Explore acting and improvisation through games, scenes, character work, and performance exercises. Students will practice thinking on their feet, making bold choices, working with scene partners, and building confidence both onstage and off. Whether you're an experienced performer or trying acting for the first time, this class is a fun, supportive space to take creative risks, develop your skills, and discover what you can do as a performer. No experience necessary.
A course for 11th and 12th graders focused on getting clear about what remains before graduation and building a strong path toward what comes next. Students review their progress, identify any remaining gaps, and use class time to complete the work that matters most.
Depending on individual goals and needs, students may be completing supported online coursework, working on capstone projects, strengthening areas of their graduation profile, preparing college applications, or developing other post-graduation plans. The goal is for every student to leave with a clear understanding of what they have accomplished, what remains, and a concrete plan for graduation and beyond.
This class will give you an opportunity to learn a wide variety of computer skills relating to hosting a Minecraft server. We will learn to remotely access our physical server via the Linux command line, install papermc to host Minecraft, configure a router to allow remote access, and manage the configuration of the server. We will then learn to install plugins such as WorldEdit to customize our server.
This class is centered around learning to host a Minecraft server, but the skills it teaches will also enable you to host a website, file server, or other game server on your own, and more easily manage any computer.
Holyoke is an interesting piece of history - it's one of the first planned industrial cities in the United States, and was intentionally laid out on a grid system. This grid results in some truly amazing lines of sight that can be found as we move around the city.
In this workshop, we will explore the city, its history, and the grid system through photography. We will use the grid system as both a compositional tool, and a challenging creative limit - every image we make must contain some element of the grid system.
Cameras are provided in this class. All classwork happens during the school day; cameras from this class do not go home with students.
Limited to 6 participants; previous photography experience is preferred, but may not be required - please speak to the instructor before signing up if you do not yet feel comfortable using a DSLR camera in Manual mode.
Targeted Competencies: Advanced Visual Arts, Global Thinking, Effective Research
Class Size: 6
College Bound is a workshop for students who are planning for college or even possibly considering it as a next step after LightHouse.
We’ll work together through each part of the process, from exploring colleges and understanding admissions requirements to navigating the Common App and developing a strong college essay. Students will learn how to research schools, keep track of deadlines, ask good questions, and make choices based on what matters most to them.
We’ll also connect virtually with college admissions professionals and visit local college campuses when possible, giving students the chance to learn directly from the people and places involved in the process.
Whether you already know where you want to apply or are still figuring out what kind of college experience might be right for you, this class will help you build a clear, informed path forward.
What makes something alive? Why do you look like your relatives but not exactly like them? How does your body turn food into energy? Why do some organisms survive when their environments change while others disappear?
In Intro to Biology, students will investigate the basic science of life. We will explore cells, body systems, energy, ecosystems, genetics, and evolution through hands-on activities, models, experiments, discussion, and short investigations.
The course is designed as an accessible introduction for youth new to biology while also building the vocabulary, concepts, scientific reasoning, and data-reading skills for a strong foundation in scientific thinking.
No previous biology experience is required.
Mindfulness in Motion - Using Movement and Attention To Create Change
Focussing on the body and breath through mindful movement makes us all physically stronger. More importantly, it calms the mind and brings us to a state where we can be more creative, caring, and empowered. And from there, we can use our collective strength to bring about positive change in an increasingly chaotic world.
We will use basic yoga poses, music, and games to explore the mind-body connection, release stress and tension, and bring more joy into our mornings. We will discover how different poses and breaths can affect our moods and how, if we take the time to use our regulation tools, we can choose to respond in difficult situations instead of simply reacting. We will explore the history of yoga as well as the science behind all the benefits it can have in our daily lives.
Students will
No yoga experience, flexibility, or athletic ability is required to participate.
Learn the real-life skills that make adulthood easier to manage. In Adulting 101, you’ll practice budgeting, saving, cooking, time management, job skills, renting, and making smart decisions about your money, health, and future.
Through hands-on activities, real-life scenarios, and practical challenges, you’ll build confidence handling the everyday responsibilities that come with greater independence.
Competencies: Financial Literacy, Self-Care & Wellness, Foundational Computation
Design a real community gathering space for Holyoke. In this studio course, five students will study the area near the Holyoke Public Library and develop a concept for a Placita inspired by Puerto Rican and Taíno traditions of gathering, culture, and connection.
