Last year, students proposed the idea of a joint course with Thomas College that enabled students to travel to Bermuda. The students would engage in environmental studies through field research within Maine and for 10 days in Bermuda. Under the direction of David Consalvi at Shead, the course was created to develop greater awareness of scientific inquiry and appreciation for the interconnectivity of our global ecosystem.
This year, students expressed an interest in learning French. So, a new course was born under the direction of Dana Bard that enables us to offer 3 world languages: Spanish, Passamaquoddy, and French. The Passamaquoddy course offered by Dolly Apt was another recently developed course in response to student interest. It is one of the only courses of its kind in Maine made available to help increase awareness of our Native American population's language.
One of Shead's greatest strengths is its ability to use its small size to the advantage of the students. Each student is a part of the process of education and therefore able to develop more fully. At Shead, students are only limited by what they choose to pursue. Each student is able to tailor their program to their personal needs and interests. Parents are also encouraged to play an integral role in supporting and challenging their students to excel through participation in activities, home support, and direct dialogue with the school about expectations and desires. Shead strives to meet the diverse opportunities that our rural region provides and communication is key to that success.
