Jr Journey: Get Smart to Do Good
Donation protected
“GET SMART TO DO GOOD.” At Casco Bay High School (CBHS), one of three public high schools in Portland, ME, we challenge our students to become college ready through Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. We're raising the final $2,500 for our “Junior Journey”, a weeklong transformative learning experience in Detroit.
Junior Journey is part of a yearlong interdisciplinary study designed to expand students’ sense of their world and who they are. We investigate: “What impact will you have as a generation?” and “How can we address the widening gap between rich and poor in our nation?” Throughout the year students examine current issues and approaches to effecting social and political change. During the Junior Journey trip to Detroit they experience firsthand in another community the perseverance it takes to create positive change.
Junior Journey is focused around two objectives, a Service Project in conjunction with a local organization and the documentation of Oral Histories through interviews, writing and film. Students return full of gratitude for their lives in Maine, inspired to give back, to volunteer and to make a difference. They return ready to focus and work diligently senior year to achieve their best futures.
“This experience notably impacts the student’s future trajectory – seeking college, gap years and job opportunities where they can serve others.” –Derek Pierce, CBHS Principal
Students will interview residents to reveal their stories of living in this city. In preparation, they will be trained as teams of four in documentary skills of interview, photography, video, and sound engineering. Each team will write the Oral History of their interviewee and produce a three minute video capturing their story. The resulting full length film will be showcased at a downtown Portland event.
After the trip students express passionate and powerful thoughts about the experience:
“I have learned that we are all the same. Yes, we are different in very real ways. But we are all the same; we are human.”
“After my experience in Detroit, I felt as if I became a new person. I’m now more involved within my community, I try to be a role model for many students to do better, and I learned never to take anything for granted. Now when an opportunity is given to me, I am grateful. Now I think more deeply and I have more empathy.”
We request funding to help make Junior Journey accessible to the entire class. Each student is asked to contribute $500 toward program cost. We ask less of the 50% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch.
However, we are committed to including all students who wish to attend, regardless of family income. We raise funds annually to make this possible, internally and from outside contributors. Your donation will directly support our students.
Thank you!
Junior Journey is part of a yearlong interdisciplinary study designed to expand students’ sense of their world and who they are. We investigate: “What impact will you have as a generation?” and “How can we address the widening gap between rich and poor in our nation?” Throughout the year students examine current issues and approaches to effecting social and political change. During the Junior Journey trip to Detroit they experience firsthand in another community the perseverance it takes to create positive change.
Junior Journey is focused around two objectives, a Service Project in conjunction with a local organization and the documentation of Oral Histories through interviews, writing and film. Students return full of gratitude for their lives in Maine, inspired to give back, to volunteer and to make a difference. They return ready to focus and work diligently senior year to achieve their best futures.
“This experience notably impacts the student’s future trajectory – seeking college, gap years and job opportunities where they can serve others.” –Derek Pierce, CBHS Principal
Students will interview residents to reveal their stories of living in this city. In preparation, they will be trained as teams of four in documentary skills of interview, photography, video, and sound engineering. Each team will write the Oral History of their interviewee and produce a three minute video capturing their story. The resulting full length film will be showcased at a downtown Portland event.
After the trip students express passionate and powerful thoughts about the experience:
“I have learned that we are all the same. Yes, we are different in very real ways. But we are all the same; we are human.”
“After my experience in Detroit, I felt as if I became a new person. I’m now more involved within my community, I try to be a role model for many students to do better, and I learned never to take anything for granted. Now when an opportunity is given to me, I am grateful. Now I think more deeply and I have more empathy.”
We request funding to help make Junior Journey accessible to the entire class. Each student is asked to contribute $500 toward program cost. We ask less of the 50% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch.
However, we are committed to including all students who wish to attend, regardless of family income. We raise funds annually to make this possible, internally and from outside contributors. Your donation will directly support our students.
Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
A Kraus
Organizer
Portland, ME
Derek Pierce
Beneficiary
