History and Social Science
Vision: All Danville Public School students will experience high quality social studies instruction that will empower our students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to become informed and engaged citizens in an ever-changing global community.
Mission Statement: We are committed to providing a rigorous curriculum that fosters critical thinking. Through inquiry-based learning and authentic experiences, we aim to inspire our students to become lifelong learners who actively contribute to society.
Core Beliefs: The students of Danville Public Schools deserve high-quality, evidence-based Social Studies instruction. Social Studies achievement must begin by recognizing the right of all students to receive high-quality Social Studies instruction. We have eight belief statements to serve as a guide for our professional practice.
- We believe all students have a right to learn aligned, meaningful, and challenging Social Studies.
- We believe all students have a right to Social Studies instruction based on their individual needs as determined by assessments that identify their strengths as well as their needs and involve them in making decisions about their learning.
- We believe all students have a right to receive Social Studies instruction that is rigorous and connected within Social Studies disciplines and to other subjects, the real world, and to students’ daily lives.
- We believe all students have a right to receive Social Studies instruction that is driven by purposeful assessment, which impacts learning.
- We believe all students have a right to learn Social Studies in a collaborative effort between teachers, students, parents, and the community.
- We believe all students who have difficulty with Social Studies have a right to receive intervention from teachers who are skilled at intervention strategies.
- We believe all students bring their prior knowledge, strengths and experiences to Social Studies learning.
- We believe all students have a right to learn in Social Studies classrooms that engage students and optimize learning opportunities.
Department Focus:
- Using primary and secondary sources for inquiry-based learning
- Integrating literacy in Social Studies
- Writing as a tool for expression
Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning for Social Studies
