Dig into a range of topics in physics, chemistry, and geology using the unique resources available in NMH’s state-of-the-art Gilder Center and stunning campus and environs. You’ll analyze motion in one and two dimensions, understand the structure of matter, and explore the stories recorded in the rocks and fossils of the local environment. An emphasis on hands-on discovery and outdoor exploration, as well as on building laboratory skills, teamwork, and independence, will provide you a sound foundation and increase your confidence for any high school science class.

Four-week course. Periods 1 and 2.

This compelling course introduces the principles and practices of forensic science, which starts with crime scene investigation. Learn about collecting and processing evidence and the scientific tools and techniques for analyzing it. Pattern recognition — including fingerprint analysis, document analysis, and ballistics analysis — will be emphasized. We’ll also discuss studies of real crime scenes as well as reconstruct several in class or on campus. 

While a background in biology or chemistry is not required, we will cover basic forensic biology and chemistry topics such as DNA analysis, hair analysis, toxicology, and materials analysis. 

Period 1

In this course, you’ll be inspired to embrace reading by developing skills for analyzing fiction, drama, and poetry through engaging reading and writing assignments. You’ll read and discuss fiction in a range of styles; study fundamental elements such as plot, setting, and theme; and relate the literature to your own experiences. Vocabulary will be studied daily to further your reading comprehension and written proficiency. 

Period 1.

Whether you want to take center stage or to work behind the scenes, you’ll get a taste of live theater as literature, production, and performance. You’ll learn about acting techniques such as scene study, improvisation, vocal production, and stage movement. You’ll also get to know the basics of stage production, including set design and construction, design and use of lighting, costume design, and the use and construction of props. And you’ll perform both short scenes and monologues. 

Period 1

Build a strong foundation in the most important concepts of algebra and develop the skills and habits you’ll need for success in future math courses. You’ll work with variables and properties, solve equations and inequalities, learn about functions and graphing, and work with triangles to lay a foundation for geometry. 

Four-week course. Period 1.

How do people think about themselves and others? What motivates their behavior or yours? Using literature, experiments, and group projects, you’ll learn how humans interact, communicate, and connect with others. 

You’ll examine positive and negative influences such as decision-making, group behavior, attraction, aggression, and factors that promote health and well-being. Together, we’ll make observations, conduct experiments, and report findings as we seek to understand and unlock the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of individuals and groups in society. 

Period 1

Are you a poet in the making? Do you have stories to tell? Writer William Faulkner said, “A writer needs three things — experience, observation, and imagination — any two of which (at times any one of which) can supply the lack of the others.” 

In this class, you’ll gain experience, hone your observational skills, and spark your writer’s imagination. You’ll read short stories, essays, and poems, then experiment with writing your own. Practice makes perfect, so expect lots of freewriting and revising your own work with supportive feedback from your teacher and classmates as you develop confidence as a writer.

Period 1.

Sharpen your imaginary sword, don your chainmail and armor, saddle up your warhorse, and raise the portcullis as you learn about knighthood, chivalry, and the art of battle. Through group work, projects, and multimedia sources, you’ll explore early towns and castles, investigate the inner workings of the medieval church and monasteries, and learn about the marginal existence of an average peasant. 

You’ll also discover why legendary heroes of the Middle Ages — both real and mythical — such as Charlemagne, St. Bernard, Joan of Arc, Marco Polo, and King Arthur of Camelot continue to influence our stories and culture today. A world of honor, duty, challenges and hardships, and adventure awaits! 

Period 2

Deepen your environmental understanding as you collaborate and perform classroom and laboratory work along with hands-on fieldwork. In this course, NMH’s expansive campus serves as a living laboratory, where you’ll explore diverse habitats, plants, animals, and environmental issues across our remarkable landscape of fields, streams, ponds, vernal pools, cultivated agricultural spaces, woodlands, and trails. You’ll also study the campus watershed, which contributes directly to the adjacent Connecticut River, and explore further afield on hiking and other outdoor excursions in the region. 

