What are Extended Learning Opportunities?
Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO’s) allow students to gain knowledge and skills through learning that takes place outside of the traditional classroom. ELO’s use defined objectives, through flexible instruction or study outside of the traditional classroom methodology, including, but not limited, to the following experiences: Internship, Job Shadow, Mentorships, Apprenticeships, Digital Learning, Independent Study, Community service. These learning experiences provide an opportunity for students to complete work and earn credits in a high interest area.
Need more info or want to explore a potential ELO? Contact Ms. Gervais @ sgervais@bonnyeagle.org to schedule a meeting.
Develop relationships with employees at a company, enhance communication skills, responsibility and first hand experience! Internships provide a great opportunity to explore your future career field. If you are interested in learning more about our internship program email ELO teacher Ms. Gervais @ sgervais@bonnyeagle.org.
General Requirements: Interested Junior and Senior students in good academic standing will be linked with a community partner and spend 50-60 hours on site during the semester. Students will be be required to keep a log of their hours and experience as well as creating a presentation to demonstrate their learning experience. Students will check in with ELO teacher bi-weekly throughout the semester.
Any forms or needed materials for students, staff or community partners can be found in the links below.
Throughout our community there are a variety of in person and virtual extended learning opportunities. These cover many career fields and areas of student interest. Possible extended studies in Architecture, Engineering, Medical, Education and many more. Extended Study opportunities have the potential to be credit bearing or can serve as supplemental resources. If interested email ELO teacher Ms. Gervais @ sgervais@bonnyeagle.org
Student/Guardian Forms:
Student Transportation Permission Fillable Form
Internship / Extended Study Permission Form
Molly Sawyer
Internship - Nonantum Resort
At the Nonantum Resort, I was able to gain real workforce experience, build lasting connections, and gain knowledge on my future career. Before my internship, I planned on working in the marketing and advertising industry and by the time I finished at Nonantum, I was confident in my interest. I was able to learn about the general business practice of the workplace and clients, along with skills specific to marketing and advertising. I also worked hands on with the marketing team and assisted with individual projects. As a result of the hospitality setting, it also introduced me to something I had no idea about. Now, from the help of my mentors and advisor, I have generated a future plan and feel confident in my work.
Internship HVAC
The impact of this internship on me was huge and an amazing experience for me. I knew I wanted to always do HVAC and I worked all summer in this field. This internship has helped progress my hard and soft skills and allowed me to learn and do different jobs and be more confident. In doing work and with all the learning, I found that I want to further my career by taking it to the next level and go to SMCC and take some classes to get my licenses and maybe take some business classes to be able to take over my family business or start my own some day. I am thankful for everyone that has help me to be able to get where I am at and I learned so much from this hands on experience and I would recommend it to everyone.
Informational Interview - Emergency Medicine
I interviewed a third year medical student from Tufts to ask some questions about the transition into medical school, why he decided to go down this path, and to gather any advice I could for the future. Some of the biggest takeaways I discovered were that there are some challenges to going to medical school such as overcoming things like packed schedules, dealing with loneliness, lack of motivation, and making sacrifices. However, eventually, everything will become rewarding and satisfying, and the end goal is going to be worth it. I also learned that it would be helpful to go into a job in the hospital as either a scribe or an EMT to help with terminology and get experience. I also learned about the path to medical school, classes I should take, and why I think emergency medicine is a good fit for me. I had previously expressed interest in going in the Tufts Maine Track, and from this interview, I learned that it is a worthwhile option. I think this is an eye-opening opportunity and valuable resource.
Extended Study - Maine Medical Center
The Maine Medical Center Inside Medicine Club has been an incredible opportunity to see the numerous possibilities that the medical field has to offer. Through our monthly meetings, I had the chance to interact with Tufts' medical students and other passionate high school students in a stress-free environment, which allowed for open questions and conversations into the challenges of medical school and their individual experiences. These perspectives advanced my interest in pursuing medicine and supplied me with tips needed to navigate this demanding path along with a greater understanding of my options. Outside of the monthly meetings, I also had the opportunity to interview a current medical student I was grouped with during the Inside Medicine Meets. In my interview, he not only answered all of my questions to the fullest, but he offered me an immense amount of insight into his personal path to medical school that differed from the conventional path I'd previously heard about and the struggles he overcome. The insightful responses from the interview and the Inside Medicine Club meetings have taught me that there is no particular path one is supposed to follow to medical school, rather the most successful path is one that is right for you, which you'll find by taking the time to truly "know yourself."
