Social Studies Classes and Faculty

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

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:

reinforce critical reading and writing skills;
support and expand on information presented in class;
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.

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Social Studies Classes and Faculty