GorhamHigh School

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Our Beliefs

Mission Statement

The mission of Gorham High School is to provide a variety of educational opportunities in a safe, positive environment. Our aim is that each graduate thinks critically and creatively, communicates effectively, reads and listens for understanding, solves problems, acts as a responsible citizen and aspires to realize individual goals.

Core Values

Respect: A person who is respectful of oneself, others, and the environment 

  • Engages in polite and appropriate interactions with others 
  • Values themselves and others
  • Cares for surroundings

Honesty: A person who is honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright and fair; and honest in all endeavors 

  • Seeks to tell the truth
  • Accepts ownership and responsibility for actions and work
  • Maintains trust in all relationships

Courage: A person who exhibits integrity in the face of ethical challenges 

  • Stands up for what is right, even when it’s unpopular 
  • Takes appropriate risks 
  • Seeks advice when making difficult decisions 
  • Finds solutions to challenges 

Compassion: A person who is sympathetic to others 

  • Shows empathy by being sensitive to the perspectives, needs and feelings of others
  • Provides help in appropriate ways 

Responsibility: A person who is able to answer for his or her conduct and obligations and able to choose for oneself between right and wrong as an individual and as a member of the community 

  • Demonstrates accountability for personal behavior 
  • Takes initiative to do the things that are expected 
  • Follows through with commitments 
Guiding Principles – Vision of a Graduate
 

A Clear and Effective Communicator who:

  1. Demonstrates organized and purposeful communication in English and at least one other language.
  2. Uses evidence and logic appropriately in communication.
  3. Adjusts communication based on the audience.
  4. Uses a variety of modes of expression (spoken, written, and visual and performing including the use of technology to create and share the expressions).
 

A Self-Directed and Lifelong Learner who:

  1. Recognizes the need for information and locates and evaluates resources.
  2. Applies knowledge to set goals and make informed decisions.
  3. Applies knowledge in new contexts.
  4. Demonstrates initiative and independence.
  5. Demonstrates flexibility including the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
  6. Demonstrates reliability and concern for quality.
  7. Uses interpersonal skills to learn and work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
 

A Creative and Practical Problem Solver who:

  1. Observes and evaluates situations to define problems.
  2. Frames questions, makes predictions, and designs data/information collection and analysis strategies.
  3. Identifies patterns, trends, and relationships that apply to solutions.
  4. Generates a variety of solutions, builds a case for a best response and critically evaluates the effectiveness of the response.
  5. Sees opportunities, finds resources, and seeks results.
  6. Uses information and technology to solve problems.
  7. Perseveres in challenging situations.
 

A Responsible and Involved Citizen who:

  1. Participates positively in the community and designs creative solutions to meet human needs and wants.
  2. Accepts responsibility for personal decisions and actions.
  3. Demonstrates ethical behavior and the moral courage to sustain it.
  4. Understands and respects diversity.
  5. Displays global awareness and economic and civic literacy.
  6. Demonstrates awareness of personal and community health and wellness.
 

An Integrative and Informed Thinker who:

  1. Gains and applies knowledge across disciplines and learning contexts and to real life situations with and without technology.
  2. Evaluates and synthesizes information from multiple sources.
  3. Applies ideas across disciplines.
  4. Applies systems thinking to understand the interaction and influence of related parts on each other and on outcomes.