Extended Study - ACE Program
Architecture, Construction, Engineering
The ACES program has opened a whole world of wonder. Being exposed to different aspects of careers pertaining to Architecture, Construction, Engineering, and STEM. I went in with limited knowledge only having a general interest. Nearing the end of the program I can confidently say what my next steps are. Weekly assignments have exposed aspects of different careers and has allowed me to explore and find my passion. Site tours showed the work environment and the end product labor. A final project incorporates all aspects of learned material through a small group project. If I hadn’t participated in the ACES program I may have moved on from a new and deep passion inspired by the mentors who graciously offered their experience in different careers to help provide the best learning experience possible.
Informational Interview
Central Maine Power
I am glad to have had an awesome interview with Joshua Teel who is a senior project manager with Central Maine Power. Josh had many years experience in the field and was able to share valuable information. He provided great insight into the lineman career, education opportunities and requirements as well as other professional options within the career field.
Informational Interview
Maine State Crime Lab
If possible, I would recommend taking the opportunity to interview someone who is in the career path you are looking at before entering that field or starting courses for your major. Because I had the opportunity to do this I feel more confident in my choice in major and career path. I was able to gain more knowledge about Forensic Science and it was rewarding to talk with a professional face to face and have my questions answered.
ODAT Machine in Gorham was happy to host two Bonny Eagle students to complete an extended study opportunity. Students hit different learning standards in a variety of ways throughout this fifteen week program and showed progress in achieving and understanding the Solidworks software and how it interacts with Computer numerical control production equipment. We enjoyed hosting this learning experience and hope the students continue in this field as future engineers.
Mentor Program - ACE works to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering and construction through mentoring and to support their continued advancement in the industry. This is a yearly program that typically meets weekly October-March. See more info about this program here: https://www.acementor.org/
A program open to Maine high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the Future Teachers Academy is for students who are interested in exploring the field of education as a career. Students will be able to participate in a daylong, hands-on and experimental teaching environment, led by professional faculty from the Thomas College School of Education, as well as partners from the Maine Department of Education and Maine Teachers of the Year. These sessions are offered at different times throughout the year through the Center for innovation. See when the next sessions are being offered here: https://www.thomas.edu/cie/
MaineHealth works with diverse youth and young adults across Maine to stimulate interest in health careers and to encourage them to pursue those careers in Maine. Through this program, we offer educational experiences to students ranging from grade school through college. See more info here: https://destinationoccupation.com/mehealthcpp/
See relevant and relatable videos using “authentic story telling” to educate about and attract people into career paths that are a good fit for them. Employers featured tell their employees’ stories and educate people about who they are, what they do and why a career path to their company is desirable. Everyone is busy and, for that reason, career exploration videos are an efficient use of time. In a few hours, students and job seekers can visit dynamic (and often hidden) Maine employers to learn about hundreds of different careers. Click here to view their career videos.
For the past 20 years, NVME has provided hands-on conferences for girls* (8th grade through high school) to encourage them to consider nontraditional careers–careers in which women are underrepresented. Trades for ME provide virtual sessions and will hold a conference at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology on April 4th, 2024 at no cost to participants. Workshops feature programs available at Career and Technical (CTE) schools. If interested contact Ms. Gervais or call 207-768-9635 for more information.
Looking to get firsthand, relevant information about working within a particular field, industry or position? An informational interview is a meeting to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or company that interests you. These can be conducted virtually or on site. If interested email ELO teacher Ms. Gervais @ sgervais@bonnyeagle.org.
A job shadow experience allows you to observe an employee performing their daily work routine in their environment. It allows you to explore specific careers and to get a realistic picture of the tasks performed for that job. This will allow you to make an informed decision about your career of choice! If interested email ELO teacher Ms. Gervais @ sgervais@bonnyeagle.org.
Attend the annual MaineC3 Virtual Career Fair. More information can be found at https://www.mevirtualcareerfair.org/ Interested in attending this years fair on Tuesday March 22nd and Wednesday, March 23rd? email ELO teacher Ms. Gervais @ sgervais@bonnyeagle.org to get a login and access.