Students will research the site, observe how people use public spaces, explore creative uses for shipping containers, and develop ideas through sketches, plans, models, critique, and revision. Along the way, they will learn from people involved in real design and development, including Jose Cotto and members of the UMass Amherst design community.
The course asks one central question: How can we create a place where people feel safe, welcome, connected, and proud to belong?
The semester will end with students presenting their completed Placita concept directly to the development team.
Learn how to turn your gut feelings and intuitions into reliable information. You will be surprised by how accurate your sensing is, and you will build your confidence and trust in your gut instincts and your "sense-thinking". You will be able to reveal the deeper, often hidden patterns that will allow you to solve problems and gain greater understanding into the questions and issues that matter most to you. This is a highly valuable skill that you can apply to any area of your life!
During the class you will practice your skills on a range of topics including characters and events from books and movies, history, famous people, and current events. For the final project you will choose a person or event from real life or from a book or movie and use your new skills to describe the hidden dynamics affecting that person and event. Your final project can be in the form of an essay, visual art, or video.
This is a Humanities Course with an optional art component.
Competencies: Problem Solving, Advanced Social Science, Understand Self as Learner
A course for 11th and 12th graders focused on getting clear about what remains before graduation and building a strong path toward what comes next. Students review their progress, identify any remaining gaps, and use class time to complete the work that matters most.
Depending on individual goals and needs, students may be completing supported online coursework, working on capstone projects, strengthening areas of their graduation profile, preparing college applications, or developing other post-graduation plans. The goal is for every student to leave with a clear understanding of what they have accomplished, what remains, and a concrete plan for graduation and beyond.
You do not need any previous woodshop experience to belong in this class. If you have never used a power tool, built something out of wood, or even thought of yourself as someone who could, this is a good place to start.
In this small-group class, you’ll complete a series of projects designed to help you learn the woodshop safely and build your skills step by step. You’ll practice measuring, marking, cutting, drilling, sanding, fastening, and finishing while learning how to use both hand tools and shop equipment with confidence.
Safety comes first, but you’ll learn it by doing. Each project will give you a little more independence and a new set of skills to practice.
Limited to 3 students. This class is for anyone who can manage themself responsibly around serious machines, follow instruction, and can commit to attending every week of the 6-week session.
By the end, you’ll have made several finished projects and built a strong foundation for taking on more ambitious work.
This is not a "class." It is a learning opportunity focused on understanding and engaging in action research. It is open to all learners, and recommended for learners who have already produced artifacts for the following competencies: Understanding Self as a Learner, Communication, and Problem Solving.
We will:
1) identify problems we want to find solutions for in our lives - our school, our neighborhood, our cities and towns, our community, other communities, or anywhere else in the world, including inside ourselves - and then
2) use the action research process to figure out ways to solve those problems. How to Change the World will run for Block 1 and Block 2.
Progress reports on how we have worked toward changing the world will be presented on or before March 4, 2027 (mid-Block 2) and Update/Status reports, with proposed next steps, will be due the final week of Block 2.
NOTE: We do not refer to ourselves as “students” in this group. We are “action researchers,” or “researchers.”
At its simplest, a camera is just a dark box that let’s you control, carefully, how much light comes in. That’s it! Nothing to be scared of. Get hands-on with a camera and learn how to control what kind of picture it makes, so you can take the kinds of photos you envision. We will also learn image-making related vocabulary, ways to talk about what we see in photos in a shared way, a little bit of photo history, and photo editing in Adobe Photoshop as student interest dictates. No experience necessary, equipment is available to borrow.
At its simplest, a camera is just a dark box that let’s you control, carefully, how much light comes in. That’s it! Nothing to be scared of. Get hands-on with a camera and learn how to control what kind of picture it makes, so you can take the kinds of photos you envision. We will also learn image-making related vocabulary, ways to talk about what we see in photos in a shared way, a little bit of photo history, and photo editing in Adobe Photoshop as student interest dictates. No experience necessary, equipment is available to borrow.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, one hour is dedicated to Seminar. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 10-16 peers, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Middle school students participate in Freshman Seminar with extra support.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, is dedicated to Seminar, a flexible, extended session from 10:00 AM to 10:55 AM. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 16, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, is dedicated to Seminar, a flexible, extended session from 10:00 AM to 10:55 AM. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 16, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, one hour is dedicated to Seminar. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 10-16 peers, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Middle school students participate in Freshman Seminar with extra support.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, is dedicated to Seminar, a flexible, extended session from 10:00 AM to 10:55 AM. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 16, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Senior Seminar is focused on post-graduation planning and capstone projects.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, is dedicated to Seminar, a flexible, extended session from 10:00 AM to 10:55 AM. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 16, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Senior Seminar is focused on post-graduation planning and capstone projects.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, is dedicated to Seminar, a flexible, extended session from 10:00 AM to 10:55 AM. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 16, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Every morning, Monday through Thursday, is dedicated to Seminar, a flexible, extended session from 10:00 AM to 10:55 AM. Students gather in grade-level cohorts of about 16, led by an Advisor who progresses with the group through the years. This time is used for community building, group projects, excursions, independent work, tutorials, self-evaluation and planning, documentation of work, and scaffolded self-directed learning.
