Oyster River High School Students Explore New Fields of Study Through Extended Learning Opportunities Program

DURHAM – Principal Rebecca Noe and Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator Sean Peschel wish to share the ongoing success of Oyster River High School’s ELO program and highlight its most recent collaboration with Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

ELOs provide meaningful educational experiences while allowing students to explore their interests at a higher level. ELOs are student-initiated and student-centered and provide knowledge and skills outside the traditional classroom methodology.

ORHS students may pursue independent coursework, advanced coursework, career exploration, internships, or peer instruction.

Junior Stella Pillet-Shore spent seven weeks at Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s Second Healthcare Exploration program in the summer 2023. She is the first ORHS student to take part in this program.

Pillet-Shore was one of 14 students selected for an internship, following a competitive process that included answering multiple questions, submitting a resume and referrals, and attending multiple interviews.

She was assigned a leadership mentor, and worked on organizing a healthcare career expo which was held on Oct. 20, 2023.

Pillet-Shore spent two weeks in an inpatient unit, two weeks in surgical services, and three weeks exploring other services such as laboratories, imaging, outpatient therapy, and quality. 

“This experience really taught me what I value in healthcare. It was a fulfilling experience and was inspired by the teamwork. I worked five days a week, in-between life guarding and basketball practices because it was such a wonderful opportunity,” Pillet-Shore said. “My ELO experience is a great example of how Oyster River High School empowers student learning.” 

Coordinator Peschel added, “Stella’s experience is a great example of how impactful ELOs can be for students and how Oyster River is working together to engage every learner. Stella earned valuable experience and credits for her transcript. The expo was such a huge success that Portsmouth Regional Hospital is thinking about expanding it throughout the state.”