& Academics at NYHS
 

A Unique Curriculum

New York Harbor School's organizing theme is the marine world: its science, economics, literature, art, technology, culture and history. Students prepare to meet and exceed New York State's 28 learning standards by engaging in an academic program framed by our own set of more specific maritime-based standards. In addition to more traditional study in English, History, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, the Arts, and Physical Education, students work through the following four-year sequence of theme-based courses:

9TH GRADE INTRODUCTION TO NEW YORK HARBOR

The first semester of this class (the first of its kind in NYC), introduces students to New York Harbor by visiting and studying most aspects of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Each visit includes hands-on study of the geography, animal life, fl ora and fauna, water quality, and contamination of these important natural resources. As part of this class, each Harbor School freshman has four day-long, educational sails aboard the Lettie G. Howard, a 110 year-old schooner.

The second semester of Introduction to New York Harbor focuses on the built environment and effect humans have had on the waterways, and how public policy mediates these effects. This course strengthens history, communication, policy analysis and writing skills, while giving students social studies credit, and a chance to dream about how they would manage New York Harbor.
students' work in Intro to NY Harbor!!
More detailed information about this course is availble here.

10TH GRADE MARINE TECHNOLOGY

This semester-long class focuses on navigation, seamanship, boat building (especially design and materials), weather and marine communication. The course culminates in a weekend-long sail, where students celebrate the semester and are assessed for a variety of maritime skills. The Marine Technology course has been both the most popular class and also the most difficult to implement fully due to our lack of access to water.

10TH GRADE HARBOR HUMANITIES


In this course, which also serves as the 10th Grade English 3 and 4 courses, students travel to various historically signifi cant sites around New York Harbor to interpret the art and literature inspired by the port. At each site they view the Harbor-estuary through a different lens. They try their hand at documenting the Harbor with cameras, drawings and creative writing.

11TH GRADE HARBOR ARTS

This course culminates in a student-produced art show which reflects on NYHS's unique connection to the New York Harbor.

12TH GRADE HARBOR INTERNSHIPS

The New York Harbor School Internship Program seeks to place competent, well-prepared students in organizations where they will be treated as members of a team and consistently challenged with meaningful responsibilities. We aim for every student to find an internship that is uniquely suited to his or her interests and skills. The ideal internship is highly motivating and will foster career and character development for the student. NYHS places students in a full array of internships reflective of the New York City economy, including but not restricted to those in maritime fields such as shipping and marine ecology. All Harbor interns will take a concurrent academic seminar in macroeconomics and public policy. Through this seminar, interns investigate the intricacies of their organization, its current functions and historical background, including New York's changing economy and ecology.

Internship provides students with the opportunity to explore a particular career interest, develop important workplace competencies, apply academic knowledge, and grow in confidence and maturity. The NYHS Internship Program is both an experiential learning apprenticeship and an intensive academic study. Student-Interns not only gain vital work experience contributing to career development, but simultaneously each student is engaged in an independent, critical study of his or her organization within the larger social and economic contexts of New York City. At their sites, students are encouraged to think toward an applied learning project that attempts to synthesize knowledge gained in and around the workplace.

Click below to download more specific information about the NYHS internship program:
Internship Packet for Potential Mentors (including FAQ)
Internship Supervisor Packet
Internship Assignments, Semester 1
Coworker Interview Assignment
Sustainable Development Course Outline


Click here to view some of our school's class pages.

New York Harbor School
An Urban Assembly School
Bushwick Campus
400 Irving Ave., 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11237
Nate Dudley, Principal
718.381.7100
info@nyharborschool.org



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