a graduation requirement.
Souhegan offers a week long program for sophomores called Wintercession. Wintercession allows students to work in a small group on a specific project. Often times, a Wintercession option includes a trip. The number of trip options vary, but usually number around two dozen. These trips provide opportunities for group relationship building as well as exposure to the world outside of Amherst. Options in the past have included "Build A Boat", rock climbing trips, and volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity.
In the spring of Junior year, all students are expected to create a written research project that demonstrates thorough knowledge of a certain topic. The Junior Research Project is a graduation requirement; any student who does not pass is expected to attend summer school.
All Juniors must create a post-graduate plan that includes elements of financial planning, decision making, and other critical life skills. Juniors will also explore college and career choices throughout the process of creating their PGP.
Senior project is a project created throughout senior year, culminating in a presentation at the end of the year. Senior project is a major focus throughout the year and is a graduation requirement. Senior Project Presentations are typically 25 minutes in length. With the support of a faculty member, each student selects a topic that they are passionate about for their Senior Project.
All of Community Council's power is derived from the school board, and although the school board has the power to override any decision made by the Community Council, this has never happened. The Community Council consists of parents, external community members, students, teachers, and administrative faculty, although all community members are encouraged to be a part of the discussions. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the community Council meets directly after school once each week, except for one night a month when the meeting takes place at night. The Community Council consists of:
The Community Review Board has the authority to:
In cases where the police department is involved, a student can appeal to the principal,superintendent, and then the school board.
In 2002, Jen Barnes, captain of the girls' volleyball team, set a school record with 21 consecutive aces against John Stark
.
In 2003 the school set a state record with eight teams winning state championships. The softball (thanks to the triple by Jess Morelli), boys' baseball, boys' basketball, boys' track, boys' and girls' tennis and the girls' and boys' lacrosse teams all won state championships.
In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the boys' varsity ice hockey
team won division III state championships.
In 2008, Kamron Hedrick, co-captain of the boys' golf team, received the 8th place medal for his performance in the Class I state championship.
In 2008 the varsity football
team went undefeated and won the division III state championship, along with winning the state championship in 2004.
In 2009, after losing a single game in the regular season, the football
team went on to beat Portsmouth
to win yet another division III state championship.
In 2010, the varsity football team again won the division III state championship, totaling an 11-2 record along the way, giving Souhegan football a three-peat (2008,2009,2010)
The clubs and activities as well as the director(s) for each are listed below.
Coalition of Essential Schools
The Coalition of Essential Schools is an organization created to further a type of whole-school reform originally envisioned by founder Ted Sizer in his book, Horace's Compromise. CES began in 1984 with twelve schools; it currently has 600 formal members.-Horace's Compromise:Horace's Compromise...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake....
. Students from Amherst and Mont Vernon
Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
Mont Vernon is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2010 census.It is not clear why it is spelled differently from the many other towns in the United States named after Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington...
attend Souhegan for 9th through 12th grades. There are about 872 students and over 160 faculty members. The name is derived from the Souhegan River
Souhegan River
The Souhegan River is a tributary of the Merrimack River in the northeastern United States. long with a drainage area of , it flows north and east through southern New Hampshire to the Merrimack River....
, which adjoins the school property, and the Souhegan Valley region of New Hampshire (which was, in turn, also named for the river). The principal of the school since 2010 is Jon Ingram, formerly principal of Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School.
History
Amherst had long sought to apply economies of scale through a cooperative high school in partnership with adjoining towns, and made several overtures in the late 1950s and early 1960s to neighboring MilfordMilford, New Hampshire
Milford is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States, on the Souhegan River. The population was 15,115 at the 2010 census. It is the retail and manufacturing center of a six-town area known informally as the Souhegan Valley....
and other towns, but found no support. A proposal for a cooperative district with Bedford
Bedford, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2000, there were 18,274 people, 6,251 households, and 5,125 families residing in the town. The population density was 556.6 people per square mile . There were 6,401 housing units at an average density of 195.0 per square mile...
came to a vote in 1961, passing overwhelmingly in Amherst, but being defeated in Bedford. In November 1964, Amherst and Milford entered into the state's first Authorized Regional Enrollment Area (or "AREA") agreement, a long-term tuition agreement under which Milford would retain ownership and absolute control of the high school and Amherst would pay tuition to Milford based upon Milford's per-pupil costs of the preceding year, plus a share of the school's capital debt, but had no voice in the school's governance; the agreement was irrevocable while the debt was carried. Mont Vernon joined the AREA agreement and additionally sent its middle school students to Milford. The marriage of convenience was awkward from the start. Amherst was dissatisfied with the high school and its lack of voice, and "Milford felt that Amherst had educational ideas too rich for Milford's blood." The school boards of Amherst and Milford tentatively planned in 1976 to not renew the AREA agreement in ten years' time when the high school's capital debt was anticipated to be paid off. The Amherst School District appointed a committee to examine the alternatives, including building a high school of its own. The committee commissioned a study by an architectural and educational planning firm, which was published in 1982.
