Curriculum
Coastal Studies for Girls understands that adolescent girls are most fully engaged by experiences that encourage and support the discovery of self, both individually and within a community. A small student body and a dedicated, knowledgeable faculty combined with course work in scientific research, leadership adventure and core subjects create the ideal ground on which this discovery can take place. We have developed a unique and rigorous curriculum that integrally connects learning to students’ lives, the local environment, and the world and includes extensive collaboration with our educational partners. Our curriculum has been reviewed by a consortium of experienced educators, using the National Education Standards as competency guidelines for each subject. It is our ultimate goal that students return to their sending schools and communities with a heightened sense of what it means to excel as an individual and as a member of a community, with a solid foundation in science, leadership and environmental stewardship.
The Core Strand
The Core Strand offers an array of courses including: World History, English, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, French and Spanish. The primary goals of the Core Strand are to ensure that students maintain good standing at their local high schools, to enhance their college admissions prospects and to explore various academic disciplines from the perspective of environmental stewardship.
The Scientific Research Strand
The Scientific Research Strand embodies the challenging and rigorous science-based exploration that is the foundation of Coastal Studies for Girls. The Coastal Marine Ecosystems course proceeds from the premise that authentic research-based inquiry offers students the best opportunity for nurturing their keen interest in science. Using the Maine coast as a natural laboratory, students design and conduct original research projects and present their results to an audience of peers, staff, family and community members.
The Leadership Strand
The Leadership Strand offers unrivalled opportunities for personal growth and environmental stewardship. In the Leadership Adventure course, students will be presented with opportunities to explore, cultivate, practice and reflect upon the traits of an effective leader as well as a cooperative group member, through activities such as ocean sailing, backpacking, sea kayaking, team challenges on a ropes course, rock climbing and snow camping. These activities and immersion in the natural world lend themselves to the cultivation of environmental awareness and land ethics, enhancing students’ understanding of their roles as Earth stewards.
* this course is the equivalent of a half-credit in Physical Education.
Assessment
CSG employs a variety of assessments in order to meet multiple academic objectives. The three major assessment tools include the Portfolio, the Exhibition of Learning, and the Semester Reflection.
The Portfolio is a collection of student work samples gathered over the course of the semester in each class. Portfolios includes quizzes and tests, essays, expressive pieces and other assignments, and serve as evidence of the student’s progress and proficiency with regard to state and national standards as well as sending school graduation requirements. Students are responsible for maintaining the Portfolio and submitting a written defense of their work selections.
The Exhibition of Learning is a performance-based culminating assessment that is designed to showcase students’ learning and achievement during the semester. Widely considered excellent preparation for college and life, exhibitions are:
Authentic -- involve students in real-world problems, applications and community interactions
Meaningful—student designed and directed
Rigorous—must stand up to public scrutiny as well as national education standards
Holistic—require students to integrate learning from a variety of disciplines
Students synthesize their learning around a topic of their choice by designing and conducting a research project or completing a major literary work. Exhibitions of Learning are required in the Humanities and Marine Science. In addition to acquiring advanced research skills such as performing a literature review, students practice and demonstrate leadership as they prepare for and deliver their presentation. Exhibitions are held in front of an audience of peers, faculty, parents and community members and include a community response component in which audience members are invited to ask questions and join with the student in dialogue about the subject. Exhibitions are evaluated by a panel of educators using a rubric that assesses competency based on national standards for content knowledge, presentation skills and critical thinking.
The Semester Reflection is the capstone presentation of the semester. In this presentation, students share their reflections and insights on their learning and growth during the semester, highlighting specific experiences and displaying pieces of work to support and illustrate their points. Focusing on leadership, students are asked to reflect on their learning experience--their dreams, inspirations and aspiration, challenges and mistakes, lessons learned, and how they intend to apply their learning to life.
The Semester Reflection requires students to use higher order thinking skills in order to analyze their experience, identify relationships and connections, draw inferences and conclusions, and synthesize the results into an integrated narrative. Semester Reflections are evaluated against national standards for critical thinking and leadership by a team that includes faculty members, interns and mentors.
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