Q&A with Principal Avi Tropper

How should I best prepare for success at Northfield High School? All of the Northfield High School boundary middle schools offer an excellent education and a supportive learning environment, ensuring that you will be ready for the high school. On top of doing your very best in middle school, you should also make sure to read a lot of different books in a wide range of genres and subjects.

What are the advantages to being a student in the founding class at Northfield High School? Students in the founding class have the unique chance to create a school culture that will last long into the future. The culture and tone they set will have a positive impact on future generations of students. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As adults, students will be able to look back and know that they were the pioneers who founded the great Northfield High School. Simultaneously, the founding class will have the opportunity to customize the school to their needs, ensuring that their experience in high school is personalized to an extent that is rarely available.

What kind of mentorships are available for the founding class? Northfield High School partners with Project VOYCE, a local student advocacy and leadership group as well as the Denver Public Schools Student Board of Education. These partnerships provides both leadership training and mentors for Northfield High School students.

How will a Northfield High School Diploma be perceived by universities? As a new high school and one with a reputation for superb academics and well-rounded students, a Northfield High School diploma will be recognized by all universities in the United States and abroad. Universities are eager to establish connections with new schools and to recruit from the early classes in order to build long-lasting relationships. Individual student ACT/SAT scores, GPAs, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation are perhaps the most important components of the college admissions process.

Does a Northfield High School diploma meet the Colorado higher education admissions standards? A Northfield High School diploma vastly exceeds those standards as students take rigorous additional science, history, foreign language and elective courses beyond those required by the standards.

How can I find out more information about the IB Diploma and college admissions? There are 830 high schools in the United States alone, and thousands of high schools worldwide, that offer the IB Diploma Program. All universities recognize the IB Diploma as an academically rigorous credential. For more about university policies on IB credits go to this http://www.ibo.org/country/US/ link.

How are college credits for IB exams granted by universities? Each university has different rules for credits. Most universities post their policies online. For example, the University Colorado Boulder policy can be found at this link http://www.colorado.edu/catalog/2014-15/content/international-baccalaureate-ib-credit. Students who earn the full IB Diploma are granted advanced standing and 24 college credits.

Will I be able to get a seat at Northfield High School? Students residing in the boundary (the Stapleton elementary boundary and East Park Hill between Quebec Street and Monaco Street and Colfax Avenue north to the city limits) are guaranteed a seat at Northfield High School if they select the school as their first pick in the SchoolChoice process. Should a student choose to attend another school, the guaranteed seat is automatically waived. Students outside of the boundary may apply for the 35% choice seats.

Is the facility going to be able to accommodate the demand for all four years of high school? Yes. We will have a seat for every single student who is accepted. We will have the space to provide a superb and fulfilling high school experience all the way through to senior year and graduation. There is sufficient capacity to meet Denver Public Schools’ commitments that a) every student in the boundary who wants a seat at the high school is guaranteed one and b) 35% of the seats are set aside for choice, with priority to students living in the Far Northeast. In future years, as the high school-aged student population within the boundary increases, additional capacity will be needed.

When is the high school going to be completed? Construction is proceeding quickly, and the academic building and gym are on track for completion by the first day of school in August 2015. The East Campus, which houses the athletic fields, is waiting on final agreements between Denver Parks and Denver Public Schools. The multi-purpose field should be ready by the first day of school and the diamond by spring 2015. The diamond should be ready for games in fall 2016.

What will access to the school look like in August 2015? Northfield High School is bordered by 56th Avenue to the north and Central Park Boulevard to the west. According to the developer Central Park Boulevard will be completed by early spring 2015.

How will students be supported at Northfield High School? Each student has an advisor who follows him or her through all 4 years of high school. Advisors serve in multi- functional roles, supporting a group of 60-80 students and loop with their students from 9th grade through graduation. This structure ensures a high-level of individualized attention for each student, no matter how large Northfield High School grows. Advisors teach a sequence of courses that blend social-emotional learning with academic skills. This unique approach integrates eudemonia, or the good and virtuous life, into the academic experience. They teach Writing and Communications in 9th grade, Psychology in 10th grade, Research Methods in 11th grade, and Theory of Knowledge in 12th grade.

