OYSTER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
Christopher Cairns, Principal

A major milestone in the history this high school has been the development of the Common Standards. They are a comprehensive statement of what we value as a learning community. These are the skills and abilities which all graduates should take with them to the world beyond. The Common Standards were developed with input from students, teachers, parents, alumni, and community members. They form the foundation for ongoing work in curriculum development and have become an important piece of our Statement of Purpose and expectations.

COMMON STANDARDS

The high school learning community has high academic and performance standards. These standards are a statement of the expectations supported across the curriculum. We are committed to working toward these standards as partners in learning.

• Learning strategies

  • Define task to be accomplished

  • Locate and extract relevant information from a wide variety of sources

  • Listen effectively

  • Read with comprehension

  • Follow directions and use time effectively

  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in a variety of assessments

• Thinking

  • Analyze, evaluate and synthesize information

  • Distinguish between fact and opinion

  • Consider the causes and the short- and long-term effects of decisions and actions

  • Understand the influences of media and other forms of communication on our thoughts and actions

  • Appreciate the historical, current, and future contexts of issues and events

  • Create connections across diverse domains

  • Relate to a variety of creative forms of expression

• Problem solving

  • Identify problems and develop solutions and alternatives

  • Apply knowledge and skills appropriately

  • Use quantitative tools effectively

  • Utilize a systems approach in decision-making

• Communication

  • Speak with clarity and confidence

  • Ask appropriate questions, listen, and participate productively in discussions

  • Present information and ideas in a thorough and engaging manner

  • Utilize appropriate spelling and grammar in context

  • Produce clear, detailed, and well-organized writing

  • Use a variety of creative forms of expression

• Wellness

  • Recognize the value of a healthy mind in a healthy body

  • Identify and use strategies for maintaining personal, community and environmental health

• Technology

  • Select appropriate technology for a task

  • Utilize technology to arrange, consider and present data

  • Understand both the potential and the limitations of technology

• Citizenship

  • Demonstrate respect and courtesy in personal interactions

  • Act responsibly and honestly

  • Set and plan for achievement of personal goals

  • Work cooperatively and constructively in groups

  • Respect diversity

  • Develop advocacy skills in interpersonal and public settings

  • Recognize interrelatedness in and responsibilities for the local and world community

These standards may be modified as appropriate for students with disabilities. For example, a disabled student's failure to satisfy these standards does not necessarily signify that the child's program is inappropriate if the child is nevertheless making educational progress.

We submitted the Two-Year Progress Report to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges on September 30, 1999. We are still accredited by the NEASC, but we have moved from warning status to probation because of the deficiencies of the facility. The letter stated that "The Commission expressed serious concern regarding the school's failure to implement a plan to alleviate space needs as identified in the evaluation report and articulated in previous correspondence with school officials. Additionally, the Commission cited the negative impact of overcrowding on the delivery of curriculum and instruction." Clearly this is a very serious situation which must be addressed. Please vote on March 14.

Oyster River High School suffered a major fire on December 1, 1999. Arsonists destroyed the industrial technology area of the school. The program has been relocated to the old Dover Middle School. We are grateful to local firefighters and police officials for their success in dealing with this crisis. We are also very appreciative of the many offers of assistance and the numerous expressions of concern from the citizens of Durham, Lee, and Madbury.

The Durham Police Department and Oyster River Cooperative School District were awarded a three-year federal grant to fund a School Resource Officer to work full-time between Oyster River Middle School and High School. Sergeant Ed Levesque, who is also the DARE Officer at ORMS, is an excellent role model and support person for young people. The SRO is a key player in the community effort to maintain a safe and orderly environment with an emphasis on education and communication.

Specific highlights of the year include:

• Forty-eight seniors became members of the Oyster River High School Scholastic Honor Society upon completion of six semesters with a grade point average of 3.20 or higher.

• The Granite State Challenge academic competition team won the State Championship.

• Three seniors were named Semi-Finalists and four were designated Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

• Four musicians were recognized with Jazz All-State Honors. Eight musicians were also accepted into All-State.

• Economics students took first, second, and third places in the Boston Globe Stock Market competition.

• Eleven female scholar athletes were recognized by the New Hampshire Governor's Commission on the Status of Women.

• Seven male scholar athletes were recognized by the New Hampshire Athletic Directors Association.

• The girls' cross country team won the State Championship for the fifth consecutive year.

• In 1998-99, every Oyster River High School varsity team qualified for the state tournament in their respective sport, something that has never happened before in school history.

• OREW/PTO and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts sponsored an artist-in-residence program on pottery.

• Food, clothing, and toys were collected at holiday times and distributed to local families.

As we enter the new millennium, this is a good time to reflect on the past and the future. ORHS is an excellent school with numerous fundamental strengths. Our greatest asset is our people. We have motivated students who come to school ready to learn, we have parents who value education, and we have outstanding teachers who make demands of students in an environment of genuine caring. Ongoing work on curriculum, instruction, and assessment combines with a continuing conversation on the topic of civility as we proactively move Oyster River High School forward into the 21st Century.

Last update on 22-Feb-00 at 10:08 PM.

http://www.orol.org/district/elections/2000/report/orhs.html

This page is edited by David K. Taylor. Please send questions or comments to editor@orol.org.