Social Studies

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Social Studies Department Website!

"Those that cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."

West Haven High School Academic Integrity Committee officers recently submitted their essays in the statewide Laws of Life Essay Contest sponsored by the School of Ethical Education. All three officers, (pictured left to right) are Aayah Osman, Vittoria Favia and Renad Osman, earned their spot in the final round of the contest.

Six juniors from Student Government attended the Next Generation Leadership Conference sponsored by the West Haven Rotary Club on March 12 held at Notre Dame High School. Pictured from the right are Ayannah Obas, Ivanna Baez, Takiya Awwal, Alexandra Valverde, Bedirhan Ozman and Diegoi Soto.

Students collected non-perishable food items for WHEAT, the local food pantry.

Junior Nabiha Khan received a certificate for winning 2nd Place and $500 in the statewide CFOG essay contest.

Alana Orecchio, a junior at West Haven High School, won third prize of $300 in the 2020 Connecticut Foundation for Open Government’s Forrest Palmer High School Statewide Essay Contest. Alana wrote about the Killingly Board of Education decision to keep the “Redmen” mascot for Killingly High School although it was previously rejected as a racist symbol.

Yarid Tyran, also a junior at West Haven High School, won an honorable mention award of $50 in the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government’s Forrest Palmer High School Statewide Essay.

^{Pictured above is Christopher D'Inzeo, AP U.S. Government and Politics student, who recently won the CT Supreme Court Historical Society Law Day Contest. His essay entitled "Obstacles to Voting and Some Possible Solutions" was selected among several excellent entries.}

WHHS juniors Miranda D'Angelo and Nikole McKinney volunteering to help the homeless at the VA hospital. Joining them are students from Notre Dame and Hopkins Prep School and State Representative Dorinda Borer.

West Haven High School seniors Winnie Jiang, Niki Patel and Taylor Nowak were recently honored at the Rotary Club luncheon at App's restaurant.

Juniors Lizbeth Sampedro, Nick Nixon, Matt Oliwa, and Adira Ramirez, who are working
closely with West Haven Rotary Club, joined four boys from Notre Dame West Haven at a
dinner honoring UNH President Steven Kaplan on Wednesday 10/30 at Grassy Hill
Country Club.

Miranda D’Angelo, Nicole McKinney and Gabrielle Cuhna recently attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in Chester CT. Students came together to learn team building and leadership skills.

Kneeling from left to right, WHHS seniors Emily Golding, Lilian Ofori-Attah, and Adila Daniel are pictured with many 3rd graders at Savin Rock Elementary School. On Friday May 31, these three members of the WHHS Academic Integrity Committee performed skits and discussed why cheating is wrong and why living a life of integrity is so important.

AP U.S. Government & Politics class at the State Capitol with Rep. Dorinda Borer and Sen. James Maroney.

West Haven High School student Winnie Jiang advances to the Rotary Club 4 Way Speech Contest finals.

Pictured from left to right are West Haven resident John Dolan, West Haven resident Joe Weber, author Michael Walsh, documentary filmmaker Jack Ballo, and WHHS Department Head Mark Consorte. On Tuesday March 5, these men spoke to U.S. History classes about the sinking of the HMT Rohna in the Mediterranean Sea on November 26, 1943 where over 1,000 U.S. Servicemen lost their lives including three young men from West Haven John T. Cox, Pacifico Migliore, and Pasquale J. Logiodice.

Juniors Jennifer Hernandez, Winnie Jiang, and Rianne Mustafa competed in an Urban Debate League Tournament at Yale University.

Juniors Daelle Coriolan and Winnie Jiang won the annual Academic Integrity Committee writing contest and the $25.00 prize. Both entries were submitted to the Laws of Life statewide essay contest run by the School for Ethical Education based in Milford.

The WHHS Mock Trial team and members from local, state and national government attending the "Day of Service" program at the Veteran's Affairs Hospital.

Students in Ms. Palmer's Women's Changing Roles Class on their way to see "mean Girls" on Broadway.

Winnie Jiang recently won 3rd place and $250 in the Yale University WIlliam F. Buckley Jr. Program essay contest. Here she is receiving her award in a ceremony at Yale University on Friday November 3. Winnie wrote about the value of a liberal arts education.

On November 26, 2018 Dan Gallipoli and Lauren Panza travelled to the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park NY. They were accompanied by Social Studies Department Head Mark Consorte and West Haven resident John Dolan to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the HMT Rohna during World War II. Three WHHS alumni were killed by the German air-missile strike. Dan and Lauren read letters from survivors aboard the Rohna.

On November 27, 2018 A.P. U.S. Government & Politics students attended a conference on social justice at Southern Connecticut State University. They discussed current issues with students from surrounding high schools and attended a lecture on gun control by David Hogg, a survivor from the school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, FL.

Students in Anthropology Honors class visit Bronx Zoo

Students in Mr. Pelatowski's Issues in Government class using Chromebooks to research evidence for an upcoming deliberation on Immigration.

Students from the "Girl Up" club visit elementary schools to celebrate International Day of the Girl

"The Wall That Heals" comes to West Haven

On Friday October 21, Grade 9 Global Studies and Grade 10 U.S. History students from West Haven High School visited "The Wall That Heals" exhibit at Savin Rock Park. The West Haven Vietnam Veterans (WHVV) group hosted the event. The Wall last came to West Haven in 2001 and visiting the traveling monument is a very moving experience. The Wall is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC. The Wall comes in an 18-wheel truck and is accompanied by a learning center as well. Much thanks to Craig Winkle of the Winkle Bus Company for offering free shuttle service throughout the day. The event was free and open to the public but many WHHS students donated $1 to benefit the WHVV. A great day was had by all as local Vietnam Veterans explained the importance of the Vietnam War and The Wall.

AP Government trip to Southern Connecticut State University for a political forum entitled "Campaign 2016: It's Complicated". The forum featured guest speaker Caitlin Huey-Burns from the political website RealClearPolitics.

To commemorate Veterans Day, Robert Wright, a Vietnam War veteran and member
of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 18 in West Haven, spoke to U.S.
History students on Monday November 10.

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Research Papers

Social Studies Rubrics

Teachers

The key performance expectations that the WHHS Social Studies Department holds for its students are as follows:

West Haven High School graduates will:

Demonstrate the ability to read for comprehension and understand primary and secondary sources.

Write grammatically correct persuasive essays using the 5-paragraph essay format.

Research information and properly cite sources using the MLA format.

Use technology such as the Internet to identify valid websites and research for information.

Utilize and implement maps, charts and graphs to draw conclusions about global communities.

Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of multiculturalism.

Give oral presentations using a variety of visual displays such as PowerPoint, digital media and posterboards.

Work cooperatively in groups and collaborate with peers to complete tasks.

Demonstrate the ability to think critically and solve problems.

Demonstrate an understanding of U.S. History and the formation and workings of American Government.