What sort of guidance do students have in making sure they graduate, apply and are accepted to college? Every student has an advisor who supports the student by ensuring that he or she is on track to graduate. Advisors support students through the college application process and maintain contact with students through the transition to freshman year at college. A college consultant assists advisors with college applications.

Is there an orientation for new students? Yes. All students accepted to Northfield High School are required to attend four half-day sessions that will take place prior to the start of their freshman year on Sundays during the months of March, April, May and June. During these sessions, students will be oriented to the expectations of Northfield High School, introduced to the courses they will be taking and to the elective pathways, asked to select their program for freshman year, vote on Student Government, and provide input into a broad range of school policies.

What are the core academic courses at Northfield High School? Every student is required to complete four years of science, four years of history, four years of mathematics, four years of literature, and four years of a foreign language. In addition, students must complete two elective pathways, an independent research project, and the Theory of Knowledge course. Students who fulfill these requirements receive a Northfield High School endorsed diploma, which testifies to their readiness for the very best universities.

What choices do students have within the curriculum? Students choose their foreign language from Spanish, French, and Mandarin. Initial student surveys have identified these languages as the most in demand. If there is sufficient student demand for additional foreign languages and qualified teachers can be found, other languages may be offered as well. Students also choose their physical education activity. As upperclassmen students choose their IB math course as well as whether or not they take the higher level IB science course (students who do not choose the higher level IB course take the standard level IB science course). Students choose two elective pathways they wish to take in four-year sequences. Students also choose the twice-annual seminars and Friday symposiums they wish to take, which have no prerequisites.

Can you describe the science program at Northfield High School? In science, students construct empirical hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, gather and analyze data, report findings, and defend a conclusion or the need for additional experimentation. Our science program begins with the most fundamental forces in nature and develops student knowledge of science sequentially from there. Students take Physics in 9th grade, Chemistry in 10th grade, Biology in 11th grade, and 12th graders choose between an Advanced Biology course and an Environmental Science course. Students are also able to select from three STEM fields (Engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering) as elective pathways.

Can you describe the history program at Northfield High School? In history, students analyze and interpret original documents and sources, describe historical events through different perspectives and lenses, develop and defend causal analyses of historical trends, and form an understanding of past changes with an eye toward explaining the future. Students take American History in 9th grade, World History in 10th grade, and 20th Century World History and History of the Americas in 11th and 12th grades. There is a strong focus on interdisciplinary connections to the literature courses.

Can you describe the literature program at Northfield High School? In literature, students interpret literary works, analyze and discuss the human condition through the lens of literary themes, use literary techniques and tools in their own writing, and apply various hermeneutic theories in reading. 9th graders take American Literature, 10th graders take World Literature, and 11th and 12th graders take English Language & Literature. Works selected in the literature courses are cross-linked to the topics and themes in the history courses. In addition to these core literature courses, students are able to select a creative writing elective pathway.

Can you describe the mathematics program at Northfield High School? In mathematics, students propose theorems and construct proofs, solve problems, extend solutions to new contexts, model phenomena using appropriate mathematical tools, and apply mathematical ideas and techniques in different situations. Our mathematics program attempts to expose every student to calculus while in high school, opening horizons to a broader set of college majors and future careers. Subject to middle school mathematics experience, 9th graders take Geometry or an Integrated Algebra/Geometry course and 10th graders take Algebra II. Upperclassmen choose one of three course sequences leading to either Introduction to Differential Calculus, Differential and Integral Calculus, or Advanced Calculus.

Can you describe the foreign language program at Northfield High School? In foreign language, students read, write, and speak in a second language. Students engage with the language and literature of a different culture and improve their cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity. Our foreign language program offers courses in Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese. Students must take the same foreign language for four years. Courses are offered at all levels of incoming experience, and students will be placed in the appropriate level course in their language of choice upon entry to high school.