Artificial intelligence is suddenly everywhere. It writes essays, makes pictures, recommends what you watch, recognizes faces, diagnoses diseases, drives cars, predicts what word comes next, and confidently tells people things that are completely wrong.
Some people think AI will transform the world for the better. Others think it is environmentally destructive, intellectually corrosive, exploitative, dangerous, overhyped—or all of the above. This class welcomes all viewpoints.
Don’t Trust the Robot is an investigation into what artificial intelligence actually is, what it can and cannot do, why large language models behave the way they do, and how humans can make thoughtful decisions about when—and whether—to use them.
We will experiment with AI systems, take them apart conceptually, challenge their answers, investigate their claims, examine who built them and what they were trained on, and explore both exciting and deeply troubling possible futures.
Supported Independent Study offers dedicated time and guidance for students to pursue their own interests, goals, and projects. Whether you want to learn something new, deepen an existing passion, or focus on a specific objective—like designing a project for completing specific competency attainments, college applications, test prep, language study, or creative work—this space creates the structure and support to help you make it happen.
Supported Independent Study will be offered in a dedicated space each period of the day with a staff person to help you develop a clear plan, set meaningful goals, and follow through. This is a space for self-directed learning with accountability: managing time, staying focused, and making steady progress on work that matters to you.
Students will work toward attainments such as setting and tracking goals, managing time effectively, seeking out resources and support, and reflecting on their growth as independent learners.
In this hands-on design course, students will explore the creative and structural possibilities of cardboard as a sculptural medium. Beginning with foundational techniques—measuring, cutting, scoring, folding, and joining—students will learn how to transform flat materials into dimensional forms.
The course will start with the construction of a 3D cube, using precise planning and pattern-making to understand how shapes come together in space. From there, students will design and build an original sculpture of their choosing, using hand-drafted or printed templates as a starting point and adapting them as their ideas evolve.
Throughout the process, students will engage deeply in problem solving, creativity, and perseverance. They will:
Develop and communicate original ideas, translating concepts into physical form through iterative design.
Break down complex builds into step-by-step processes, testing solutions and refining their approach as challenges arise.
Identify obstacles in their work, seek guidance when needed, and build resilience by revising plans rather than abandoning them.
Experiment with materials and techniques to create innovative, personal work that reflects their vision.
Students will work toward attainments such as generating and expressing original ideas, constructing logical processes for solving design challenges, communicating solutions and revisions, and demonstrating persistence through trial, error, and refinement.
This course emphasizes both creativity and craftsmanship—supporting students to think differently, work carefully, and stay engaged through the full arc of an idea from concept to completion.
Supported Independent Study offers dedicated time and guidance for students to pursue their own interests, goals, and projects. Whether you want to learn something new, deepen an existing passion, or focus on a specific objective—like designing a project for completing specific competency attainments, college applications, test prep, language study, or creative work—this space creates the structure and support to help you make it happen.
Supported Independent Study will be offered in a dedicated space each period of the day with a staff person to help you develop a clear plan, set meaningful goals, and follow through. This is a space for self-directed learning with accountability: managing time, staying focused, and making steady progress on work that matters to you.
Students will work toward attainments such as setting and tracking goals, managing time effectively, seeking out resources and support, and reflecting on their growth as independent learners.
Students are expected to use class time purposefully, reflect on their learning, and complete a final product or presentation.
Math Lab is a personalized learning space designed to meet students where they are and support their growth in mathematical thinking, confidence, and skills. Instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, each student will collaborate with the instructor to create an individualized learning plan focused on their unique goals, interests, and future aspirations.
Students will engage with the foundations of mathematics while also exploring higher-level concepts as they are ready, with an emphasis on:
Foundational Computation: Strengthening fluency with arithmetic, algebraic reasoning, geometry, and data analysis through regular practice and application.
