Dear Editor:

My husband Robert and I made a visit to the Boothbay Region High School last week. We toured the school with Principal Dan Welch, and found out some interesting facts:

• Students are provided internet-connected iPads or may use their own in class.
• The school has managed to insert one period a day to replace underused study halls. This is a period that can be scheduled to a student's specific need. Kids that have missed a class have an iPad app that connects them with that teacher for a session of notes and materials, or for review and extra help.
• One issue is that the present semester-based class schedule negatively impacts some classes, such as band and instruments. The school is working on this issue.
• There are afterschool phys. ed. activities going on.
• We were pleasantly surprised that such a small school has a stage/auditorium.
• We saw a course in Robotics and students making an electric guitar; the range of courses seems broad.
• There even is a nurse practitioner in her office every day for a couple hours, which is above and beyond regular public high schools.
• And a full-time social worker, with part-time as well.
• The school has a post-secondary placement adviser who offers FAFSA assistance in addition to guidance.
• Four languages are taught!
• Exchange programs with foreign students are three week duration, with trips to Europe every other year.

Dan said an area needing improvement is the lower level cafeteria as well as the weight room.

We would like to visit again to learn more. Thank you, Dan, for the tour.

Robin Jordan

Trevett