Mark T. Sheehan High School
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Principal | Rosemary Duthie |
| Faculty | 80 |
| Students | 991 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | Wallingford, Connecticut, United States |
| Colors | Maroon and Gold |
| Mascot | Titan man |
| Website | http://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/ |
Mark T. Sheehan High School is a public high school located at 142 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford, Connecticut. Its opposite, Lyman Hall High School and it are the two high schools within the Wallingford School System along with two middle schools and eight elementary schools.
Contents |
[edit] History
Named to honor a well-loved local physician, Mark T. Sheehan High School was built on its 44.5 acre campus on Wallingford's west side in 1971. A grade 9 through 12 building, most students enter Sheehan from Moran Middle School. The school includes 53 classrooms and 3 computer labs. Art, family life and consumer science, science, and technology education each have specialized rooms and/or labs. Music has instruction and practice areas. Indoor facilities also include an auditorium, a drama lecture room, a gymnasium, a library media center, a planetarium and a natatorium. Outdoors is the John Riccitelli Field for football, track, and soccer; 4 tennis courts; enclosed baseball and softball fields; a field hockey field, and other practice facilities.
An alternate day block schedule was implemented in the 2002-2003 school year. Each day consists of four 84 minute periods. Courses are offered on the basic, general, academic, honors, and advanced placement levels. World language offerings include Spanish, French, Italian and German.
Ten varsity sports for men and eight for women are played at Sheehan, a member of the highly competitive Southern Connecticut Conference. Dozens of ongoing student activities and clubs are available to all students.
Principal: Rosemary Duthie Assistant Principals: James Francese and Todd Snyder Staff: 70 teachers, 4 guidance counselors, 1 school psychologist, 1 social worker, and 1 school nurse. 991 students
COMMUNITY Settled in 1638, Wallingford covers 41.9 square miles and is located approximately 13 miles north of New Haven and 20 miles south of Hartford. The Town is easily accessible by Interstate 91, the Wilbur- Cross Parkway (Rte 15) and -LJ.S. Route 5.
Once in the center of this nation's silver industry, Wallingford has developed, in recent years, into a diversified industrial community. Among the many products produced are stainless and rolled steel, chemicals, plastics, electronic components and precision instruments. The community of more than 41,000 people continues to experience industrial and commercial growth.
[edit] Mission Statement
The mission of Mark T. Sheehan High School is to graduate lifelong learners who will become responsible, contributing members of a changing and diverse community. Students will be able to think critically and work cooperatively as members of a team. The supportive, caring yet challenging environment fosters tolerance and acceptance of divergent points of view.
Students will:
draw and evaluate conclusions based on an analysis of data. locate, analyze, and evaluate information using print, non-print, and electronic sources. communicate effectively in both written and oral formats for a variety of purposes. identify, evaluate, and interpret a variety of art forms. think and respond logically using problem solving skills and inquiry. demonstrate respect for oneself and others. express creativity and exhibit individual talents. recognize healthy choices. develop skills for successful life management and employment. understand personal responsibility in contributing to a democratic society. engage in ethical practices.
Definitions for the Expectations for Student Learning
Draw and evaluate conclusions based on an analysis of data.
Students will be able to make systematic observations, collect appropriate data from multiple sources, make clear and accurate measurements, and record data in a table or other graphic representation.
Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats for a variety of purposes.
Students will be able to establish a main idea, recognize and engage an audience, show strong evidence, provide support from primary and secondary sources, and use appropriate language.
Locate, analyze, and evaluate information using print, non-print, and electronic sources.
Students will be able to make use of books, Internet, visual materials, text, and various electronic technologies.
Identify, evaluate, and interpret a variety of art forms.
Students will be able to communicate their personal response to artwork and literature using appropriate terminology.
Think and respond logically using problem solving skills and inquiry.
Students will be able to identify and describe the issues, organize and synthesize information, compare and contrast information critically, and distinguish all possible conclusions.
Demonstrate respect for oneself and others.
Students will be able to observe standard rules of behavior and etiquette.
Develop skills for successful life management and employment.