Developing problem-solving strategies by tackling real-world scenarios, puzzles, and open-ended challenges that require persistence and creative thinking.
Practicing perseverance by approaching unfamiliar problems step by step, building resilience by working through unfamiliar or complex problems, reflecting on mistakes, and adapting approaches when stuck.
Students work independently or in small groups with substantial individualized support and attention. Each student begins wherever they last left off in math—there is no minimum or maximum level of prior knowledge required. This class covers mathematics on a fully personalized basis, using the Massachusetts state standards for high school mathematics as a framework. Together, students and instructor will create individualized learning plans that reflect both the standard high school sequence (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, Calculus) and each student’s specific goals, interests, and future plans. Whether preparing for future coursework, standardized assessments, personal projects, or life after LightHouse, Math Lab fosters mathematical confidence, curiosity, and real-world connection.
This course prioritizes process over speed—valuing deep understanding, flexible thinking, and the ability to apply mathematical concepts across diverse contexts.
If you enjoy games, storytelling, strategy, or visual design, this class gives you the chance to build a game of your own. Games are fun, but designing a well-balanced, playable game will challenge your thinking and build skills in communication, collaboration, and persistence.
We’ll begin by examining some of our favorite tabletop games and figuring out what makes them enjoyable, or not, to play. We’ll also explore different kinds of puzzles and look at how strategy, chance, and decision-making shape a game.
Students will be guided through the game design process, using everyday materials to create several rapid prototypes. We’ll look at how theme, rules, economics, mechanics, and systems work together. Students will playtest each other’s games, share feedback, and revise their own work again and again.
The goal is to create a game that someone else genuinely wants to play. Depending on individual interests and experience, there may also be opportunities to create higher-quality 2D and 3D game assets.
Discover how movies, television, scenes, and other stories are put together, then use those tools to create original work. Through watching and discussing scenes, creative exercises, and writing activities, we will explore characters, conflict, dialogue, setups, payoffs, and the power of storytelling.
No previous writing experience is necessary. Just bring your imagination and a willingness to create.
How do you know what is true? How can math help you understand games, science, news stories, and everyday claims? How can you tell whether a result is meaningful or just happened by chance?
This course is about using statistics to make sense of the real world. We will learn how probability works, how to design valid surveys and experiments, and how to read studies, news stories, and online claims with a critical eye.
Students will use computers for harder calculations and learn useful tools such as averages and p-values. We will also look at bias, misinformation, unfair uses of statistics, and how numbers can be used to confuse or mislead people.
By the end of the course, students will be better able to judge claims, understand research, spot misleading statistics, and design their own investigations.
All welcome. No prior math experience is required, and this class emphasizes understanding and discussion over calculation.
Join the heart of our community kitchen as part of the Lunch Team, a small group dedicated to bringing lunch service to life each day. Working side-by-side with Chef Sara Barnes, students will:
Refine their culinary skills by learning professional kitchen etiquette, time management, and food presentation.
Develop leadership and collaboration through real-time problem solving, communication, and coordinated teamwork.
Cultivate wellness and service by contributing to our daily shared meals and exploring the connections between food, health, and community.
This role is a key part of LightHouse's commitment to nourishing both body and spirit. As part of the team responsible for final prep and service, students will help set the tone for our shared dining experience—learning what it means to lead through care, show up consistently, and serve with pride.
Competencies: Community Leadership (Advanced), Leading Collaboration (Advanced), Self Care and Wellness Strategies
Class size: 3
Join the heart of our community kitchen as part of the Lunch Team, a small group dedicated to bringing lunch service to life each day. Working side-by-side with Chef Sara Barnes, students will:
Refine their culinary skills by learning professional kitchen etiquette, time management, and food presentation.
Develop leadership and collaboration through real-time problem solving, communication, and coordinated teamwork.
Cultivate wellness and service by contributing to our daily shared meals and exploring the connections between food, health, and community.
This role is a key part of LightHouse's commitment to nourishing both body and spirit. As part of the team responsible for final prep and service, students will help set the tone for our shared dining experience—learning what it means to lead through care, show up consistently, and serve with pride.
How do we know is an introduction to the foundational concepts and thinkers of philosophy and psychology. It is also an exercise in critical thinking and reasoning.
You will be given a crash course on classic schools of thought as well as the rudimentary functions of the human brain and its relation to perception and cognition.
The goal of the class is deep examination of the self and it's effect on how the world is perceived.
