Q5 Final Post

It is not hyperbole to suggest that the final eight days of the school year were awe-inspiring. It was the culmination of 18-months of preparation and watching it come together.  The quality, depth, and variety of courses to choose from offered something for all students. Q5 was a collaborative effort involving students, CCHS staff, community members, the transportation department, and Central Office personnel. Of course, like so many initiatives in our schools, without the generous support of the CEF and the PA, none of this amazing experience would be possible, so thank you.

CCHS rising senior Princeton Chang made an amazing Q5 video. Please check it out.

We are still analyzing educator and student feedback, but a few initial statistics worth highlighting.

Over 85% of students agreed or strongly agreed with the following statements:
I enjoyed this Q5 course
I was actively engaged in this Q5 course

83.7% of students stated that they would recommend Q5 to a student at another school.

My personal favorite response, 87.8% of students stated that they made a new connection during Q5 (either student or teacher)

Add it all up and we can say with confidence that we achieved the mission of Q5:

"An immersive learning experience leveraging the curiosity, knowledge, and passions of students and faculty to foster complex thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Q5 complements our academic program and seeks to inspire students and faculty to pursue shared interests and ideas."

Below you will find some highlights from week 2 of Q5. If you want to see even more pictures, please  www.cchsq5.com or you can review previous blog posts.




Classical Mythology Through art and Literature
Course Leaders: Ms. Pooler and Ms. Haycock

Greta Kroegen, Leeda Ayati  and Sarah Long examine a 5th century Greek red-figure vase portraying the myth of Diana and Actaeon

Course Description:

Students will read excerpts from texts to learn the fundamentals of classical myths and discuss the ways in which these myths provide a window into the cultural values of Greece and Rome. Students will take two field trips to visit the MFA and the Gardner Museum to explore the ways in which artists and writers throughout the ages have represented these myths and consider why these myths have exerted such an enduring influence on western art and literature. Students will take advantage of the nature surrounding our school for short walks which will complement our mythological readings.  

Plein Air Painting and Picnics

Course Leaders: Ms. Dunn and Mr. Pickman

Description:

A studio art course based on drawing and painting the landscape from observation and direct interpretation. Techniques include, impressionism, expressionism, abstraction, and experimental projects. All levels of ability are invited to participate, no studio experience required. This course will be locally based and daily agendas will include walks to aesthetically significant sites in the area, art making as well as visits by professional landscape artists. This course also features daily, gourmet, healthful and delicious picnics organized by the members of our painting group.

Course Photo Album

On the fourth day of Q5, students pitched their own teen movies.

Teens in Film and On Television

Course Leader: Ms. Sutter

Course Description:

Hollywood has long looked to the teenager for its most dramatic storylines -- the teenager as the rebel, the romantic, the outcast or the icon.  In this course, we will watch movies and television shows about teenagers from several different decades, including Rebel Without a Cause (1955), American Graffiti (1973), The Breakfast Club (1985), Freaks and Geeks (1999-200), Glee (2009-2015), and a contemporary film or show of the group's choice.  We will discuss the role of the teenager in pop culture, the reality as young people experience it today, and the gap between the two.  On the last day, we'll vote on which Hollywood teenager comes closest to embodying the truth and try to predict the premise of the next teen film or television show to become a breakaway success.

Chinese Arts and Crafts Workshop: Zodiac Animals Course Leader: Mr. Feng

Course Description A workshop will be held to review Chinese arts and crafts pertaining to Chinese zodiac animal of the year and/or the years of the participating students. Students will learn to create art and craft pieces by observing teacher demonstration of selected arts and crafts techniques such as paper cutting, Chinese painting, wood burning, soapstone carving and engraving, as well as clay modeling (We can concentrate on two media only in each Q5 session. We will try out paper cutting and wood burning in 2018). It will be a first-hand exposure to Chinese culture and hands-on experience to arts and crafts creation.

This Isn’t your Grandmother’s Mahjong Course Leader: Ms. Mahoney

Course Description

Mahjong is the popular Chinese game of strategy that originated in the Qing Dynasty. Today, it is one of the most popular games played throughout Asia and the rest of the world with many variations. In this course, you will learn to play the traditional and most popular version. Mahjong is a fast-paced game (don't worry, we'll start slow!) that will keep you on your toes. Mahjong has even been shown to improve cognitive ability in patients with dementia. The game is played using 144 tiles (like dominoes) in different suits (like cards) with Chinese numbers and characters. You will learn these characters and a few Chinese terms needed to play. Be prepared to bring your A game to defeat your competitors!

Bio Bites: The Art and Science of Food Course Leaders: Ms. Guiney and Ms. Rusilas

Description

This course will explore the scientific principles involved in cooking and baking. This will be a hands-on course involving lots of cooking! Possible topics include investigating what causes bread to rise, investigating fermentation & brining by making pickles, creating a delicious cookie recipe, exploring flavorful spices and much more! Expect to cook something everyday and to go on a local field trip!

Thoreau’s Paddle 

Course Leaders: Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Nichol, Mr. Savage

Description

Participants will explore the canoe trips of Henry David Thoreau along the Concord, Sudbury and Assabet Rivers.  We will canoe daily with journals and maps to compare the rivers and landscape of today with that of Thoreau's time.  We will reference Thoreau's written work and that of other naturalists who have retraced his trips on the water.   Students will learn essential canoeing skills and practice paddling flat water and the swift moving current of the Assabet.

Course Photo Album 1, Course Photo Album 2

Students busy prepping their pieces and doing some light repairs.

Trash to Treasure

Course Leaders: Ms. Omobono, Ms. Ravalese

Description

In this course students will learn how to take old and essentially "worthless" pieces of wood furniture and transform them into something beautiful and functional.  Students will learn about refinishing and consignment while visiting a local business, and then students will then be able to try it themselves by choosing one piece of furniture to refinish over the duration of the course.  Students will begin by sanding, cleaning and prepping the furniture, then move on to painting, staining, or a combination of the two, and finally end with sealing the recreated furniture.  The course will end with a “flea market flip” presentation to share their new pieces!

I’d Rather Be Reading

Course Leader: Ms. Cicchetti

Student featured above toured the Concord Free Public Library and met with Special Collections Curator, Leslie Perrin. They were able to see original surveys by Thoreau, and his final journal.

Description

Passionate readers are never without a book! What they often lack is time to read. Students will have the opportunity to create a weeklong reading goal, learn good yoga stretches for readers, create strategies for lifelong reading, and will have time to disappear into a book, of course!