Students will be able to develop skills in communication and decision-making, apply coping strategies for managing life experiences, and demonstrate attitudes and habits that are valued in the workplace, i.e., pride in workmanship, dependability, and regular attendance.
Recognize healthy choices.
Students will be able to recognize how fitness contributes to a healthy lifestyle and how food choices affect physical and psychological needs, as well as recognize the health risks associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other non-medicinal drugs.
Express creativity and exhibit individual talents.
Students will be able to use multiple intelligences as a vehicle to personal expression.
Students will not recognize that this is all a lie and that most of them are intellectually handicapped
Engage in ethical practices.
Students will be able to conduct themselves in an honest manner, i.e. refraining from cheating and plagiarizing.
Understand personal responsibility in contributing to a democratic society.
Students will be able to understand how their actions impact others in a community and impact social change, as well as the consequences of failing to accept personal responsibility to the community.
[edit] Administration
Rosemary Duthie Principal 203.294.5905
James Francese Assistant Principal 203.294.5904
Todd Snyder Assistant Principal 203.294.5904
Mr. Francese began his career in education as a teacher of English, drama history, and acting. In addition, he produced school plays and supported student writing by publishing student literary magazines and a student written novel, producing student written plays, and sponsoring students in play-writing competitions. At several times in his career he has worked with special needs students, including a year spent working at the Grace Webb School, a private school that is part of Hartford’s prestigious psychiatric hospital, The Institute of Living.
Mr. Francese quickly became active in various curriculum development projects and assisted Old Saybrook High School, Nathan Hale-Ray High School, and Stonington High School in rewriting English and Language Arts curricula to fit the times. At Stonington High School, he took on an active role as a teacher leader, helping to co-write an integrated Social Studies/English course called American Cultural Studies, which combined U.S History and English 10 in a two credit, thematically organized class driven by essential questions and team taught by two teachers simultaneously. In addition, he became an active participant of the School Based Improvement Team (similar to Wallingford’s Parent Teacher Advisory Committees), and helped establish team teaching and a Freshman Transition Team at the high school level.
Twice nominated as Stonington’s teacher of the year and a recipient of Stonington’s Golden Apple Award for professional contributions, Mr. Francese also helped the school research, plan, and successfully adopt a block schedule. As both member and Chair of the Curriculum Management Team, Mr. Francese helped guide the district through the development of curriculum and deal with thorny issues of parental rights and censorship. He also lead the school in adopting a computer-based grade reporting system, a new student Opportunities book, and various other projects.
Mr. Francese began his career as an administrator at Lyman Hall High School, where he trained the staff in the use of a computerized grade tracking and reporting software package and lead the development of Lyman Hall’s new Mission Statement and Statement of Student Expectations in preparation for it’s NEASC accreditation review. In addition, he rewrote the teacher handbook and developed a new student handbook that included a planner supporting student growth in time management skills. He has also mentored teachers interested in pursuing a career in educational administration and led the development of various reporting procedures for dealing with complex special education students. A long time member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Mr. Francese is also an active member of the local Connecticut chapter and serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut ASCD.
Rosemary Duthie, Principal
Rosemary Duthie began her career in education as a chemistry teacher. She taught in both public and private high schools on Long Island, New York. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Duthie coached and served as a class advisor. She left the classroom in 1985 and became an assistant principal in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District on Long Island.
During her tenure in Bellmore-Merrick, Ms. Duthie supervised and coordinated the peer leadership program, peer mediation program and student athlete leadership program. She served on various committees including, but not limited to: the Committee on Special Education, the Curriculum Committee, the Drug Free Schools Committee, and the Science Facilities Committee. Ms. Duthie received the PTA Lifetime Membership Award in recognition of her contributions to the school system and its students.
In 1995, Ms. Duthie joined the Wallingford Public Schools as an assistant principal at Mark T. Sheehan High School. She expanded her efforts in the supervision and evaluation of faculty by piloting the use of a goal based portfolio as an evaluation tool. Ms. Duthie was named the Wallingford Public Schools Administrator of the Year in 1999 and became principal of Mark T. Sheehan High School in 2000. She served on, as well as chaired, various district committees including, but not limited to: the Science Curriculum Management Team, Professional Portfolio Committee, Block Scheduling Committee, the Art and Music Curriculum Management Team, and the District Mission Statement and Goals Committee.