It is a discussion based class where students will be challenged to examine their own modes of understanding as well as to adopt opposing viewpoints for the sake of friendly debates.
As a stand-alone or in conjunction with analog game design, this class will be an opportunity to use technology as a tool to express creativity and bring your ideas to life.
No prior experience in game design needed, as students will be learning with the easy-to-use, yet well-rounded game design software, Construct 3 and Libresprite for Pixel Art. (Or if you already have something you want to use, we can absolutely explore that option depending on tech requirements). Students will have access to tutorials as well as direct instruction, in addition to peer to peer teaching and learning.
Making games is hard! While we won’t be developing AAA style games, you’ll be learning the concepts and methods for designing something that you’ll be proud to showcase.
We will also be connecting with local colleges and game design companies, and learning about the indie game community. We'll explore questions such as “How am I represented in video games?” “How can we design experiences that all players can access?” and “How is AI affecting the game design industry?”
Depending on interest, there will also be opportunities to design your own game controller.
Guitar for the Modern Era is an introductory and intermediate guitar class that combines traditional playing skills with modern music technology.
Students will learn the parts and functions of acoustic and electric guitars, amplifiers, and pedals while developing their playing technique. We’ll also explore basic recording software, audio engineering, and the science of sound and electricity.
The goal is to understand both the instrument and the technology around it, so students can become flexible, creative guitar players who are comfortable working in today’s digital music world while staying connected to the history of the instrument.
Competencies: Voice, Creativity, Perseverance
Build the confidence and skills to speak for yourself. This class is for everyone, including people who feel nervous, awkward, or genuinely afraid of speaking in front of others.
Through games, speaking exercises, presentations, and creative activities, you’ll practice organizing your thoughts, using your voice and body effectively, thinking on your feet, and connecting with an audience. You’ll explore different kinds of public speaking and develop a style that feels like your own.
Learning to speak clearly is not just about giving presentations. It is about being able to share your ideas, advocate for yourself, and make sure your voice is part of the conversation rather than leaving others to speak for you.
No previous public speaking experience is necessary.
Competencies: Effective Communication, Public Speaking, Voice
Why We Do What We Do: An Introduction to Social Psychology
Have you ever gone along with the group even when you knew they were wrong? Judged someone in a split second and then wondered why? Walked past someone who needed help because nobody else was stopping? Social psychology is the science of exactly these moments. It studies how the people around us, seen and unseen, shape what we think, feel, and do, often without our noticing.
In this class we will run the experiments, not just read about them. We will test whether a room full of people really will conform to an obvious wrong answer, watch how quickly an arbitrary label like eye color can turn classmates into rival groups, and examine why a crowd of bystanders can make everyone less likely to help. We will look closely at prejudice and stereotyping, at what actually draws people to each other, and at what decades of research show about how to reduce hostility between groups!
Grounded in Effective Communication, Social Justice Concepts, and Applied Scientific Reasoning, students will:
1. Analyze classic and modern studies in social psychology, learning to explain not just what researchers found but how they designed their experiments and what those designs can and cannot prove.
2. Connect research to their own lives, using concepts like conformity, the bystander effect, and stereotype threat to make sense of things they have actually experienced.
3. Practice thinking like a scientist about human behavior, questioning claims, weighing evidence, and telling the difference between a strong study and a weak one.
This class is discussion-heavy, hands-on, and rooted in real experiments. It is for anyone who has ever wondered why people, including themselves, behave the way they do around others.
Class Competencies: Advanced Social Science, Social Justice Concepts, Applied Scientific Reasoning
Enter the world of pop-up art. Pop-ups are dramatic and seem complex when you see them, but they all are made around the same basic forms. In this class we will learn the different types of pop-up structures and then use those basic techniques to make our very own pop-up book.
Competencies: Problem Solving, Creativity, Perseverance
What are the risks posed by climate change? Why are earthquakes in New England rare and small, but usually affect a wide area? Why are Venus, Earth, and Mars so different? How do rivers form? What makes good soil for farming, and where can you find it? What causes the aurora, and how can it damage your electronics? Why do hurricanes rotate?
This class will cover a somewhat abbreviated high school earth science curriculum, which studies the earth and how it functions. This will include geology, hydrology, meteorology, environmental science, and astronomy.
We will cover how the earth formed and its structure, how plate tectonics works, soil types, the behavior of groundwater, rivers, lakes and oceans, the behavior of the atmosphere and weather, and the effects of living things and of humans specifically on all of it.