Can students take two different foreign language classes at Northfield High School? Students wishing to do so would need to discuss this with their advisor. If granted permission, students would be able to take only one elective pathway instead of two.

What curricula is Northfield High School using for the core academic courses? We have selected rigorous and engaging curricula for 9th and 10th grades including the Who Built America? textbooks for American History, the CPO Physics and Connected Chemistry textbooks for science, an adapted Interactive Mathematics Program in math, and a selection of novels, plays and poetry for literature courses. We have also selected the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program curricula for our 11th and 12th grade core courses.

Why were these curricula chosen? These curricula were chosen based on their ability to support our vision for student-centered learning focused on developing deep conceptual understanding, creativity, collaboration, and interdisciplinary connections. They exceed the most rigorous academic standards. The science curricula are based on the National Research Council’s Framework for K-12 Science Education and Next Generation Science Standards. The math and literature curricula align to the Common Core State Standards. History curricula exceed the National Council for the Social Studies Standards. The IB Diploma Program curricula are world-renowned. Extensive research has demonstrated that the IB Diploma Program prepares students to persist and succeed in college.

What is the curriculum for 9th and 10th graders at Northfield High School? Freshmen and sophomores at Northfield High School take academically challenging and rigorous courses that prepare every student for the IB Diploma Program curriculum as juniors and seniors. Courses include: Physics and Chemistry, Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II, American Literature and World Literature, American History and World History, Foreign Language, Writing & Communications, Psychology and the first two courses in the two elective pathways chosen

Can the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program be implemented school- wide? Absolutely. IB is an inclusive program designed to accommodate all learners and learning styles. In fact, the top-ranked high schools in both Massachusetts and New York are open admissions “IB for All” schools with no required testing prior to entry. Participation in content rich inquiry-based curricula is beneficial for all students. The required courses in the IB Diploma Program are the same core academic courses required for admission to college: literature, history, science, mathematics, foreign language and arts or another elective. Northfield High School provides individual supports and modifications to students, so that all students succeed in their coursework. This approach to IB makes our program unique within Denver Public Schools.

How does Northfield High School place students in classes? We have a school-wide inclusive IB program, meaning that every single student takes the IB courses and the IB Diploma Program is the curricula for all our core academic classes (math, science, literature, history, foreign language) for all 11th and 12th graders. Some students may take the full set of 6 exams to earn the full IB diploma and other students may choose to take individual exams in selected courses, earning college credits for the exams they take and pass. Northfield HS uses a competency-based model in all our courses to ensure that each student is challenged at the appropriate level in every single unit of study. This means that within each unit there are tiered projects, performance tasks, and assessments so that any student who completes the mastery level challenge for a unit can earn honors for the achievement. There are also times when students will be taking different courses. For example: students will take their selected elective pathway courses, students who already had a high school-level algebra course in 8th grade and can demonstrate mastery of the content will take geometry in 9th grade, students who are ready for an advanced course in their foreign language of choice will take that class, English Language Learners will be taking ESL classes if they need the support.

Are all students expected to complete the full IB Diploma? We strongly encourage all students to do so since they will be taking the courses, completing the in-class assessments, and fulfilling the service learning and independent research projects required for the IB Diploma. We understand that sitting for all the IB exams may not be appropriate for every student. Students may also take exams in specific subjects and earn certificates within those subjects.

Can you describe the International Baccalaureate exams and groups? The IB Diploma is an international 11th and 12th grade curriculum leading to an internationally recognized diploma. To earn the International Baccalaureate Diploma students are required to take six IB exams. Three of the exams are at the higher level and three are at the standard level. Students are required to take at least one exam in the following five groups: Language and Literature, Foreign Language, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Mathematics. Students are also required to take an exam in the Arts or a second exam in one of the first five groups. Finally, students must take the Theory of Knowledge course, write an independent research paper, also called Extended Essay, and complete a Creativity, Action, and Service project. Northfield High School students, beginning with students in the founding class, may earn the full IB Diploma. Some students, after consultation with their advisor/IB coordinator, may choose to take select exams only. Remember that all Northfield High School students will be taking the IB Diploma courses and will write an independent research paper, as that is the curricula for all our core academic courses for upperclassmen.

