For two weeks Episcopal teachers led classes on a variety of specialized subjects. The focus of each course varied, including everything from digital photography to an exchange with students from Spain. Below are thoughts from teachers on their J-Term experience.
The Canterbury School Exchange
I have been hoping to do an exchange program for several years, and this J-Term finally gave us the opportunity to do it. It was a good trip, even though it ended up having to be short, since the Canterbury kids were not in school until January 8, and we had to be back here by the 17th. Still, the students who participated in it made the very most of the time they had, and forged significant bonds with their counterparts.
-Helena Cochrane, World Language Department
Photo Courtesy of Mackenzie Hahn ’15
Digital Photography
From what I saw and heard, it was a very successful project. It’s the result of almost two years of work to prepare it. Students were engaged and less stressed than usual and therefore went above and beyond to show what they can do. I think interest increased as the course progressed. I would be naive to believe that everything was perfect but I think that, for a first try, we could not have hoped for a better result. Culminating projects and presentations were impressive. I am looking forward to seeing the feedback in order for us to improve J-Term for next year. We have to make sure that we offer courses that are rigorous while innovative, experiential, collaborative and fun. I personally had a great time tagging along with Mr. Leslie. I learned a great deal about digital photography and I think our group did too.
-Marc Eripret, World Language Department
Kitchen Chemistry
I was as nervous for J-Term as I was the first day I began teaching. However, our course went better than I could have imagined and I loved being able to collaborate with my colleague, Mrs. Rheam. I’m exhausted, but also excited by how much the students and I both learned the last two weeks.
-Angela Miklavcic, Science Department
One-Acts
J-Term has been a great opportunity to work intensively with a group of students. We got an extraordinary amount accomplished – they created and developed eight short one-act plays that demonstrate lots of variety and attention to detail – and I have the sense that new friendships were forged in the process. It was rewarding for me to watch the group dynamic develop and shift throughout the course, and I learned a lot from working so closely with Mr. Clay as well. As exciting as J-Term was, it also was exhausting. One of the main challenges is keeping students productive and focused in the afternoon. In addition, since there are no “free periods” built into J-Term where I could catch my breath or adjust the course content itself, I felt particularly worn out each evening. These challenges are not impossible to overcome, though, and I look at J-Term as a positive experience overall.
-Chris McCreary, English Department
The City of Brotherly Love during the Revolutionary War
I thouroughly enjoyed our J-Term. We went into it not knowing how it would go as it was the first time. But the field trips we took really ehanced learning about how Philadelphia was during the American Revolution. Visiting the battlefields at Brandywine (-20 degree wind chills) and Valley Forge really gave us a feel for the weather experience the colonial troops had to endure the winter they were there. Now that Mrs. Billmyer and I have one year under our belts with this class, we will have a much better feel for how to make it even better for next year.
–Robert Trumbull, History Department