Ms. Duthie is currently a member of the Language Arts Curriculum Management Team. She is also a member of the CIAC Girls Volleyball Committee and past-president of the Southern Connecticut Conference Board of Governors.
Todd Snyder, Assistant Principal
I am immensely honored and proud to be your new Assistant Principal at Sheehan High School. Prior to this experience, I was the Social Studies Department Coordinator at Newington High School for 3 years and before that, I taught Social Studies at Windsor Locks High School for 6 years.
Being new to the school and community, my goal this year is to learn as much as I can about Sheehan High School and the Town Of Wallingford. I look forward to getting to know the staff and faculty and most importantly, getting to know the students of Sheehan High School. My hope is that we can work collectively to help all students achieve and succeed to their highest abilities.
[edit] Guidance
Mark T. Sheehan 142 Hope Hill Road Wallingford, CT 06492 (203) 294-5900
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
Phone (203) 294-5915 Fax (203) 294-5987
Mr. Zenon Popko, Director of Guidance
Ms. Maura Distante, Counselor
Ms. Wendy Eaton, Counselor
Ms. Susan Gage, Counselor
Ms. Judy Acosta, Psychologist
Ms. Donna Laich, Psychologist
Ms. Patricia Fishbein, Social Worker
Ms. Pamela McCarthy-Krombel, Social Worker
Ms. Jo-Ann Cammarota, Secretary
Mark T. Sheehan High School Profile 2007
[edit] Sheehan Life
First classes start at 7:35am while school ends at 2:00pm. Lunches are twenty-five minutes long and classes are eighty-four minutes long. Four periods are held each day, every other day, which means the school year consists of eight periods. Students are required to take 6.5 credits per year. 7 minutes are given to pass between each period. etc. Extracurricular activities are held at 2:10. Lockers are provided for the students which are sorted by their graduating class. The same locker is kept for the entire high school career, but the combonations are changed each year. Each class also elects officers to lead their classes each year. Positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Activities Chairperson. Classes usually have three advisors as well. Students are also assigned guidance counselors. There are four guidance counselors in Sheehan which each are responsible for about 250 students which is near what the state recommends to be a good ratio.
Sheehan Athletics
Awards
Paul Marianella Sportsmanship Award SCC Student Athlete of the Month Sheehan Athlete of the Year: Boys Sheehan Athlete of the Year: Girls John Novakowski Outstanding Player: Boys Soccer Brian Murphy Outstanding Offensive Player: Girls Soccer Sherri Crew Outstanding Defensive Player: Girls Soccer Gordon Green Outstanding Boys Swimmer Award Robert Neubauer Outstanding Baseball Player Judith Samaha Outstanding Softball Player
Larry Hinman Outstanding Hockey Player Award
Sheehan Sponsors 22 athletic teams, including cheerleading. We are members of the CIAC and Southern Connecticut Conference.
Community Service Requirement
Beginning with the Sheehan Class of 2008, each student must complete thirty hours of voluntary community service in order to qualify for graduation. These hours may be attained through service to a variety of non-profit groups, community organizations, and/or school activities. To be considered for community service hours, activities must in no way be related to assignments in any credit bearing courses. In addition, students will not be able to use volunteer hours which are required by an outside organization.
Community service forms are available in the guidance office and must be approved by a member of the guidance department or the administration in advance of the activity. The completed form must then be signed by an appropriate official of the sponsoring group or activity, who must in no way be related to the student. Students are also required to write one paragraph stating what they have learned from their specific volunteer experience.
The thirty hours of community service may be accrued anytime after graduation from eighth grade. Community service hours must be completed by May 1 of the senior year to meet this graduation requirement. Students transferring to Sheehan High School will have the amount of community service hours pro-rated. For example, a student entering Sheehan in grade 11 would only have to complete fifteen hours of volunteer time, instead of thirty.
