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Brewster High School has incorporated the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking across the curriculum enabling students to acquire, interpret and apply knowledge in each area. A walk past English classrooms will yield a variety of sights and sounds: cooperative learning groups will be designing a presentation; a Socratic seminar will be carried out as part of a literature discussion; and seniors will be preparing for life outside of Brewster High School by reflecting on their years of experience as they pen their autobiographies. For the 2001-2002 school year, the electives have expanded the with English 12 in conjunction with Westchester Community College and courses in Creative Expression, Publication/Photojournalism, and Humanities.
The Social Studies Department uses a reality-based, hands-on approach to develop skills of critical analysis and students to examine the history of our world. Seniors are registered to vote, affirming the standards on citizenship and participation in government. Electives include Russian Studies, Modern Europe and SUPA Sociology, as well as AP World History, AP Macroeconomics, SUPA Psychology and Public Affairs.
Creating a "math culture," an atmosphere created by using specific teaching practices and consistent expectations in the use and application of technology, has been a positive innovation assisting students in making a smooth transition between grades and courses. The Math Department offers a variety of courses that include Contemporary Math (accredited through SUNY), AP Statistics, AP computer Science A and AP Computer Science AB (2002).
In addition to the traditional science offerings of Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the curriculum is enriched with AP Biology, SUPA Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics and Forensics. "Science on the Move" is an energizing program that infuses technology into the science classroom. This year a physics course designed for non-science majors was initiated through Westchester Community College, called Science and Survival.
The Modern Language Department acquaints students with different languages, cultures and traditions, and equips them with a solid background for ease of communication through listening, speaking, reading and writing. French, Spanish and Italian are offered.
The Art Department uses a "hands-on" approach so that all can be successful. Studio Art and Design and Drawing promote a foundation for art electives, including Drawing & Painting, Ceramics & Sculpture, Photography, Jewelry, Printmaking, Computer Graphics and AP Studio Art.
The Brewster Central School District's Music faculty has been realigned under the leadership of a single Department Liaison based at Brewster High School in anticipation of the program's expansion. The Music Department promotes creativity and musical appreciation throughout the disciplines.
The Brewster High School NJROTC program presents comprehensive curricular and co-curricular programs that target all students from high achievers to those with special education needs. The NJROTC curriculum emphasizes citizenship and leadership development as well as our maritime heritage, the significance of sea power, and naval topics such as the fundamentals of naval operations, seamanship and meteorology.
The Brewster High School academic program has grown over the past two to three years with additional offerings being made available to the student population. Students continue to be challenged through these new courses, and they also help students prepare for college life enabling them to acquire college credits.
College Level Courses
Advanced Placement Courses
The College Board's Advanced Placement Program provides an opportunity for students to pursue rigorous college-level courses while still in high school. AP students assume the intellectual responsibility of thinking for themselves and learn to engage the world critically and analytically. Through AP examinations, which are scored by computer and selected college professors and teachers of AP, students demonstrate and confirm their mastery of particular subjects. Over 90 percent of the colleges and universities in the United States, as well as in 19 other countries, use AP scores to determine credit, placement, or both, according to each school's AP policy.
A decade ago six AP courses were offered at BHS. The district now offer courses which prepare students for AP exams in European History, United States History, World History, Macroeconomics, Calculus AB, Statistics, Computer Science A, Computer Science AB, Biology, Environmental Science, Physics B, Studio Art, English Language & Composition, and English Literature & Composition. We see the expansion of our AP program as a means of providing access to excellence to a broader range of students.
SUPA Courses
At Brewster High School, we also teach college-level courses through Syracuse University. These courses are called Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA). BHS instructors go to training at Syracuse University so they can become adjunct professors of the university. They then teach the specific course they have been trained to teach at the college-level to BHS students. Syracuse University professors annually visit NHS to observe these classes and to ensure the quality and integrity of the program is maintained. Students who successfully meet the requirements of these courses work with their receiving colleges to apply the credits they have earned through their SUPA course work.
Westchester Community College Courses
In conjunction with Westchester Community College, we have instituted five new courses for seniors at BHS this year. In these courses we expect our students to become more actively involved in their learning as they study a college-level curriculum. In each course, students may earn 3 SUNY credits through successful performance on a placement test and final exam. Our Business Education offers a course in Computer Information Systems; the English Department offers Composition and Literature 1; the Math Department Contemporary Math and the Science Department offers Science and Survival. Along with the SUPA and AP programs, we view our SUNY courses as another way to provide greater access to advanced programs for our students.
