Course Catalog

196 Allen Avenue, Portland, ME 04103-3799
Phone: (207) 874-8165   Fax: (207) 874-8170

 

Portland Arts & Technology High School (PATHS) is open to all students in grades 9-12. PATHS courses are designed for all students who are serious about gaining new skills and knowledge through applied "minds-on/hands-on learning". 

These classes are designed for career bound and college (post-secondary) bound students and are an extension of their high school schedule. PATHS classes count toward graduation as any other high school class. Classroom theory and instruction, extensive labs, shop projects and community­ based internships combine to give students real life experience in career directions.

 

PATHS follows the Portland Public Schools calendar and offers two sessions a day:

Session 1 (8:00 AM - 10:25 AM)
Session 2 (11:00 AM - 1:30 PM)

 

Students take the bus to and from PATHS and PHS. If attending PATHS, students may take a maximum of 4 courses at Portland High School.

Students successfully completing a sequence (semester, 1 year or 2 year) of an approved program may be eligible for Integrated Studies credit. Sending schools can award an Integrated Studies credit (Math, Science, Fine Arts) in place of the elective/vocational credit - not as additional credit. Students interested in receiving integrated studies credit should talk with their PATHS teacher and sending school School Counselor.  NOTE: All PATHS programs follow national curricula standards and have been aligned with the Maine Learning Results (MLR).

Students will enter a course request for (select one):

Course# 2700 for PATHS - AM Session
Course# 2700PM for PATHS - PM Session

To apply for a specific course, first year students must make an appointment with their School Counselors and complete an application form. The counselor will arrange a visit at PATHS for the teacher to meet the student and have the student observe a class.

PATHS PROGRAMS:

AC               Auto Collision Technology

AT                Automotive Technology

HE               Biomedical and Health Science

ECO            Careers in Education

CA               Carpentry

CC               Culinary Concepts

CY               Cybersecurity

CD               Commercial and Advertising Art

DA               Dance (Afternoon session only)

FF                Food Services

LG                Landscapes and Gardens

MA                Masonry

MU               Music

NM               New Media

PL                Plumbing & HVAC

RMR             Marine Service

WE               Welding

 

PATHS Course Descriptions

 

PATHS courses are designed both for career-bound and college-bound students who are serious about gaining new skills and knowledge through applied learning. Classroom instruction, extensive labs, and community-based internships combine to give students real life experience in career directions. PATHS classes are an extension of the high school schedule, counting towards graduation as any other class. To become enrolled you will do a full session visit in your program of interest. To set up a visit, see your school counselor for more information.

 

Automotive Collision Technology - (Michael Edgbert: edgbe@portlandschools.org)

The Automotive Collision program offers the opportunity for students to learn and practice all aspects of the automotive collision industry. Students will learn how to analyze damage and write estimates on CCC estimating software, repair body damage, remove and align body panels, repair bumper covers with Polyvance Nitrogen plastic welders and 3M repair procedures and more, during the non-structural/structural classes. The paint and refinishing classes offer learning opportunities for students such as; mixing and matching paint using our computerized mixing bank and scales, applying etching primers, primer surfacers, sealers, base and topcoats using professional HVLP spray guns in our downdraft Devilbiss paint booth. Steel MIG welding is also a priority during both years to earn a I-CAR MIG (GMAW) welding certification. Partnerships with local shops provide students with first-hand experience into the industry. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a collision technician, damage estimator, automotive refinisher and more.

Certification Opportunities: ASE: Automotive Education Foundation, I-CAR: Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, S/P2: Safety & Pollution Prevention

College Credit Opportunities: Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor, CT

 

Automotive Technology- (Year I - Justin Vining: vininj@portlandschools.org; Year II - Paul Fearon: fearop@portlandschools.org)

The Automotive Technology program provides students with skills to develop a thorough understanding of the design, construction, and operation of automotive systems. During their two-year involvement with this program, students are taught how to troubleshoot, service and repair modern automobiles. Using the most up-to-date technology available, students are prepared to face the challenges of today’s automotive industry needs. National affiliations with the SkillsUSA, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) national workplace learning, and ongoing placement opportunities with local dealerships provide practical skill development and first-hand experience in the industry. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as an automotive technician, brake specialist, tire specialist, service writer, parts specialist and more.

