Seneca Valley Social Studies
(Adopted from the National Council of Social Studies)
Seneca Valley Social Studies educators teach students the content knowledge, intellectual skills, and civic values necessary for fulfilling the duties of citizenship in a participatory democracy. The mission of Social Studies is to provide leadership, service, and support for all social studies students.
NCSS defines social studies as "the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence." Within the SVHS school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences.
In essence, social studies promote knowledge of and involvement in civic affairs. And because civic issues--such as health care, crime, and foreign policy--are multidisciplinary in nature, understanding these issues and developing resolutions to them require multidisciplinary education. These characteristics are the key defining aspects of the Seneca Valley Social Studies Department.
Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies provides an articulated 9-12 social studies program that serves as a framework for the integration of other national standards in social studies, including U.S. and World History, National, State, and Local Government, geography, global education, and economics. Our standards ensure that an integrated social science, behavioral science, and humanities approach for achieving academic and civic competence is available to guide social studies students in decisions for the future.
This framework consists of themes incorporating fields of study that correspond with one or more relevant disciplines. We believe that effective social studies programs include experiences that provide for the study of:
| Culture | Power, Authority, and Governance |
| Time, Continuity, and Change | Production, Distribution, and Consumption |
| People, Places, and Environment | Science, Technology, and Society |
| Individual Development and Identity | Civic Ideals and Practices |
| Individuals, Groups, and Institutions | Global Connections |
Staff
Social Studies staff participate in many school activities, including the Fall Festival, Homecoming Parade, Spirit Days and Student/Staff Basketball game, to name a few.
Charlie Barnhart, Resource Teacher (department head)
| Barbara Arrindell | Sharon Gardner | Martin Morin | Barbara Weyman |
| Katie Caldwell | Bob Lee | Carlos Osorio- ESOL | Bob Walko |
| Ed Deitch | Jon Main | Wayne Snyder |