Fall/Winter2021

It has not been the “normal,” post-pandemic school year we all wished it would be. And that’s been hard. For students, parents and staff. We are grateful for our community’s vigilance with key health and safety measures; our student vaccination rate is approaching 90%, and we have had no evidence of virus transmission at school (knock on wood). But COVID 19 is ever in our thoughts and actions, and high school was already plenty challenging.

Still, it has been thrilling to be back to full-time, in-person schooling. And it has been equally thrilling to witness our students’ exceptional progress - as both scholars and humans. We knew many of our students would return to school academically and interpersonally “out of shape.” It had been a long time since our students had to work directly and daily with their peers on ongoing, rigorous academic tasks in various disciplines. It had been a long time since students have had to navigate a social environment with 400 IRL teenagers every day. And it was similar for our staff. We have all had to re-build our fitness for school.

We also knew many of our students would be wounded by the isolation, the grief, the disappointment and the cruel inequities that have been too much a part of young people’s lives since March 2020. Finally, we recognized that 75% of our current students have not experienced a full “normal” year of what it means to be a Casco Bay High School student.

Consequently, our first priority this year has been to re-invigorate and replenish our community. Our prime pandemic (re)learning has been “relationships first.” The sustaining foundation of a CBHS education is meaningful, substantive, caring relationships - among students and faculty, and between students, and so we’ve doubled-down on relationship and community-building. We added a day of Sophomore Quest and added buoyant new celebrations such as the Costume Cavalcade and the Fall Fete. We’ve bolstered existing structures like buddy crews and School Meeting. We’ve asked upperclassmen to take on new leadership roles, and they’re responded. Students have launched and run 20 new X Blocks. We’ve also created a new Community Council of trained students and staff to help enact restorative justice when harm occurs and repair is needed. We’ve held a Shared Space Cafe´ to welcome our multilingual families and enlisted a slew of parent volunteer support through the Parent Advisory Group. We’ve tinkered, and re-invented when necessary. This year, for the first time, since we can’t have our entire community together for the annual Winter Solstice assembly, we will be holding four Solstice assemblies concurrently, each with a cross-section of 9-12 crews, staff (and alums!). Each Solstice will center on giving individual students an opportunity to express gratitude for gifts they have received from our community. Holding four solstices will allow even more students to share their voices and perspectives. (And, yes, we will still end with each crew’s contribution to the 28 Days of Cougar.)

Our second priority has been to return to, and deepen, our EL Education Core Practices. In our classrooms, this means focusing on instructional moves that result in a respectful level of challenge for each student as well as equitable outcomes for all students, especially in math and literacy. In particular, our faculty professional learning has been focused on what scaffolding is needed so that our full range of students can meaningfully engage with vital, grade-level curriculum as well as how and when do we need to remove those scaffolds to promote greater student independence. This priority also means we have been aiming to deepen opportunities for all students to do high quality, meaningful work through learning expeditions. Our belief is that the best way for students to regain their academic fitness, in fact to surpass personal bests, is to engage them - both heart and head - in long-term interdisciplinary projects that push them to wrestle with some of the most important issues of our time, projects that expand their sense of what’s possible for themselves and their world. The 9th graders will be sharing new educational materials about Wabanaki culture and history with PPS upper elementary students on December 21st. On December 16th, sophomores will be unveiling their podcasts about anti-racist leaders. The juniors have completed a chemistry-centered expedition about Penobscot food sovereignty and are now beginning public policy research focused on climate justice. And our seniors, after a trimester of research (and completing the college applications) are now moving into the action phase of their senior expeditions, their “slices of the solutions.” In January, the entire community (and beyond) will have an opportunity to learn from and with the seniors at the Changemakers’ Forum (January 20th) and crew presentations (January 28th). You will read more details about completed, in-process and upcoming expeditions in this newsletter.

Thanks to each of you for your support as we’ve re-opened, revived and re-imagined Casco Bay High School this fall. May 2022 be the year of peace and joy, of justice and learning, we all deserve.