Certification Opportunities: ASE: Student Automotive Service Excellence, Ford Service, Maine State Inspection Licence, Safety & Pollution Prevention S/P2, Valvoline Oil

College Credit Opportunities: Central Maine Community College, Lincoln Technical Institute-East Windsor, CT, Southern Maine Community College, University of Northwestern Ohio

 

Biomedical & Health Science - (Amber Richard: richaa@portlandschools.org)

The Biomedical and Health Science program provides students with the opportunity to explore three different tracks: nursing, dental or veterinary. The first year will introduce students to different careers in health sciences. Students will study anatomy, physiology, nutrition, diet therapy, and complete a medical research project through field trips, demonstrations, and classroom instruction. The second year prepares students in basic health science skills, body mechanics, aseptic techniques, and medical terminology. Students are placed in a clinical experience of their choice during the second semester to gain valuable hands-on experience in the industry. Clinicals are held twice a week in the evening after school from 3:30 - 6:30 pm and 3:30 - 9:30 pm. This program follows a Project Lead the Way College Board Advanced Placement curriculum. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Dental Aide, Veterinary Aide and more.

Certification Opportunities: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Residential, Medication Aide (CRMA), Dental X-ray/Infection Control, First Aid & CPR

College Credit: Central Maine Community College, Southern Maine Community College

 

Careers In Education - (Eva Rodd: roddev@portlandschools.org)

The Careers in Education program is designed for students contemplating a career as a teacher or in any occupational area that focuses on children. Students will acquire the knowledge, attitude, behaviors and skills required to be effective in a school setting or in the wider community. Through partnerships with SMCC and CMCC, students will explore careers such as teaching, social work, and specialized therapy (occupational therapy, speech therapy, and developmental therapy). The program offers practical experience in our on-site, public pre-kindergarten classroom in which classroom instruction is applied in a real situation. Students will also learn about the art and science of teaching, educational philosophies, stages of development, curriculum planning, observation and assessment, and partnering with families. Students will be expected to participate in our on-site pre-kindergarten classroom, complete weekly written performance reflections, perform child observations, create lesson plans and learning materials, and create a professional portfolio.  The program offers students completing the two-year sequence of study an opportunity to explore various levels of teaching through internships. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a pre-k teacher, educational technician, nanny, tutor and more.

Certification Opportunities: CECA: Certified Early Childhood Assistant

College Credit Opportunities: Southern Maine Community College

 

Carpentry - (Frank Kehoe: kehoef@portlandschools.org)

The Carpentry program is designed to instruct students in all types of house construction and remodeling. Students are involved in foundation layout work, house framing, and exterior and interior finish carpentry work. Students work with a variety of building and finishing materials, and become familiar with modern methods and styles of commercial and residential construction. An integral component of the curriculum involves live hands on shop work, allowing the students to practice all phases of house construction. Major projects will include the construction of a shed and house. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a framing carpenter, mill worker, finish carpenter and more.

Certification Opportunities: NCCER: National Center for Construction Education and Research, OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-Hour Safety

College Credit Opportunities: Eastern Maine Community College

 

Commercial & Advertising Art - (Elizabeth Long: longe@portlandschools.org)

The Commercial & Advertising Art program is designed to help students learn how to make and market their art to build a career and generate income. Building a strong portfolio and setting up art exhibits to show and sell work is ongoing. Students learn how to effectively create layout and design for posters, logos, illustrations and tee shirts by hand and computer. Each year students will participate in competitions and have their work exhibited at various locations in the community. A weekly sketchbook is mandatory as well as constructive critiques of student work. This class is a great opportunity to learn how to strengthen art and computer skills while demonstrating creativity. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a graphic artist, illustration artist, designer and more.

Certification Opportunities: Adobe Certified Associate, SkillsUSA Workforce Ready Graphic Design

College Credit Opportunities: Southern Maine Community College

 

Culinary Arts - (Mark Hannibal: hannim@portlandschools.org)

The Culinary Arts program is designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the exciting world of culinary professionals. You will learn the tools to be successful in a commercial kitchen from sanitation, kitchen basics, nutrition, knife skills and more. The program also covers dining room service including waitressing, meal, table and customer service through the use of a live cafe. You will also learn the base from which you can branch out into writing a food blog or restaurant and product reviews; become a food photographer or salesperson. Students learn the basics of entrepreneurship in developing menus and playing with recipes and marketing strategies, so you can open your own business. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a chef, baker, restaurant manager, food buyer, restaurant reviewer and more.