State University of New York at Albany - Research Science Course
Through a partnership with the State University of Albany, Brewster High School offers a course in science research. Students elect to enroll in a multi-year program where they spend the majority of the team independently researching a science topic of their choice. These students are mentored by a teacher from Brewster High School, while they also seek to find a mentor in the working field of their research project. The research course is fairly new to Brewster High School. However, during its brief tenure in the curriculum, the students have received many accolades and awards, including a semi-finalist to the Intel Science Competition.
BOCES
The Putnam/Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) Tech Center continues to offer hands-on courses ranging from Auto Mechanics and Culinary Arts to Carpentry and Cosmetology. These courses teach communication, organization, problem-solving, and personal skills necessary for success in a variety of career-related experiences.
Courses are offered in six different vocational areas: Arts/Humanities; Business Careers; Engineering Technologies; Health Services; Human and Public Services; and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. A new "Four-Hour Option" allows students to take additional academic classes in English, Social Studies, Science or Math.
Along with the occupational and academic programs are a number of programs for students in special circumstances of one kind or another. These include Alternative Options (offering GED classes along with an occupation program); Diversified cooperative Education (allowing for apprenticeship in an area not part of regular programs); ESOL Immersion Program (for non-English-speaking students); Parenting Student Program (for teen-aged parents); Project Search (Special Education Activities to Reach Career Horizons); and Vocational Evaluation Services (assessment).
Naval Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (NJROTC)
The Naval Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) is one of 400 units nationwide. The program is controlled in the Navy by The Chief of Naval Education and Training based in Pensacola, Florida. The Chief of Naval Education and Training is currently Vice Admiral Alfred Harms, USN. It is one of 47 units in the NJROTC Area Four.
Approved by the Brewster Board of Education in 1983, the Unit actually started classes in 1984. During our 17 years at BHS, the cadets have won the following recognition:
- Navy Honor Unit nine years
- Navy Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors, two years
- CNET Award one year.
- Area Four Top Ten six years
- Graduates are currently serving in every branch of the armed forces stateside, with relief activities in Honduras and in Korea
- Former cadet was DT2 (POIC) of dental clinic at White House
The NJROTC Drill Team has won numerous trophies and awards, including Second Place overall in Area Four for several years. At the Boston University NROTC, they won "First Overall" three out of four years. The Drill Team has also been invited three consecutive years to represent Area FOUR at the NJROTC National Drill Meet.
Other NJROTC honors include;
- 21 ROTC scholarships offered to NJROTC Brewster cadets:
USA at Scranton, VA Tech, RPI, Norwich
- 3 NJROTC cadets offered admission to one of the Service Academies (currently there is one at the Naval Academy and two at the Military Academy)
- Community Service Activities:
- 1700 hours in SY 2000-2001; striving for 2000 hours in SY 2001-2002
- organizations : AL/ VFW/ ELKS/ LIONS/ ROTARY/ HOSPITAL/ DDSO
Science on the Move
The Science on the Move program was the brainchild of Dr. Andrew Malloy of Marist College. It directly incorporates computer technology into the science labs of Brewster High School by the use of lap top computers, interfaces and sensors. By using this technology, it allows the students to approach their scientific experiments with an inquiry approach to learning. Several of the teachers at Brewster High School attended summer sessions at Marist to acquire the training needed to implement this program. The teachers were so enamored with the quality of instruction that this program allowed, that the Brewster Central School District made a commitment to this program, grades 4 - 12. Lap top computers were purchased, along with specific grade level and subject matter 'packets' for the teachers to use in their classes. The Science on the Move program is another indicator of the high school's and the district's commitment to student success.
Science Symposium
Each year BHS has a science symposium, where students present their individual research projects. Participants come from the Research Class as well as some of the science honors classes. Last year the science department combined the inductions into the BHS Science Honor Society with the symposium. This year there will be two symposiums, one in February and the other in the spring. In addition, the Science Honor Society has instituted a "Lecture Series", providing a different topic every other month. The first lecture featured Brewster resident and high school parent, Dr. Ronald Gordon, who spoke about a Transmission Electron Microscope.
Computer Repair - A+ Certification
Last year, the Brewster Central School District forged a partnership with Dell computers. The high school would offer a course in computer repair that would utilize the Dell computers in our district. Dell would pay for teacher training and would establish a 'hot line' for communication for repair of their computers. The result is the new Computer Repair course offered at Brewster High School. The course is intended to take students from computer users to computer technicians, able to upgrade, troubleshoot or repair any personal computer. The curriculum is based on a computer industry standard, A+ certification. The Computer Technicians Industry Association, CompTIA, has developed a standardized examination that tests an individual's understanding of computer hardware and operating system fundamentals.
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