This class may be especially useful for students interested in studying ecology, climate change, geography, civil engineering, and many other areas. No prior knowledge is required to succeed in this course.
Course Competencies: Environmental Awareness, Understand Self as Learner, Advanced Sciences
…It was always burnin’ since the world’s been turnin’! What the heck is that song bopping about?
Depends on whether we’re talking about the 1989 Billy Joel one, or the Fall Out Boy version from 2023. Our class could be both - depends on how fast we go!
"We Didn’t Start The Fire" is a pop-rock song that offers us a buffet of events from history to explore - and get this, one version even put it all in chronological order for us. A quick 4-minute jam to start class, and then we’re digging into the events behind the songs. Often, we’ll work together to learn about the events in the song, and present them back to the group. But sometimes we might explore an event in-depth together with a reading or a documentary.
At the end of the block, we’ll have a timeline super-poster that we’ve assembled contextualizing the events captured in the song.
Competencies: Effective Communication, Media Fluency, Global Thinking
Math Lab is a personalized learning space designed to meet students where they are and support their growth in mathematical thinking, confidence, and skills. Instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, each student will collaborate with the instructor to create an individualized learning plan focused on their unique goals, interests, and future aspirations.
Students will engage with the foundations of mathematics while also exploring higher-level concepts as they are ready, with an emphasis on:
Foundational Computation: Strengthening fluency with arithmetic, algebraic reasoning, geometry, and data analysis through regular practice and application.
Developing problem-solving strategies by tackling real-world scenarios, puzzles, and open-ended challenges that require persistence and creative thinking.
Practicing perseverance by approaching unfamiliar problems step by step, building resilience by working through unfamiliar or complex problems, reflecting on mistakes, and adapting approaches when stuck.
Students work independently or in small groups with substantial individualized support and attention. Each student begins wherever they last left off in math—there is no minimum or maximum level of prior knowledge required. This class covers mathematics on a fully personalized basis, using the Massachusetts state standards for high school mathematics as a framework. Together, students and instructor will create individualized learning plans that reflect both the standard high school sequence (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, Calculus) and each student’s specific goals, interests, and future plans. Whether preparing for future coursework, standardized assessments, personal projects, or life after LightHouse, Math Lab fosters mathematical confidence, curiosity, and real-world connection.
This course prioritizes process over speed—valuing deep understanding, flexible thinking, and the ability to apply mathematical concepts across diverse contexts.
Whether you’ve never played or are already a fierce competitor, Chess Club is a place to learn, improve, and compete—all while building a supportive team culture. Students will learn the rules of chess, develop strategies, and build their skills through gameplay, puzzles, and analysis of famous matches.
Chess Club is about more than just the board—it's a space for building community, practicing perseverance, and developing empathy through kind communication and good sportsmanship. Whether you win or lose, we’re here to support each other’s growth.
This course supports:
Community
Students will create a positive and welcoming environment for all skill levels, build shared norms, and engage in collaborative learning and team events.
Perseverance
Through challenging games and complex puzzles, students will build focus and resilience, learning to approach setbacks as opportunities for growth.
Empathy
Students will practice respectful, kind communication—especially in moments of competition—modeling encouragement, fairness, and emotional awareness.
In Make It Live, students build and publish real websites for real community partners.
We will begin with people. For each project, we will learn about a client, identify their audience and goals, organize content, create a site map, and sketch the website on paper before building anything digitally.
From there, we will use assistive AI design and development tools to turn their ideas into working websites. Along the way, we will learn how the web actually works—including domains, DNS, hosting, HTML, CSS, responsive design, accessibility, troubleshooting, and other technical concepts as they become relevant to the work.
This is a studio course. Students will not spend weeks learning technical concepts in isolation before they are allowed to build. We will learn by making real things, encountering real problems, and figuring out how to solve them.
Over the semester, we will complete multiple website projects as gifts to local organizations and community partners.
The goal is not to ask AI to make a website.
The goal is to become someone who can listen to a client, understand a problem, design a thoughtful solution, use technology strategically, troubleshoot what goes wrong, and deliver something both beautiful and useful.
Supported Independent Study offers dedicated time and guidance for students to pursue their own interests, goals, and projects. Whether you want to learn something new, deepen an existing passion, or focus on a specific objective—like designing a project for completing specific competency attainments, college applications, test prep, language study, or creative work—this space creates the structure and support to help you make it happen.
Supported Independent Study will be offered in a dedicated space each period of the day with a staff person to help you develop a clear plan, set meaningful goals, and follow through. This is a space for self-directed learning with accountability: managing time, staying focused, and making steady progress on work that matters to you.