What do you see as the advantages of the IB Diploma Program? The IB Diploma Program focuses on the whole student. In addition to its rigorous academics, the program seeks to build positive character in all students through the learner profile traits of Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced, and Reflective. As the IB Diploma Program includes all core academic subjects, it allows us to build an inclusive school community in which all students participate in a rich college-preparatory curriculum.

Will Northfield High School faculty be IB certified? Yes. As a school-wide IB Diploma program all of our core academic teachers are IB certified. All Northfield High School faculty are IB certified when hired or become IB certified as part of the onboarding process.

What school calendar is Northfield High School following? Our calendar begins in the second week of August, extending the school year by about two weeks. The additional days allow us to offer bi-annual seminars, which are weeklong courses focused on special topics of interest to students and experiential learning opportunities. Only student imagination (and propriety) limit the potential topics studied. The student body, through the Northfield High School Student Government, proposes to the faculty the specific seminar topics to be offered. Students who have fallen behind during the semester have the opportunity to receive focused interventions during this time.

How many additional days will Northfield High School add to the school calendar as part of the extended school year? We added a minimum of 10 school days to the standard Denver Public Schools calendar. The additional time supports our twice-yearly seminars. Therefore, the first day of school at Northfield High School will usually be in the second week of August.

What does a typical daily schedule at Northfield High School look like? Other than lunch and physical activity, which take place every school day, all classes meet every other day in blocks. Such scheduling creates longer class periods, which then allow for more intense and in-depth academic work. Student schedules have core history and literature classes one day and core science and mathematics classes the next, so that students can work on interdisciplinary projects across these broad domains. This structure creates a flow to each student’s day and helps him or her identify the connections between the core academic courses.

When does the school day at Northfield High School begin and end? Our school day begins at 8:45, as research has shown that adolescents need the additional time for sleep. The school day ends at 4:45, with the extended days supporting our mandated physical activity program. Students are required to engage in vigorous physical activity every day. This requirement can be met via one of our Physical Education classes including Dance, Martial Arts, Cross Training, Running and Yoga. Students who participate in a Northfield HS sports team fulfill the physical activity requirement during practice.

Does Northfield High School have an open or closed campus for lunch? We have a closed campus to keep students safe and focused on academics. Northfield High School offers quality lunch options in our cafeteria, which has capacity to serve all students. Students are encouraged to eat and socialize on the campus quad.

What food options will Northfield High School offer for lunch? Student Government will meet regularly with the Northfield High School Food Manager to customize the menu for our students. The high school menu offers many choices including entrees and sides of the day, cold wraps and sandwiches, hot sandwiches, a salad bar, and pizza.

Will there be food options available other than lunch? Yes. A free hot breakfast in the cafeteria and a cold "grab and go" breakfast will be provided to all students at no cost. Students who participate in after-school academic enrichment programs will be provided with snacks at no cost.

What will transportation to Northfield High School look like for the 2015-16 school year? Currently RTD runs bus lines that stop about 10 blocks away from Northfield High School. Denver Public Schools provides free RTD bus passes for students who meet specific criteria. Northfield High School participates in the SchoolPool program and subsidies will be provided to parents who carpool students through this program.

What is Northfield High School’s approach to Honors classes? All students may receive Honors designations based on the level of academic work they complete. Using a competency-based approach to course design, each unit has layered performance tasks that allow students to demonstrate increasing mastery of the competencies in each unit of study. Students who successfully complete the highest level challenges receive Honors.

Will electives and seminars count toward GPA? Yes. All courses that students take are included in calculation of Grade Point Averages. This includes electives, seminars, symposiums, and the writing & communications, psychology, research methods, and theory of knowledge courses taught by advisors. Students earn credits for these courses, as they do for all academic work completed at Northfield High School.

