CBHS
Spring 2022

A Message from Derek Pierce

Dear CBHS Student and Families:

One of the greatest joys and successes of this singularly demanding school year has been watching students regain their academic - and interpersonal - fitness, their capacity to do tasks which are hard, which stretch them, where learning and growth are maximized. And to find the lasting joy that comes with genuine achievement in the process. In the last trimester, we witnessed this at the Seniors’ Changemakers’ Gala and the Juniors’ Climate Justice Symposium. We are seeing it now as the 9th and 10th graders prep for research-centered expedition culminations in early April.


At CBHS, we call his sweet spot of learning “a respectful level of challenge.” Work at a “respectful level of challenge” is…

  • MEANINGFUL -Students work on tasks and material that is engaging and matters, work that is clearly connected to crucial knowledge and skill and/or issues

  • RIGOROUS - Students work as independently as possible on tasks that are hard but achievable. It requires serious effort and can be completed successfully with time and support

  • RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT LEARNING - As a result of the challenge, students discover and deepen their knowledge and/or skills.


Pursuing a respectful level of challenge for each student is at the heart of our work to achieve equitable outcomes. It is grounded in our core belief that each student is capable of greatness and deserves access to the time, resources and support needed to achieve excellence (and be excellent). We realize what constitutes a respectful level of challenge will be different for each student and will even vary for each student depending on the context. We also recognize that achieving a respectful level of challenge requires an intentional partnership between teacher and students, that both teachers and students have a role in making sure a respectful level of challenge is happening as often as possible. In early March, we had a school-wide discussion of this topic to dig deeper. One of my advisees defined the concept as “struggling to the point of still growing.” Another said, “I know I am experiencing a respectful level of challenge if I am continuously making mistakes, but I am not discouraged because I am determined to figure it out.” As a part of the discussion, students gave input about each course as well as reflecting upon two questions:

  1. What can you (the student) do to ensure a respectful level of challenge as much of the time as possible?

  2. What can your teacher do to ensure a respectful level of challenge as much of the time as possible? To help you experience a “productive struggle” that is empowering and not demoralizing?


Students were asked to identify which of the following actions they did well and where they could improve. (The lists below were generated by CBHS faculty in advance of the schoolwide discussion.)


Pursue Your Personal Best

  • Recognize that struggle and hard work is OK; in fact it’s necessary for real learning.

  • Be well. Attend to the wellness factors within your control (eg: eating well, sleeping adequately, fitness) so you can maximize your learning.

  • Pursue personal bests with summative assessments.

  • Take on Exceeds opportunities whenever possible.


Find and Use Support When Needed

  • Ask questions of a peer or teacher whenever a task is unclear and persist until it is clear.

  • Incorporate feedback from peers and teachers that leads to better work.

  • Take advantage of second (and third) chances when possible.


Seek to Work as Independently as Possible

  • Use models, examples and rubrics to push your work to the next level.

  • Use “3 before me”: consider how to get help from peers and/or seek additional resources when stuck before asking the teacher.

  • Be aware of what you need to learn/do next in order to advance your skills and knowledge.

  • Be open to feedback that encourages independent work.


Seek Ways to Invest Yourself More Deeply into Your Work

  • Capitalize on choice when offered to increase your motivation and investment to do hard work.

  • Seek ways to find and create joy within tasks.

  • Consider why we are doing the work and how it matters to you (i.e.: personally, to the school community and/or to the world).

  • Consider how completing your best work will benefit your relationship with your peers, your teacher(s) and others you care about.


Communicate Your Needs

  • Communicate openly and proactively with the teacher when class work feels too easy or too difficult.


Students were also asked to give feedback to their grade level teachers about their strengths and areas for improvement with the following teacher moves.


Design:

  • Create complex, meaningful and engaging tasks that all students can access but have no limit or ceiling to how challenging they can be (eg: an oral presentation).

  • Make clear to students why the work matters (to you and/or to the world).

  • Provide students choice when appropriate to help make the work more meaningful, perhaps encouraging a student to take on more challenge than they might otherwise.

  • Provide opportunities for joy in the rigor.

  • Provide scaffolds and other supports to help students be able to better access course tasks.

  • Provide clear and meaningful pathways to exceed.

  • Provide clear models, examples and rubrics that show what quality work looks like and the pathways to get there.


