James F. Doughty School
143 Fifth Street Bangor, Maine 04401 (207) 941-6220 Grades 6-8
Message from Principal Robert L. MacDonald:
"Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write. In a word, let every sluice of knowledge be opened and set a flowing." - John Adams, Founding Father
The James F. Doughty School, a grade 6, 7 & 8 schoolhouse serving 425 students from Bangor's west side, enthusiastically strives to provide each student with the most appropriately ambitious academic program available. A thoughtful, reflective, and dedicated faculty are committed to offering each student an opportunity to engage learning through a rigorous and stimulating curriculum while, at the same time, employing a variety of techniques and strategies intended to create that special sense of belonging to the schoolhouse that generates confidence and momentum for learning. Seventy-percent of the J.F.D. faculty support students by leading or assisting co-curricular activities.
Originally named Fifth Street Junior High when the school opened in 1940, following construction by the Public Works Administration, a federal work program established to offer employment after the Great Depression, the James F. Doughty School was renamed in the spring of 2000 for Bangor native and former Bangor Superintendent of Schools James Frederick Doughty. An extensive renovation project completed in 1991 equipped the schoolhouse for learning in the
21st century. More specifically, all classrooms along with the media
center, auditorium, and gymnasium are wired for internet access. All
students in grade 7 & 8 are issued laptops to support their
learning while grade 6 students will receive laptops in the fall of
2006-07. Three science labs allow students in grades 6-8 to engage
'hands-on-science' while the media center with 11, 854 titles and links
to electronic databases provides faculty and students access to a
variety of information sources.
JFDS's instructional program intends to accelerate learning for all students. The mathematics program offers a variety of options including geometry in grade 8, along with pre-algebra or algebra I in grade 7 and/or grade 8. Accelerated classes are offered at grades 7 & 8 in the disciplines of English, science, and history. Grade 6 offers accelerated study in language arts and math. To support the learning of all students, J.F.D. offers one of Maine's few middle level Title I programs designed to accelerate the math and/or reading performance of students whose performance trails achievement expectations. Resource room instruction as well as composite room teaching serve students with identified learning and behavioral disabilities. Foreign language study includes both exploratory French and Spanish as well as Spanish I and French I.
During their grade 8 year, students in addition to their study of physical science are enrolled in a second science course, applied science. Applied science, an inquiry based exploration of science, considers topics such as Habits of the Mind where students examine the role of critical thinking in considering the questions posed by science. Exposure to the arts through the study of music and art in each of the 3 years at J.F.D. adds a richness to the students' day that leads many to further study of the arts in high school. And, a physical education program that targets and monitors fitness reinforces the importance of healthy living. J.F.D. values the importance of each learner and strives to create and maintain an environment conducive to learning for all students. However, learning is not easy. It involves making mistakes, exploring the unknown, and taking the risk of sharing an idea and an opinion. Learning also requires daily hard work. Three ingredients for success, hard work, courage, and perseverance are valued, modeled, and reinforced regularly with students.
The J.F.D. community embraces the challenge of providing the best possible education for students preparing them to pursue their dreams. It is not surprising then that one can find displayed in many J.F.D. classrooms, Abraham Lincoln's quote, "Upon the subject of education I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we, as a people, can be engaged in".
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Artwork by JFDS students (click an image for more detail):
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