Fresh Catch

Fresh Catch 17 September 2013

  Fresh Catch -  Tuesday 17 August 2013  * Update from the Front Lines by Micah Depper   * The Best 2 Minutes You’ll Spend Today     Update from the Front Lines by Micah Depper – It’s been an exhilarating couple of weeks at HCA.  If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard plenty from your students. If you’re a member of the community and don’t get to see or hear our kids in actions,  I’ll sum up some of the highlights. The students have … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 13 September 2013

Fresh Catch -  Friday 13 September 2013 * This is School by John D’Anieri     This is School by John D’Aneiri – If anyone was still wondering what Harpswell Coastal Academy is all about, our Thursday excursion to Stover’s Cove would have provided some answers. Sixty students and six staff members, almost all of whom walked at least half of the 1.25 miles, converged on one Harpswell’s cherished shoreline spots. The students, armed with only one piece of paper, a pencil, and … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 3 September 2013

  Fresh Catch – Tuesday 3 September 2013 Opening Day  * Blast Off  * Violins and Skateboards by Scott Ruppert   T-zero: All Systems are GO – BLAST OFF Harpswell Coastal Academy launches. Enjoy the ride!           Violins and Skateboards by Scott Ruppert – One might think skateboards and violins don’t have a lot in common. Frankly, as objects they don’t; but those that learn to use them – do. On a recent business trip I walked past a dried … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 9 August 2013

  Fresh Catch - Friday 9 August 2013  * Holbrook and HCA Partnership by Amber Skinner  * The Sign: Passing the Torch     Holbrook Community Foundation and Harpswell Coastal Academy Partnership by Amber Skinner One of the many aspects of Harpswell Coastal Academy (HCA) that will make it stand apart from a typical school is its Community Partnership Program. These partnerships with local businesses, non-profits and individuals will be “an essential and integral part of what all students will receive at HCA,” according … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 2 August 2013

Fresh Catch - Friday 2 August 2013 * This Is How We Do It by Scott Ruppert * What is Project Based Learning?   This Is How We Do It by Scott Ruppert Dear HCA Freshmen, You enter as the elder statesmen of HCA, the first class of upper classmen in a new school. You not only have an awesome opportunity but a specific responsibility as well. Freshmen typically don’t get the privilege of seniority but you have no choice but to accept it. … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 24 September 2013

Fresh Catch -  Tuesday 24 September 2013   * Contributing to What Comes Next by Tom Allen      Contributing to What Comes Next by Tom Allen – When my wife and I decided to have a child, we (and she especially) hit the books hard. She ate right during pregnancy, avoided alcohol, read and digested “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” exercised every day, and so on. We had this pregnancy thing aced. Unfortunately, we didn’t spend as much time researching what to … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 20 September 2013

Fresh Catch -  Friday 20 September  *It’s About The Kids by Joe Grady    * HCA Wish List   Its About The Kids by Joe Grady – I suffer from an affliction that I know many of my fellow adults suffer from along with thousands of kids across the planet. Its call the “Its about me” disease. Its actually quite a natural “stage” for the kids, it only becomes problematic if it continues or surfaces with persistence in the adult years. You know…. … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 10 September 2013

Fresh Catch Tuesday 10 September 2013 * Students, Life, and HCA by Scott Ruppert * Common Core from a Different Perspective ______________________________________________________________________________ Students, Life, and HCA by Scott Ruppert – In a few weeks the old folks will turn Fresh Catch over to the students and give them a shot at publishing their own blog. For most of them it will present a brand new set of experiences; meeting a deadline, coming up with relevant content, editing the work of their peers, finding … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 30 August 2013

Fresh Catch Friday 30 August 2013 * Trailblazing for your Health by Dr. Jeff Slocum * Countdown to Launch __________________________________________________________________________ Trailblazing for your Health by Dr. Jeff Slocum Time to hit the trails for better health! If you had a choice of taking a walk on a tar path or out in the woods or fields, which would you chose? Often times when I want to get out and get a little exercise or fresh air on the weekends, my children will grumble and … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 27 August 2013

Fresh Catch -  Tuesday 27 August 2013  * Blank Slate by Pete Rosenberg  * Countdown to Launch   Blank Slate by Pete Rosenberg  Serving on the HCA’s Founding Board of Directors has been a special experience  for me.  So many smart and caring folks have thought about so many important things, tried so hard to make HCA just right, just what’s needed.  In just a few short days our students take over Fresh Catch. In a real sense, they take over HCA.   Welcome!  Here is … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 23 August 2013

  Fresh Catch -  Friday 23 August 2013  * Believing in Miracles by Tom Allen  * Countdown     Believing in Miracles by Tom Allen – This will be my last post before Harpswell Coastal Academy opens its doors to its first two classes of students on September 3, 2013. For someone who started at the very beginning of this process less than two years ago, it seems like something of a miracle. But in reality this outcome is the result of a … Continue reading

Fresh Catch 20 August 2013

Fresh Catch Tuesday 20 August 2013 * HCA Spirit Is Contagious * Those Little Things _______________________________________________________________________________ * HCA Spirit Is Contagious – I noticed something different last Saturday evening at the annual Harpswell Shore Dinner. As usual the leadership, planning, and provisioning of the event by Fishing Families of Harpswell was flawless, food and service were spot on, and the social value was the essence of what Harpswell is capable of. But it was the spirit of the event that was different from … Continue reading