ABOUT US:
Every student is required to take four years of English classes and pass the NYS English Language Arts Regents Exam in order to be eligible to graduate from high school.
In 2015, New York State began a comprehensive review of the existing Common Core curriculum for English Language Arts (adopted in 2011) and charged a shared decision-making team of NY teachers, administrators, college professors, parents and researchers with developing a set of revisions, additions, deletions and clarifications of the existing CCLS. In September of 2017, the new “Next Gen” ELA standards were adopted, and schools throughout New York State have since fully implemented these new learning standards.
Since 2007, students transition from middle school to high school in a period of profound digital, technical and societal accelerations, the like of which have not been seen since the Industrial Revolution. Today, the rate at which knowledge is generated and shared demands instructional shifts to arm students with advanced literacies, a set of skills and competencies that enable communication, spoken and written, in increasingly diverse ways and with increasingly diverse audiences. Students who learn to effectively communicate in an “increasingly interconnected society” are better prepared to participate in the academic, civic and professional communities of the future.
The Department of English at Mepham High School endeavors to offer the highest quality English Language Arts instruction to help students develop lifelong competencies for reading and writing in the age of accelerations.
Every student is required to take four years of English classes and pass the NYS English Language Arts Regents Exam in order to be eligible to graduate from high school.
In 2015, New York State began a comprehensive review of the existing Common Core curriculum for English Language Arts (adopted in 2011) and charged a shared decision-making team of NY teachers, administrators, college professors, parents and researchers with developing a set of revisions, additions, deletions and clarifications of the existing CCLS. In September of 2017, the new “Next Gen” ELA standards were adopted, and schools throughout New York State have since fully implemented these new learning standards.
Since 2007, students transition from middle school to high school in a period of profound digital, technical and societal accelerations, the like of which have not been seen since the Industrial Revolution. Today, the rate at which knowledge is generated and shared demands instructional shifts to arm students with advanced literacies, a set of skills and competencies that enable communication, spoken and written, in increasingly diverse ways and with increasingly diverse audiences. Students who learn to effectively communicate in an “increasingly interconnected society” are better prepared to participate in the academic, civic and professional communities of the future.
The Department of English at Mepham High School endeavors to offer the highest quality English Language Arts instruction to help students develop lifelong competencies for reading and writing in the age of accelerations.
Important Information for Incoming 9th Grade Families:
The most important decisions that rising 9th grade students and their families need to make relates to which 9th grade English class to take next year. Remember that English Language Arts is a SKILLS-focused course, which means that curriculum and teachers’ instructional methodologies will be similar in English 1 and English 1 Honors.
Success in English 1 Honors depends greatly on the student’s mindset and work ethic. Speak to your child’s 8th grade English teacher for additional insight about your child’s readiness for accelerated coursework.
There are common pathways that students will follow depending on whether they take English 1 or English 1 Honors; however, students are not “tracked” in such a manner that prevents movement to and from Honors or AP Classes.
Dr. Mary Allegretta is the English chairperson at Grand Avenue Middle School and Mepham High School. She can be reached by calling 516.992.1553 (Mepham), 516-992-1142 (Grand Avenue) or by e-mail at [email protected].
Success in English 1 Honors depends greatly on the student’s mindset and work ethic. Speak to your child’s 8th grade English teacher for additional insight about your child’s readiness for accelerated coursework.
There are common pathways that students will follow depending on whether they take English 1 or English 1 Honors; however, students are not “tracked” in such a manner that prevents movement to and from Honors or AP Classes.
Dr. Mary Allegretta is the English chairperson at Grand Avenue Middle School and Mepham High School. She can be reached by calling 516.992.1553 (Mepham), 516-992-1142 (Grand Avenue) or by e-mail at [email protected].
Recent Presentations:
Guide to Academic Integrity
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY can be defined as a core set of values that students are expected to know, respect, and uphold. These values should guide and support all of your learning and academic work.
Click here to access a Google Slides presentation about Academic Integrity.
- HONESTY: You are truthful about where your ideas come from, citing sources when you use them.
- FAIRNESS: You don't take advantage of other people's work, which means you give credit to others if you use their thoughts and ideas in your own work.
- TRUST: Others can trust that your work is original and genuine, reflective of your authentic efforts.
- RESPECT: You show respect for other students and faculty/staff.
- RESPONSIBILITY: You are responsible for your own learning, and it is up to you to seek extra help when you need it.
Click here to access a Google Slides presentation about Academic Integrity.
Check out the series we developed in the Spring of 2020 called "Getting Started with the College Essay."
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Links of Interest:
Goodreads.com - A social network for readers! Sign up to learn more about popular and trending independent reading texts.
Khan Academy Free SAT Test Prep - students can access free and personalized practice recommendations to better prepare for the SAT exam.
New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
New York Online Virtual Electronic Library - a wide variety of resources, including books, magazines, newspapers, research and reference sources available to New York State residents for free.
NPR "Books We Love" APP - National Public Radio's annual interactive list of the best books of the year, sorted by genre. If you're looking for your next favorite book, this is a great place to start!
Vocabulary.com - Create a free student account to access vocabulary lists for any subject, play games, and prepare for standardized tests.
Khan Academy Free SAT Test Prep - students can access free and personalized practice recommendations to better prepare for the SAT exam.
New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
New York Online Virtual Electronic Library - a wide variety of resources, including books, magazines, newspapers, research and reference sources available to New York State residents for free.
NPR "Books We Love" APP - National Public Radio's annual interactive list of the best books of the year, sorted by genre. If you're looking for your next favorite book, this is a great place to start!
Vocabulary.com - Create a free student account to access vocabulary lists for any subject, play games, and prepare for standardized tests.