ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS MISSION STATEMENT

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.-William Butler Yeats

Seaholm's English Department believes its responsibility to be twofold.

The program guides students through an integrated curriculum of reading and writing.  The reading program features diverse and challenging texts from classic and contemporary literature, which compel students to explore, evaluate, and respond to universal ideas.  Students are encouraged to read closely, think critically, and write analytically.  The writing program develops students’ skills from basic grammar and composition to logical, textually-supported meaningful essays.  The Department also recognizes the importance of oral communication and creative expression, the study of which serves to enrich the students’ perspective.

Moreover, the English Department is committed to the formation of good character and the development of empathy in its students through its content and conversations. The study of literature involves the exploration of what it means to be human; it forces us to grapple with life’s essential questions. This can be, at once, exhilarating and frustrating.  The Department strives to help students not only understand themselves but one another; to see not only the particular but also the universal, which ties all human beings together.  It is a beautiful thing indeed that through a fictional world we begin to make sense of reality; that through the particular we begin to understand the universal; and that through the other we come to know ourselves. 

What is a Harkness Seminar?

Please click on the Harkness Seminar page to discover more about the English Language Arts Department's commitment to authentic and meaningful conversations through Harkness-based seminars. 

Service Learning Partnership with Bound Together!

We are proud to announce a partnership with Bound Together, a non-profit organization offering tutoring services and more to children in Pontiac. Beginning in the fall of 2022, Seaholm students will be participating in a year-long mentoring program, offering the young Pontiac students tutoring in reading and writing, as well as building relationships and forming lasting friendships. Seaholm students grades 10-12 can volunteer for Wednesday after school tutoring sessions (reading, essay writing, etc.), or Monday after school creative sessions (offering guidance in poetry writing, storytelling, theater, etc.). Incoming Maple Freshmen can get involved as well by donating back packs or supplies for back packs during our Back to School Backpack Drive in August. If you are a parent or student looking to get involved with Bound Together, please contact Ms. Moten (RMoten@birmingham.k12.mi.us) for more details. For more information on Bound Together, please visit their Facebook page or click here. 

Staff Changes

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Seaholm English department will look a little different beginning in the fall of 2022. Not only will 9th grade English adopt a new format (for more information please click here to visit our FAQ page), but we are also sadly saying goodbye to some of our most beloved teachers, and excitedly saying hello to new ones. 

*Ms. Rothe, who taught 9th and Honors 9th grade English, as well as 12th grade Capstone Research, will be teaching at Grosse Pointe South High School beginning in the fall of 2022. 

*Ms. Wilt, who taught 11th grade English, will now be teaching Social Studies at Seaholm beginning in the fall of 2022. 

*Mr. Benjamin Briere, who taught in the Flex Program and the English Language Development department, resigned after 11 years with BPS. Mr. Briere will be teaching in the Melvindale School district beginning in the fall of 2022. 

*Mrs. LaBond, who taught a host of English classes during her tenure at Seaholm, including 9th grade, Honors 9th grade, Honors 10th grade, and AP Literature, has retired but has accepted a position at Cranbrook Kingswood High School beginning in the fall of 2022. 

*Mrs. Kristen Moore Cove, who has taught many courses at Groves High School, will be teaching 9th grade, 10th grade, and Film Studies at Seaholm beginning in the fall of 2022. 

*Mrs. Samantha McKenzie, who joined Seaholm last year will be with us permanently beginning in the fall of 2022. She will teach 9th grade, Honors 9th grade, Honors 10th grade, and Video Productions. She will also be advising Seaholm's Student Congress. 

We are thrilled about the adventures our former Seaholm teachers will have in their new positions, and we are equally thrilled to welcome our newest teachers to the Maple family in order to begin their own adventures! 

Look for us on social media!

Click on the links below to find Seaholm ELA activities on Instagram and Twitter.

*Instagram: Seaholm English Department

*Twitter: @SeaholmEnglish

Summer Reading Assignments 2022

Please click on the Summer Reading Assignments page to find your course and the summer reading assignment for 2022.

Have a safe and wonderful summer. More than ever, we are looking forward to seeing you in the fall! 

Seaholm English Department from BPS High School TV Production on Vimeo.