Certification Opportunities: NOCTI: National Occupational Competency Testing Institute, ServSafe

College Credit Opportunities: Culinary Institute of America, Maine Community College System

 

Cybersecurity - (Nathan Jalbert: jalben@portlandschools.org):

This program is an introduction into the exciting world of careers in Cybersecurity. This program will take you in many directions highlighting roles as an analyst, penetration tester, systems administrator and computer crime investigator. You will learn priceless skills in this program to help keep you, your family and eventual employer safe on the internet for many years to come. The program will be a constantly evolving experience starting with the basics of security but also studying current and evolving threats facing the real world security landscape. Collaboration and teamwork will be critical to the success of a student in the program. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a security consultant, ethical hacker, information security analyst and more.

Certifications: CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA Security+, Palo Alto PCCSA

College Credit: Southern Maine Community College

 

Dance - (Lisa Hicks: hicksl@portlandschools.org)

Dance is a modern based program for students interested in pursuing a professional experience in the performing arts. Students take daily technique classes in modern dance and ballet technique as well as hip-hop, choreography, dance composition, and improvisation. Students are exposed to a wide range of professional guest artists and other styles of dance throughout the school year in the form of one day workshops or special projects including jazz dance, musical theater, West African dance and drumming, sculpture and dance, theater, yoga, capoeira, salsa. The program is performance based, and students will perform several times throughout the school year in the black box theater space and at other venues and events in the community. Students attend concerts and workshops with professional touring dance companies each year throughout New England. This program is aligned with National Common Core Standards for Dance, National Standards for Dance Education, and the Kennedy Center Standards for Dance Education. Community partnerships with David Reese and Falmouth Physical Therapy, Bowdoin College Department of Theater and Dance, USM Dance Faculty and Portland Ovations allow students to develop valuable connections. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a choreographer, strength and conditioning coach, technique instructor and more.

 

Food Service - (Katherine Fearon: fearon@portlandschools.org)

The Food Service program prepares students for entry-level employment in the food service industry. This exciting program offers hands-on experience and learning through the operation of a student-run café. Students receive a varied hands-on education in food preparation, equipment usage, sanitation, personal hygiene, customer relations, teamwork, attitude, initiative, and independence. Students are supported to meet their needs with a focus on building self-confidence, independence, and collaborative working skills. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a prep-cook, counter server, dishwasher and more.

Certification Opportunities: ServSafe Food Handlers

 

Landscapes and Gardens - (Kathy Tarpo: tarpok@portlandschools.org)

The Landscapes and Gardens program is designed to expose students to the varied jobs in the “Green Industry”, including landscaping, greenhouse productions, aquaponic and outdoor vegetable and fruit production, floral trades, and retail sales. The learning environment includes a 3,000 square foot greenhouse, as well as a 40 acre campus. Students will work with display beds, gardens, orchards, aquaponics system and the extensive grounds of our campus. Practical greenhouse, landscape, and garden techniques are taught in a collaborative environment. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a nursery/greenhouse worker, sustainable agricultural worker, gardening crew member and more.

Certification Opportunities: Master Gardener

 

Marine Service - (Michael DelSmith: smithmi@portlandschools.org)

The Marine Service program offers many opportunities for students to find their interests in one or more skill sets in the field. The course is designed to teach the necessary theoretical and practical skills to prepare and educate individuals to become competent marine technicians with career readiness skills and an aptitude for the industry. Students will gain the ability to diagnose, repair, install and rebuild multiple marine systems, inboard and outboard engines, diesel engines, AC & DC electrical, marine electronics and composite boat building and repair. Partnerships with local boatyards provide students with valuable hands-on experience in the industry. Each section of the program includes a large portion of shop time in order to strengthen the student’s hands-on skills. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a boatyard technician, boat builder, small engine mechanic and more.