Students will work toward attainments such as setting and tracking goals, managing time effectively, seeking out resources and support, and reflecting on their growth as independent learners.
Supported Independent Study offers dedicated time and guidance for students to pursue their own interests, goals, and projects. Whether you want to learn something new, deepen an existing passion, or focus on a specific objective—like designing a project for completing specific competency attainments, college applications, test prep, language study, or creative work—this space creates the structure and support to help you make it happen.
Supported Independent Study will be offered in a dedicated space each period of the day with a staff person to help you develop a clear plan, set meaningful goals, and follow through. This is a space for self-directed learning with accountability: managing time, staying focused, and making steady progress on work that matters to you.
Students will work toward attainments such as setting and tracking goals, managing time effectively, seeking out resources and support, and reflecting on their growth as independent learners.
Scandalous! History is not boring. It’s filled with scandal, gossip, and deeply hidden secrets. During this class, we will travel through time as we explore the depths of all the stories you won’t read about in a history book. Students should be prepared to take notes, ask questions, research and deep-dive into the lives of historic figures. Together we will navigate the chaotic world of history and write artices to spread the gossip. This class is perfect for anyone seeking out more history classes, college prep students, and anyone who loves a good secret.
Class Competencies: Empathy, Effective Communication, Global Thinking
Choose something you want to make and figure out how to make it real. In Maker Lab, you’ll research ideas, sketch a plan, learn to use tools and materials, and build a project of your own design or adapt one from a source like Instructables or Make:.
The work will not always go according to plan. You’ll test ideas, solve problems, revise your approach, and keep going when something fails. By the end, you’ll have built something tangible while strengthening your technical skills, creativity, and confidence as a maker.
Competencies: Problem Solving, Creativity, Perseverance
Tip tip tap tap, ding! Part Art, part History, part ELA.
Why do we write? How long have we been doing it? What’s different when we write by hand, without a screen or keyboard? What does it mean that something that was once crafted by hand can now be reproduced, infinitely, by machine?
In this class, we will travel through time and explore, hands-on, various writing methods of the past including cursive, calligraphy, quill pens, fountain pens, and more. We will also type, but with type writers! Yes, like you saw in that movie one time.
By the end of this class, you will have been exposed to different ways of organizing your thoughts before writing something, editing and revising written works, some different examples of poetry, and some of the threads of history that tie together the human experience and the written word. This class will challenge you and defy your expectations.
Class Competencies: Advanced Communication, Voice, Global Thinking
Learn how bikes work by taking them apart, fixing them, and putting them back together. In Community Bike Lab, you’ll build real mechanical skills while learning about bike design, tools, gears, brakes, tires, chains, safety, and basic maintenance.
You’ll practice diagnosing problems, making repairs, and restoring bikes for real use. Along the way, you’ll explore how bike mechanics connect to physics, design, transportation, sustainability, and possible careers or business ideas.
As your skills grow, you may also help repair bikes for other students, families, or community members.
No previous bike repair experience is necessary. Come ready to work with your hands, solve problems, and learn how to fix what’s broken.
Help build a stronger community by learning how to support people through conflict. In Peer Mediation Committee, students will practice listening, asking good questions, staying neutral, understanding different perspectives, and helping others work toward agreements.
Members will learn the basics of mediation and restorative practice, then use those skills to support real situations in the LightHouse community when appropriate. The goal is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to help people communicate, repair harm, and find a way forward.
This committee is a good fit for students who care about fairness, relationships, leadership, and helping make LightHouse a place where people can work through conflict with honesty and respect.
Draw! has been a longstanding class led by beloved art teacher, Brady Fellows. Brady has moved to pursue exciting professional art opportunities, but his students would like to continue on holding the space for themselves. Supported by LightHouse advisor, Steph Zello, this space will be held and organized by LightHouse student Jake Stack. Thanks, Jake!
Description:
The best way to grow as an artist is simple: draw every single day. In this studio-based course, students will build a consistent drawing practice that fosters creativity, confidence, and technical skill. No tests, no grades—just time, space, and support to develop your craft.
Each class, students will receive a new prompt designed to spark imagination and encourage experimentation. From quick sketches to detailed studies, students will explore a wide range of styles, techniques, and subject matter—learning by doing, and discovering what inspires them most.
In this course, students will:
No prior experience is required—just bring curiosity and a willingness to experiment. Whether you’re sketching for five minutes or working on a larger piece, this class is about process over perfection and progress over pressure.
