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For their fourth project period of the year, high school students are studying marine ecology. The field experiences have included a guided tour through the Elkhorn Slough Marine Sanctuary, tidepooling at Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, and a whale watching excursion on the Monterey Bay. The period will culminate with final project presentations. Photo by Gabe Aquino, Grade 11

Chartwell parents came together to show their appreciation of our faculty and staff for Teacher Appreciation Week. On Wednesday, the Bella Bee Coffee Truck arrived on campus along with a table filled with breakfast treats. On Friday, parents created a smoothie bar and hand-delivered them to classrooms for teachers. Thank you to our Chartwell Family Network for your support!

Chartwell High School is rooted in project-based learning. Each school year is broken into four themed Project Periods. During each Project Period, the curriculum is shaped around a particular driving question and students engage in the production of a project that explores that question. The projects link subject matter and skills instruction into a coherent whole.

For Project Period 3 this year, the theme was Science Fiction and the driving question was: How can I use Sci Fi to envision what alien life would be in the Proxima Centauri system? 

This year, many students missed out on the traditional science camp due to COVID restrictions. STEAM Director Topher Mueller, realizing the educational and social-emotional value of this annual experience, worked to recreate an abbreviated on-campus science sleepover including science projects, a day hike, astronomy, games, and even a campfire.

Chartwell alumna Kayla Cromer was recently interviewed on the Hoda and Jenna Show for her role in the TV series Everything's Gonna Be Okay. Kayla's character, Matilda, has autism - a diagnosis Kayla also shares. Kayla has been a passionate advocate for dyslexia awareness, and the associated learning differences that often accompany it. Congratulations, Kayla, on your tremendous success. You can watch the segment here. 

Students in Mr. Owen's and Mr. Whitman's classes are studying Greek history. To bring the Olympic spirit to life, they hosted their own version of the legendary games. Ms. Benjamin, a college track and field athlete, came out and taught students how to throw the javelin and the shot put. The focus of the day was on trying new activities, being competitive and supportive of one another, and imagining what the early Greek games would have been like.