Beginning in 1984, the two towns were each permitted to send one non-voting delegate to the Milford School Board, as was the high school's student body. Despite the tentative plan from nine years earlier for the towns' school districts to go their separate ways, negotiations for a prospective new AREA agreement began in 1985 with Amherst and Mont Vernon seeking significant improvements to the high school. The debt and the AREA agreement expired as expected at the end of the 1985-1986 academic year while negotiations continued; its tuition terms continued under annual tuition agreements in the interim.
A regional school district was proposed and put before the voters of all three towns in 1988. The proposal was defeated at the Milford School District's special deliberative session. Days later, the Amherst School District held its special deliberative session where Amherst voters established the Souhegan Co-Operative School District. Mont Vernon followed suit within the week.
The school opened in 1992, on property previously owned by the Amherst School District, adjoining the Amherst Middle School and sharing some outdoor facilities. The school added a second building in 2003, called the Annex.
The school is part of the SAU-39 school district, which includes the middle and elementary schools in Amherst and Mont Vernon.
Security controversy
Souhegan High School is known for having a security policy that is consistent with its policies of trust and respect. For much of its history, Souhegan has faced opposition from parent groups who favor a more traditional approach. Following the Mont Vernon Murder, a group of parents and concerned community members brought a petition to a school board meeting to investigate changes in the security policy. The issue was then passed to the Community Council, which was tasked with reviewing security as a whole at the school, and presenting the board with any recommended changes. The Community Council divided itself into three committees: Past Security Reports Committee, Student Survey Committee, and Other Schools Committee. Each committee created a list of recommendations, which were voted on by the entire Council. The Community Council ended up voting to recommend cameras in the parking lot and a new student sign-in system among others, while rejecting no trespassing signs. The recommendations were presented to the school board in June 2010. The school board has approved a number of these changes. There will also be a warrant article on the ballot this March asking the voters to approve purchases that will further improve the security of the school.Awards
In June 2009 Souhegan was listed #1544 in "The Top of the Class", a ranking of the top 1564 public high schools in the United States (approximately the top 6%) by NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
.
Mission
The school's mission statement, as painted on the front wall of the main entrance, states:
"Souhegan High School aspires to be a community of learners born of respect, trust and courage.
We consciously commit ourselves:
To support and engage an individual's unique gifts, passions and intentions.
To develop and empower the mind, body and heart.
To challenge and expand the comfortable limits of thought, tolerance, and performance.
To inspire and honor the active stewardship of family, nation and globe."
Teacher Life
At Souhegan, all teachers are primarily situated within a room for either Division 1 or Division 2. Outside of class periods, teachers spend their time in the Division rooms. Each teacher has their own desk within Division 1 or Division 2.Student Life
Souhegan was established as part of the Coalition of Essential SchoolsCoalition of Essential Schools
The Coalition of Essential Schools is an organization created to further a type of whole-school reform originally envisioned by founder Ted Sizer in his book, Horace's Compromise. CES began in 1984 with twelve schools; it currently has 600 formal members.-Horace's Compromise:Horace's Compromise...
, based on a "teacher as coach" philosophy where students and teachers are treated as equal. As such, Souhegan is known for not having bells, students addressing staff members by their first names, and no hall passes.
School Year Start
Sophomores and Juniors at Souhegan typically start on a Thursday, while Freshmen and Seniors typically start on a Wednesday. The first week (usually only a half-week) is considered a "practice week". Teachers focus on getting to know students and team-building activities. The first day of school for Freshmen and Seniors consists of introductory activities, such as meeting fellow advisees and getting to know the campus. The first day for Freshmen and Sophomores is a half-day and culminates with the Freshmen being walked through the school while the Seniors and Staff cheer them on.Souhegan Six
The school adheres to six main rules (The Souhegan Six). The students are allowed to chew gum, wear hats, and eat outside. Juniors and seniors may leave campus for lunch as long as they meet the criteria for off-campus privileges.The "Souhegan Six" are:
"Respect and encourage the right to teach and the right to learn at all times.
Be actively engaged in the learning; ask questions, collaborate, and seek solutions.
Be on time to fulfill your daily commitments.
