New athletic director one of many changes for next year

May 19, 2010 • Amy Medeiros  
Filed under News

 Changes will be visible from top to bottom on campus when classes for the 2010-2011 school year begin Aug. 9; the most recent ones are a new athletic director and a new shoe policy.

  Mrs. Monica Barrett will replace Athletic Director Mike Mahon who after five years at NDP will leave at the end of his contract this summer. He and his wife, Robin, are moving to Budapest, Hungary, to teach at The American International School of Budapest. She will teach sixth grade science while Mr. Mahon will teach P.E. to middle and high school students.

   Mrs. Barrett has more than 13 years experience as an athletic director and school administrator at Cactus Shadows High School, according to Principal David Gonsalves.  She left that position two years ago to become a special consultant for the Special Olympics but missed being an athletic director and now is working in June with Mr. Mahon to familiarize herself with the NDP Athletic Office until she formally assumes the position July 1.

   The Student Government Association’s Executive Board was working up until the end of the year to advocate for a change in the dress code for next year, which was announced in the last week of school. The new shoe policy provides for more choice in footwear, specifically the addition of Vans and Converse shoes to the dress code. Plain white, black, purple, tan or Vegas gold tennis shoes, Vans or Converse shoes may be worn.  Also, next year’s seniors will be allowed to wear black T-shirts under black polos.

   Here is a breakdown of other changes by department.

English

   The department will add one new teacher, Mrs. Emily Brownlee, who will teach English I and III as well as creative writing and serve as the speech and debate coach. Also, Dr. Margaret Carter left fourth quarter to teach at Basis-Scottsdale.

   Another change is to the junior and senior summer reading lists, according to Mrs. Lyn Richmond, department chair. For the junior honors level, The Help by Kathryn Stockett will be added, replacing Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. For the junior AP level, Freakonomics by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt will be added, which will replace Fast Food Nation. Also, for the junior regular level, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins will replace Their Eyes Were Watching God.

   For regular senior English, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher has been added, replacing Picture of Dorian Gray. At the senior honors level, Beowulf will be replaced by The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

   Also, the Newspaper and Journalism classes will be combined into one course that students will be able to repeat for credit.

Fine Arts

   A Concert Band class will be offered next year if enough students sign up for this new elective.

   Mr. Jim Montague, an NDP parent who took over the Zero Hour Jazz Band class this year, is unable to return to teach the band next year due to business commitments. He took the Jazz Band to Anaheim this year, where they were silver-ranked in the Heritage festival. Mrs. Catherine Freericks, who has her doctorate in education, will take over the course. She has conducted the orchestra for the spring musical for the past two years.

Guidance

   Mrs. Julie Carpenter will not be returning next year, as her husband has accepted a job with GoDaddy.com.

Math

   For the Math Department, one of the most noticeable changes next year will be the loss of teacher Mr. Frank Jury. He and his wife, Rita, will move to Wisconsin, where she has accepted a job at a hospital and is already living there. Mr. Paul Schwalbe will be a full-time teacher and will no longer sub part-time. The department will get new textbooks next year.

P.E.

   Frosh Team Sports and a revamped Upper Level Team Sports for juniors and seniors will be new next year, according to Mrs. Laura Harris. P.E. 2 will be eliminated also, she said.

Science

   Dr. Gary Burr leaves his position as a chemistry teacher. Substitute teacher Mr. Michael Hollowell will teach physics full time, and Dr. Susan Crane will not be returning.

Social Studies

   The Social Studies department will incorporate a study skills program into freshman Geography classes, according to Ms. Tanya Bartlett, department chair. The program will focus on easier access to materials, and improving writing, reading, listening, and communication skills, she said.

   Also next year, AP World History will be open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Enrollment in the Evolution of Pop Culture and Contemporary World Issues classes will be limited to juniors and seniors.

  Another change next year will be the return of the Focus Research class from the English Department to Social Studies. The class, mandatory for students wishing to graduate in the honors or summa cum laude programs, will not be offered during the summer, instead having classes both semesters taught by Ms. Bartlett and Mr. David Lamb.

Technology

   In the Technology Department, computers in the computer labs will be replaced by new ones, which will run Windows 7 and Adobe CS4, according to Mrs. Rebecca Strolic. Another change will be the addition of a videography class.

Theology

   The Theology Department, while not adding any new faces to the staff nor losing any of the current teachers, will be different next year in respect to the curriculum. Christian Lifestyles and Marriage will no longer be offered. Replacing them will be courses in the history of the Catholic Church and peace and justice. Morality will take a one-year hiatus, returning for the 2011-2012 school year, when it will be a mandatory course for seniors.

World Languages

   For the first time, AP Spanish Literature will be offered. It will be available to students who have already completed AP Spanish IV and wish to take another Advanced Placement course, according to Mrs. Andrea Miller. The course will cover 19th and 20th century literature from both Spain and Latin America and will be taught by Mrs. Maribelle Salazar.

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