Special Learning Opportunities for Sophomores

The purpose of the Sophomore Passage Presentation is, at the halfway point of high school, to give each student an opportunity to:

• demonstrate who s/he is and where s/he wants to go

• reflect on growth

• develop presentation skills

• share (and develop) talents and passions

  The “Sophomore Passage” is a gateway to being an upperclassman. In late spring, each sophomore will review classroom work with teachers and eventually complete a ten to fifteen minute, public presentation that addresses the overarching questions of Crew: Who am I? How am I doing? What are my plans for the future? The presentation will include a demonstration of a talent or passion as well as substantive reflection on the three questions and the Pathways to Success. The audience will include a panel of students and staff. The presentation grade will appear on a student's transcript. 

0. Junior and Senior Year

   The goal of the junior and senior year at CBHS is to graduate each student:
   • Self Aware: with a clear sense of who they are and where they want to go.
   • Trained: with the skills and knowledge they will need to both follow their dreams and be productive citizens.
   • Ready: for college, career, and citizenship.

   Our junior and senior year curriculum will ensure all students...

   1. 1)  become more aware of themselves, their community, and their world.

   2. 2)  meet essential learning targets in math, science, and the humanities.

   3. 3)  experience structured opportunities to pursue their particular passions and interests in

      greater depth.

   4. 4)  assume greater independence and responsibility for the nature and course of their

      education.

   5. 5)  develop the habits, skills, and knowledge necessary for quality craftsmanship and

      responsible, involved citizenship.

   Juniors and seniors continue a college preparatory core curriculum through crew, humanities, math, and science as well as electives which might include second language study, a college course, a PATHS course, independent study or a course at Deering or Portland. Interdisciplinary learning expeditions will continue to drive curriculum, but, as compared to expeditions in 9th and 10th grade, junior and senior expeditions are more likely to involve fewer courses and more student ownership and choice. All CBHS upperclassmen are strongly encouraged to enroll in at least one USM or SMCC course before they graduate. CBHS students will be eligible for at least one course, tuition free, thanks to our partnership with the two colleges called U. Start Ahead. 

Special Learning Opportunities for Juniors

In lieu of Spring Intensives, juniors will experience two different kinds of compact expeditions: the internship and Junior Journey. The first is a one-week Junior Internship (.5 elective credits). In collaboration with staff and community partners, students will design an internship in a field of interest. After the internship, crew advisors will help students reflect on their experience for a presentation of their learning.

The mission of the Junior Journey is to involve CBHS juniors in a one-week, cross-cultural learning experience that will expand students’ sense of both their world and who they are through service and adventure learning. In 2011, CBHS students and staff travelled to Biloxi, Mississippi and completed service projects as well as oral histories about residents whose lives were impacted by the BP Oil Spill and Hurricane Katrina. Last year's juniors engaged in a similar process of service and documentary study of Hurricane Sandy victims in the Rockaways (Queens) as part of an expedition called “The Eye of the Storm.” Students must complete substantial fund-raising so that all juniors can participate, but we expect the Junior Journey will remain a foundational piece of the Casco Bay education.

Special Learning Opportunities for Seniors
All seniors will design and complete their own Senior Expedition focused on a particular passion or field of interest. Seniors will be coached through this process in Senior Humanities, publicly presenting their learning in the early spring. One requirement of Senior Humanities will be that each senior complete an application for a college or post-secondary program as well as a post- secondary plan. Senior Humanities teachers will support students through this process– with regular assistance from crew advisors and our guidance counselors. Senior year curriculum is launched with the Senior Quest (p 23) and ends with the Final Word (p 55).

Course Offerings

Common Schedule Offerings at Deering and Portland

All high school students in Portland are able to take advantage of common schedule offerings at Casco Bay, Deering and Portland High Schools. For the first and last blocks of the day, start times are synched so that PPS students may take a course that their home school may not offer or which otherwise does not fit in their schedule. Bus transportation can be provided to and from the home school. Casco Bay students have taken advantage of courses such as Band, Chorus, Latin, Java Programming. Public Speaking, US History and World Religions through the “Common Block.” Enrollment is subject to class size and logistics. Given the number of required team core courses for freshmen and sophomores, common schedule offerings are more likely to be an option for juniors and seniors. Please contact Mr. Hale for more information.

Early College – U. Start Ahead

CBHS is thrilled to offer the opportunity for each student to take a college course – tuition free – before s/he graduates from high school. This is a crucial part of our pledge to prepare each student for college, for career and for citizenship. We call it U. Start Ahead. USM Education Professor Lynne Miller notes that “freshmen who arrive on campus with 3 - 6 college credits gain momentum and increase the probability of graduating from college on time.” We are able to offer at least one USM or SMCC course to all interested and eligible juniors and seniors.

Certain standardized test scores (on the SAT's, Accuplacer and/or PSAT's) and a 3.0 GPA may be required to enroll in a particular course and/or be eligible for free tuition. CBHS students will be limited to courses where there is space available after matriculated USM students have completed their sign-ups. In addition, for USM, CBHS students will be limited to “100 level” classes (except by professor approval) and primarily classes that meet after 2pm on the Portland campus. See Ms. Doyle for the extensive list of potential courses. So far, nearly half of CBHS students have taken advantage of the opportunity to take USM or SMCC courses before graduation, ranging from Women's Studies to Beginning Japanese, from Oceanography to Calculus.

With SMCC, in 2014-2015, we plan to offer the following college courses on the CBHS campus, Introduction to Psychology (fall) and Introduction to International Relations (spring).

Like all USM students, CBHS students will be responsible for some University fees (which provide athletic facilities access) as well as the cost of buying course books. Participating students may be eligible for early dismissal or late arrival on some days. Taking an early college course is a significant challenge, opportunity and responsibility. Interested students must complete all of the requisite paperwork and requirements. Students must turn in their final college grades to CBHS in order to earn credit towards graduation and to have the course and grade listed on their CBHS transcript.