Drawing every day doesn’t just make you a better artist—it changes the way you see the world.
Competencies: Creativity, Advanced Visual Arts, Perseverance
Class size: 10
Math Lab is a personalized learning space designed to meet students where they are and support their growth in mathematical thinking, confidence, and skills. Instead of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, each student will collaborate with the instructor to create an individualized learning plan focused on their unique goals, interests, and future aspirations.
Students will engage with the foundations of mathematics while also exploring higher-level concepts as they are ready, with an emphasis on:
Foundational Computation: Strengthening fluency with arithmetic, algebraic reasoning, geometry, and data analysis through regular practice and application.
Developing problem-solving strategies by tackling real-world scenarios, puzzles, and open-ended challenges that require persistence and creative thinking.
Practicing perseverance by approaching unfamiliar problems step by step, building resilience by working through unfamiliar or complex problems, reflecting on mistakes, and adapting approaches when stuck.
Students may work independently or in small groups, with substantial individualized support and attention provided throughout. Whether preparing for future math courses, standardized assessments, personal projects, or life beyond LightHouse, Math Lab fosters confidence and curiosity while helping students understand how mathematics connects to the world around them.
This course prioritizes process over speed—valuing deep understanding, flexible thinking, and the ability to apply mathematical concepts across diverse contexts.
Cell Phone Policy: Students may use their cell phones during class as a tool to engage in learning relevant to the class.
Everything around you, and everything inside you, is chemistry. The air you breathe, the food that fuels you, the medications that heal you, and the reactions firing in your own cells all follow the same set of rules. This class is an introduction to those rules, built on the same core topics that college students study in general chemistry and that future doctors are tested on for medical school. You will leave with a real foundation in how matter is built and how it changes.
We will start with what everything is made of, from atoms and the structure of the periodic table to how and why atoms bond together. From there we build toward the reactions themselves: how to read and balance chemical equations, how to measure what happens in a reaction, and what drives reactions to happen at all. Along the way we will study the states of matter and gas behavior, energy and heat, the speed of reactions, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, and the chemistry of electrons moving in batteries and cells. Each topic connects back to something real, whether that is why bread rises, why a cold pack gets cold, how a battery powers your phone, or why your blood has to hold its acidity within a razor-thin range to keep you alive.
Grounded in Applied Scientific Reasoning, Advanced Sciences, and Perseverance, students will:
1. Explain what matter is made of and how atomic structure drives the behavior of elements, using the periodic table as a map rather than a memorization exercise.
2. Read, write, and balance chemical equations, and use them to reason quantitatively about what a reaction produces and consumes.
3. Investigate the forces that govern reactions, including energy, reaction rate, equilibrium, and acidity, and connect each one to observable phenomena in the lab and in everyday life.
Students will work toward attainments such as explaining core chemical concepts through real evidence and application, setting up and solving quantitative problems with clear reasoning, connecting chemical principles to the living and physical world, and demonstrating persistence in working through challenging multi-step problems.
This class is rigorous, hands-on, and built for students who want a serious foundation in one of the central sciences, whether they are aiming toward a health or science career or simply want to understand the physical world at a deeper level.
Class Competencies: Perseverance, Applied Scientific Reasoning, Advanced Sciences
This small group class is about moving, building strength, and developing a friendly relationship with your body. Students will travel to the YMCA and work with staff member Nehemiah to create personalized plans based on their individual goals—whether that’s getting stronger, building endurance, improving energy, or simply feeling better in their body. If you love the gym, join this class. If you have never been to the gym, join this class. ALL welcome.
There is also space in this class to play—through sports, games, and trying new ways of moving. The focus is not on performance or comparison, but on participation, consistency, and growth over time.
Grounded in Self-Care and Wellness Strategies, Collaboration, and Perseverance, students will:
Build awareness of how movement, habits, and lifestyle choices impact physical and mental well-being.
Develop routines that support their health, energy, and daily functioning.
Work alongside peers in a supportive environment, encouraging one another and participating with respect.
Set goals, track progress, and persist through challenges, adjusting their approach as needed.
Students will work toward attainments such as identifying and practicing effective self-care strategies, reflecting on habits and patterns, collaborating respectfully in shared spaces, and demonstrating persistence in working toward personal goals.
This class is about showing up, trying, and building a life where taking care of your body is normal.
Cell Phone Policy:
Students may use their cell phones during class as a tool to engage in learning relevant to the class.