I like that it feels like you can pay attention and learn here and that you get something for that rather than just a number grade. You get the satisfaction of learning.
Vivian M., TNS student
Gateways and Roundtables
A student’s procession through their academic career is represented by passing gateways, structured presentations that allow students to demonstrate their mastery of subject areas. Successfully completing a gateway assures students that they are acquiring important knowledge and skills and are on a progressive path towards graduation.
A gateway roundtable committee (consisting of faculty, parents, and student peers) listens to and critiques each presentation in accordance with our school standards. If needed, the roundtable requires additional work on the part of the student in order to pass the gateway. At LEAP Night, students who have successfully passed a gateway are awarded keys.
Applied Mathematics Gateway
Students find the solutions to three applied math problems using algebraic skills. They demonstrate the relationship of graphs, tables, and equations while explaining the problems and solutions to a roundtable verbally and in writing.
Argumentative Essay Gateway
Students write a 3-5 page essay that addresses a complex issue of the writer’s choice. The essay must include a thesis statement, address multiple sides of the issue, take a position and attempt to persuade the reader, and include proper citations. Students discuss the writing process and defend the ideas presented in the paper to the Roundtable.
Personal Passion Gateway
This gateway provides students with a forum to share artifacts, performances, skills or knowledge that demonstrate their interest in and aptitude for an area they are passionate about. Students work closely with their Advisors to decide on an area and how to present it, as the approach can be as varied as the passions themselves. Past Personal Passions have focused on subjects as varied as animation, tattooing, music production, filmmaking, starting a business, international travel to help impoverished communities, and civic action community organization.
Public Policy Gateway
A major tenet of The New School’s philosophy is interaction with our local community and learning how to make positive change through civic action. Once a student has looked at what makes a good citizen and how to identify and address problems, they enact a plan to address a problem and document the progress of their actions. Alumni and current students have led projects such as voter registration, accessibility throughout Kennebunk via the sidewalk system, and the fostering and repopulation of Atlantic Salmon in the region.
Research Paper Gateway
Students craft an original research paper (approximately 10 pages) with proper citations and an annotated bibliography, using a minimum of six varied sources and one primary source. Students will demonstrate their research and writing process including developing a research question, gathering and identifying reliable sources of information appropriate to the scope of their topic, creating an annotated bibliography, creating an outline, creating a paper using the revision process, and using appropriate in-text citation. This gateway is one of the few that is one-on-one with faculty and student.
Students use the scientific method to examine a quantifiable research problem that interests them. They create a hypothesis about the problem and carry out an experiment to collect data to test it. Students analyze the data to come to a conclusion, either accepting or rejecting the hypothesis, and propose ideas for further research.