Process:

  • Communicate to a student your belief that the student can handle the challenge (even when the student says they can’t).

  • Consistently ask students to do work that is hard and facilitates productive struggle.

  • Provide enough time for a student to think, process, practice, do and revise.

  • Provide students with multiple opportunities to produce their best work.


Reflection:

  • Help a student realize their learning and growth.

  • Seek feedback from students about the challenge they are experiencing.


During our March 16th Wednesday professional development time, each of our grade level teacher teams reviewed the data generated by their student cohort. We used the data to inspire both individual and team goals for improving staff’s performance in this partnership. We are nudging students to do the same. At the March PAG meeting, parents decided that another next step is to come up with actions that parents can take to support a respectful level of challenge. Watch for more about this soon.


We know that the work of finding a respectful level of challenge is ongoing and that it can be as difficult as it is vital. But our community has made great strides already this spring, and we are confident our teachers will continue to make big progress - especially if students (and parents) remain partners in this journey.

CBHS Winter Trimester Photos

Click on > to see them all!







People of Portland Project

Senior Poetry


Worthy of the Smiling Sea
by Aviva Feinberg


Every moon will be

a moon of surrender -

Vacant and enchanting.

The golden bliss

Into dusk

As black water

Stains our lips.


You smile in flowers,

Turning gloom to yellow

And the pearl

Of our silver gifts

Intertwines like time.


The truth is a dangerous weapon

A beautiful paradox

Worthy of the Smiling Sea


The hue of the rose colored moon

Is divine.

Under the faded light

You are beautiful.


The sun

and the sea

and the birds

only exist because of love.

Like wannabe stars from another dimension.


Your spirit is aglow,

A golden coincidence

Here at the sea.

Our fiery lungs

Together as one.







Musings of a Model Minority
by Deven Abrams


Set before birth

Influences the values we hold but

What are you?

You’re definitely not black or white

You’re Asian, kind of

Is India in Asia?

PICK UP A MAP

India’s been in Asia

From ancient days to now

And last I checked,

Asia didn’t only mean the East.

So, you’re Indian, I see,

But only kind of,

Still shocked to see

Your dad’s white face shining bright

And your mom’s like caramel

And then you.

So I’ll ask you again,

What are you?

I am a person

Someone whose race

Comes with risk and not reward

Someone whose hard work is never enough.

Cultural communities are not

For half of something

For barely Indian kids

For me.

But why should I

Kneel down and take

The constant disrespect;

The ignorance towards me;

No, I work until they don’t exist.






The Cast and Crew of The Pizza Shoppe

One Acts

Healthy Hospital

by Freya Bampton


She guesses she just cannot speak

like she used to.

Her body is less used to the sound of her voice than

it is to the memory of the beautiful, beautiful girl, She is who she was, is—

Was who she was who she is

Who? Good god, who is who

and good gracious is she not her mother’s spitting image

It reminds her of why she forgot to speak All I can ever become is my mother

She doesn’t mind because her mother is beautiful

and the spitting image of her mother, yes.

but, she is battered and gutted and like a dream after wine she is tucked in bed


Her rage is the worst brand of emotion because it is generic and cheap. Like flip flops and cigarettes but she

Would

Not

lacerate pink lungs young air a beautiful chest.

Everyone is in the least healthy hospital.


She mostly doesn’t speak because she used to hold the sun. It was so easy good lord because it came right from her.

It spilled from her until her skin was barely filled

with it but she had it right there in her hands so facile she would practically drink it.

The moon stole the sun from her and

Everything changed from Fair to Death because she was

to kill for.

Silence stops sound, she finds it easier, She

Was her mother

Her mother’s mother was the spitting image of

her mother, her, The sun, a true goddess.

Oh yes, she was from goddesses yet her words wouldn’t speak.

Casco Bay Connections

The Casco Bay H.S. Guidance Newsletter March 2022

Welcome to Casco Bay Connections! Spring is upon us and that means the school year is coming to a close! Seniors are hearing from colleges and making post secondary plans for next year, juniors are preparing for Journey Journey, SATs, and College & Career Pro Day! As always, we are here to support you all in this journey!