Club
Advisor
Art Club
Ms. Rogers
Captains Council
Ms. Madancy
Christian Club
Mr. Heilman
Choral Club
Ms. Sperry
Computer Club
Mr. Ives
Debate Club
Mr. Tomalski
Dramatic Club
Ms. Ventura-Clements
French Club
Ms. Lemme
Future Educators Club
Ms. Ritchie
Gay-Straight Alliance
Ms. Krombel
German Club
Ms. Ashbaugh
Human Relations Club
Ms. Mendes-Miller
Italian Club
Ms. Lonetti
Key Club
Ms. Scott
Math Team
Mr. Hubeny
National Honor Society
Ms. Brinton
School Newspaper ("Titan Times")
Ms. Koski
Spanish Club
Ms. Coppola
Student Council
Ms. Montagnon and Ms. Luxeder
Students Against Destructive Decisions
Ms. Ciosek and Ms. Krombel
Visions - Literary Magazine
Ms. Buys and Ms. Cappelli
Weight-Lifting Club
Mr. Ferrazzi
Yearbook (Reflections)
Ms. Karmazinas
[edit] Academics
Mark T. Sheehan has four different levels of courses: Basic, General, Academic and Honors. Each level provides a different difficulty to accommodate students while still providing them with a challenge. Sheehan also offers Advanced Placement courses that are taught on a college level where students are tested in May with AP tests from the College Board.
Students graduating in 2008 and after are required to take at least twenty-five credits to graduate. Requirements include four credits of English, three credits of Mathematics, three credits of Science, two credits of Social Studies, a half credit of a health course, a credit in the arts/business as well as two credits in Physical Education if the student's health allows it.
Students graduating in 2008 and after are also required to complete thirty hours of community service before May of their graduating year.
Aside from the requirements, Sheehan offers courses in four world languages: Spanish, French, German and Italian. There are also courses in crafts, fine arts, technical education, computer science, business, theatre, chorus, music, foods and others.
[edit] Athletics and Clubs
Sheehan High School provides a variety of athletics for its students. The fall season offers cross country, cheerleading, girls’ volleyball, girls’ field hockey, girls’ swimming, football and soccer. In the winter season, there is basketball, cheerleading, boys’ ice hockey, indoor track and boys' swimming. There is baseball, softball, outdoor track, golf and tennis in the spring season. Mark T. Sheehan is a member of the Southern Connecticut Conference which is part of the CIAC.
Sheehan also has a chorus, jazz band, string ensemble, concert band and marching band in its musical arsenal. It usually holds a play in the fall and a musical in the spring. Clubs include but are not limited to: the Christian Club, Weightlifting Club, Titan Times, Gay/Straight Alliance, SADD, Computer Club, Spanish Club, Italian Club, French Club, German Club, Math Team, Photography Club, Art Club, Key Club, Drama Club, Yearbook, Captain Council, Debate Club, Human Relations Club, Future Educators Club, the National Honors Society and more. To get a full list of clubs, one can consult the student handbook given to all students at the beginning of the year.
[edit] Sheehan Pride
Every year all four classes take part in the contest for the spirit stick. This tradition was revived in 2006 in order to add more spirit to the schools. Competitions include, paying class dues, decorating walls in the gymnasium, etc. but most points are earned during the school's pep rally that takes place before the Thanksgiving Break. Past competitions include obstacle courses, pie eating contests and foot races. Students from each class participate in these competitions to win points. Class officers are usually used as competitors.
One of Sheehan's favorite pastimes is its Thanksgiving Day football match against cross-town rivals Lyman Hall. Many students cheer for their respective schools and it is always a memorable day. But the two schools also participate in a Powderpuff game where senior girls play a game of flag football against each other while senior boys are given the opportunity to be cheerleaders. It is a tradition that was created by Judy Samaha who recently retired from her position as Athletic Director.
[edit] Other Information
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
All students must successfully complete a minimum of 25 Carnegie units of credits to earn a Mark T. Sheehan High School diploma. These must include:
4 credits of English
3 credits of Social Studies
3 credits of Mathematics
3 credits of Lab Science
2 credits of Physical Education
1/2 credit in Health
1 credit in Fine Arts or Vocational Arts
8 1/2 credits in electives
Students must also successfully complete system-wide Academic Performance Tasks in English and mathematics.