Sincerely,

Derek Pierce

Expedition Updates

Grade 9 Expedition Update
by Aiyanna Michaud

The 9th graders have been focusing on the expedition called "We Are On Indigenous Land." We started this expedition with a kick-off; all the 9th grade crews went to the Presumpscot River as a way to appreciate the land we live on. After the kick-off, in Social Studies, we began to build background knowledge. We learned about Wabanki life before European contact, then how European contact affected Wabanaki peoples in the past and present. In English, we read a book called The Winter People. This book helped us understand more about Wabanki culture and the oppression they have faced. Wabanki peoples have stood against genocide, racism, and oppression. Through multiple classes, we learned about how they resisted this oppression. In Visual Arts, we created silhouettes of plants and animals native to Maine. We created these based on examples of artwork created by Indigenous peoples. Then we filled our silhouettes with our own unique symbols. Finally, to end our expedition, we used everything we learned to create a children’s book. Every student chose a topic they were interested in the most. In social studies and English, we worked on our children’s books by researching, writing and illustrating. Next week, every 9th grader will travel to an elementary school to read their children’s books to PPS 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We will show them what we learned, and use our books to spread the truth that we are on indigenous land.

Grade 10 Expedition Update

by Stella Halstead

The Brave Spaces Brave Voices Expedition is a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in creativity while learning about monumental figures who influence not only our past but our present lives. At the beginning of this expedition, students read the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Kendi and Reynolds. This book revolutionized the meaning of ‘antiracism’ and teaches youth how to effectively dismantle racist ideas and teachings. This book is filled with antiracist figures, and how their works have inspired activists throughout the years. Students have partnered up and focused on two historical figures - one from the past, and one from modern times - both of whom were mentioned in the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Students have then synthesized their work and will present their learning through the creation of a podcast spotlighting how these anti-racist figures taught us how we can create a more antiracist future.

And guess what? You're invited to the official culmination. It will take place Thursday the 16th of December at 6:30 PM. Join us for a celebration of learning as students share presentations and bits of their podcasts. You will also be able to discover what they have been working on for the past months and all they have learned.

Finally, stay tuned for our next expedition, Beyond Borders, where we will be exploring the global immigrant crisis through the reading and careful analysis of the book Exit West by Mohsin Hamid.

Thanks, and we all hope to see you on Thursday night!

Senior Expedition Update
by Megan Koren

Senior Expedition is getting serious! Seniors have just completed their expert paper portion of the expedition on their topic of choice, which range from awareness of fatphobia to including queer health education in schools. (You can see Ava Sylvester's Senior Expedition vision statement below.) Now they are beginning to draft their "Slice of the Solution": coming up with unique ways to implement positive change in relation to their topic in the community around them. Some students are culminating together. The Changemaker's Gala, an opportunity for culminations after school, will likely be after-school on Thursday, January 20th. Some seniors will culminate with younger CBHS students on January 28th during crew time. Other students will be culminating independently. For example, one student will be providing a STEM activity for boys and girls at Riverton. The college March to the Post Office is also rapidly approaching—THIS Friday the 17th of December (1:50pm at City Hall). Each Senior will have completed at least one college application prior. Come cheer them on!

Junior Class Expedition Update

by Jasper Ellis

As temperatures drop and daylight fades, the juniors are diving into their Public Policy expedition! This year, the Class of 2023 will be focusing on creating change through policy that addresses the climate crisis. The juniors have broken up into six groups that focus on different approaches to combating climate change. Each group has identified a policy proposal that calls upon our government to enact a specific solution. My group this year is calling for Maine’s Congressional delegation to endorse the idea of a Fossil Fuels Non-proliferation Treaty, which will halt fossil fuel extraction, production and consumption in order to form a more sustainable economy and reduce carbon emissions. At the end of the expedition, each of us will present our policy solution to a panel of experts and submit a paper we have created around the subject. This year's public policy expedition is very important to me personally, as the focus on climate change is extremely relevant in today's “climate”. To me, It seems as if all of society is procrastinating on one of the most important issues of our generation, and the more time goes by without necessary action, the bleaker the future begins to look. With the help of the grade 11 teachers, however, it looks like we might finally get a chance to start creating some of that necessary change ourselves! With this expedition I hope to finally start taking tangible action to prevent this climate disaster. Even if our projects do not lead to the results we were hoping for, I will at the very least have armed myself with enough knowledge to create future change, and even to educate others on climate solutions enough that it hopefully inspires them to take action.

Food Services Request

The Meal Benefit is available to all families, and we encourage any and all families to apply.

You may be wondering: why is completing the Meal Benefit Application necessary if meals are free anyway? Even though any family can participate in school meal programs at no cost, the family income data provided by completing the application informs key funding for academic resources. This application is one way you as a parent or caregiver can invest in your student’s education. Completing a Meal Benefit Application not only determines if your student(s) qualifies for free/reduced school meals––you can also be connected to other important benefits. These benefits can include additional nutrition assistance through the Pandemic EBT program, as well as other family services.