~Stephanie Doyle & Michael Hale

Job List/Career Pathways

Weekly Job List

Career Pathway of the Month: Commercial Arts & Advertising

Make It Happen support: Contact Hoke @ hokeb@portlandschools.org

-Make It Happen FAFSA Information

-Tutoring opportunities are available with MIH coaches. Email Hoke to get more info.


-Click HERE for a list of scholarships available

- Take a look at THIS college affordability info

Blog of the Month

Scholarship Link of the Week-The Mitchell Scholarship

Guidance Faculty

Stephanie Doyle doyles@portlandschools.org

Michael Hale halem@portlandschools.org

PAG Updates

Do you love art and music? If so, please consider joining us for the...

Arts and Music Festival May 14th (11am-3pm).

We would love to have students, parents, guardians, extended family, and all community members help make this a fun, community event. Here are some ways you can help:

- sign up to share your specific creative talent!

- donate gift cards or other goods from a business you own or love!

- help with other logistics for the May 14 event!


For those interested in donating for baskets, here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

  • Game Night Basket

  • Peaks Island Basket

  • Wine and Cheese Basket

  • Buy Local Basket

  • Craft Beer Basket

  • Gardening Basket


For those who are interested in signing up for artisan tables, performances, or basket donations, please checkout our 5/14/22 Arts& Music Festival landing page:


https://cbhsfamily.org/360-arts-fest/


Please read this Music and Arts Gift Basket Donation Letter for more detailed information about donating a gift basket.


Want to help, or have a question? Don’t hesitate to email: art.musicfest@cbhsfamily.org

Expedition and Course Updates

AP Literature

by Sydney Grimm

This trimester the AP Literature class studied a variety of novels, short stories, and plays. We started the trimester by reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Our class created a gallery of artistic and creative pieces that symbolized some part of our interpretation of the novel. We moved on to reading the famous play, Hamlet by William Shakespeare. We completed discussions and writing, after which, the class began picking and memorizing scenes. We worked with visiting actor/director Moira Driscoll who helped us all to improve our acting skills. Then we performed our scenes in front of the class and Moira. Finally, we finished the trimester by reading the modern absurdist play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. We started the trimester by going in depth into one important scene and trying to pull apart the meaning of the complex play. We each wrote an essay answering one prompt about the play and then our class got into partners and picked a scene that we would memorize and act out again. Moira worked with us more to give tips and helpful feedback about our performances. Then, we finished the trimester by performing our scenes and finally, going back to the initial scene we analyzed and discussing it with our new perspectives and interpretations from all the work we did.

AP English performances: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Exceeds Reading
by Mayim Feinberg

Exceeds Reading Trimester 2 was a trimester full of reading new short stories and learning how to interact with the play, Fences. We read the short stories “A Small, Good Thing” and “Fall of the House of Usher”. These stories were very different, and it was interesting to compare and contrast the differences. Then we started the play, Fences. Fences is a play about an African American family, from the 1950’s where the father experiences the limits and bigotry of New York City during this time. His issues have affected his family, and the play shows his family's interactions and what his frustration means for each of the characters. After reading the the play, we chose a scene to act out in a performance in groups of two or three. It was wonderful to see how words in a play can become real life. In addition we did a Narrative4 Storytelling Exercise, which practiced radical empathy by telling another person’s story. Looking forward, we are in the Third Trimester of Exceeds Reading! This trimester we are reading the play, Oedipus Rex, a play that tells the story of a man who was prophesied to marry his mother and kill his father. Through this we’re learning about Platonic archetypes and what philosophers think of Sophocles’ telling of the tales in Thebes. We’ll also read more short stories and write our own!

Exceeds Reading performing Fences





9th Grade Expedition Update

by Jayden Monteiro Rosado

This year, we started an expedition called “Facing the past, forging the future.” It is about the transatlantic slave trade. Our guiding questions are: 1. How did the Transatlantic slave trade impact individuals, communities, and cultures? 2. How did people fight to resist and abolish slavery? And 3. What lessons can we learn from abolitionists of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries?

