The English/Language Arts Program at the high school has three main objectives: to prepare our students for the tests that will be required for post secondary education, to continue the emphasis on the New York State Standards and to provide interesting extracurricular actives that support interest in English. The standards; reading, writing, listening and speaking are supported during each of the four years. Ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students must take general survey courses that include reading of various genre (poetry, plays, short stories and drama), listening exercises which include listening to peers as well as to instructors, delivering speeches to classmates and writing activities that complement the other three activities. Specifically, students will write essays that are similar to the ones required on the New York State Regents which is administered at the conclusion of their junior year. These essays are done in addition to many other types of writing assignments that are designed to prepare students for college. Further, grammar. vocabulary and spelling are emphasized on all levels to help students to write and speak correctly and to be successful on the SAT and/or the ACT tests which are requirements for entrance to most colleges.

As seniors, students may concentrate on specific English courses that fit their needs for the future. For example, that may take Creative Writing, Humanities, Great Books, Public Speaking or English 12, which is again a survey course but emphasizes such skills as resume and application writing.

The High School English Program is supported by several extracurricular clubs that provide students with opportunities to have fun while pursuing a special interest. These include the student newspaper entitled The Bear Facts, the literary magazine called Fine Lines, the Mock trial Team, the fall play and the spring musical.

Tom Hansen, 9-12 Chairperson
Chittenango High School