Maine Connections Academy (MCA), the state’s first virtual public charter school, has selected Caleb Cosand, an eighth grader from Pittston, as its October STAR Student of the month. Caleb was chosen due to his dedication to schoolwork and his commitment to helping others.
Caleb had been homeschooled but started with Maine Connections Academy last year as a seventh grade student. His course work includes social studies, language arts, algebra, art, P.E. and more—he perhaps likes language arts most, “it’s quite nice, in my opinion.” At home, his parents have set up a room dedicated to his school work.
Speaking about his teachers at MCA, whom he interacts with online, Caleb says, “Some of them are really funny. Some of them are a little nutty.”
Like many other teenagers, Caleb has a form of food anxiety: certain foods just make him uncomfortable. But unlike many teenagers, he decided to face his anxiety head-on. Caleb created a blog, https://calebdivesin.home.blog/, where he humorously and methodically illustrates on-camera what’s involved in eating foods such as broccoli or sushi. Step by step, he shows how it’s possible to overcome one’s anxiety, with a little encouragement, a little humor and a lot of planning.
Caleb has a practical reason for starting his blog: “I want to help other kids with food anxieties.” That’s an impressive goal for an eighth grader and a worthy reason for selecting Caleb as the October STAR Student of the Month.
Maine Connections Academy (MCA) is Maine’s first statewide, tuition-free, distance-learning charter school for students in grades 7-12. Now in its fifth year, MCA provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere there is an Internet connection. Students enjoy a personalized approach to education, with an award-winning curriculum, certified Maine-based teachers, dynamic electives, cutting-edge technology tools, and engaging social activities. MCA is authorized by the Maine Charter School Commission; its teaching center is based in South Portland. Educational programs and other services are provided by Connections Academy, a national leader in online learning that has supported schools with high-quality, online learning for more than a decade. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit MaineConnectionsAcademy.com.
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