The expedition kicked off by having a gallery walk and looking at photos and reading information about enslaved people and people who were fighting against slavery. In addition, we watched a video focused on establishing a “Brave Space” for difficult topics and conversations. We then started learning about the middle passage in social studies class and learned about how enslavers put people on slave ships. We also talked about the terrible and hard journey these individuals made from Africa to the Americas and ways they resisted. After that, we started learning about the way these individuals lived when they were enslaved. We then learned about ways enslaved individuals resisted slavery after they arrived in the Americas. In English we chose between two books to read; To Be A Slave by Julius Lester or Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. To end the whole expedition, we are going to paint a portrait that has to do something with an abolitionist we picked in social studies. On the seventh of April, we are going to have a gallery walk where people will see what we have painted - and our artist statements of explanation. We hope everyone attends this gallery.

10th Grade
By Stella Halstead


During the past several months, the sophomore class has been doing in depth studying of the global migration crisis and what factors cause it as part of the expedition, Beyond Borders. In social studies, we have been studying a specific country where inhabitants are fleeing due to natural disaster, violence, and persecution. Every student is creating a unique slideshow presentation focusing on these factors and what it's like to migrate in search for a better life. In English class, we have been reading Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. The novel follows the story of two adolescents who must flee their home due to violent attacks that threaten the lives of the country's inhabitants. Although the story has a bit of a fantastical element, it is also extremely realistic, and through journal entries and class discussions, we have been analyzing the text through exploration of theme, migration push factors, and writing style. The tenth graders will be presenting their slideshows to a panel of experts who have generously given us their time to listen to the hard work the sophomore class has been putting into this expedition over the past months.


So, CBHS families and friends, come to our grand culmination! It’s next Thursday (4/7), and Friday (4/8), from 8:30 - 12. We want to share our work with you!

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

11th Grade
by Simone Daranyi

The junior class recently launched their newest expedition, The People of Portland Project. This project works to build connections between the CBHS community and the greater Portland community through storytelling. Last week and the beginning of this week, we conducted interviews to begin hearing the stories of inspiring individuals in and around Portland. In the weeks leading up to the interviews, juniors prepared by practicing interview skills such as forming interview questions, learning how to use sound recording equipment, and working with members of the CBHS faculty to conduct practice interviews. Now, we are working on creating a story arch to share our interviewee's story and the final product will be telling the stories by acting them out in our small interview groups.


My group interviewed a Congolese woman at her home in downtown Portland. The most memorable part of our interviews were how thoughtful and kind she was. Our interviewee spoke about her beliefs in practicing kindness and being joyous and cheerful, even through hardship. She also spoke about how she believed in the importance of respect and respecting others. I look forward to seeing how our interviewee's story will evolve and grow as we work on our performance. I am excited for her reaction to our interpretation, and I hope that our audience will take away some of our interviewee's beliefs of the importance of kindness and respect in the world and implement it into their daily lives.


If you are interested in coming to our live storytelling event, it will be held at CBHS on May 20th at 9:00 a.m.

Come hear and experience these great stories!

Grade 12
by Deven Abrams

Recently, the CBHS Class of 2022 began the Power of Words expedition. During that time, we explored several different genres of writing in Humanities English class. Through a generous Parent Advisory Group grant, we were able to read from a variety of poetry books during designated times in class. After pulling lines from the various poems, the class began to craft our own poems, starting with a repeating line poem, followed by a list poem, and finishing with a few opportunities to craft unique structures and poems. After creating these poems, the class hosted its poetry slam in which each student presented one poem and the judges scored the poems in a competition format. Over the following week, the Class of 2022 transitioned into our fiction unit, first by reading different works of fiction. Next, students participated in free-writes to write their own stories. After this, we wrote our own pieces based on a three-dimensional character and were judged based on Character, Sensory Details, and the general effect of the piece on the judges. Seniors have begun their unit on memoir, continuing the work we completed during the fall’s College Essay assignment. Seniors will present one piece of writing that we have prepared throughout this unit at Café Night next Thursday night, April 7 at Mayo Street Arts.

Spring 2022 Intensives - 4/11-4/15

Afro Beat- PE/Art UPs. Do you love to dance and learn new dance styles? Come join the dance intensive! There will be a chance for you to learn some new dance styles from CBHS teachers, other CBHS students, and outside dance teachers. You can also choreograph your own piece or join another student's group, and perform it at the Showcase if you wish. Start out the new year with this energetic and joyful intensive!

