Social Studies Classes and Faculty

Department Head: Angela Colwell-Arbour 508-829-6771 ext. 1698

Social Studies Home 


Course

Level

Prerequisites

Course/Grade

MCAS

Teacher Recommendation

World History

Honors

A- or better

>520

Required

CPA

N/A

>500

Required

CP

N/A

<499

Required

Course

Level

Prerequisites

Course/Grade

Teacher Recommendation

US History I

Honors

Hon World History C+ OR

CPA World History B

Required

CPA

CPA World History B OR

CP World History C+

Required

CP

CP World History D-

Required

Course

Level

Prerequisites

Course/Grade

Teacher Recommendation

US History II

Honors

Hon US History C+ OR

CPA US History B

Required

CPA

CPA US History B OR

CP US History C+

Required

CP

CP US History D-

Required

Course

Grade 11 – 12

Grade 12 Only

Grade 11-12




  • Civics for the 21st Century

  • Concepts in Economics I

  • Concepts in Economics II

  • Contemporary American Culture

  • History of Racism in America

  • Seminar: Topics in Ethics 

  • US Government & Politics

  • Psychology I

  • Psychology II

  • Human Behavior

  • Sociology


Course

Course

Prerequisites

Grade

Teacher recommendation


Grade 11 or 12

AP US History

Hon US I or

AP World

Recommended

Grade 10 or

Grade 12

AP World History

None

Recommended

Grade 12 Only

AP Psychology

None

Recommended

AP Government & Politics

None

Recommended

AP Economics

None

Recommended

AP European History

None

Recommended

Social Studies Sequence of Courses: Grade 9, World History; Grade 10, U.S. History I; Grade 11, U.S. History II; Grade 12, social studies electives.

Students must earn 15 credits in Social Studies to graduate. Ten of these social studies credits must come in U.S. History (unless a student completes both AP World and AP US History).

Social Studies Requirements and Sequences

Advanced Sequence: For advanced history students, an advanced history sequence is available: Grade 9, Honors World History; Grade 10, AP World History; Grade 11, AP US History; Grade 12, various Advanced Placement electives.

Social Studies Department Writing Standard and Homework Policy

The WRHS Social Studies Department requires students in all grades and levels to demonstrate research and writing competencies at an acceptable level. Each course in the Social Studies Department will require students to successfully complete a research paper, a position paper, or a research project sometime during the year. Homework in Social Studies will:

  1. reinforce critical reading and writing skills;
  2. support and expand on information presented in class;
  3. involve studying material central to the understanding of social studies concepts.

Homework will be assigned regularly in all social studies classes. Social studies teachers expect homework to be neat, on time, original, and complete.

Social Studies Classes

Lower School Requirements
  • World History
  • U.S. History I

Upper School Requirement

  • U.S. History II (AP U.S. History may be taken in lieu of U.S. History II)

Full-Year Electives

  • Advanced Placement Economics
  • Advanced Placement European History
  • Advanced Placement Psychology
  • Advanced Placement Government and Politics
  • Advanced Placement U.S. History
  • Advanced Placement World History
  • Civics for the 21st Century

One-Semester Electives
First Semester

  • Concepts in Economics I
  • Soc. Studies Seminar: Ethics: Human Conduct and Values
  • History of Racism in America
  • Psychology I
  • U.S. Government and Politics (not offered in 2024-2025)

Second Semester

  • Concepts in Economics II
  • Contemporary American Culture
  • History of Racism in America
  • Psychology II: Study of Exceptional Persons
  • Sociology
  • U.S. Government and Politics (not offered in 2024-2025)
  • Human Behavior

Social Studies Faculty

  • Victoria Anderson-Colonna: A.P. U.S. History, U.S. History II.
  • Chelsea Blasco:  Psychology I, Sociology, Human Behavior, World History.
  • Elizabeth Cahill: U.S. History I.
  • Angela Colwell-Arbour:  World History, U.S. History II, AP European History.
  • Benjamin Concannon Smith: U.S. History I, History of Racism.
  • Nicole Finney: World History, U.S. History I
  • Tess Hickey: World History.
  • Jason Hilton: U.S. History II; Psychology I & 2, Topics in Ethics.
  • Jesse Jakubiak: U.S. History II.
  • Alicia Jasiekiewicz: World History,  Civics for the 21st Century.
  • Stefanie Jordan: World History, U.S.History I, A.P. U.S. History
  • Joe Jourdain: U.S. History II, AP U.S. Government & Politics
  • Sarah King: World History, Psychology I, Sociology.
  • Kevin Magnani: Economics, A.P. Economics.
  • Jeff Miller: World History, U.S. History I.
  • Edward Moynihan:  U.S. History I, U.S. History II
  • Erin Shaughnessy-Zeena: Psychology I, Psychology II,  A.P Psychology.
  • Jochen Welsch: World History, A.P.  World History.

Department Head: Angela Colwell-Arbour 508-829-6771 ext. 1649

Contact Us. To reach a particular teacher, please put the teacher's name in the subject line.

   
Social Studies Description of Levels

Honors: Students at the Honors level will be expected to read scholarly documents and texts for understanding, inference, and context. They will analyze and synthesize information to reach conclusions and formulate and defend positions on a variety of topics. They will perform extensive independent work and will be expected to read and write at a consistently high level. They will write papers and essays that incorporate independent research and will complete other research projects. They will be expected to complete regular homework assignments as reinforcement and enrichment of classroom lessons. Students at the honors level receive an accelerated curriculum that will allow them to make an immediate transition to advanced college work.

College Prep - Accelerated: Students at the CPA level will be expected to read primary sources and scholarly material. They will write with coherence and organization as they create papers and essays that incorporate independent research. They will complete other research projects that involve independent work. They will be expected to complete regular homework assignments as reinforcement and enrichment of classroom lessons. Students at the CPA level will receive a solid foundation of knowledge that will allow them to make a seamless transition to a college or university.

College Prep: Students at the college prep level will be expected to read primary source material and social studies texts. They will write papers and essays that incorporate research material, and they will complete other research projects under the guidance of their teacher. They will be expected to complete regular homework assignments as reinforcement and enrichment of classroom lessons. Students at the CP level will expand their knowledge in social studies subject areas as they develop the skills necessary for success at the college level.