Secondary Curriculum Director
P. 860-687-2000 ext: 1285
E. bfineman@windsorct.org
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Board of Education
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Secondary Curriculum Director
P. 860-687-2000 ext: 1285
E. bfineman@windsorct.org
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English Language Arts, English, Social Studies, EL and World Language
As defined in our WPS Literacy Development Plan, the ultimate goal of teaching and learning in the Humanities Department is to help students build a passion for reading and writing texts that they love. The love of reading and writing comes from acquiring strong foundational skills that build confidence and encourage students to expand their horizons through literary discovery. Our department shares a common belief with literacy experts that the four key components of strong readers and writers include knowledge of words and parts of words, oral reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary acquisition. As such, we make an extra effort to build student competency around these components. Families can see this in some of the programs and assessments that we infuse into our core curriculum, such as Easy CBM for 5-8 (all four areas) and the Common Lit Assessment Suite for 9-12 (comprehension).
We also feel that it is important to address culturally and historically responsive literacy instruction through our book selections and unit concepts. In all grades, students are encouraged to select texts that appeal to them by means of our classroom libraries and book club activities. We are in the process of strengthening and broadening our literary offerings to include many more options written by authors with racial, ethnic, gender, and cultural diversity. The Windsor Public Schools’ curriculum for Humanities provides inroads for students to explore their identities, build their skills and scholarship by means of the Connecticut Core Standards, as well as study texts with a critical eye. In social studies and history, in particular, students are asked to assess the quality and validity of texts through the inquiry process. The Humanities Department works closely with the Library Media Specialists to provide students with an access to a wide range of texts and research materials, as well as to help students build their ability to be fully literate in all types of media, both print and digital. In grades 6-12, we also provide instruction in three languages- Spanish, French, and Latin- to encourage students to apply their literacy skills into other realms. For those students who are developing their skills in English language proficiency, we also have a complete EL program in grades K-12.
Fine and Performing Arts
Windsor Public Schools is proud to offer a robust Art and Music education program from K-12. Students in all grades have access to art and music classes that build in complexity throughout their years of schooling. As students enter intermediate school, they can also select band and choral classes. Our programs in K-8 prepare students for the vast number of advanced offerings at Windsor High School in both Art and Music. In Art, high school students can choose from a variety of 2D and 3D courses, such as Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Jewelry Design, and Ceramics. UCONN ECE credit courses, Pre-Advanced Placement (AP) and AP courses are available. You can learn more by visiting the WHS Art Department Website. In Music, Windsor High School offers a full spectrum of highly specialized options such as Gospel Choir, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Recording Techniques, and Stage Craft.
Our high school art and music programs are highly prolific and are the recipients of numerous awards and scholarships. In recent years, our Advanced Placement Art students have repeatedly earned a 100% pass rate on the Advanced Placement exams. Along with our 100% pass rate in our UCONN ECE Drawing course, many of our students graduate with six college credits that they are able to transfer to their future university. Art students have annually earned impressive scholarships to post-secondary art institutions that in 2020 averaged more than $100,000 per student for their portfolios. Our award winning choral program is highlighted by the Teens of Praise Gospel Choir, which has received national recognition for its performances, enthusiasm, and strong regard for music. Individual performers from the elite WHS Music Program have risen to roles of music producers, and professional singers and conductors after graduation. Former WHS music students have also returned to Windsor High School to share their passion for performing arts by teaching.
The WPS STEM Department envisions delivering comprehensive and high-quality STEM programming, encompassing Math, Science, Engineering, and Technology, designed to inspire lifelong learning within a collaborative environment where perseverance, problem-solving, and risk-taking thrive as norms.
Aligned with our WPS STEM Vision, our primary goal in teaching and learning is to instill a genuine passion for Math, Science, Technology, and Engineering among our students.
As a department, we firmly believe that perseverance, problem-solving, and risk-taking are essential characteristics for successful STEM students. Consequently, we dedicate ourselves to fostering an environment where these traits are nurtured, ensuring students can excel in collaboration.
To support our students' learning journey, our Math program integrates a diverse range of tools and resources. For instance, in grades 6-8, we implement Reflex to enhance fact fluency, I-ready for personalized instruction, and students also have access to Moby Max, providing further individualized instruction and support.
Within our science curriculum, our students are exposed to a diverse array of concepts and topics that not only expand their knowledge of the world but also deepen their understanding of themselves as human beings. To ensure high-quality education, we adhere to the Next Generation Science Standards, with a particular emphasis on the Science and Engineering standards. By doing so, we empower our students to engage with science actively, allowing them to experience science as real scientists do – conducting experiments and investigations, rather than merely reading about it.
Beyond the regular curriculum, Windsor Public Schools offers a wide range of enriching after-school programs in STEM and robotics for students in grades 6-12. These programs provide a unique opportunity for those interested to witness STEM principles come to life through hands-on experiences. We encourage our students to participate in these programs to foster their passion and appreciation for STEM in action.
Grade 6
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
The Number System
Expressions and Equations
Geometry
Statistics and Probability
Grade 7
The Number System
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Expressions and Equations
Geometry
Statistics and Probability
Grade 8
Expressions and Equations (Exponents) and the Number System
Functions
Expressions and Equations (Linear Equations)
Geometry
Statistics and Probability
Accelerated courses in Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry are also offered.
The Standards for Mathematical Practice are interwoven throughout our units. These are skills needed to be college and career ready as they ensure an understanding of math, focus on the development of reasoning, build mathematical communication, and encourage modeling and presentation.
Two important goals for all students are to learn to value mathematics and to become confident in their ability to do mathematics.
Grade 6
Energy Drinks (Physical Science)
Destructive Weather (Earth Science)
Bio Bottle (Life Science)
Grade 7
Lyme Disease (Life Science)
Bee Decline (Life Science)
Engineering Design Task - Penguin Habitat (Physical Science)
Hollywood Ideas About Changing Earth (Earth Science)
Grade 8
Evolution - How have things changed over time? (Life Science)
Collisions (Physical Science)
Waves and Communication (Physical Science)
Astronomy (Earth Science)