Enrichment Courses Planned for SHS/SRTC

At the School Committee’s January 4 meeting, Curriculum Director Beth Lambert gave a presentation on the enrichment courses planned for Sanford High School/SRTC for the 2021-2022 school year. The courses were originally planned to start this year, but the hybrid learning schedule due to the pandemic required it to be delayed until next year.

The classes would be held twice a week during the “skinny block” that was created when the school schedule went from five blocks to four. Courses would be graded and each would receive a quarter credit.

Teachers were invited to submit descriptions of classes they wanted to teach. Ms. Lambert, along with Principals Matt Petermann of SHS and Kathy Sargent of SRTC winnowed the list down to 70 offerings. The focus will be on applied learning – courses that provide knowledge or skills useful to life outside the classroom – with some career exploratory courses.

Classes that will be offered include: Botanical Illustration, Bucket Drumming, Child Psychology, Cracking Cold Cases, Fish and Game, Maine Studies, Meteorology, Theater Production: Costume Design & Makeup, Renewable Energy, Trail Maintenance, Internal Combustion Engines and many more.

Mr. Petermann told the Committee the overall objective of the program is to get students engaged, by finding more ways to connect the school’s curriculum to real life. Feedback from students and teachers will be critical to making positive adjustments in the program. Having classes during the “skinny block,” rather than as full courses, makes it more attractive to teachers to experiment with subject matter, he said.

Subscribe to our twice-weekly email newsletter and never miss a story! Visit sanfordspringvalenews.com/subscribe/ to sign up.