Meal Benefit Information

Food Services Website

with Application Information and Links

Hibo Abdi, Class of 2022 College Essay

During my first year of middle school I learned something from my English teacher that I have reflected back on many times. She explained the danger of a single story: first impressions or in some cases the oversimplified perceptions we have of people can create prejudices. I realized that you can’t understand anyone unless you first know their story. This in turn led me to think about my story. What did people think when they saw me? Was their first thought, “Oh she’s a Muslim woman, she must be oppressed.” Or did they assume that because I was an immigrant that I had a poor education? The thoughts that were always in the back of my mind came to the forefront.

I came to America at a young age. When I was in elementary school, I struggled with math and English, but I struggled with fitting in the most. Back then I didn’t know what made me so different, so I would pay attention to people’s body language when I couldn’t fully understand them. I would look for similarities and differences in people and notice how that decided who they were with. I moved a lot in my early childhood, so I had to adapt quickly in each new city in order to make new friends and fit in. In middle school there was a group of people I wanted to be friends with but we had nothing in common. I would try to make jokes, but the only time they laughed was when I acted stupid as if I didn’t know what they were talking about. I would ask stupid questions when my friends would talk about a subject just so I felt like they saw me, but this backfired because people and friends that I knew would call me stupid. Eventually I started to lose my confidence.

As I got older I always looked for opportunities to gain social recognition and one of the ways I did that was by joining as many clubs as I possibly could. I went to the Boy & Girls Club where I participated in dance, Pihcuntu, a singing group, the Bench Buddy project, Smart Girls, Torch Club, Junior Staff, and the CHEETAH Project. Even though I wasn’t confident in my leadership skills, I would still join these clubs to push myself and see my limits. I wanted to prove to others I could do anything even if I didn’t look like I could, but as I kept adventuring and trying new things, I started to realize I am more than how I am perceived by others.

In the past few years I’ve been pushing myself to grow and I’ve started to believe in myself and my abilities. In the winter of 2020 I was chosen as one of three high school students in my city to present a speech in front of 800 people at the NAACP Martin Luther King Junior annual dinner in Portland, Maine. I was also chosen as my club's representative for the Boys & Girls Clubs National Youth of the Year program in 2021. Putting myself out there and being vulnerable had finally paid off. I felt like I was accepted and a part of my community, but more importantly I understood that I am a leader.

Our stories and experiences make up who we are. I feel like I have never stopped exploring my surroundings and trying new things. I want to keep exploring even in the next phase of my life. My experiences have taught me that you can’t let others define you, or get in the way of your growth. I want to keep pushing myself. After everything I have been through I know I won’t give up.

Staff Updates

We are excited to welcome Ms. Rebecca Stubbs, our new .5 social worker. Ms. Stubbs is a long-time PPS social worker, most recently at Portland High. (She’s also the wonderful sister of the equally wonderful Vicky Stubbs, the PATHS and CBHS music teacher.) Ms Stubbs, will be here part days Wednesdays and full days on Thursdays and Ms. Furman will now be working full days Mondays and Tuesdays and part days Wednesdays. They will shared the same office between the library and the staircase. We are so excited to be able to offer full-time social worker services for our students.

Welcome back to Mallory Haar from her maternity leave! She is once again teaching and supporting junior and senior English language learners. Bridget Hoke, who was filling in as Ms. Haar’s long-term sub, has now taken over as our Make it Happen Coordinator.

Kelly Sylvester has now joined Machar Nguany and Lily Withington as one of our dedicated, building-based substitute teachers. In addition to her substitute teaching, Ms. Sylvester has been connecting with any of our students who need to be out of school for an extended time to help them keep up with missed classes. (Ms. Sylvester is also the director of our upcoming musical, Mamma Mia.)

Parent Advisory Group Annual Appeal

Dear Casco Bay High Families and Friends,

As we approach the end of the calendar year, we hope you will consider donating to the Annual Appeal. You’ve chosen become a part of this dynamic high school learning community and for that we have reasons to celebrate. Casco Bay High provides supplemental programing to enrich and inspire our students. The upcoming Winter Intensives are an example of this programming which is fully underwritten through funds raised by the Annual Appeal. Whether your student chooses swimming, podcasting, sports analytics, music or the science of candy, we hope your students are inspired to grow in their own capacity to be inspired and incite their passions for themselves and their community.