Algae- Science UPs. What is the one thing that can power an airplane, feed a nation, and be the most effective medicine for some diseases? If you answered algae. You are right. Take the Algae intensive, and you will see how this simple organism can morph into all these different life-changing, and life-saving things. In this intensive you grow your own, and see the stuff right in the world around us. Could it be that one of the oldest living thing on the planet is exactly what we need to save the world right now?

America's Game- PE UPs. Football is the most popular sport in the United States. In addition to being played and watched by millions, football's influence and power have led the NFL to touch almost every part of life: TV, politics, food, gaming, business, fashion and on and on. In this intensive, we are going to immerse ourselves in the wonderful world of American football. We will train hard to hone our playing skills, fitness levels, and understanding of the game. We will also learn more about the role of football in the world and the cultural influence of football. It is very important to know that this intensive is more than just playing football. It is about all the ways that people can, and do, connect to football, and football’s role in recent social justice movements. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO PLAY HARD, BUT ALSO TO STUDY HARD. WE WILL BE WORKING OUT OUR BODIES AND OUR BRAINS IN THIS INTENSIVE You do not have to have any football experience or ability level to be a part of this intensive. We will all work to learn more about this wonderful sport in many ways.

Designing Escape Rooms- Math UPs. In this intensive we will explore the role that ciphers and clues play in creating an experience for players. Escape rooms should provide both challenge and a sense of adventure for its players. We will learn about a variety of ciphers, theme/storyline development and tools for clue creation. We will create two “escape room” style games one with physical objects and one with virtual objects.

Fiber Arts- Art UPs. Come learn about the world of fiber arts! We'll practice using sewing machines, knitting needles, crochet hooks, and more! We'll explore drafting clothing from patterns, basic mending skills, choosing fabrics & yarns, and hear from some local experts! No experience required. Helpful if you can BYO materials (sewing machine, fabric, needles, etc) , and we'll also have plenty to share! If the pandemic allows, we're planning a field trip to Z Fabrics on Congress St! Come craft with us!

Food from the Ground Up- Health UPs . Welcome to the Food From the Ground Up. Welcome to an introduction to making and loving healthy food and learning how food is preserved. You will plan and make healthy meals, review your diet, see firsthand how food is preserved and taste some new foods!

Graphic Novels- Art/English UPs. Take this intensive if you’d like to read and/or create graphic novels or zines! We will read “My Friend Dahmer” by Derf Backderf as a class, as well as analyze other authors/illustrators and their stylistic approaches to this genre. We will then branch out into our own individual paths which could include:

- Creating your own short graphic novel with words and pictures- Creating your own short graphic novel with just words (as though you’re a writer working with an artist)- Literary and/or artistic analysis of one or more graphic novels- Making a short film based on a graphic novel

Internships-Elective UPs. Here's your chance to get first-hand job experience in any field or career you want. You will have 3 full-days off-site interning at your job site. Before and after the experience, you will get crucial job training and synthesize your learning. Go deeper with your public policy or senior expedition topic. Get a lead on your next job. Although priority will be given to juniors and seniors, all CBHS students are strongly encouraged to take this intensive course before they graduate.

Lifetime Recreation- PE UPs. This intensive is all about fitness and play! Join us to experience a range of awesome physical activities that will expand your toolbox of ways to stay fit, make friends, and have fun. We’ll explore lots of different games and forms of recreation, including racquet sports, yoga, running, bowling, spikeball, and more! We’ll also learn more about how to set and follow through on sustainable fitness goals. To successfully earn PE credit in this intensive you will need to participate in all our activities (both ones that you have done before and new ones), meet physical fitness standards, and separate from the world of technology (no cell phones). This intensive is all about getting off our screens and getting active. Who knows? You might just find an activity that will bring you joy for a lifetime!

Native Plants- Science UPs. In this intensive we will learn about native plants; what they are and which are in our area; as well as learn about and identify invasive species. We will explore native plants’ important role in our ecosystem, the challenges they face, what we can do to support native plants and deter/remove invasive plant species. Students will visit gardens, learn from experts, explore natural/wild areas and find ways to include native plants at home - no matter where you live!

Queer Activism and History- History UPs. In the Queer History & Activism Intensive, we will learn about how LGBTQIA+ activists have influenced culture over the course of American history, with a special focus on the art and aesthetics of different movements. We’ll learn about the two-spirit Indigenous artists who practice and pass on cultural artistic traditions; the trans women of color who led the Stonewall uprising; and the artists and activists who gave rise to the Act Up movement against the AIDS pandemic. Our field work will center on Portland’s community of queer artists, including print-makers from Pickwick Press. Students will culminate by making an original art print that reflects new learning about queer activism.

