Kathryn Paraggio, a science teacher at Nashua High School North, at the top of Mount Washington in February. Courtesy photo by Kathryn Paraggio

NASHUA – As students at Nashua High School North began selecting their classes for the fall, they found that meteorology had been added to the science curriculum.

This addition makes Nashua North one of the first high schools in New England to offer a class in meteorology.

Spearheaded by Science Teacher Kathryn Paraggio, the class will focus on “weather phenomena and why the world works the way it does.”

“I want our kids to be as excited as I am,” she said.

Last fall, Paraggio, who currently teaches physical science, was approached by Head Science Teacher Cheryl Meesig who asked her about teaching another course.

“I proposed meteorology because I enjoyed teaching that subject as a middle school teacher,” said Paraggio, adding that she adapted a curriculum that was used in New Jersey to comply with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Thus far, two meteorology classes are full for the fall semester.

“I am really pleased that kids signed up for it,” said Paraggio. “I am going to make it as hands-on as possible so they are actively engaged in the course material. It will bolster the science curriculum simply by giving students another opportunity to relate what they learn in science class to the world outside the classroom.”

Paraggio said the process of creating the new course was a “little daunting.” Therefore, she contacted Dr. Samuel Miller, a meteorology professor at Plymouth State University, for advice regarding professional development.

“I want to give students the best possible experience in the course by preparing myself and seeking guidance from experts,” she said.

One professional development program, Arctic Wednesdays: Professional Development for Teachers in Extreme Weather and Climate, took Paraggio to the windswept summit of Mount Washington. During the February trip, she had the opportunity to work alongside the staff at the Mount Washington Observatory. However, the trip was no easy venture.

At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the Northeast. As such, conditions during the winter months are downright brutal. According to the observatory, fog can reduce visibility to less than 100 feet, winds can roar at 100 miles per hour and cause temperatures to plummet to 45 degrees below zero.

“It was pretty cold in the morning and they did require that participants have appropriate winter gear in order to go up the mountain because we needed to be able to hike out in the event of an emergency,” said Paraggio. “We were super lucky to have a clear day, the vistas were literally breathtaking.”

This summer, Paraggio will travel to Kansas City, Mo. to participate in Project Atmosphere: Sensing, Analyzing and Forecasting. The program is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the American Meteorological Society and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.