thomas

About Thomas Deeny

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Thomas Deeny has created 27 blog entries.

Now Enrolling for 2025-2026

Looking for an independent high school with a strong community? The New School might be right for you! About The New School Celebrating our 25th year, The New School is a progressive, independent high school providing a unique, student-driven, democratic learning experience for youth from Southern Maine and New Hampshire. Our campus is within walking distance of downtown Kennebunk and is a short drive from the coast, which often serves as a classroom. The New School works with our students by: Offering rich, integrated learning experiences within and outside the classroom that ignite students’ talents and passions Giving students a strong voice [...]

Read More

Homeschooling 101

The New School offers a variety of services to assist homeschoolers with their education. To apply for Homeschool Admission, please complete our Inquiry Form. High School Courses Homeschooled students are welcome to take courses at The New School to augment homeschool work. Students may take up to two courses during the core day (8:45-3:30). To take more than two courses, they must be enrolled as a full-time student. Fee: $1500/course/semester Eighth Grade (Middle School) Courses Homeschooled students in 8th Grade are welcome to take courses at The New School to augment homeschool work. Students may take up to two [...]

Read More

LEAP Night

LEAP Night (Learning Exhibitions and Performances) is a public celebration of student learning. For the event, students create displays representing their work from all classes and other learning experiences they have participated in this semester. Our evening began with each student first showing their work to a small group of community members (between one and three) in a presentation and discussion format, then we opened the school up at 6:30, allowing all members of the community to browse all of our students’ displays. The conversations our students have with their individual LEAP feedback teams are an important component of [...]

Read More

Food and Culture Intensive

Between semesters, The New School takes three weeks to do a focused session on one topic. Last year at this time we broke the school up into three groups: a local study intensive about wildlife, a regional travel intensive to the Adirondacks, and a travel intensive down the eastern seaboard to explore the American space program. This year, our students were involved in senior projects, independent studies, and a local intensive about food and culture. For our first week, the Food and Culture Intensive cooked up a storm in the kitchen from potatoes to perogies to pizza. Students and [...]

Read More

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament

The New School’s eSports team is hosting a Smash Ultimate tournament the afternoon of February 19th, the Wednesday of our February break, right here at The New School. “This will be a free double elimination tournament where I will be providing refreshments,” said Coach Raizel. If you would like to join us for the afternoon, please join our discord at https://discord.gg/7EU2pVm2Yk and sign up in the #tournament channel. This after school program is free to join for high school aged teenagers from The New School and the local community! No costs are associated with the team — all materials needed to play are [...]

Read More

The New School Presents: Common Ground

The New School Presents the multiple award winning film Common Ground to be shown on Friday, October 25th at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church on 114 Main Street, Kennebunk. Common Ground is the sweeping and uplifting story of the pioneers of the “Regenerative Movement” who are forgoing the toxic seeds and sprays pushed by Big Ag in order to produce tremendous quantities of nutritionally dense food while bringing our entire ecosystem back to life.  The film is sponsored by the Kennebunk Farmers Market and The New School and is free to the public. This film is the sequel [...]

Read More

Bowls of Hope: November 2

Join us for the 2nd Annual Bowls of Hope, sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank: a fundraising event on Saturday, November 2, 4:30-7 PM, at The New School, 38 York St, Kennebunk. Bowls of Hope is a warm, cozy night of wonderful soups and bread from local restaurants. Sample the soups, then fill a handmade bowl with your favorite soup and grab some bread for dipping. Bowls have been handmade by The New School's students, with time and materials graciously donated by The Cellar Co., and are yours to keep after the event. Proceeds from this event will be directed [...]

Read More

Thanksgiving Pie Fundraiser!

The New School partners with Lyman Orchards to bring you fresh fruit and sweet dessert pies, ready in time for Thanksgiving! Pies will be available for pickup at The New School at dismissal (3:30 pm) on Tuesday, November 19th, on the week before Thanksgiving! Pies arrive frozen, and your students will have them ready for pickup and distribution. Apple Caramel Walnut, a decadent take on Lyman's classic apple pie. A double crust pie filled with our classic seasoned apples, rich caramel glaze and roasted walnuts. Orchard Blueberry is made with the perfect blend of wild and cultivated blueberries in [...]

Read More

The Return of the Robotics Team

Our award-winning and incredibly fun robotics competition team returns for a new season! Teams of high school students compete in building industrial-sized robots to play difficult field games and ally with other teams. Are you between the ages of 13 and 18? Interested in STEM? Robotics? Coding? Just building things? DO YOU LIKE ROBOTS? (They are pretty awesome.) Yes? Contact our Robotics Coach, MaryBeth Luce and get signed up! The team is a safe place — members of the LBGTQ+ community are encouraged to reach out if they are interested!

Read More

The New School’s 23-24 Annual Report is Available

Our Annual Report went out in the mail last week and, if you haven't seen it yet, you're in for a treat. Inside you'll find a recap of the school year: classes, travel, community activism and engagement, financial highlights, and more! Did you know that Outta the Box provided nearly a third of TNS' revenue to support our school's mission? Between them, donations, and grants, make up almost half of the school's income. Additional fundraising events, like the two dinners hosted last school year, brings that up to half, balanced by tuition income. If you haven't seen your copy [...]

Read More
Go to Top