HELLOS TO ALL AP US ALUMNI HOME FOR BREAK

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND WELCOME HOME TO ALL AP US ALUMNI, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE SOME OF YOU ALTHOUGH BRIEFLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. IT IS ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS PAST AP CLASSES STOP BY AND LET US KNOW HOW THEY ARE DOING IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION WORLD. THEY ALWAYS ASK HOW THIS YEAR'S AP CLASSES ARE DOING AND THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE NEW RECRUITS CARRYING ON THEIR LEGACY OF TRADITION. I AM ALWAYS EXCITED TO HEAR HOW THEY ARE DOING IN THEIR COLLEGE HISTORY COURSES AND LOVE THE STORIES OF HOW THEY ARE STILL USING THEIR READERS IN COLLEGE TO HELP WITH SURVEY COURSES. PART OF WHAT DRIVES ME AS AN AP TEACHER IS TO UPHOLD THE STANDARDS THEY SET BY PUSHING THE CURRENT CLASSES TO MAINTAIN THAT STANDARD OF ACHIEVEMENT. I KNOW THEY WOULD WANT YOU TO WORK AS HARD AS THEY DID AND HOPEFULLY EXPERIENCE AS MUCH SUCCESS AS THEY DID AS WELL. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT TRADITION IS ALL ABOUT

FRQ'S AND DBQ'S AP US WRITING TO UPHOLD TRADITION

WELL I JUST CORRECTED ANOTHER SET OF FRQ'S, PRETTY AMAZING THAT IT IS NOT EVEN DECEMBER FIRST AND BOTH CLASSES HAVE WRITTEN FOUR FREE RESPONSE ESSAYS AND ONE DOCUMENT BASED ESSAY. THAT'S A TOTAL OF FIVE COMPREHENSIVE ESSAYS ALREADY, AND I MUST SAY THAT THE SCORES ARE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. YOU ARE REALLY IMPROVING IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR WRITING, THAT ONLY BODES WELL AS WE PREPARE FOR THE HIGH STAKES TEST IN MAY. I HONESTLY FEEL THAT YOU WILL BE BETTER PREPARED THAN ANY OTHER AP CLASS I HAVE TAUGHT IN TERMS OF WRITING ESSAYS. A BIG REASON FOR THAT IS THE PRE-AP COURSE AND THE ABILITY NOW TO REALLY GET INTO THE CONTENT MATERIAL AND ADDRESS IT WITH ASSESSMENT THAT CONTAINS EITHER A FRQ OR A DBQ. WE WILL BE TAKING A SHORT REPRIEVE FROM FRQ'S, BUT WILL HAVE ANOTHER DBQ RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY BREAK. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND REMEMBER ALL THIS PRACTICE WILL PAY OFF ON MAY 8TH. I MEAN HONESTLY DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE INTIMIDATED BY ANY WRITING ASSESSMENTS ON THE AP TEST AFTER ALL OF THE WRITING YOU HAVE DONE THUS FAR.

