The Sound School

The Sound School is a public, regional, inter-district, aquaculture high school. We have a 50-50 split of New Haven and out-of district students, which makes for a good mix (urban/suburban and racially, as well), and all students take Aquaculture Science and Aquaculture Technology for the first three years, then choose one of the two for their concentration during senior year. We have four buildings right on Long Island Sound (hence the name), with a fifth nearing completion (in December), so we are able to do our rowing, fishing, and sail training on our own boats (most of which have been student-built) right out the back door.

All students take their four core courses (English, Math, History and Language) during single periods, and take their Aqua courses for a double-period for half the year; so it's still a full credit, but there are bigger blocks of time to run labs and (especially) to get out on the water. We run an interesting rotating schedule, which gives us up to three hours in some Aqua classes, depending on the day.

The freshman year Aqua Tech course consists of approximately nine weeks on the water learning rowing and sailing, plus nine weeks of nautical science/seamanship, knot-tying,  half-hull boat models, and completion of the Safe Boating Certification program. In their sophomore year, students build their own fishing rods, lobster traps, crab pots, and eel cages, tie nets, learn about fishing gear/tackle and fish identification/habitat, some basic navigation, and go out on one of our lobster boats to set/haul traps and learn fishing. Junior year they get a choice of four courses to start narrowing their vision within the fields, although they still take a tech class and a science class. Senior year, all students choose a full year, double period of either Science or Technology. The courses look like this: 

JUNIOR AQUACULTURE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Science Courses
Aqua Biotechnology/Genetics – Laboratory Safety, DNA, Genes & Development, Quality Assurance, Gel Electrophoresis, Blot Analysis, Gene Isolation/Vector Construction, PCR.
    This course normally leads to: Special Topics – Aqua Biotech/Genetics/Special Topics

Aqua Chemistry/Fish Nutrition – Laboratory Safety, Periodic Table/Atomic Structure, Chemical Formulas/Bonding, Fish Digestion/Respiration/Nutritional Requirements, Protein Synthesis, Oxidation/Reduction Reactions, Pathogens/Dietary Deficiencies in Fish, Hydrolization.
    This course normally leads to: Aqua Fish Nutrition/Special Topics 

Aqua Chemistry/Water Quality – Laboratory Safety, Water Chemistry, Water Quality Testing,

Regulatory Agencies/Permitting, Land Use Impacts, Field Sampling and Equipment.

    This course normally leads to: Water Quality Monitoring/Toxicology/Special Topics

Aqua Fisheries Management Science 1 – Natural Systems-Biology of Fish, Aquatic/Fishery

Ecosystems, Post-Harvest Sector and Consumers, Social/Economic/Cultural Environment, Fishery Policy

and Planning, Fishery Management and Development, Fishery Research.

    This course normally leads to: Aquaculture Fisheries Management Science 2

Aqua Life Science/Finfish/Shellfish Culture – Breeding/Hatching/Raising Finfish/Shellfish from Larval

Stage, Finfish/Shellfish Nutrition & Disease, Market Species, Systems Engineering,

Intensive/Extensive Culturing Systems, Intro Pumps/Filters.

    This course normally leads to: Aquaculture Production – Finfish/Shellfish Production

Technology Courses

Marine Construction/Boat Yard Tech 1 – Safety, Aquaculture System Support, Small Boat

Construction, Wood Tools/Fastenings/Resins, Boat Yard Operations, Rigging, Winterizing.

    This course normally leads to: Marine Construction/Boat Yard Tech 2

Marine Engineering/Physics – Intro Drafting, Intro to CAD, Analog Electronics/Circuits,

Multimeter Use/Troubleshooting, Intro Engineering/Physics, Systems Design, Geographic

Information Systems Software, Buoyancy, Floatation, Remotely Operated Vehicle Project.

    This course normally leads to: Marine Engineering/Underwater Technology

Marine Mechanics – Safety, Internal Combustion Engines, Engine Components, Electrical

Systems/Ignition, Fuel Systems/Carburetion, Engine Cooling/Lubrication, Vessel Electrical Systems,

Power Transmission, Engine Maintenance/Troubleshooting, Winterizing.

