More Collaboration to be Key at Westborough High

At Westborough High School, "kids will perhaps leave their history class, go to an art class, and have to analyze a piece of art with some historical significance," this year more than ever, Principal Brian Callaghan says.

"There will be greater collaboration among staff members across the various disciplines" as part of Massachusetts' Common Core State Standards Initiative, and "the need for students to access information from various disciplines," he says.

"We've been doing that a lot over the last couple of years, because it's been good practice. Now we have to, because of Common Core," Callaghan said.

Westborough students start school on Wednesday.

Callaghan is part of a new leadership team at WHS with Assistant Principals Carol Cavanaugh and Matthew Lefebvre.

Callaghan was an assistant principal under John Smith, who became Dover-Sherborn High School headmaster this summer, ending six years here. Lefebvre was the WHS band director.

"The students and the staff are going to have a consistent message," Callaghan said.

"They're going recognize that we're a team, that we are going to work hard to make this school run the best it can, and that's from the student and teacher perspectives. The school will provide a lot of support, a lot of clarification, we'll be visible, and we're going to be direct and honest."

A New England Association of Schools and Colleges visiting team will offer its perspective on Westborough High during and after a three-day visit during the first week in March.

The visit is part of the association's 10-year accreditation process.

Callaghan called the visit "an opportunity to showcase our school."

"They will shadow, they will interview, they will dig into what we do here. And they will make commendations and recommendations based on their standards," he said.