WINDHAM — The new principal at Windham High School wants to encourage all its students and prepare them for the next phase of life.
Maybe that is why Principal Tom Murphy, 42, will try to meet most, if not all, students individually through an informal Friday morning breakfast club during the school year.
Every Friday, he will sit with a randomly selected group of students for 20 minutes to see how they are doing and what is on their minds.
Murphy has a direct, but relaxed, relationship with students.
School Board Chairman Bruce Anderson said that is one reason why the board selected Murphy for the post.
"The kids like and respect him," Anderson said.
The board also was impressed with Murphy's experience developing curriculum. He helped design the curriculum for the new junior class and will do the same for the seniors. In addition, he will help tailor studies for students to reach their goals.
"Whether it is a student who wants to be an auto mechanic or go to an Ivy League school," Anderson said.
Opportunity is important to Murphy.
He considers the library — also known as the media center — one of the most important places at the school.
Stepping through the doors of the library, just off the school's main entrance, Murphy said the room and adjoining rooms will be a place where students can get extra help before, after and during school.
A full-time teacher will be available to help special education students during their regular directed study class.
Another room adjoining the library is available to any student to get help from teachers versed in various subjects. National Honor Society students will be available to tutor classmates.
"Number one for me is to make sure we craft and support a 21st century curriculum," Murphy said.
While he wants students to be well prepared for the future, history is never far from his thoughts.
Books about Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman and other major figures in American history line the bookcase in his office. He taught history in his hometown of Billerica for 13 years, three at the middle school and 10 at the high school.
Those were schools he attended. He and his future wife, Valerie, met as seventh-graders at Locke Middle School.
Looking ahead to this school year at Windham High School, the big difference in 2010-2011 is there will be more activity at the school.
"It's going to feel more alive," Murphy said.
Windham High opened with only freshman and sophomore classes in its first year. This year there will be three grades and next year a full complement of four grades.
He said he expects the classes will start to develop their own identities. Last year, it was just Windham High School. In the coming years, the classes will define themselves through events and classes associated with those grades.
Ultimately, Murphy said, he wants students in those classes to be able to choose the direction of their lives.
"Our job is to prepare them for the next phase," he said.
School opens tomorrow in Windham.
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