Please consider making a contribution toward the kind of programming you’ve chosen for your student to undertake.

To date fifty-five of our families have pledges their support. We are approaching the half way point of our ambitious $24,000 goal.

Won’t you consider making a contribution to this community effort?

Gifts of support in any amount are welcome.

We wish for you all a safe, happy and healthy winter vacation.

Please help us reach our goal by visiting the CBHS website

https://cbhsfamily.org/donate

Click on the "Donate to CBHS" button in the upper righthand corner.

Check Donations: Please make checks payable to CBHS PAG.

Return to: CBHS-PAG, 196 Allen Ave. Portland, ME 04103

As always, thank you so much for your generosity and support for outstanding public education!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

Sincerely,

Ellen Mahoney, parent; Andrew Bloom, parent; Kevin Butterfield, PAG Treasurer

Long-Term CBHS Target: We will co-create a more just, equitable, kind community which maximizes learning and growth for all and which catalyzes excellent work that betters our community and world

Staff Wellness- Goat Yoga!

More Goat Yoga Photos!

X Block Trimester 2

by Fabio Caciel-Reyes

The 2021 school year kicked off amazingly with so many different X blocks! Students look forward every week to their prospective club where friendships and memories are created. It can range from Dungeons and Dragons to our very own Green Team. Things can never be the same in x block, each day being different depending on what you want. Watch movies in film appreciation, play soccer in soccer, drop bars in freestyle, learn how to support and maintain the environment in green team. Some are seasonal, some are all year round, but there’s no doubt you’ll find a home. The ones mentioned are just a few out of many others. Get hype for x block because this year, variety is our name!

Album Cover & Music Appreciation

Students will be digging deeper into the meaning and understanding of album covers from every genre of music. Connecting the visuals with the music, they will learn color theory as well as listening to the music of the albums that we will be dissecting.

Art Club

Come and create any art you want! This is an opportunity to meet other artists, gain inspiration, talk about art, and most importantly make art!! You can set your own goals around practicing specific skills, cultivating an art style, and much more.

Audio-Visual AV Club

This X Block is designed to help students learn how to use their creativity to develop short public service announcements, films, remixes and music on Chromebooks and the materials around them. We will be working with things like Flexclip and green screens to have fun being creative.

A Chill Space

Feeling stressed? Need to unwind? A Chill Space is designed to help students deal with the daily stress of life and school. Students in the X Block will work together to select activities that help them bring the "chill" to their school day. Example activities include listening to music, games, meditation and yoga.

Creative Writing & Literary Magazine

Welcome writers of all genres and abilities. Come ready to play and experiment with the written word. We will spend the entire year having fun with creative writing with the goal of creating our own Literary Magazine during Trimester 3.

Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG). In this X Block we will be doing a campaign. D&D is a lot of fun where you have to work with different people towards achieving a common goal - victory!

Edmentum

Are you a Senior who needs to knockout Edmentum to complete graduation requirements? If so, this X Block is for you! Join Ms. Hampton as she helps students successfully work towards their graduation goals.

Film Appreciation

This X Block is for those who love to watch and talk about movies.

Freestyle - Hip Hop & Rap

In this X Block we'll come together to talk about our favorite hip hop songs, history of the genre and, if you got game, freestyle.

Green Club

We will brainstorm and think of ideas to make CBHS run better for the environment and implement changes to help our community be more climate-change focused. Students will learn about what they can do to have an impact on stopping climate change and will be encouraged to share their ideas on how our community can improve.

Homework/Reading Club

Got a lot of homework to do? Just want a quiet space to read? Come join and let's get it done.

Improv

Improv Club is a place to play theater games and have fun; no experience necessary! Normally we play a warm up game and then spend the rest of X Block playing improv games. Improv encourages teamwork, active listening and problem solving skills.

Intramural (Indoor) Sports

If you love Recess then this is the X Block for you! As a group we'll come up with a variety of fun activities, games or sports to get a little bit of friendly competition and movement in our day. Requirements to join this X Block include a desire to have fun, play, and be active.

Josh and Fabio's Special Times

Each week a different activity will be planned by either Fabio or Josh. They alternate each week with their own creative ideas ranging from physical activities to team building games to games just for fun. Josh and Fabio are two different people so the activities will vary and hopefully engage a wide array of people.

