‘Small School Feel’ Envisioned For Growing Newtown High School

By Larissa Lytwyn

As Newtown High School’s 1,600-student population continues to grow, the High School Space Needs Study Committee continues to, in accordance to its charge, “brainstorm ideas, explore options, obtain information and discuss all relevant findings in order to present a feasible recommendation (or series of recommendations) to best accommodate the space needs” of NHS students.

Newtown High School Assistant Principal Lorrie Aresenian, a member of the High School Space Needs Study Committee, recently presented “Space Needs Instructional Recommendations” to articulate administrators’ vision of a “small school feel” within a heavily populated one.

“As we reflect on our high school of almost 1,600 students, we have observed that students and staff feel a sense of isolation and anonymity,” said Ms Aresenian.

Studies indicate that students have a greater tendency to misbehave in a large, often thus harder-to-control environment.

Early findings from the Evaluation of the National School District and 2003 Newtown Grants Program, Ms Aresenian related during her presentation, suggest that student-teacher relationships in small schools were deeper and more supportive, both academically and personally.

“Our high school must provide more rigorous choices for our students from the moment they enter the high school up to and including their senior year,” said Ms Aresenian.

The Newtown High School staff, she said, is working together to develop a vision that gives students a “small town feeling” within a large school.

“We are working together to engage disenfranchised students, build a climate of respect and collaboration, and continue to have a caring and safe environment for our students,” said Ms Aresenian.

A key component of building a more intimate environment within a large high school, Ms Aresenian continued, is to create a special program option for juniors and seniors to engage in hands-on learning in one of four areas: applied arts, performing arts, technology, or applied science.

“All coursework would be tied to real-world applications through alliances with businesses and individualized projects,” said Ms Aresenian.

This “High School Academy” would be within walking distance of the current high school building.

“Not everyone learns in the same way,” Ms Aresenian said. “This High School Academy could successfully engage students in a variety of different areas that are not contingent simply on academic ability.”

In addition, Ms Aresenian said the administration would like to increase Newtown High School’s library, cafeteria, and gym space. There would also be increased room space for students to work together and teachers to collaborate.

“We are still very early in the stage of this,” Ms Aresenian said. She said her fellow committee members seemed largely “receptive” to the plan.

“They had wanted a clear vision of what the high school administration wanted to have to accommodate our growing student population,” Ms Arsenian said. “I believe they now have that.”

For information on the next High School Space Needs Committee meeting, call the Board of Education office at 426-7621.