A CONTROVERSIAL AP ISSUE

AN INTERESTING QUESTION WAS POSED TO ME THE OTHER NIGHT, A SUPPORTER OF NHS ASKED "WHY DOESN'T THE COLLEGE BOARD PUT AP SCHOOL SCORES IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS RATHER THAN JUST RECOGNIZING AP INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARS WHO HAVE DONE WELL". THIS SUPPORTER WAS WELL AWARE OF HOW WELL THAT MOST OF THE AP CLASSES IN ALL SUBJECTS HAVE DONE RECENTLY AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY THOSE SCORES ARE NOT PUBLICIZED AND COMPARED LIKE MCAS SCORES. WHAT THEY WERE GETTING AT WAS COMPARING SCORES TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS LIKE BISHOP FEEHAN AND COYLE CASSIDY, ETC. PRIVATE SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE THE MCAS TEST SO THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT COMPARED TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF THAT STANDARDIZED TEST. BUT, BOTH TYPES OF SCHOOLS DO GIVE AP TESTS IN A WIDE ARRAY OF SUBJECTS, THIS SUPPORTER WAS WONDERING WHY THAT INFORMATION WOULD NOT BE PUBLICLY AVAILBLE TO PARENTS ESPECIALLY OF 8TH GRADERS WHO ARE CONSIDERING BOTH TYPES OF SCHOOLS. AN INTERESTING QUESTION WHICH I DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR BUT KNOWING HOW WELL NHS HAS DONE IN A PLETHORA OF SUBJECTS, A QUESTION WHICH CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BE INTIMIDATING TO NHS. I WONDER IF THE COLLEGE BOARD HAS EVER CONSIDERED IT AND THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT, AFTER ALL THESE ARE HIGH STAKE PLACEMENT TESTS FOR SOME OF THE TOP STUDENTS. I AM SURE THERE WOULD BE SOME RESISTANCE EVEN FROM HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS BUT THIS MAY EVEN MOTIVATE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS TO STRIVE FOR FURTHER SUCCESS.......

DEAL OR NO DEAL

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

KUDOS TO BLOCK A FOR YOUR ATTENTIVENESS TO DR.GIBBON

JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ON BEING AN ATTENTIVE AND THOUGHTFUL AUDIENCE FOR DR. GIBBON. IT IS NOT EVERYDAY THAT YOU HAVE BOTH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION STOP BY, SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE THAT YOU STILL HAD THE COURAGE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE THOUGHTFUL INSIGHTS TO DR. GIBBON'S QUESTIONS. SPECIAL KUDOS TO SHANNON, JAKE, JOE, ERICA, PETE, KATE, BRAD AND ALL THE REST OF YOU WHO PROVIDED COMMENTS. SPEAKING OF COURAGE, REMEMBER OUR QUIZ ON POPULISM AND THE ELECTION OF 1896 WITH W. J. BRYAN WILL NOW BE ON FRIDAY.
GOOD JOB AGAIN!!!!!!!

TRADITION

WELL BEFORE WE CAN BLOG ABOUT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE, I THINK WE MUST PAY HOMAGE TO THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE YOU. ONE OF THE PEOPLE I ADMIRED AND RESPECTED WHEN I FIRST CAME TO NORTON WAS MR.MOLLICA, I REALLY RESPECTED THE TRADITIONS HE ESTABLISHED IN HIS GYM CLASSROOM OR ON THE BASEBALL FIELD, WHETHER IT BE SIX BASE KICKBALL OR WEARING NUMBER 13. HE REALLY BELIEVED IN ESTABLISHING TRADITONS AND LEGACY . I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO THE SAME WITH AP US ESTABLISHING THE AP US HALL OF FAME, EACH CLASSES RECORD, AND EVENING/SATURDAY FOOD-FILLED REVIEW SESSIONS. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, THE AP US HALL OF FAME FROM 2006-PRESENT

2006
STACEY ALLEN
ANGELA CORMIER
JILL FISK
MATTHEW JORDAN
EILEEN KELLY
GRACE KENNEDY
MEL ORPHANOS
LIZ PELLETIER
RACHEL PHILLIPS
JACKIE PIGEON
MEG PIGEON
BRENT SCHUKO
RACHEL STAAB
KEVIN SYLVESTRE

2007
ERYN DION
EMILY ECKART
BRETT HINCHLIFFE
JULIANNE MCCREADY
EMILY MEDEIROS
CAROLYN OHLSON
AMANDA REID
2008
KELLY ALLEN
EMERSON ALMEIDA
JOSH ARCHER
SHANNON DOYLE
CALLEY FISK
SAM HAYES
KRISTINA KEATING
MICHELLE LE
ROSEMARY LE
TIM MOLLINS
KELLEY MORRIS
GIL O'NEIL
CAM PARKER
CALVIN WIESE

2009
???????????????????