Period 2.

Plunge headlong into the epic struggle between good and evil and embark on a hero’s journey through literature, film, legend, and history. 

Are villains just heroes of their own stories? How can you be a hero in your own life? Through discussion, group work, and written exercises, you’ll engage with heroes and villains ranging from Achilles and Agamemnon to Iron Man and Thanos. You’ll consider and confront morality in a new light and deepen your understanding of heroism and villainy. 

Period 2

Oceans cover two-thirds of our planet, contain the biggest mountain range on Earth, and are home to most wildlife. In this class, you learn about those creatures, how they interact, and how they adapt to various marine environments. You’ll also explore the effects that volcanic action, pollution, acid rain, climate change, and human activities such as fishing have on our oceans. Together, we’ll research, collaborate, and strategize how to make a positive difference in the sustainability of our oceans. We’ll also take excursions to coastal sites to apply what we’re learning in the classroom to real-world marine settings.

Period 2.

As the old adage goes: “Those who tell stories will rule the world.” In this course, you’ll write your own short story, learning the components that comprise a story and how setting, characters, and plot work together. You’ll also read and discuss a diverse selection of short stories, some of them realistic and others that stray from the real world. 

Period 2.

Anyone can be an artist! Try your hand at drawing in pencil, charcoal, and ink, then dabble in pastels, watercolors, and acrylics. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with linoleum-block printmaking, collage, clay, and 3-D sculpture. 

Work alongside a visual artist and receive instruction and supportive feedback. Open to students of all levels who want to spark joy, relieve stress, or begin a portfolio.

Period 2

In this comprehensive course covering a full academic year of content, you’ll delve into key topics such as properties of mathematical systems, solutions of equations and inequalities, graphs of linear equations and systems, operations on polynomials, and more. Prepare to unravel the mysteries of mathematical concepts, including solving quadratic equations through factoring and the quadratic formula. The art of solving word problems is woven into the fabric of this course, providing a practical application for your skills.

This course will equip you with the tools to confidently tackle high school-level mathematics. 

Prerequisite: Prealgebra

Four-week, credit eligible course. Periods 1-3

Note: Math courses can cover much of a full year of curriculum in four weeks. Students should expect a fast-paced, intensive, engaging course and must demonstrate a pattern of high achievement with a recommendation from their current math teacher. While some of these courses are eligible for credit, NMH cannot guarantee credit or acceleration at another school. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain approval from their school prior to commencing with a credit-eligible course. Please note the prerequisites for each course.

In this course, you’ll explore the intricacies of shapes and spatial relationships with clarity and precision. Prepare for an intellectual expedition where deductive and inductive reasoning serve as your trusty guides. Explore triangles, polygons, parallel lines, and circles, unlocking the secrets of congruence, similarity, and the three-dimensional wonders of solids. 

This credit course is a roadmap to understanding the geometry that shapes our world and a gateway to deeper mathematical exploration. You will master the art of logical reasoning as you prepare for the next level, Algebra 2. 

Prerequisite: Algebra I

Four-week, credit-eligible course. Periods 1-3.

Note: Math courses can cover much of a full year of curriculum in four weeks. Students should expect a fast-paced, intensive, engaging course and must demonstrate a pattern of high achievement with a recommendation from their current math teacher. While some of these courses are eligible for credit, NMH cannot guarantee credit or acceleration at another school. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain approval from their school prior to commencing with a credit-eligible course. Please note the prerequisites for each course.

Whether you're aiming to boost your grade, deepen your understanding, or prepare for the next level in the upcoming academic year, this comprehensive review course is for you. Dive into a thorough exploration of essential Algebra II concepts, from functions and equations to quadratic systems, presented in a student-centered manner.

Gear up for a learning adventure that clarifies complex algebraic ideas and paves the way for advancement. This course equips you with the tools for success, bolsters confidence, and presents Algebra II as accessible and rewarding for students on their mathematical journey.

Prerequisite: Algebra I

Four-week course. Periods 1 and 2. Non-credit