Souhegan High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Souhegan High School | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Amherst, New Hampshire, NH, USA | |
| Information | |
| Religion | None |
| Principal | Scott Prescott |
| Enrollment |
980 |
| Faculty | 194 |
| Average class size | ~25 students |
| Type | Public |
| Mascot | Saber |
| Color(s) | Gold, White, Black |
| Established | 1992 |
| Homepage | [1] |
Coordinates: Souhegan High School is a high school located in Amherst, New Hampshire. Students from Amherst and Mont Vernon attend Souhegan for 9th through 12th grades. There are about 980 students and over 120 faculty members. The name is derived from the Souhegan River, which adjoins the school property.
The school opened in 1992, after the two towns separated from the school district based in neighboring Milford. It was established as part of the Coalition of Essential Schools, using a philosophy that emphasizes cooperation between students and faculty. The school is known for not having bells, students calling teachers by their first names, and no hall passes. 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."
Students are evaluated based on the Souhegan Learner Expectations. Types of learner include "knowledgeable person", "complex thinker", "skilled information processor/consumer", "effective communicator/producer", "self-directed learner", "collaborative worker", and "responsible citizen". Students receive report card letter grades of A through C- or a NC, which stands for no credit and means that they have to retake the course.
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.
Souhegan offers a week long program for sophomores called Wintercession. The number of trip options vary, but usually number around two dozen. These trips provide outstanding opportunities for group relationship building as well as exposure to the world outside of Amherst.
The school added a second building in 2003, which is called the Annex.
Souhegan's school newspaper is called the Saber Scribe.
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."
The high school is part of the SAU-39 school district, which includes the middle and elementary schools in Amherst and Mont Vernon.
