About New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School
Located on Route 22 in the town of New Lebanon, New Lebanon Jr-Sr High School serves approximately 250 students in grades 7 through 12. Our educational programs provide students with a broad range of courses – including Regents, accelerated classes, Advanced Placement, dual credit and elective choices – to meet the New York State Learning Standards for graduation. Small class sizes and differentiated instruction engage students in a safe and supportive learning environment. Students have opportunities to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Originally constructed in the 1930s, the New Lebanon Jr-Sr High School has seen many changes, including building additions in 1947, 1959 and a swimming pool in 1960. The most recent construction project - comprising significant improvements to the technology and science rooms, music department, cafeteria, athletic facilities and 7th and 8th grade classrooms - will improve our students opportunities and achievement.
Rich with history and focused on the future, the school’s mission remains the same as it was when Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the school in 1930: to ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
Providing an integrated STEM program is an important focus at New Lebanaon. Our program is supported by technologic resources in our classrooms. Students enjoy access to three computer labs and 2 mobile labs. Most of our classrooms are equipped with a SmartBoard and our high school science and technology teachers regularly use computerized probes to collect and evaluate data.
Our STEM teachers work together not only to coordinate scholastic offerings, but to provide a weath of co-curricular offerings. We currently participate in Envirothon, Math Olympics, Future Cities, Science Olympiad, the GE physics challenge. Students may also join our technology club.
Our math program provides for instructional labs to assist students in challenging rigorous math courses. We also offer several electives through our STEM programs to allow students to see a wider range of opportunities in STEM: discrete math, graphing calculators, programming, web design, energy, Computer Aided Design, and principles of engineering.
Our vibrant technology committee is dedicated to ensuring that instruction and learning include information and technical literacy. Toward that end, the committee meets monthly to ensure that we will meet our students' technological needs.
Challenging Course Offerings
New Lebanon High School offers Advanced Placement courses in Calculus, English, Biology, and Physics. We also offer dual credit courses in US History, Spanish, and CAD. We continually review our course offerings to provide the most relevant and valuable curricula possible. Students in dual credit courses are concurrently enrolled in one of the cooperating state colleges or universities. Students accepted into these programs are able to begin creating their college transcripts while in high school. Students in these courses may also exercise the option of taking an AP exam in May, if they choose.
Our 7th and 8th grade students also enjoy opportunities for advancement. We provide an accelerated math course in grade 7, high school Algebra I and Living Environment: Biology in grade 8. Qualified students can earn high school credit through these 8th grade courses. All students are enrolled in Spanish in grades 7 and 8. At the end of 8th grade, all students take the NY State Second Language Proficiency exam. Students who pass the test earn a high school credit in Spanish.
Electives
New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School offers students a wide variety of elective courses in the arts, technology, social studies, mathematics, science, business, home and careers and Spanish. We encourage students to take a full schedule of courses each year and to explore an many areas of study as possible.
Students may also take Career and Technical Education courses offered at the Questar III educational center in Troy. Students attend classes on-site for half of the school day five days a week. The programs blend academic instruction with hands-on training in a specific field. Some of the courses include: Automotive Technologies, Aviation, Construction Technologies, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Licensed Practical Nursing and Security & Law Enforcement.
The Questar III New Visions Program is designed for highly motivated, academically capable and mature high school seniors who are serious about learning more about careers in a specific field. Programs are offered in Math, Engineering, Technology & Science; Medicine & Allied Health; Scientific Research & World Health; and Visual & Performing Arts.
Community Involvement
The Shared Decision Making Committee (SDM) develops school-based initiatives. The SDM meets monthly to discuss building needs, review relevant data and address program needs to improve our students' achievement.
The New Lebanon Alumni Association is extremely supportive of the school. Each year the group donates money to the library for the purchase of reading materials and provide a separate donation for a school project. Over the years they have raised almost $20,000 for the students at New Lebanon Jr. Sr. High School.
Our Sports Boosters club promotes student involvement in athletics and supports the development of improved athletic programs. The club sponsors several activities each year, adding valuable opportunities for our students.
The New Lebanon Foundation supports studies in the humanities through monetary grants to staff and teachers. The Foundation Board is comprised of community members, faculty and administration. In addition to their grants, the Foundation hosts several activities during the year to enhance the community's access to the arts while it raises funds to continue their efforts.
Clubs & Activities
New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School is proud to offer students a wide variety of clubs and activities. Extracurricular activities are influential in helping our students build leadership, management, communications and socialization skills. Students may choose from a number of clubs and activities: student government, yearbook, literary magazine, environmental club, drama club, technology club, spirit club, Spanish club, Ski Club, Chess Club, Science Olympiad, Future Cities, Math Olympics and peer tutoring and mediation.
Music & Art
Several performing groups offer students the chance to practice and refine their playing skills. There is a junior & a senior chorus, junior & senior band and jazz band and select choir. Students in these courses also participate in small group/individual lessons during the school day. In addition to winter and spring concert performances, our musical groups proudly represent the school at Flag Day and Memorial Day parades each year. A number of our students are selected to participate in all-county and all-state groups in band and choir. Our jazz band has earned honors in competitions year after year. The jazz concert in June is a separate event that allows the audience the opportunity to enjoy their picnic dinners during a more casual performance in the gymnasium.
The New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School art program provides students with a well-rounded education designed to strengthen their skills and appreciation for art. Classes are offered in a variety of disciplines, including grade 7 art, studio art, drawing & painting, media art, ceramics and sculpture. Classes provide students with opportunities to explore the arts for both academic and personal enrichment. The Studio Art class visits the Clarke Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, supporting the spiral curriculum in art history. Students have been recognized by The Independent and display their artwork at the Columbia County Fair each year. Our school art shows are presented in conjunction with our musical concerts.
Library Media Center
The New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School’s library media center provides students with a dynamic center for research, reading, homework and small group study. We currently maintain a comprehensive collection of more than 10,000 books and dozens of print magazines and newspapers. Materials are available throughout the school day for both research and leisurely reading. Our medial and print collection in reviewed yearly to ensure that our students have access to valuable books, periodicals and data bases.
The library media center also plays a key role in integrating information literacy in all curriculum areas. Our media specialist works with teachers to develop our students' technical literacy and become discriminating seekers and users of information. Our librarian supports our faculty members' use of media resources through her mastery of inquiry-based learning.
Career and Counseling Center
The New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Counseling Center offers all students a variety of services to support their academic growth. These services include counseling and advisement, occupational and career information and college planning. The school counselor meets regularly with students, parents and teachers to assist students in achieving their academic and career goals both in New Lebanon and upon graduation.
Athletics
New Lebanon is a member of the New York State Athletic Association, competing as a Class D school in the Central Hudson Valley League (CHVL) of Section II. We currently offer a competitive athletics program in girls and boys soccer, basketball, volleyball;, swimming (in cooperation with Berlin CSD), wrestling (in cooperation with Berlin CSD), track & field and boy's baseball and girls' softball. Our weight room is a resource for all students in training as well as for our physical education classes.
New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School has a proud tradition of athletic excellence. In recent years our varsity, junior varsity and modified teams have won league titles and our student-athletes have been named to all-star teams and honored as Most Valuable Players and Scholar-Athletes. Our facilities include three soccer fields, a four lane swimming pool, a baseball field and gymnasium and weight room. A softball field on campus was completed in 2010 and will be in use in 2011.