    This course normally leads to: Marine Mechanics/Special Topics

Naval Architecture – Safety, Intro Drafting, Intro to CAD, Hull Design Software, Small Boat

Design Fundamentals, Hydrostatic Calculations, Small Boat Construction Projects.

    This course normally leads to: Naval Architecture/Ship Design

Ship Technology/Vessel Operations – Classification of Vessels, Vessel Construction, Safety at Sea,

Boat Crew Duties/Responsibilities, Coast Guard Regulations, Stability, Boat Handling, Search and

Rescue, Towing, Heavy Weather Operations, Aids to Navigation, Communications.

   This course normally leads to: Vessel Operations/Special Topics

SENIOR AQUACULTURE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Science Courses
Aqua Finfish/Shellfish Production – Growout of Shellfish to Market Size, Pumps and Filters,
Finfish/Shellfish Nutrition & Disease, Finfish/Shellfish Identification/Classification/Taxonomy Market Species, Finfish/Shellfish Anatomy/ Morphology/Physiology, Systems Engineering.

Aquaculture Biotechnology/Genetics/Special Topics – Laboratory Safety, Issues in Marine

Biotechnology, Biomining, Conservation, Biodiversity, Gene Transfer, Inherited Traits,

Pedigree, Myosis/Mytosis, Chi-Squared tests, Fecundity, Design of Research Proposal, Research

Project Application, Poster Preparation and Presentation.

Aquaculture Fish Nutrition/Special Topics – Acids/Bases/Acetyl Groups, Carbon Chains, Krebs Citric

Acid Cycle, ATP/ADP Properties of Water, Protein Synthesis from Carbohydrates, Metabolism

of Lipids/Oils/Fats, Minerals/Nutrients in Respiration/Enzyme Digestion, Nitrogen/Fish Waste in

Polyculture.

Aquaculture Fisheries Management Science 2 – Natural Systems-Biology of Fish,

Aquatic/Fishery Ecosystems, Post-Harvest Sector and Consumers, Social/Economic/Cultural

Environment, Fishery Policy & Planning, Fishery Management and Development, Fishery Research.

Water Quality Monitoring/Toxicology/Special Topics – Laboratory Safety, Basic Measurement,

Water Pollution, Basic Toxicological Concepts/ Principles, Environmental Regulations, Properties

of Fluids/Electricity, Electronics Circuits/Sensors, Data Acquisition/Analysis,

Monitoring/Systematic Measurements, Quality Assurance/Control, Laboratory Projects.

Technology Courses

Marine Construction/Boat Yard Tech 2 – Safety, USCG/ABYC Regulations, Layout and

Lofting, Scarping/Sheathing Plywood, Caulking and Sealants, Repairs, Hauling, Trailering, Boat

Storage, Marina Operations, Boat Finishing, Launch Operator Certification.

Naval Architecture/Ship Design – Lab/Shop Safety, General Lofting/Lofting Sections Through Stern,

Hull Calculations, Construction Cost Estimates, Construction Schedule, Hydrodynamic Testing-

Virtual/Real, Boat Construction Project.

Marine Engineering/Underwater Technology/Special Topics – Safety, CAD-Advanced Solid Modeling,

Digital Electronics, BASIC Stamp, Industrial Controls, 12-Volt Systems, Robotics-Programming/

Remote Control, CTD Sensor Project, ROV Design/Construction/Testing, Guidance

Systems/GPS, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Project.

Marine Mechanics/Special Topics – Safety, Internal Combustion Engines, Engine Components,

Electrical Systems/Ignition, Fuel Systems/Carburetion, Engine Cooling/Lubrication, Vessel

Electrical Systems, Power Transmission, Engine Maintenance/Troubleshooting, Winterizing.

Vessel Operations/Special Topics – Inspections, Licenses, Crew Efficiency Factors, Team Coordination

and Risk Management, Safety/First Aid/Survival Equipment, Boat Characteristics, Vessel Systems,

Weather and Oceanography, Firefighting, Rescue and Assistance, Recovery of Person in the Water,

Coast Watch Program.

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