Certification Opportunities: ABYC: American Boat and Yacht Council, Evinrude, NMEA: National Marine Electronics Association, Valvoline Oil, Yamaha

College Credit Opportunities: Washington County Community College

 

Masonry - (Matthew Wentworth: wentwm@portlandschools.org)

The Masonry program is designed to instruct students in the different aspects of masonry. Students learn shop and job safety practices and procedures while developing the skills of design and layout. Projects such as fireplaces, steps, planters and more will be done using brick, block, dry stone and decorative precast concrete. Students receive related instruction in blueprint reading, layout work, measurement, sketching, and estimating. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a mason tender, bricklayer, contractor, tile setter and more.

Certification Opportunities: Forklift, OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-Hour Safety

 

Music - (Victoria Stubbs: stubbv@portlandschools.org)

The Music program is designed to teach students how to interpret and perform many contemporary musical styles from Rock to R&B, Pop to Jazz and Funk. There are three aspects of the program: performing, music theory and recording studio. Students perform four times a year, with one evening rock show off campus. Students will study music theory, arranging, songwriting, and the ins and outs of the music business. The audio engineering component of the program is unique in its approach to introducing students to recording, mixing, music production and live sound. Students receive instruction in recording, mixing, editing, a foundation in the physics of sound and electricity, and an in-depth survey of popular music fundamentals. With plenty of hands-on opportunities, students learn engineering techniques with cutting edge ProTools software. Students will record each other to create an album at the end of every year. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a performer, composer, producer, sound mixer and more.

College Credit Opportunities: Husson University - NESCOM

 

New Media - (David Beane: beaned@portlandschools.org)

The New Media program introduces students to the basics that all new media producers need using state of the art equipment and software. Every student will learn the basics of graphic design, project design and management, shooting and editing video. New Media students will learn these concepts while learning how to use Adobe’s Creative Cloud focusing on Adobe PhotoShop and Premiere Pro. Introductory topics include concepts in graphic design, project design and management, and introduction to video creation and editing. Advanced topics include broadcast programming, scriptwriting and basic animation. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a video editor, production assistant and more.

Certification Opportunities: MAB: Maine Association of Broadcasters

College Credit Opportunities: Southern Maine Community College

 

Plumbing & HVAC - (Paul Chapin: chapip@portlandschools.org)

The HVAC and Plumbing trades correlate in many ways and this program ties the two together by covering the many aspects of both professions through classroom theory, hands-on applications in the shop, and real life scenarios provided by the instructor. In Plumbing we cover topics such as faucets / fixtures, water distribution, drainage, venting, and water heaters. In the end we bring these lessons together by building functioning bathrooms in our house mock-up. In HVAC we cover topics such as oil and gas heating systems, roof top units (RTU), pumps, air conditioning systems, and equipment. We spend time maintaining the school’s HVAC units located on the roof. We also cover the specialty tools, installation techniques, troubleshooting, and repair of the systems and equipment associated with both HVAC and Plumbing. The program itself is associated with, and supported by many great companies and continuing education programs to help dedicated students find job placement, or further their knowledge after graduation. Students who complete the program can further their education or enter into the workforce as a residential or commercial plumber, HVAC technician, pipe fitter, boiler operator, AC specialist, and more.

Certification Opportunities: Aerial Lift, EPA 608, OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-Hour Safety

College Credit Opportunities: MEMA Technical Education Center, Southern Maine Community College

 

Welding - (Scott Woodcock: woodcs@portlandschools.org)

The Welding program provides students with the fundamentals skills needed to get into the field of welding and metal fabrication. During the program many performance tests are administered with a focus on welding with 6010 – 6011 – 6013 – 7018 – 7024 electrodes in the Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW) welding process culminating in the D1.1 structural steel limited plate test. There are also workbooks that we utilize to obtain vital technical information that is crucial to success. This includes blueprint reading, basic math computations, and technical skills attainment. Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) will be taught with certification offered in both first and second year curriculums. Pipe fitting and pipe welding on Schedule 40 - 6” pipe in the 2G – 5G – 6G positions will be practiced in the second year. Using Tungsten Inert Gas Welding on carbon, stainless, and aluminum plate, performance tests will also be practiced for advanced students. Plasma Arc Cutting and Carbon Arc Cutting will be introduced and practiced throughout the program. Students who complete the program can further their education at the college level or enter into the workforce as a pipe welder, structural welder, fabrication shop specialist, weld inspector and more.

Certification Opportunities: AWS: American Welding Society

College Credit Opportunities: Eastern Maine Community College, Southern Maine Community College