Phoebe Barr ’19:
J-Term, the two-week program following winter break, will next year be moved to the end of May and replace senior projects. Head of Upper School Mike Letts elaborated on the reasons behind this change as well as its ramifications.
Letts said, “The two primary reasons are, one: I don’t feel that a month off from the normal academic rotation is good. Two, I think in May the course options and the creativity that can go behind those course options will increase exponentially because the weather is favorable.” Letts pointed out that this year’s J-Term lost two full days and two half-days to snow, and, aside from that, many activities are done outside.
Letts also explained that May Term would allow more time for AP classes to prepare for their standardized tests. “We’re not moving away from APs any time soon, and we need that time to ease some of the pressure on AP students and faculty members.” Letts also mentioned that removing the month-long break from sports for those who travel would “cause fewer conflicts for our student athletes.”
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May Term will replace senior projects, as Letts explains, “which, to be perfectly frank, are for the most part subpar or just difficult.” He clarified that the concept of senior projects seem to him to be stressful for many seniors who don’t know what they want to do. He continues, “I had a comment this morning from one student on student council. They said, ‘Would you think about it, if a senior wanted to do something really important as a senior project?’ Yeah, I think we could probably think about that. I don’t want to punish kids who really look forward to it, but at the same time it has been a weaker program in our curriculum for a while.”
While some support the change, others are against the idea of May Term. Hope Biddle ‘19 agreed with Letts’ assessment, saying, “We don’t have to have our senior projects… but we have the option of doing it. So I like that.”
Dan Clay, Chair of Theatre and Dance, says, “I think May Term will create more opportunities.” He continues, “I think one of the things that limits J-Term in January is that the weather doesn’t always cooperate with us. [May Term] comes at a good time of the year where students don’t have to worry so much about classes. It’s also a way to maybe tie into some of the things that you’ve learned throughout the year.”
Chuck Bryant, an AP History teacher, confirmed that he had “been pushing for this change for years.”
On the other hand, some students say they will miss the two-week transition from winter break. Tracie Rosenberg ‘21, said, “I don’t like the idea of May Term, because it’s more fun in January. May is when all the finals are.”
Josephine Buccini ‘21 said, “J-Term is a good break in the middle of the year, and it lets students do something they like. After exams, all everyone wants to do is just leave school. I think J-Term is something a lot of people look forward to. People are just going to be waiting for summer during May Term.”
Worried about the decreased relaxation time in January, Emma Humann ‘19, says, “I think that J-Term should be in January because it makes a big difference having two weeks off versus four weeks off… When there’s winter break and J-Term, then it feels like less pressure, and you have more time to just regain your energy.”
Molly Konopka, Classics Department teacher and a Head Coach of the Episcopal Crew Team, asserted that May Term would be “tough on the spring crew season.”
Letts also clarified that the changing of J-Term is not tied in any way to a reincorporation of midterm exams. Midterms were removed from the curriculum the same year that J-Term was created, but they will not be returning.