LUKE'S LECTURES

Interested in becoming more interesting? Check out this X Block! Using history, art, current events and a variety of other things we will explore a wide array of discussion topics. All you need to participate is a curious mind and willingness to learn and talk about cool stuff.

MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION (MSA)

This X Block is designed to build a sense of community and inclusivity as students explore how to strengthen faith through kindness, community involvement and Quran discussions. We will also have halal food potlucks, look into fundraising, provide support during Ramadan and learn Islamic history to promote unity and action.

Model UN (United Nations)

Want to learn about global politics and international relations? Then join Model UN! In this club you will pretend you’re a member of the United Nations representing different countries in mock UN sessions.

Outing Club

Are you interested in spending more time outdoors, making friends and learning skills that are fun, take you to neat places, and can lead to cool jobs? Would you like to challenge yourself to try out a new outdoor activity like hiking or camping, but not sure how to start? Do you feel there are barriers to you being able to recreate outside safely or comfortably? Join the Outing Club X Block to learn valuable outdoor skills, plan upcoming trips, and encourage our community to get outside. The outdoors is for everyone!

PHOTOGRAPHY

Do you love taking pictures? Our hope is to be creative and have fun exploring and learning about photography.

Soccer - The Beautiful Game

Are you a soccer fan? If so, this is the X Block for you. Each week will we will watch and talk all things English Premier League watching match highlights and competing to see who can best pick the next week's match winners. We'll even get outside when we can to play a little of the beautiful game when weather permits. Ole, ole, ole, ole!

New Grant Funded Computer Lab at CBHS

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools is thrilled to announce a grant to create a new computer lab at Casco Bay High School (CBHS). Thanks to the generous grant of $55,570 from the Gladys Brooks Foundation, CBHS will create a computer lab this winter. Soon, every high school in the district will have a lab equipped with computers powerful enough for computer science coursework such as coding and web design. CBHS also intends to use these more powerful devices for "intensives," or short courses on game development, songwriting, and documentary filmmaking.

This is a powerful step in addressing the opportunity gaps that our students face. The new lab will guarantee full access to all students, rather than relying on students to bring their own devices or using Chromebooks, which meet the needs of most courses, but not advanced STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum.

"This computer lab represents just one of the ways that PPS is working towards making our Computer Science vision a reality for all the students in our district,” said Brooke Teller, the district’s STEM coordinator.

Health Update - December 2021

It’s great to be back to school in-person full time! I am delighted to get to know the Class of 2024 better, and welcome the Class of 2025!

Students continue to do a good job of masking up, which is so very important as it’s hard to socially distance ourselves at times. CBHS has had a number of Covid cases, and that’s to be expected, but no community transmission, meaning no students have infected one another so far.

We continue to have one of the highest percentage rates of students vaccinated for Covid in the district!! By January 1, we will reach the 90% rate of fully vaccinated persons! This is great news for a couple of reasons: 1) Vaccination provides overall better protection from infection than if you are not vaccinated; 2) Vaccinated persons are less likely to transmit Covid should they have a breakthrough infection and have less severe illness, and 3) If you’re vaccinated but exposed to Covid-19, you can still attend school, which is very important! This is a matter of public health and safety for all of us in the community, as vaccination remains our best protection from Covid and allows us to keep school open.

If you would like your student to be vaccinated, please reach out to me. Our School Based Health Clinic will continue to offer Covid vaccines and I can schedule them quickly. Remember - it takes 5 weeks until one is fully vaccinated, so please don’t hesitate to call.

Speaking of vaccination, another important vaccine is the Meningitis vaccine, also known as MCV-4. All seniors need to have this vaccine before the start of senior year per State Law, yet we lag behind with approximately 30-35% of our students not in compliance. If your student is 16 or older, and has not had an in-person physical exam by their doctor in the past 1-2 years, chances are high they need this vaccine. I am sending out notices individually to folks this month and the next. Please do not wait to get this vaccine. Meningitis remains a very deadly disease and is still present in our community. If you’re not sure about your student’s vaccine status, please call me or your doctor. A reminder: If your student is a senior and is planning on attending college next year, they will not be admitted to college without this vaccine.

