Minimesters

One of the biggest benefits of GA’s independently created curriculum is that it allows teachers and students the opportunity to design and pursue areas of study that fall outside of traditional coursework. The Minimester program, entering its fifth year in the Upper School, has a proven track record of engaging students with innovative academic pursuits, some of which have shaped mainstream curriculum in concrete and exciting ways.

As the name suggests, minimesters take place in a compact amount of time—typically, courses meet for two or three 40-minute class periods during the regular seven-day rotation. With upwards of 20 minimesters offered during the 2016-17 school year, it can be difficult for sophomores, juniors and seniors to rank their preferred choices, knowing they can take just two per year!

“Because minimester courses are graded on a pass/fail basis and there is no assigned homework, students have the freedom and the time to follow their passions and pilot new ideas,” explained Head of Upper School Chris Nelson.

The catalog of minimester topics reaches far and wide, for both students and faculty. Some appeal to the burgeoning group of engineers and computer scientists on campus, such as Middle School science teacher Jim DiFranco’s Computer-Aided Design and 3D Printing course, which utilizes the resources in the Beard Center for Innovation. Another pioneering course is Upper School science teacher Diane Goldstein’s Robotics Primer, which has students programming and building VEX robots to showcase in local competitions.

Other minimesters tap into students’ entrepreneurial spirit, such as Director of Innovation and Special Projects Gaby Russomagno’s Branding and Marketing course, Chief Operating Officer Tom Taft’s Business and Entrepreneurship course, and fifth grade teacher Graham Martin’s Personal Finance and the Great Stock Market Competition. Some of the ideas generated by students in these courses have been directly applied to GA spaces like the Dining Room and School Store. For example, the store now carries grab-and-go salads and sandwiches during Upper School lunch, and Chef Luke Landmesser has launched an Instagram account (armed with student-penned hashtags) to highlight the fresh and healthy meal options created from veggies grown right on campus.

Then, there are minimesters that resonate with students because of their underlying philosophy. Upper School English teacher Ted Haynie’s Things Every Young Man Should Know and Do is always a quick fill, and covers everything from manners to politics to car repair. Look for Nelson to sit in on Assistant to the Head of Upper School Deb Kennedy’s Knitting for Beginners or Upper School physical education and wellness teacher Jeff Preston’s Self Defense course this year.

Whether a student studies fine art, designs a board game, or goes fishing in the Wissahickon Creek (yes, that’s one too), minimesters have become an integral part of the Upper School curriculum. Even in small doses, these creative and compelling offerings engage students in novel educational experiences that celebrate the enjoyment of learning.