Value For Your Dollar - And The List Goes On

As we’ve said before, Souhegan is many things to different people. To students and parents, it is an active, vibrant place, alive with students learning during the school day, and participating in athletics and co-curriculars in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends. To faculty and staff, it’s a learning community, where all are challenged to grow and improve in the mission of teaching our children. But to some voters without friends or relatives in the school, it can appear to be big building set back from the road, that only brings increased taxes. As we all get ready to go to the polls on March 11, the Souhegan Cooperative School Board wants to share some of the accomplishments of our students and faculty, so that your votes are informed not just by the dollar amounts on the ballot, but also by the results those dollars achieve.

• Souhegan has a 0% dropout rate.
• 92% percent of Souhegan’s Class of 2013 attend college.
• The majority of four year college students are attending either most competitive, highly competitive, very competitive or competitive colleges. 
• In 2013, Souhegan Students took College Board Advanced Placement exams in 14 different subjects. 85% of students who took AP exams scored a 3 (qualified to receive college credit), 4 (well qualified to receive college credit) or 5 (extremely well qualified to receive college credit). The NH average is 74%; the national average is 60%.
• 37 students received AP Scholar Awards.
• 84% percent of Souhegan seniors took the SATs in 2012-2013.
• 94 seniors received New Hampshire Scholars recognition in 2013.
• 3 seniors were recognized for Presidential Scholars Program.
• 2 seniors are finalists and 7 are commended in the National Merit Scholarship Competition.
• Souhegan offers 3 college credit courses with a combined enrollment of 93.
• Souhegan students had the opportunity to study in Italy, Cuba, Germany, France, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic through programs organized by Souhegan Staff.
• 82 students took the National Latin Exam in 2013.  3 students earned Gold medals; 9 students earned silver medals; 12 students were magna cum laude and 6 students were cum laude.
• 5 Souhegan Students received Gold Key Visual Arts Awards and 8 received Silver Key Awards in the NH Scholastic Art Competition. 1 student received a national award for photography.
• 9 Souhegan Students were selected to NH All-State Jazz Festival, NH All-State Orchestra, All-New England Band Festival at Plymouth State College.
• Souhegan Concert Choir performed at the New York City Musical Festival and received First Place in their category.
• 6 Souhegan Students performed in the All New England Choral Festival at Plymouth State College.
• 24 Souhegan Jazz Students completed an 8-Day performance tour in Italy.
• Souhegan athletic department consists of 34 programs including 53 teams.

• 505 Souhegan students participated on interscholastic athletic teams.
• Souhegan athletic teams won 5 state championship titles in 2012-13.  The baseball team was honored with the highest Sportsmanship rating in the state, awarded by the state based on coaches and referees input.
• Souhegan High School is consistently accessed by educators from throughout the region and country as a model for best practices; recent visitors have observed our team teaching structures, advisory program and Critical Friends Groups.
• Souhegan works in conjunction with Brown University to host teachers from China visiting to examine best practice.
• The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) has engaged Souhegan in a project highlighting quality performance assessments; Souhegan will be featured for its best practice.
• School Reform Initiative (SRI) uses Souhegan High School for site visits to observe best practice.
• Teacher recognitions: 2013 New Hampshire Art Educator of the Year, Martha Rives; 2013 NH recipient of the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching, Jenny Deenik.
• Souhegan Business Partnership Board includes representatives from Souhegan High School staff, local professional communities and alumni organized to promote extended learning opportunities, job shadowing, internships and mentor programs.
• Souhegan High School students completed 20,151 hours of community service including volunteer work with local veterans, non-profit groups and senior citizen organizations.
• A Souhegan 2013 graduate was named Daughters of the American Revolution state winner of the Good Citizen Award

To vote on the budget, warrant article, and candidates for School Board, voting will be held on TUESDAY, March 11, 2014.  Amherst residents vote at Souhegan High School, 6AM to 8PM.  Mont Vernon residents vote at the Mont Vernon Village School, 7AM to 7PM.

The Souhegan Cooperative School Board

Howard Brown, Mont Vernon;  Steve Coughlan, Amherst;  Pim Grondstra, Mont Vernon;   Fran Harrow, Amherst;  Chris Janson, Amherst;  Peter Maresco, Amherst; Mary Lou Mullens, Amherst, Chair