What is Northfield High School’s approach to class rankings? Outstanding academic achievement is recognized and celebrated. Northfield High School does not rank students and does not have a valedictorian or salutatorian at graduation. The minor differences in GPA consist primarily of statistical noise. Upon request, we will share class standing with universities noted within general bands such as top 5% of the class. Students may also receive Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude certificates.

Does Northfield High School have a school uniform? No. We have a dress code that ensures a respectful learning environment for all students. The exact standards for the dress code are determined by Student Government in consultation with the principal and faculty.

What electives are offered at Northfield High School? In addition to the bi-annual seminars mentioned above, students select two out of nine possible elective pathways, through which they pursue areas of special interest and passion. The nine elective pathway options are Studio Arts, Music, Theater, Creative Writing, Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Science, Law and Politics, and Business. All elective pathways grant college credits for students who demonstrate mastery of college-level standards. The elective pathways approach allows students to build expertise and knowledge through study in world-class programs.

What curricula are used in the elective pathways? Our STEM pathways use the Project Lead the Way curricula. Our Arts pathways use the IB Diploma Program curricula and exceed the National Standards for Arts Education Standards. The Business pathway uses the IB Diploma Program curriculum and participates in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. The Law and Politics pathway uses the IB Diploma Program curriculum in Global Politics and participates in Moot Court and We the People competitions.

Are there any electives outside of the elective pathways that students can take? Yes. Last period on Fridays are open elective symposiums with no prerequisites. These courses are taught by teaching artists and community members who share their professional expertise with students. The open symposiums are structured around school-wide themes such as social justice, innovation, and culture. Student Government will determine the themes. Students may also take MOOCs (massive online open courses) and conduct independent studies with the support of a faculty member.

How does concurrent enrollment work at Northfield High School? Students at Northfield High School are eligible to earn direct college credits for some of their coursework. These college credits are granted through our college partners; Community College of Aurora and University of Colorado. The Northfield High School elective pathways and some other courses are aligned to college courses. Students can therefore earn college credits if they meet certain pre-requisites such as scoring above a specified point total on the ACCUPLACER exams.

Can you describe the Northfield High School physical education program? Aligned to the research on the importance of daily vigorous physical activity for teenagers, students at Northfield High School are required to participate in daily physical education. Students can fulfill this requirement by taking a physical education class, selecting from choices such as dance, cross training, running, martial arts, and yoga. Students can also fulfill this requirement through Northfield High School athletics team practices. In exceptional cases, students may already be engaged in intense, time-consuming, daily training for competitive athletic pursuits

outside of school. In such cases, students and parents should speak with the principal about the possibility of this outside training qualifying as independent study, thereby fulfilling the daily physical education requirement.

How will the Northfield High School athletics program develop? Along with its commitment to academic excellence, Northfield High School is committed to athletic excellence. Subject to having a sufficient number of students who want to play on a given team, we support every single Colorado High School Activities Association sport offered within Denver Public Schools: baseball, , cross country, field hockey, football, , , , skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, , track, , and . The teams will grow in a developmentally appropriate fashion, some starting as freshman teams and others as junior varsity. As students physically mature and their athletic skills improve, we will form varsity teams. Coaches will be hired beginning in March 2015.

What is the Northfield High School philosophy on athletics programs? Northfield High School fields all Colorado High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) teams offered within Denver Public School Athletics. Non-CHSAA club teams in rugby and ultimate Frisbee are offered as well. We believe that athletics can help build collaboration, persistence, work ethic, goal setting skills, and other positive character traits in students. Simultaneously we believe that academic success is paramount. Student athletes therefore need to maintain a B- average (2.7 GPA) to be eligible to participate in Northfield High School athletics.

What clubs and activities will be offered at Northfield High School? Northfield High School will offer any clubs and activities for which there is student demand. Initial surveys of the founding class have found the following to be among the more popular suggestions: Student government, School newspaper, Amnesty International, Chess Club, Intramural Sports, Sherlock Holmes Club, FIRST Robotics Club, Book Club, Speech & Debate, Spirit/Cheerleading, Forensics, Rugby, Ultimate Frisbee, Glee Club, Floor Hockey, Co-Ed Sports, Math Club, Volunteering, Destination Imagination, Cycling, and Tutoring.