Senior Graduation Camp - Get the support you need to walk the stage in June! Edmentum? Recursive Standards? 2+ final grades? We are here to get you there! (Students will not receive any UPS for the intensive, but they will hopefully earn UPs in the classes they are working on to graduate!)

Writing and the Outdoors- English UPs . Come experience the wonders of the natural landscape. In rain or shine we will explore mountain paths, still marsh waters, cliffs, tide pools, and river walks. Daily readings and reflections will inspire each person to create a final piece that portrays a personal understanding of a sense of place and belonging in nature.

Junior Journey 2022


What are we doing? Outdoor adventure, citizen science work, whole class art project…GET PUMPED!

Where are we going? Schoodic Institute (https://schoodicinstitute.org/about-us) in Winter Harbor Maine and Payson Park in Portland as well as as an art studio in Brunswick.


When: April 11th-15th, during intensives week. There will be 2 cohorts going in rotation for the overnight trips.

CREWS COHORT A: Dorvee, Hampton, McCray, McNally

CREWS COHORT B: Kutvirt, Lynch, Murray


Buses will leave CBHS at 6:00am at the Bus Circle and arrive back at no later than 5pm on your cohort return date. Cohort A will be at the Schoodic Institute Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday and Cohort B will be there Wednesday/Thursday/Friday.


At Schoodic Institute, juniors will be engaged in several citizen scientist projects currently underway either with the Schoodic Institute or the National Park Service. There will also be time to hike and explore in this gorgeous slice of Acadia National Park. When a cohort is not at Schoodic, students will be participating in a large-scale community art project “Every Tree Tells a Story”at Payson Park with a super cool artist (and CBHS alum parent), Pamela Moulton. You can learn more about the project here. You can learn more about Ms. Moulton’s art at her website.


This will be the first Junior Journey since the start of the pandemic, and we are so excited to bring this CBHS tradition back for the class of 2023! Junior Parents: please reach out to your crew advisor if you would like any further information about our plans, curriculum or daily routine of our trip!



Rock Climbing Club

Upcoming Events

April

  • Beyond Borders Culmination (Grade 10)- April 7th and 8th, 8:30 - 12:00 (parents/guardians welcome)

  • 9th Grade Culmination - April 7th, 1:30-2:50 (parents and guardians welcome)

  • Senior Café Night – April 7th - 5:30-7:30/7:30-9:30 (Mayo Street Arts, parents/guardians welcome)

  • Spring Intensives – April 11th-15th

  • Junior Journey – April 11th-15th

  • SATs for Juniors - April 26th

  • Grades Close for Progress Reports: 4/29 (due: 5/4)


May

  • NHS Spring Induction – May 3rd

  • AP Exam Weeks (APES - 5/3, AP Lit - 5/4 and AP US - 5/6, AP Calc 5/9)

  • Make It Happen Celebration -May 11th

  • Spring Arts & Music Fest - May 14th (11am-3pm)

  • Senior Final Words – May 16th-25th

  • Grades Close for Warning Reports: 5/20 (due 5/25)

  • The People of Portland Project Culmination/Live Storytelling Performance, May 20th (9am)

  • Junior/Senior Prom – May 21st - Peak’s Island Lion’s Club: 7:45-10:45

  • Freshman Family Orientation: May 26th: 5:30-6:30

  • Spring Family Crew Night: May 26th: 6:30-8:00

  • Last Day of Senior Classes: Friday, May 27th


June

  • Senior Awards Ceremony – June 1st - in school (10am-noon)

  • Graduation – Thursday, June 2nd: 6pm, Merrill Auditorium

  • Project Graduation – June 2nd: 8:30pm On

  • College Pro Day – June TBD

  • Freshmen Finales – June TBD

  • Sophomore Passage Presentations – June TBD

  • LAST STUDENT DAY – Tuesday June 14th (if NO more snow days) - 11:50 dismissal

  • Final Assessments Begin: - 4 days before last day

  • Final Class Meeting - day before last day

  • Final School Meeting/Cardboard Boat Race – last day

Summer 2022 Academic Options

We know 2 years of pandemic schooling and learning has been hard - and exhausting. PPS will once again offer an especially broad and rich array of summer academic options for the purposes of remediation, acceleration and, of course, further learning. We hope these offerings will help students continue to rebound and revitalize as scholars (and people). This year’s offerings will often be similar in format to our intensives, allowing students to go deeper into their studies by focusing on one course for an entire week. These compact learning experiences can often earn 1 UP (unit of proficiency) if successfully completed. We expect our final array of offerings will include courses in math, science, English and social studies – as well as elective internships. Here’s our offerings so far (subject to change).