On another note, I am happy to report that our Friday Food Pantry is happening once again, and has been well received by our students. Please remind/encourage your students to take part in this. It is held every Friday at the end of the school day and alternates between non-perishables and perishables. Non-perishable items like rice, pasta, canned vegetables, sauce, shelf-stable milk, cereal, peanut butter, canned meats and fish, and other items are just some of what’s offered. This past Friday we had Fresh Food/perishables, with potatoes, cukes, squash, onions, cauliflower, apples, oranges, blueberries, strawberries, and a large assortment of breads as some of the offerings. Please encourage your student to take advantage of this fantastic partnership with Locker Project and the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Thank you to the parent volunteers who help staff this on Fridays. We couldn’t do it without you!! If interested in volunteering, please email care@cbhsfamily.org.

A final thank you to all of you who remain vigilant and helpful in caring for your students and our community by following the health guidelines we are all very familiar with by now. Keeping students home when they are not feeling well, and testing as needed helps keep the spread of Covid from happening in our community. It is certainly taking a village to keep students, staff and families safe and well. Thank you!

Becky Bell, RN

School Nurse

Walk-in COVID Vaccine Clinic

At the old Pier 1 at the Maine Mall

The address is 368 Maine Mall Rd in South Portland

Tuesday 12/14 1pm-7pm

Wednesday 12/15 1pm-7pm

Thursday 12/16 1pm-7pm

Friday 12/17 9am-6pm

Saturday 12/18 12pm-5pm

Monday 12/20 1pm-7pm

Tuesday 12/21 1pm-7pm

Wednesday 12/22 1pm-7pm

Upcoming Events

Winter Intensives Week: 1/3-/1/7
8th Graders’ CBHS Webinar - January 13th
8th Grade CBHS Commitment Forms Due - January 18th
Family Crew Night - January 20th - Cancelled. See to the right.*

Senior Expedition Changemakers’ Foum - January 20th (3 to 4pm)
Senior families and community members are invited to CBHS to learn from a cohort of seniors about their senior expeditions. Seniors will be giving presentations, collecting signatures and raising awareness about the issues that matter most to them
Course Sign-Ups – January in Crew
Second Semester Classes Begin – 1/24
Senior Expedition Crew Presentations - January 28th
CBHS Lottery (if needed) - January 28th
January 28th-30th - CBHS Musical -Mamma Mia
The musical will be performed at Portland High’s John Ford theater. More details below.
Mid-Year Conferences: February 2nd (4-8pm) & 3rd (3-6pm)
Spirit Week: Week of February 14th
Junior Public Policy Culmination, February 15 & 16
Junior families and interested community members will be invited to see our juniors present and defend their research and policy proposals about climate justice issues. Watch for more details about precise times and location as the event approaches, but please save the date. If you have an expertise in anything related to climate justice or public policy and would be interested in serving as one of our panelists for student presentations on one or both of these days, please contact Derek Pierce (piercd@portlandschools.org) or Mark Ford (fordma@portlandschools.org)
Winter Carnival: February 18th

*Please note the PAG decided to cancel this winter’s Family Crew Night (usually in January) since it would have to be done via webinar due to COVID restrictions. We plan to revive the tradition in the spring on May 26th when we expect we can more safely be together, outside if necessary. This winter, we will strive to provide other opportunities for parents and families to connect with the community and student work through smaller gatherings and grade level culminations (Grade 10 podcasts (12/16), Grade 11 Public Policy Presentations (2/15 and 2/16) and the Seniors’ Changemakers’ Gala (1/20). In addition, we hope to see as many parents/guardians as possible in our building (or over Zoom) for our Mid-Year Conferences. We also hope to figure out a way to use the Mid-Year Conferences to provide families with more opportunities to learn about what we’ve been up to and how you can get involved.

Casco Bay High School presents Mamma Mia!

Featuring the catchy music by the 1970’s band ABBA, Mamma Mia! follows the life of Sophie, a bride-to-be, as she invites her three potential dads to her wedding behind the back of her mother, Donna. Giving tense Donna a blast from the past, Sophie tries to figure out which one is her dad and who will walk her down the aisle!

Experience the color of sunny Greece and sing and dance along with this resilient cast!

Location:

Portland High School Auditorium: 284 Cumberland Ave.

Showtimes:

Friday, January 28th, 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 29th, 2:00 pm

Saturday, January 29th, 7:00 pm

Sunday, January 30th, 2:00 pm

Tickets at the door

$10 Adults

$5 Students

$15 for anyone who wants to enter in the CBHS Theater fundraising raffle! See Raffle items here.

Stay tuned for more details.