Be appropriate; demonstrate behavior that is considerate of the community, the campus, and yourself.
Be truthful; communicate honestly.
Be responsible and accountable for your choices."
Advisory
The school runs an advisory program where approximately twelve students spend twenty-five minutes a day with one staff member. Advisories play games, order food, have discussions, and work together throughout the year to have fun in the middle of the day. The goal is to have a small group where students can get advice from peers they are comfortable with or meet students they otherwise wouldn't talk to.Academics
Students are evaluated based on the Learner Expectations. The Learner expectations consist of:- "Knowledgeable Person" - assesses the learner's level of knowledge about a particular topic
- "Complex Thinker" - assesses the learner's ability to think through complex problems
- "Skilled Information processor/consumer" - assesses the learner's ability to consume information effectively, including research skills.
- "Effective Communicator/Producer" - assesses the learner's ability to communicate information
- "Self-Directed Learner" - assesses the learner's ability to work on a project without intervention, this includes the learner's ability to stay on-task and stick to a deadline
- "Collaborative Worker" - assesses the learner's ability to work within a group of learners towards a common goal
- "Responsible Citizen" - assesses the learner's ability to be a responsible and productive citizen of the Souhegan Community0
Grading based on these Learner Expectations is on a scale of "Does Not Meet", "Approaches", "Meets", and "Exceeds". These grades correlate to "F", "C", "B", and "A" on a traditional grading scale, respectively. Souhegan does not include "D" in the grading scale, any grade that would be a "D" is automatically an "F" or "NC" (No Credit).
Division 1
The four grade levels at Souhegan are split into Division 1 and Division 2. Division 1 includes grades 9 and 10.Division 1 Exhibition
At the end of 10th grade, all students must present their Division 1 binder at a Division 1 round-table . Division 1 binders include work from 9th and 10th grade and are meant to demonstrate the students academic growth in each learner expectation. Division 1 round-tables generally include teachers, parents, and friends of the student. The Division 1 Exhibition is a graduation requirement.
Wintercession
Souhegan offers a week long program for sophomores called Wintercession. Wintercession allows students to work in a small group on a specific project. Often times, a Wintercession option includes a trip. The number of trip options vary, but usually number around two dozen. These trips provide opportunities for group relationship building as well as exposure to the world outside of Amherst. Options in the past have included "Build A Boat", rock climbing trips, and volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity.
Junior Research Project
In the spring of Junior year, all students are expected to create a written research project that demonstrates thorough knowledge of a certain topic. The Junior Research Project is a graduation requirement; any student who does not pass is expected to attend summer school.
Post-Graduate Plan
All Juniors must create a post-graduate plan that includes elements of financial planning, decision making, and other critical life skills. Juniors will also explore college and career choices throughout the process of creating their PGP.
Senior Project
Senior project is a project created throughout senior year, culminating in a presentation at the end of the year. Senior project is a major focus throughout the year and is a graduation requirement. Senior Project Presentations are typically 25 minutes in length. With the support of a faculty member, each student selects a topic that they are passionate about for their Senior Project.
Community Council
Established in 1992, the Community Council is the main governing body of Souhegan. The Community Council has the power to create and change Souhegan's policies, including but not limited to:- grading
- scheduling
- Discipline
- All other issues of importance to the community
All of Community Council's power is derived from the school board, and although the school board has the power to override any decision made by the Community Council, this has never happened. The Community Council consists of parents, external community members, students, teachers, and administrative faculty, although all community members are encouraged to be a part of the discussions. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the community Council meets directly after school once each week, except for one night a month when the meeting takes place at night. The Community Council consists of:
- 5 Ninth Grade Representatives
- 5 Tenth Grade Representatives
- 5 Eleventh Grade Representatives
- 5 Twelfth Grade Representatives
- 10 Faculty/Staff Representatives (Including CC advisor)
- 1 Dean of Students
- 5 Community Representatives
- 1 School Board Member
- 10 At-Large Representatives
Community Review Board
The Community Review Board is a body of community members that was created to ensure the fairness of disciplinary actions by the school's administration. The Community Review Board only has authority in cases which do not involve outside agencies, such as the police. The Community Review Board consists of eleven members including:- One student elected from each grade
- One student selected by random, voluntary lottery
- Two elected faculty
- One elected Community Council member
The Community Review Board has the authority to:
- Decide whether or not to hear a case
- Uphold the administration's decision
- Change the punishment set by the administration
- Nullify the administration's decision
In cases where the police department is involved, a student can appeal to the principal,superintendent, and then the school board.