  • Geometry Summer UPs Recovery (Ms. Sample) June 27-July, 1, 9-12 am

  • Rising 11th Grade Summer UPs Recovery (Ms. Withington)

  • July 11-15, 9-12 am

  • Rising 12th Grade Summer UPs Recovery (Ms. Withington) July 18-22, 9-12 am

  • Islamic Art & Architecture (Mr. Burke) 1.0 Math UPs June 20-24, 9-12 am

  • Origami (Mr. Burke) 1.0 Math UPs June 27-July 1, 9-12 am

  • Lake Ecology - July 12th-14th (.5 Science UPs)

  • Gulf of Maine Crabs - TBD

  • Hurricane Island Marine Ecology August 14th-19th (1 Science UP)

  • Local Internships (Elective UPs)


Watch for more details about offerings and how to sign up soon!

From the School Nurse’s Corner:

Welcome Spring! It has been really nice to see the rapid reduction in Covid-19 cases from the January surge and the months leading up to it. While this has been good news and has allowed us to all experience a return to things as we remember them, we need to remember that Covid is here to stay with us. There will be new variants and new outbreaks of disease in communities from time to time. However, we have tools to help us reduce the spread of the illness so we can carry on our lives without major disruptions and prevent serious illness and/or hospitalizations if we do get Covid. MASKS, VACCINES/BOOSTERS and TESTING are those tools! We can also opt to socially distance ourselves should we know there has been an uptick in Covid cases, especially in indoor, crowded spaces.

Having your child boosted for Covid is really something important to do. Most students had their last Covid Vaccine last spring or summer. If it’s been 5 months since their 2nd shot, they need to get a booster. We offer them every week at school. Please reach out to me for a consent form (842-4665).


On a side note, the respect shown by students to their peers during this mask-optional transition has been very heartwarming, whether one chooses to wear one, or not.


I have been seeing students with ‘regular colds’ in the past 2 weeks, some of whom aren’t sick enough to go home. Instead, I’ve encouraged them to help stop the spread of even these annoying illnesses by wearing a mask and they’ve done so because they are aware it’s the kind and courteous thing to do.

Finally, if you are in need of Covid tests, please see the information below.

There are free at-home tests (five per household) available for Maine residents through the successful Project Access COVID-19 Tests (ACT) pilot at www.accessCOVIDTests.org. As of March 15, Maine households have ordered 229,845 tests through Project ACT. With the new contract, a total of 425,000 tests will be available.

Maine residents in need of home tests may also order them through the federal program. The White House recently announced that U.S. residents can order two sets of four free at-home tests through www.COVIDtests.gov. Residents can also call 1-800-232-0233 for help placing the order.

DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD’S IMMUNIZATIONS ARE UP TO DATE?

The Meningitis Vaccine is required for entry into 12th grade. Currently there are about 40 (out of 100) 11th graders who need this vaccine. Please consult your Family Doctor to update all your child’s vaccines before the start of the 2022-23 school year.

If your child is a Senior and planning on attending college, this vaccine is required. It’s a good idea for your child to have a physical before heading off to college.

Thank you for all you do/have done in helping keep our school community safe over the past two years. I appreciate you all!

Respectfully,

Becky Bell, MSN, RNSchool Nurse

PAG Math Cup!

50 teen and adult mathletes competed in this year's event.

Several thousand dollars were raised to support STEM at CBHS.

Thanks to Gorham Savings Bank for sponsoring this year's t'shirts (designed by Samantha and Aviva).

Thanks to all the parents who contributed to a lasagna dinner to feed the mathletes.

The Numberjacks

Congrats to 2022 Math Cup Champs - Ida and PTC!