See you there, Chiquitita!

Mascot Update

Senior Elsie Howland proposed a new mascot for CBHS earlier this fall, and after student Cabinet determined there was strong support among both current students and alumni for considering the change, we launched the process of asking crews (and alums) to submit their ideas. Over 50 ideas were suggested, from Blue Lobsters to Goblins. Each student was then given the opportunity to vote for their 5 favorites from the list of nominees. Cabinet next reviewed the resulting data and identified the six finalists with the most support (listed here in alphabetical order):

The Casco Bay Barnacles

The Casco Bay Bees

The Casco Bay Cougars

The Casco Bay Cows

The Casco Bay GOATS

The Casco Bay Otters

The next phase of voting will take place early in 2022. We are looking for 1 or 2 folks who are willing to be a spokesperson/chief cheerleader for each nominee to explain at a January school meeting why their choice is "the one" before we vote again. Students, staff and alums will each be allowed to rank vote up to 3 favorites in the next round. If there is a clear winner, this may be the final round of voting. Cabinet will review the results and determine if a run-off is needed.

Check Out these

Casco Bay Fall photos

From the Counseling Office
For access to Casco Bay Connections links, click below:

Casco Bay Connections

Winter 2021 Intensives

We are thrilled for the return of Winter Intensives! Intensives will launch and culminate the week after December break, January 3rd-7th.

317 Main Street (Songwriting) - Art Credit

Do you love music? Do you want to write your own song? In this intensive, students will tap into their own creativity, find tools for improvisation, hone their ears for song analysis, and build on new and existing musical skills to create original music.

Beat-Making - Art Credit

Students will learn to create beats using Ableton Live, the beat making industry standard. This is an introduction to both beat making and production. Students will have the opportunity to present their final beats at the intensive culmination.

Cake Decorating - Elective Credit

Take this intensive to learn how to create beautifully decorated cakes. We will start with the basics of cake decorating, how to stack and torte cakes, and work our way to piping buttercream and creating fondant decorations.

Chemistry of Candy - Science Credit

Do you like sweet treats? Have you ever wondered why some candy is hard and other soft and chewy? It all boils down to chemistry! Join us as we explore what is happening at the molecular level while we make candy in this science credit bearing intensive.

Fiber Arts - Art Credit

Masks: We all hate 'em, we all need 'em. Come learn your way around a sewing machine and we'll explore mask making, drafting clothing from your own patterns, basic mending skills, and more! No experience required. Helpful if you can BYO sewing machine and fabric, but we'll have plenty to share!

Forensic Chemistry - Science Credit

Forensic Chemistry will focus on the ways that chemistry is used to aid in crime investigations. Topics include nuclear analysis of tissues, organic chemistry of death and the decomposition process, chromatography and ink analysis, and toxicology. We may also explore the role of citizens and experts in the legal system.

History & Politics of Food - Social Studies Credit

Ever thought of the history and politics behind your food? Come join Hoke and Regan to discover the hidden history and political choices behind your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Within the course, we will be watching the documentary High on the Hog, which explores the African origins of American food and reading fascinating essays about the culture and politics of food from The Best American Food Writing 2020, edited by Samin Nosrat, author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Join us if you like to talk about, think about, and eat food! Students are highly encouraged to bring their food knowledge to the course, and we will be cooking together within the week.

Internships - Elective Credit

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 from local business leaders. 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.

Journalism - English Credit

A free and powerful press has never been more important in the United States. What are the stories in our community that aren't being told that need to be? Intensive journalists will work to investigate stories and eventually contribute an article or articles to our school newspaper. By week's end, we will create an entire publication of must-read features and investigative articles for the Casco Bay HS community.

Lifetime Sports - PE/Health Credit

Lifetime sports are those you can play for your whole life. You can't win or reap all the physical and mental health benefits of sport if you don't continue to play it. Additionally, it's much easier to find the time (and money) for exercise when it's also a fun pastime—even a passion. In this intensive, we will introduce you to a cadre of lifetime sports.

NBA Analytics - Math Credit

Kevin Durant or Lebron James? Who would you choose? Take this intensive and learn how to use math analytics, like the pros do, to decide who you want on your team. This math intensive will explore the world of basketball analytics through documentaries, movies, and field trips to basketball venues to gain a better understanding of how numbers drive the world of sports. How much do you think you really know about basketball?

