Intensives: Two Weeks of Hands-On Learning and Leadership

Every year, at the end of the fall term heading into winter break, students embark on a two-week learning journey called Intensives.

Intensives are all about promoting leadership, developing a growth mindset, communicating across grades (youth and adults), problem-solving, and practicing inclusion, so students can learn to lead and cooperate with integrity.

The first half of the day is dedicated to Humanities, while the second half is dedicated to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).

Make Stuff (5th/6th Humanities)
In Make Stuff, students are encouraged to create, think outside the box, and cooperate with one another to make things that are special to them. Students created coloring books for children, made podcasts, wrote poems, and much more.

Law School – Mock Trial (7th Humanities)
In this intensive, students experience a demanding and highly engaging two-week “Law School” program, learning the steps in a trial, analyzing facts and witness statements, developing a theory of the case, and working collaboratively on a prosecution or defense team. At the end, they present their cases before a real judge and a live jury of parent volunteers.

Filmmaking Challenges (8th Humanities)
In the 8th-grade Filmmaking Challenges intensive, students take on a series of filmmaking challenges to learn specific filming and editing skills, creating short films within time constraints. Along the way, they learn how to work together as a production team, balancing high-quality filmmaking under pressure while building relationships.

Illuminations (Cross-Grade STEAM)
In Illuminations, students across grades learn digital design and build an illuminated creation while exploring prototyping, circuitry, laser cutting, and assemblage. They explore questions such as: How can a laser cutter be used for purposeful design? What are the key components of graphic design? What are the components of electrical circuitry?

STEMphony Sound Studio (Cross-Grade STEAM)
In STEMphony, students learn about sound waves, how sound travels, and how pitch is created. They explore these concepts by making music and rhythms with their very own instruments built from boxes and cardboard tubes. They also create instruments from vegetables, slinkies, drums, and boomwhackers.

Sweet, Sweet Science (Cross-Grade STEAM)
In Sweet, Sweet Science, students from across grades learn about the science of crystals, smell and taste, and polymers by making beautiful (and delicious) candy. Needless to say, this is one of our most popular intensives!