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"SEAD has challenged my way of thinking. It has shown me the little
bit that I thought I knew is nothing compared to what I could know if
I apply myself."
– SEAD student graduate
SEAD I: Identity
General SEAD I brings together students for the first time. The central goal of
SEAD I is to build a sense of trust and cohesion as a group; participants are encouraged to
grow as individuals, students, and members of their SEAD group in a college environment.
ACADEMICS
SEAD I students worked in two academic areas: Language Arts and Science, Math and
Technology. Two professional teachers and a number of Dartmouth students or recent graduates
lead these classes. Students have an hour study hall most evenings with support from the
student teachers and volunteer tutors.
Language Arts
The goal of the Language Arts program is to lay the foundations for the group to work
together for three summers. Diverse students from the five areas need to become a group,
able to trust each other enough to communicate about readings and their writing as well as
about themselves. The overarching theme of the Language Arts program is "Identity": an
exploration of themselves as individuals and more importantly as members of various groups
including family, home communities, SEAD, and future communities. They work together to
break down stereotypes and barriers between the groups and between members of their own
groups. Students read short narratives and poems as the basis of discussions and extensive
writing, culminating in graduation presentations of poetry and a final collection of their
writing in a SEAD Literary Journal .
Science, Math, and Technology
Students experience the real world application of Science, Math and Technology in the
field of engineering. Using pre-engineering skills of problem solving, students utilize K'Nex
to explore the physics of motion while also experimenting with electricity and solar cells.
Application of these concepts culminates in eight different technological design challenges.
Students work in collaborative groups to design the first stages of a model for a generator,
a solar-powered house, an air-powered parade float, a pizza delivery truck, a mountain rescue
vehicle, a hospital heliport transport vehicle, a lunar rover, and a dragster. The student
products, in varying degrees of completion, are presented at graduation in small groups
along with the recitation and response to chosen poetry.
Members of the Montshire Museum of Science and the Dartmouth Education Department lead the
academic team, with assistance from Dartmouth students and recent graduates. Staff of the
Thayer School of Engineering and the Women in Science Program at Dartmouth provide advisory
and presentation support. Students visit the Science Park at the Montshire Museum and the
Thayer School Machine Shop in addition to their work in classes.
Career and Life Skills
SEAD I also incorporates career awareness into its
program. Students discuss a variety of post-secondary opportunities,
meeting with Dartmouth faculty and visiting local businesses. Students
learn additional skills as they travel into New Hampshire's White
Mountains for a weekend. Students choose trips organized in
consultation with the Dartmouth Outing Club and go canoeing, rock
climbing, hiking or work on an organic farm.
SEAD I Mentors
All SEAD I students are given individual mentors, Dartmouth
sophomores, who work with them while they are on campus, individually
tutoring them in their classes, joining them on their outing trips and
helping the students explore what it means to go to college. The
mentors also keep contact with the SEAD students as they progress
through their school year and through the three years of the SEAD
program.
Focus Goals for SEAD I
- Work on students' basic academic skills
- Show students what it is like to be on a college campus
- Help students examine how they see themselves and how others see them
- Broaden students' understanding of their education options and opportunities
SEAD II: Environment
General
SEAD II is for students who have successfully completed the first
year of the program. The central goal of SEAD II is encouraging
students to think about their influence on the environment, as well as
the effect the environment has on them. Students find heroes who will
inspire them to believe that they can create change for themselves –
change that will positively affect their communities. Students also
fundraise and participate in the Prouty Walk for Cancer Research.
Environmental Science
SEAD II continues to develop students' academic skills in the
complementary areas of research, writing, and presentation
skills. Students devise their own research project and present the
results at graduation. The highlight of the Environmental Science
class is an overnight visit to the Isles of Shoals Marine Laboratory
where students engage in tide pool collections, microscopic
observation and an optional shark dissection.
Humanities
Students develop their reading, writing and analytic skills while
exploring themes of environment. Students are encouraged to think
about the effect of environment on the various characters about whom
they read. Students complete daily journals and homework assignments
as well as a final research paper.
SEAD II Mentors
Each SEAD student is paired with a Dartmouth sophomore again this summer.
Focus Goals for SEAD II
- Work on students' writing and research skills.
- Identify the qualities of a hero and connect these qualities to their own personalities and development.
- Develop students' leadership skills through community service.
- Develop students' cooperative teamwork skills through service and other activities.
- Show students the value of service.
SEAD III: Applying to College
General:
Students return to campus for the third and final SEAD experience
after finishing their junior year in high school. The central goal of
SEAD III is to prepare students to be successful as they undertake the
college application process and prepare to navigate the transition
from high school to a post-secondary institution. Dartmouth student
involvement unique to SEAD III is the role of the "college partner," a
personal guide through the college application process for each SEAD
student. In July of 2003, SEAD graduated its first class of 24 high
school students from Dorchester, MA, Philadelphia, PA, and Canaan, NH:
all had completed three consecutive summers of leadership training,
community service, and preparation for college.
College Applications
All students go through the challenging process of filling out the Common Application, including writing their personal essay. This essay is the culmination of their three-year experience at SEAD, as they have learned to value themselves as individuals, as members of their communities, and as potential members of society as adults. Students learn to meet challenging deadlines and develop their presentation as well as writing skills. Graduation includes making a presentation of a topic chosen only one day before.
Prep for SATs and College Interviews
Students work on SAT preparation, doing work on vocabulary and test taking strategies as well as taking practice exams. They also have workshops on financial aid in order to appreciate how much college costs and how much help they can get. Students have workshops and classes that allow them to practice college interviews and public speaking. Finally, they are given information about how to select and research the right schools for them, using a library database.
SEAD III Mentors
SEAD III students are once again be individually paired with a Dartmouth sophomore who
acts as a college coach. The Dartmouth students provide academic encouragement and
additional mentoring. The students return to Mt. Moosilauke in the White Mountains for a
culminating experience of square dancing, swimming and mountain climbing. Additional
non-academic activities include museum trips, salsa dancing, ultimate frisbee and more. The
final mentoring role is helping students prepare for their public speech at graduation.
Focus Goals for SEAD III
- Help students prepare for college entrance exams
- Acquaint students with the college selection process
- Help students with the college application process:
- Common Application
- Personal Essay
- Practice Interview
- Accessing Financial Aid
- Develop students' confidence in public speaking
“SEAD really gave me a head start on the college application process. It really makes me feel good to tell people how far I've gotten in terms of what I want to do after high school.”
– SEAD student graduate
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