Podcasting - English Credit

This intensive is an introduction to the wide world of podcasting. You will be exposed to the art of using sound and voice to tell a story and communicate about a personal passion. By the end of the intensive you will have created one episode of your own personal podcast creation.

Pottery - Art Credit

This intensive is a studio class and takes place at Portland Pottery every day (118 Washington Ave.) This intensive will focus on function-wear, bowls, mugs, plates and more. We will practice hand-building techniques and explore elements of design. In addition to using the wheel and hand-building we will learn to critique our work and learn from, and about, professional potters. Students will document their progress in a journal and will ultimately take home 4-5 finished pieces of high fire ceramics.

Sports and Society - Social Studies Credit

This intensive focuses on the ways that sports and athletes go beyond the playing field to impact society. We will explore the intersection between sports and activism in order to better understand how sports can operate as a force against bias, inequity, and hate. We will also investigate how sports connect to global politics, international relations, and what makes sports so popular and economically lucrative. Finally, we will project how sports and society are changing one another and what the future of sports could look like. We will learn through a variety of case studies, including readings and films, and ultimately create work that celebrates the positive social impact that sports can have. Please note that this intensive is not focused on playing sports, but rather studying sports.

Swimming - PE/Health Credit

We live in Maine! Maine is a water lover's paradise, and we should all be comfortable being in and near the water. This intensive will not only teach you how to swim, but also heighten your enjoyment of being around water. This intensive is for people that do not know how to swim and/or uncomfortable around the water.

Theatre Tech - Art Credit

Like to draw or paint? Like to design things? Like movies, plays, or musicals? Want to have fun while being creative? We will design, build, and explore all the awesome aspects of technical theater.

Trash to Art - Science Credit

Participate in a DIY recycling project and turn trash into environmental art. Students will work with a visiting artist to collect, clean, shred and extrude #2 plastic into a sculptural installation, collaboratively working through the creative process to determine the theme and subject matter of the art piece. Students will also learn about plastic recycling and plastic's impact on the environment.

Winter Adventures - PE/Health Credit

Want to get outdoors? Looking for an adventure? This is the Intensive for you! We will fill our week with a series of one day excursions into the outdoors in winter. Specific plans are not set yet and will depend on availability of equipment, etc, but we hope for some combination of hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, maybe ice skating, and maybe even ice climbing. We will get cold and tired and maybe even fall down sometimes, so be ready for a challenge, but we will seek the exhilaration of an outdoor adventure. Join us!

This is a small sampling of a large donation of supplies from CBHS supporters via the Target Wishlist. A BIG shout out of appreciation to those who made many teacher wishes for student supplies come true!

PPS Sports Updates

By Scott Shibles

CBHS was well represented this fall on the local playing fields. We had students participate in every fall sports offering at both Deering and Portland. CBHS cross country runners were particularly successful in their endeavors. The PHS boy’s team had the best season they have had in years. Miles Fischer and Owen Thompson Lynch were instrumental in PHS’s championship season and both runners competed in the New England championships. On the Ram side, Deven Abrams and Alexey Seredin both had outstanding campaigns. The Portland sailing team was highly successful this fall in large part due to the senior leadership of CBHS sailors Ella Duncan, Fox Fernald (Capt.) and Gregg O’Rourke. Nicky Paterniti captained the PHS boy’s soccer team and along with Jared Kalombo, took the Bulldog’s deep into the playoffs. Deering’s boy’s soccer team also found success with three CBHS students. Zeke Appel, Avery Bassi-Lawrence and Mario Pulido-Ladero all contributed to a great season. Haley Allen and Isa Gomez were major contributors for the girls' varsity soccer teams.

Looking ahead to the winter season, CBHS continues our strong contributions to local sports teams. Again, we have athletes participating in all of the winter offerings. Senior Molly Ishimwe will once again take the floor for Deering as a member of the girl’s basketball team. In addition, CBHS will be well represented on both boys' basketball teams. Liban Ali wrestles for the Rams and has proven himself a worthy opponent, having recently earned 2 victories by way of pins. The swim team is always well represented by CBHS athletes and this year is no exception. Tae-Su Park and Gregg O’Rourke will be swimming their final season this year. CBHS has 13 nordic skiers ready to take on one of the most grueling sports this winter. Lead by Deven Abrams and Alexy Seredin, they should make waves in the Nordic championships.

Our athletes work hard both on the field and in the classroom. If you get a chance, please come out this winter and cheer them on!

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