Judiciary Board
The judiciary board is a group of students and faculty who can create personalized and creative solutions for students who have chosen to violate the Souhegan Six. According to the Souhegan student handbook, "The charge of the Judiciary Board is: To provide students the opportunity for a fair hearing regarding a breach of the Souhegan Six, our community behavioral norms."Security
At Souhegan, a trust in students and their respect for the community are fundamental to the security of the school. Souhegan High School lacks security cameras and other modern security measures in favor of trust in students. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the Community Council has recommended the addition of security cameras in the parking lot to the school board.Annual Student Disciplinary Data
| 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010(As of 1/27/10) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theft(Disciplined Students) | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Fighting(Disciplined Students, including off-campus) | 2 | 9 | 2 |
| Harassment(Disciplined Students) | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Vandalism(Disciplined Students) | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| Possession of Weapons | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Amherst Police Department Data
| 2007-2008 | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theft[until 1/27] | 39[11] | 62[18] | [24] |
| Theft Cost[until 1/27] | $14,047 | $9,480 | [$3,315] |
| Vandalism[until 1/27] | 19[8] | 79[35] | [23] |
Sports, clubs and activities
The girls' soccer team set a state record by winning 9 straight Class I championships between 1992 and 2000.In 2002, Jen Barnes, captain of the girls' volleyball team, set a school record with 21 consecutive aces against John Stark
John Stark Regional High School
John Stark Regional High School PrincipalChris MoscaAsst. PrincipalsBrian Emery, Tina TanguaySchool typePublic Founded1987LocationWeare, Hillsborough County, New HampshireEnrollment913Campus surroundingsRural...
.
In 2003 the school set a state record with eight teams winning state championships. The softball (thanks to the triple by Jess Morelli), boys' baseball, boys' basketball, boys' track, boys' and girls' tennis and the girls' and boys' lacrosse teams all won state championships.
In 2006, 2007 and 2008 the boys' varsity ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team won division III state championships.
In 2008, Kamron Hedrick, co-captain of the boys' golf team, received the 8th place medal for his performance in the Class I state championship.
In 2008 the varsity football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team went undefeated and won the division III state championship, along with winning the state championship in 2004.
In 2009, after losing a single game in the regular season, the football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team went on to beat Portsmouth
Portsmouth High School (New Hampshire)
Portsmouth High School is a public high school located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with a current enrollment of approximately 1,100. Accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the State of New Hampshire, the school serves the communities of Portsmouth, Rye,...
to win yet another division III state championship.
In 2010, the varsity football team again won the division III state championship, totaling an 11-2 record along the way, giving Souhegan football a three-peat (2008,2009,2010)
The clubs and activities as well as the director(s) for each are listed below.
| Name of Club/activity | Director |
| Asian Cultural Club | Viet Pham |
| Choir/Handbells | Pat McMullen |
| Book Group | Lisa Petrie |
| Computer Animation club | John Ranta |
| Community Council | Magie Paul |
| National Honor Society | Marina Capen |
| ONE at Souhegan HS | Jenny Deenik |
| Outing Club | John Ranta |
| Peer Outreach | Viet Pham |
| Poetry Club | Frank Gallo |
| Culinary Club | Betsy Wasson |
| Prom Committee | Sarah Laurent & Lauren Cosco |
| Recycled Percussion Club | Bob Rotier |
| Dance Team | Tanya Anderson |
| Dance Company | Amy McGuigan |
| Drama Club | Steve Hodgman |
| Rugby Club | Maureen Greene |
| Fall Play | Steve Hodgman |
| Spring Play | Steve Hodgman |
| Saber Scribe | Marcy Rawitscher |
| SADD | Lisa Kent |
| Equine Science Group | Randy Floyd |
| Strictly Music | Carl Benevidis |
| Ethics Club | Chris Brooks & Amy Pham |
| Ultimate Disk Club | Dave Saxe |
| Yearbook | Theresa Williams |
| Studies of the Quendi and the Tengwar | |
| FBLA | Kathy White & Maggie Paul |
| F.I.R.S.T. Robotics team | Bill Price |
| Film & Broadcast Club | John Ranta |
| French Club | Linda Sakellar & Sarah Laurent |
| Gay-Straight Alliance | Dina Karlon & Kim Kamshad |
| German Club | Kim Vitchkoski |
| Horizons | Natalie Berger |
| Interact | Maggie Paul |
| International/Spanish Club | Bernie D'Amours |
| Marching Band | Carl Benevides |
| Math Team | Amy McGuigan |
| Mock Trial | Dick Vassar |
| Tailgate Club | John Young |
| Composting Club | Terry Berna |