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The scores are 11 percentage points higher than the and an awareness of the target language culture.Town state and ranked second among Cape and Islands residents who are native speakers of languages other schools. In grade 10, 97% of students scored profi- than English, or those who have lived in other coun- cient or advanced,6 points higher than the state aver- tries, are encouraged to contact the Mashpee Middle- age on the graduation requirement exam. The scores High School to share their knowledge. place Mashpee among the top schools on the Cape and Islands. We are proud of our students and faculty for Science their hard work in preparing for and performing on the The Mashpee Middle-High School Science exams. Department continued to offer a set of traditional, engaging and applied science courses.All classes also Teachers continued to adapt their instruction, embarked on many new programs and initiatives,sev- curriculum, and use of data to support the district's eral of which will be highlighted herein. efforts to implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Of note, many in our eighth grade Science classes were fortunate to have a Massachusetts Fish The department continued to offer two and Wildlife Biologist spend several days working Advanced Placement courses and two electives, cre- with them developing and exploring hands-on models ative writing and journalism, in addition to the core to investigate habitat suitability and use of nearby English classes, four years of which are required to managed forest by New England Cottontail Rabbits. graduate from MMHS. The journalism class is Additionally, the rabbit studies were supported by involved in the production of news content for the upper class Advanced Placement Science students, school news website, The Falconer. The ELA who mentored our 8th graders during their field work Department also had students participate in several and were able to assist with data interpretation.These essay, poetry and writing contests including the studies were well instructed by Mashpee Middle-High Classroom Times and MIAA Sportsmanship Essay School teachers and the data is part of a long-term Contest where several student's work was highlighted study and management program targeting the restora- in their yearly publication. tion of this species. World Languages Six students, representing twenty-two of their In World Languages,our teachers are working to peers from our Environmental Science class, pre- provide our students with authentic,relevant language sented their soil research findings to professional sci- learning experiences through a communicative entists with data-rich posters and active discussions. approach, preparing students to understand and be understood in real-world situations while broadening Our young scientists explored their areas of their outlook in order to find success in our global interest through five experiential learning field trips. society. Students visited a state-of-the-art water treatment plant associated with the Massachusetts Military At the Middle-High School,students continue to Reservation, explored human anatomy through the make progress in French, Spanish, and Mandarin. Body World exhibit, and gained insight into criminal Curricular and instructional alignment with the investigations and our justice system at our local American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Police Station and County Crime Lab. Additionally, Languages (ACTFL) World Readiness Standards for our science explorations included a detailed trip to the Learning Languages and accompanying "Can-Do" Franklin Park Zoo, where many found great pleasure statements continued to be a departmental focus. in learning about our magnificent wildlife. Those standards define what students should know and be able to communicate effectively and develop In addition to our many hands-on labs and cultural competence. The shift is underway in the inquiry-based investigations, our students also chal- department from a grammar-based, textbook-driven lenged themselves through several formal exams. approach to one that emphasizes interpersonal com- Thirty-two of our Advanced Placement science stu- munication and interaction, with students developing dents earned high marks, qualifying them for college proficiency through dynamic and engaging activities, credits and deferring many college course require- 148