SCHOOL AND STAFF The Wallingford public school system consists of 8 elementary, 2 middle and 2 high schools. It includes 560 certified staff and a student population of more than 7000.
Mark T. Sheehan High School has a student population of approximately 1025 serviced by a certified professional teaching staff of 73 faculty. In addition to four school counselors, the school employs a school psychologist, social worker, and a speech and language specialist. Sheehan is a comprehensive high school designed to meet the educational, social, cultural, and emotional needs of its students. A diverse curriculum provides traditional academic programs, as well as a variety of elective offerings. Support services for students with learning disabilities and in need of remedial education are available.
COURSE INFORMATION
Most core courses are offered at the following levels: Advanced Placement (AP) Honors (H) Academic (A) General (G) and Basic (B).
GRADES AND QUALITY POINTS
Mark Value AP/H A G B
A+ 97-100 4.4 4.0 3.6 3.2
A 93-96 4.2 3.8 3.4 3.0
A- 90-92 4.0 3.6 3.2 2.8
B+ 87-89 3.8 3.4 3.0 2.6
B 83-86 3.6 3.2 2.8 2.4
B- 80-82 3.4 3.0 2.6 2.2
C+ 77-79 3.2 2.8 2.4 2.0
C 73-76 3.0 2.6 2.2 1.8
C- 70-72 2.8 2.4 2.0 1.6
D+ 67-69 2.6 2.2 1.8 1.4
D 63-66 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.2
D- 60-62 2.2 1.8 1.4 1.0
F 0-59 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
P Pass (No quality points)
W Withdraw from course / school
E Excused
CW Credit withheld due to attendance rule
ACCREDITATION The New England Association of Schools accredits Mark T. Sheehan High School. The school also maintains memberships in numerous national and professional organizations.
SAT I % DISTRIBUTION (Class of 2007)
Verbal Score Math
5 700-800 5
19 600-699 27
55 500-599 61
73 400-499 61
22 300-399 20
2 200-299 3
Mean: 501 Mean: 504
Seniors taking test at least once: 83%
SCHOOL DAY Members of the senior class of must carry a minimum of 6 1/2 credits per year. The school operates on an alternate day block schedule with four periods each day. Class periods are eighty-four minutes in duration,allowing students ample time for laboratory work.
SCHOOL CEEB #
070813
CLASS RANK Class rank is weighted and based on the quality point average earned. Rank is calculated after a student's sixth and seventh semesters. Quality points are granted on a scale of 0 to 4.4 according to level of course and mark earned. A bonus is given for advanced placement and honor courses. Pass/fail and physical education courses are not counted. Quality point averages are determined by dividing the quality points earned by the total credit value of the of the quality point earned.
Beginning with the class of 2003, all students who transfer in after their freshman year will be co-ranked. This results in the total number of rankings being lower than the actual class size.
Sheehan does not recognize a Valedictorian or Salutatorian for its graduating classes. It recognizes all seniors with 3.7+ GPA or higher as Varsity Scholars.
GRADUATE PLANS
(Class of 2007)
4 year colleges.............................. 62%
2 year & Proprietary Schools..... 25%
Employment................................. 10 %
Military & Other............................ 1 %
EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS
Sheehan students in the upper 20% of their class or who earn at least an 1100 on either a PSAT or SAT exam may elect to participate in the University of Connecticut Cooperative Education in:
Calculus Spanish Physics English
Advanced Placement courses are offered in cooperation with the College Board Advanced Placement Program in:
English Literature, Biology, Calculus, Music Theory, American Government, European History, Comparative Politics, Physics, US History, Chemistry, Art Studio, Psychology, Spanish, Probability and Statistics
A variety of opportunities exist for interested gifted and talented students in the following programs: Educational Center for-the Arts, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Laboratory Science Internships and Summer Science Program, Connecticut Scholars Program, Connecticut Community-Technical College Partnership Program.