Can you describe some of the after-school programs at Northfield High School? In addition to the CHSAA and intramural/club athletics teams discussed earlier, Northfield High School offers many after-school enrichment programs for students. Students in the founding class have suggested such programs as: FIRST Robotics http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc, Destination Imagination http://www.destinationimagination.org/, Amnesty International http://www.amnestyusa.org/resources/students-and-youth, Gay Straight Alliance http://cogsanetwork.org/, Math Club http://www.maa.org/math-competitions ,Spirit and Cheer http://www2.chsaa.org/sports/spirit/. The links provide additional information on these clubs, which represent a sampling of the after-school offerings at Northfield High School.

How does student government function at Northfield High School? Student government plays a critical role in decision-making at Northfield High School. Duties of student government include representation on the Collaborative School Committee, suggesting topics to faculty for consideration as bi-annual seminars, conducting regular surveys of the student body, and participating in setting the dress code standards.

What summer programming does Northfield High School offer? All students are required to complete an online course of their choice over the summer. This prevents summer learning loss. The Northfield High School computer lab will be accessible to students and there will be on-site office hours for students who want guidance and support from teachers as they complete their online course of choice.

What are the Northfield High School expectations for student conduct? Every student is expected to behave responsibly and appropriately. Upon enrollment, students will sign the Northfield High School code of conduct, which they are to follow at all times. Should a student violate the code of conduct, the student will acknowledge the error, reflect on how to prevent future errors, and make amends through our restorative justice approach.

Will Northfield High School open as an Innovation Status school? Yes, pending faculty approval of the innovation plan in July.

What does Northfield High School's plan to be an "innovation school" mean? As described on the Colorado Department of Education's website "The Innovation Schools Act, passed in 2008, provides a pathway for schools and districts to develop innovative practices, better meet the needs of individual students and allow more autonomy to make decisions at the school-level. The stated purpose of the Act is to provide additional flexibility to schools and districts for the purpose of meeting student needs, and it is the intent of the Colorado Department of Education to interpret the provisions of the Act broadly so as to maximize this flexibility

What does Northfield High School do with its Innovation Status? In addition to the student- focused aspects discussed above, we are using Innovation Status to create a collaborative and mutually supportive environment for faculty. Through peer-to-peer observations and feedback, faculty work together to continuously perfect the teaching craft. Through distributed leadership structures, faculty play an active role in decision-making and programming so as to meet the needs of all students. Through cohort teams, faculty loop with students across all four years of high school, ensuring that every student who enters our doors as a 9th grader exit our doors as a high school graduate ready for success in college. Through dedicated team planning time, faculty design world-class courses and assessments that challenge students to develop critical thinking skills.

How will Northfield High School faculty be recruited and hired? We are recruiting and hiring a superb and diverse faculty. Our interview process consists of three major stages 1) candidates submit a resume, transcripts, letter of intent describing philosophical alignment to the Northfield High School innovation plan, and a professional portfolio 2) candidates participate in a group interview consisting of various performance tasks 3) candidates are observed teaching a lesson and interacting with students. As the highest quality candidates are identified and job offers are made and accepted the founding team of teachers will be introduced to the community.

How will Northfield High School develop the “comprehensive high school” experience? We believe that a comprehensive high school is based on the concept of providing students with a variety of academic and social experiences so that they can explore within a safe and supportive atmosphere and emerge with well-developed moral characters and strong senses of self. Northfield High School, with the support of an active parent body and volunteer committees, offers everything from school clubs to intramural sports to pep rallies to dances. This would not be possible without the staunch backing of the entire community.

How can I volunteer to help establish Northfield High School as Denver’s premier high school? You can volunteer for one of the following committees: Student Recruitment, Faculty Hiring, Activities and Athletics, School Partnerships, and Parent Association. Students, parents and community members are all invited to volunteer. Please email me directly at [email protected].