NORWICH – School board officials say implementing new programs for students is a key way to promote children’s interest in specific fields and higher education.
Norwich High School Principal Thomas Knapp says having many electives for students to choose from is a positive way to boost the students’ interest in school. These “elective” programs are in addition to the state-mandated courses the school is required to offer. As students complete their mandated courses, their schedules ease and tehy can pick-up courses they feel are of interest to them.
“We look at programming each year and see where the interest is,” said Knapp. “We try to see which programs appeal to students first.”
At last month’s Board of Education meeting, the blueprints for new programs or revisions to existing programs were topics on the discussion table.
A curriculum blueprint is made to act like a “syllabus” or an outline of how the program will run. “Each course should have a blueprint,” said Knapp.
Constructing the blueprints includes figuring out what is needed in order for the program to run smoothly, what equipment is needed, how many teachers are needed and a detailed look at what the course will cover academically.
Following board approval, curriculum blueprints for the upcoming school year will include History vs. Hollywood, public speaking and drama, poetry and creative writing and a revised blueprint of television production.
Knapp explained the student body has shown great interest in having the television studio available and the students have proved the addition of the program has been beneficial.