Dear Casco Bay Families:
Happy August! To help facilitate a successful school opening, please review the following information carefully. Please contact us if you would like any additional information. We are excited to see you all soon!
Upcoming Events
Thursday, August 15th : Casco Bay Quest Information Night (6 to 7pm)
All freshmen and senior students and families are invited to learn more about the fall’s Quests (Rm 250). More details below.
Friday, August 16th: Cross Team Expedition Sharing (12:00-1:30pm)
Parents and students are invited in to learn about the year’s expeditions and give input (Rm 250). This is the annual conclusion of our Faculty Summer Institute (the 14th-16th).
Monday August 19th: Fall Sports Tryouts
Be sure to get a physical beforehand if you have not done so recently. Contact Mr. Shibles (shibls@portlandschools.org) or Deering or Portland High with any questions. Get involved!
School Beautification Days: Thursday, August 27th and 29th- 9am-1pm.
Student and parent volunteers are sought to help us get ready and spiffy for opening day.
Parent Advisory Group: Thursday, August 29th: 5:30-7:00pm
Our first meeting of the year. All CBHS parents are welcome (in 250B/Somalia).
Ice Cream Social: Tuesday, September 3rd: 6-7:30
All CBHS students and families are invited!
Opening Day Special Schedule: Wednesday, September 4th
Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors should arrive at the normal start time: by 7:55am. They will be dismissed early, prior to lunch, about 11:40. Freshmen should arrive by 9:40 (and be at their bus stop by 9:10). 9th graders will be dismissed at 2:05; school lunch will be available for freshmen. Thursday September 5th will begin (7:55am) and end (2:05) at the standard times for all grades. Students will receive their course schedules and room assignments from their crew advisors during school’s opening. (They are NOT needed ahead of time. Many can be viewed on Infinite Campus now, but are subject to change before the start of school.)
The Casco Bay Quest: Freshmen and Senior Kayaking and Writing Expeditions
We are pleased to once again be able to offer Casco Bay Quest for all 9th graders (10/1-10/4) and seniors (9/24-9/27) this fall. Please return any paperwork for the “Casco Bay Quest,” our September trips on Casco Bay and Cow Island with Ripple Effect to our main office (or Ripple Effect) as soon as possible. See the home page of our website for an additional copy and for more information. No previous kayaking (or swimming) experience is necessary. We are striving for all 9th and 12th graders to participate. Because of nearly $40,000 in grant support, the cost is only $50 for students (and $10 for students who qualify for free/reduced lunch). Payment should be turned into crew advisors or our main office. Checks should be made out to “Casco Bay High School.”
What School Supplies Do You Need to Start?
All CBHS students are strongly encouraged to acquire an agenda book, a marble composition book, two double pocket folders, three one-inch binders (with dividers) and plenty of writing utensils to start the year. Juniors should also obtain a 2 inch binder. Some additional supplies may be suggested by particular teachers during the opening days of school. All students will be receiving a new iPad this year. (The netbook era is over.) More details soon.
Don’t Forget To Read (and Write)!
Summer Reading! We are asking all CBHS students to read several books and complete some written reflections by September 9th. Each grade level has a distinct list of required or recommended books. See “Summer Reading 2013” on the CBHS home page of our website or feel free to call if you would like any additional information.
Bus Transportation
Qualifying bus riders will receive a post card from the Transportation Department before school starts, detailing the precise stop, time and bus number. If you do not receive a post card, and you qualify to take the bus (e.g.: you live more than 2 miles from CBHS), please call PPS transportation at: 874-8240.
Course Updates
(new) Advanced Studio Art – Ms. Richard (limited enrollment)
(new) Introduction to Chinese – taught by a Chinese scholar from the Confucius Institute (thanks to a grant from USM). This course will be offered at CBHS on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00-6:30pm and be open to students from all three high schools, 9-12.
If you are interested in either of these options, please let Mr. Hale or Mr. Pierce know.
We will once again offer two SMCC courses next fall (after school on Wednesdays, on campus) – Introduction to International Relations and College Algebra. Contact Mr. Hale or Mr. Pierce, FMI.
All rising juniors and seniors planning to take a college course next fall. Make sure you have completed the requisite paperwork from SMCC or USM. Contact Mr. Hale. Ms. Doyle or Mr. Pierce with any questions. Please be aware that the first meeting of your USM or SMCC course could very well be before the first day of classes at CBHS.
Staffing and Budget Update
We are pleased to announce that Nat Highstein will be our new .66 math teacher. For the past few years, Mr. Highstein has been wowing students, parents and colleagues at Breakwater School as a math teacher and Renaissance educator. Mr. Highstein is a former CBHS parent – and intern (with Ms. Weigel). Besides his talents as a math teacher, Nat is an accomplished artist, art teacher (at SMCC) and technology-whiz. Mr. Highstein will be teaching 3 sections of Math 3 (teaming with Dave on two of them) – and leading a junior crew (the former Burke crew). We are thrilled to have Nat back in our community!
Please welcome Destiny Michaud, our new .5 registrar. Ms. Michaud is very familiar with life at an Expeditionary Learning school since she has worked for many years at King. Ms. Michaud was transferred due to cuts in support staff district-wide that led to Ms. Pinard no longer having a position (due to seniority) and reduced staffing at King. We are so grateful to Ms. Pinard for her tremendous service to CBHS, and we are looking forward to having Ms. Michaud on our team.
We are crossing our fingers that we will be able to restore the .5 French/Spanish position that was cut in the budget process last spring. As some of you may have heard, there will be a voter referendum on Wednesday, September 4th to allow the School Department to expend some additional money allocated by the legislature. A chunk of that money would go to restoring 9 positions district-wide deemed as essential. Our .5 French/Spanish position is a part of this list. Please vote on September 4th.
Facilities and Expansion Update
The district is hoping to secure by early fall an architect to oversee our expansion project next summer. We will be adding two new (big) rooms this fall on the 3rd floor to accommodate our larger 9th and 10th grade classes.
Parent E-Mail List
If you are not receiving a weekly school news update from the principal but would like to, please contact Deb Kierstead (kiersd@portlandschools.org) or 874-8160.
CBHS Open House
Casco Bay High School Parents’ Night (Open House): September 19th
6:30-8:30 for 9th Grade and New 10th-12th Grade Parents
7:00-8:30 for Returning CBHS Parents
Enjoy the remainder of summer!