CLASSES RECORDS(PERCENTAGE OF CLASS THAT GOT A 3 OR ABOVE ON THE EXAM)

2006 68 PERCENT (NATIONAL AVERAGE WAS 48 PERCENT)
2007 67 PERCENT(NATIONAL AVERAGE WAS 50 PERCENT)
2008 75 PERCENT(NATIONAL AVERAGE TBA, RELEASED BY NOVEMBER)
2009 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

SO NOW WE HAVE PAID RESPECT TO THE TRADITION OF THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE YOU, BUT I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ANSWER OF HOW WELL THE AP CLASS OF 2009 DOES. THATS ALL FOR THIS BLOG, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL WELCOME THE VALUE OF TRADITION, I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LEGENDARY COACH WHO WORE AN UNLUCKY NUMBER TO REMIND ME JUST BY THE PASSION HE DEMONSTRATED FOR WHAT HE LOVED TO DO, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

GUEST SPEAKER ON WEDNESDAY, DR. PETER GIBBON

WE WILL BE HAVING A GUEST SPEAKER, AN AUTHOR, SCHOLAR, AND PROFESSOR FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY, DR. GIBBON DURING WEDNESDAY'S CLASS. MR. DUFF HAS ARRANGED FOR DR. GIBBON TO COME IN AND SPEAK TO US ON CONSTITUTION DAY AND HIS LECTURE WILL REVOLVE AROUND HISTORICAL HABITS OF THE MIND.
DR. GIBBON HAS HELPED TO ORGANIZE THE TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT THAT NORTON IS IN YEAR TWO OF COMPLETING. IT WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AP STUDENTS TO GET EXPOSURE TO AN ACCOMPLISHED COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND SCHOLAR, AND ENGAGE IN A THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION OF HISTORICAL TOPICS.

DR. GIBBON WILL SPEAK FROM AROUND 10;45-12;00 DURING CLASS, WE WILL BE TAKING OUR QUIZ ON POPULISM ONCE HIS PRESENTATION IS COMPLETED AND THAN GOING TO LUNCH

AP US IS NOW BLOGGING ,

WELL AP US HISTORY AND THE CHALLENGE AND HARD WORK THAT COMES WITH IT CERTAINLY DESERVE ITS OWN BLOG, SO HERE WE GO. THIS BLOG WILL BE INTENDED TO RECORD THE LEGACY OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF AP US HISTORY STUDENTS AND CHRONICLE AND DOCUMENT THEIR TRADITION OF ACHIEVEMENT.
THE BLOG WILL ALSO CHRONICLE THE JOURNEY OF PREPARING FOR THE AP EXAM IN MAY AND ALSO PAYING TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKING THE CHALLENGE OF AP US HISTORY AND THOSE WHO WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE. THE LEGACY AND TRADITION OF ACHIEVEMENT IS YOURS, I AM JUST HERE TO DOCUMENT AND RECORD IT . SO MY FIRST CHALLENGE AND QUESTION FOR THE 08-09 GROUP IS CAN YOU DUPLICATE THE SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR'S GROUP. THEY SET THE BAR REALLY HIGH WITH THEIR RECORD-BREAKING FOURTEEN 4'S AND 5'S AND THEIR UNBELIEVABLE 75 PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO GOT A 3, 4, OR 5 ON THE EXAM WHICH WAS 25 PERCENT ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. A BIT INTIMIDATING BUT I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CLASS'S COHESIVENESS AND COMMITMENT SO FAR AND YOU DO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A PRE-AP COURSE. THE ADIDAS SLOGAN COMES TO MIND-- IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING. IT MOTIVATES ME TO HAVE EACH CLASS DO BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT CAME BEFORE IT. LET IT MOTIVATE YOU AS WELL AND LETS KEEP THE TRADITION OF ACHIEVEMENT GOING STRONG, ALL THAT STANDS IN OUR WAY IS HARD WORK AND TIME....