Intersession 2022
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Theodate Pope Riddle, the founder of Avon Old Farms, strongly believed that students should work alongside faculty mentors to produce meaningful work. The idea behind Intersession is to broaden the curriculum while creating opportunities for excursions, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary work. Intersession honors that tradition by offering courses that are often team-taught by faculty and staff on topics outside of the traditional curriculum, but nonetheless relevant and centered on the REAL learning model. Intersession extends the classroom and opens the academic schedule to allow students and faculty to explore a topic of interest in greater detail with an experiential component since field trips and projectbased learning feature prominently in the courses. Intersession is a compulsory week-long academic program.
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Table of Contents New for 2022 : American Conflicts through Film New for 2022 : The Art and Computer Science of Video Game Design Blacksmithing 101 Body and Mind The Business of Sports Coaching 101 New for 2022 : Con Sal y Pimienta Crash Course in Roman History New for 2022 : Design a Tiny House Developing a Growth Mindset through Sports Documentary Film-Making New for 2022 : From Page to Stage to Screen Genomics New for 2022 : God-Centered Life New for 2022 : The Holistic Avonian New for 2022 : Introduction to Milling and Machinery New for 2022 : Introduction to the Practice of Law Law Enforcement Make it a Great Day in Service and Play New for 2022 : Miniature Worlds: The Films of Wes Anderson and The Art of Joseph Cornell New for 2022 : Miracle on Ice New for 2022 : Peril or Promise? America’s Contested Self-Invention as Seen in Architecture, Art, and Monuments Political Violence and Democracy in Crisis The Science of Happiness Skate Deck Design Songwriting and Music Production New for 2022 : Textile Tycoons: Plan and Launch a Sustainable AOF Thrift Shop Train Mean, Live Healthy: Connecting the Body, Mind, and Soul Try the Guitar Understanding Personal Finance and Investments Winter Fishing Win, Lose, or Draw: The Theories Behind Games
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New for 2022 : American Conflicts through Film Faculty: Mr. Mehos, Mr. Bourgault Possible films to be viewed and discussed include the following: Gettysburg, Glory (CIVIL WAR) 1917, My Boy Jack (WORLD WAR I) Dunkirk, Letters from Iwo Jima, Bridge on the River Kwai, Dirty Dozen (WORLD WAR II) Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket (VIETNAM) American Sniper, Hurt Locker (IRAQ) Field trips to the submarine base and museum in Groton, CT and the aviation museum will be part of this intersession course.
New for 2022 : The Art and Computer Science of Video Game Design Faculty: Mr. Sayles, Mr. Calibey
Video games have been a popular way to pass the time for decades. They’re fun to play, but how are they made? In this class, we will take on the role of an indie game studio to create a video game of our own. Students will design the art for levels, items, and characters, as well as use Unity to write the code that makes the game work. Experienced designers and coders are encouraged to sign up. Enrollment is limited to 8.
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Blacksmithing 101 Faculty: Mr. Kassel
Blacksmithing is an age-old trade that shapes iron into many useful objects. For almost 4000 years, man has pounded iron into plows, swords, and artwork. We will work with nationally-known blacksmith Matthew Parkinson and Dragon’s Breath forge to create our own set of grill tools. We will also learn how man’s mastery of iron has impacted history. Enrollment limited to 14 students.
Body and Mind
Faculty: Mrs. Doyle, Mr. Custer This course will introduce students to ancient practices designed to help develop and maintain a healthy body (yoga) and a healthy mind (mindfulness meditation). Daily sessions will include instruction in Power Vinyasa Flow Yoga (a powerful, energetic form of yoga where students fluidly move from one pose to the next while connecting their breathing to their movements) and various mindfulness meditation practices (meditation, mindful eating, mindful walking, body scans, etc.). Graduates of the course will understand the physical and philosophical bases of yoga and meditation, and they will have learned practices that will serve them throughout their lives.
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The Business of Sports
Faculty: Mr. Dowling, Mr. Bill Dowling, Mr. Bomely, Mr. Stensland This course will examine the many different aspects of sports as a business - as a venue for public entertainment. Students will be introduced to market forces, public relations, concessions, sales, sponsorships, and other aspects of sports as business. Secondary themes will include player salaries and the current business relationship between players, agents, and owners. The lead instructor for this will be Bill Dowling. He is the former VP of the New York Yankees, and the former General Manager of the New Britain RockCats. Bill also has experience as a player agent and contract negotiator for the owners. His experience on the business side of sports is extensive.
Coaching 101
Faculty: Mr. Gardner Students will learn the fundamentals of becoming a coach. Required reading is John Wooden’s They Call Me Coach. Guest speakers will include coaches from a variety of sports and all different levels (professional, collegiate and high school) explaining their philosophy of coaching.
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New for 2022 : Con Sal y Pimienta
Faculty: Mr. G. Doyle, Sra. Mackler, Ms. Bartkiewicz, Ms. Featherstone In this course students will learn about the cultural significance of and how to cook dishes from various Spanish speaking countries. The focus will be on authentic recipes that are culturally significant to the country that they come from. Activities will include researching food and recipes from Spain and Latin America, shopping in local markets for regional ingredients, and, of course, working hands on with those ingredients to cook and create these dishes. The course will focus on the art of exploring different countries, culture and food, and the art of cooking and the art of eating. Students will also take a cooking class from a professional chef and visit a Spanish market in NYC. The course will be taught in English.
Crash Course in Roman History Faculty: Mr. Spearman
An intensive review of Roman History, beginning with the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, continuing to the fall of the west.
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New for 2022 : Design a Tiny House Faculty: Mr. Callaghan, Ms. Winsor
Students will design their own tiny house as a final activity (no prior experience with design work or construction is necessary). Field trips to tour various types of tiny houses in the area will be part of the course work as will an introduction to Design Thinking. Along the way, we will consider the Tiny House movement from historical, social, and economic perspectives.
Developing a Growth Mindset through Sports Faculty: Mr. Proffitt, Mr. Wholley, Mr. Mihalich
This class will take an in-depth look at how the psychology of sport and exercise impacts the performance of student-athletes. Sport psychology, namely having a growth mindset, is increasingly an indicator of success with regards to player performance, coping with pressure and stress, rehabilitating an injury, leadership, and future prospects. This intersession offering will focus on three major components of sport psychology: motivation, attentional focus, and leadership. We will also explore how a growth mindset is both developed and valuable in sports. Students will have an opportunity to hear from and engage with respected collegiate coaches from the area, and will also attend a session with a mental performance coach who will lead them through a workshop on preparation and peak performance. The goals of the course are for its students to take with them tools that will help them be impactful leaders and develop skills that will help them perform at the highest level during their athletic season. Leaders both in athletics and in the community are encouraged to join us in using sport to develop a growth mindset.
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Documentary Film-Making Faculty:
This course will study the process of documentary film-making by making a documentary film about the intersession program. Students will collaborate to record footage each day, edit, and ultimately create a documentary film. During the week students will also view famous documentaries (and mock-umentaries) to learn more about the genre and to find inspiration for their own work.
New for 2022 : From Page to Stage to Screen Faculty: Mrs. Young, Ms. Couch
Do you like to watch movies? Do you like to get good grades in English class? Do you enjoy being the center of attention or making films? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then this course is for you! This course has it all: drama, intrigue, comedy, and stellar performances and production quality. Over the week, we will examine select short scenes from famous Shakespeare plays and how they have been produced on the stage and on the big screen. Shakespeare’s work is ripe with possibilities for creativity and discussion since they were always meant to be performed and viewed, rather than read. Possible works will include: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, etc. We will read a scene, watch various interpretations, discuss how different directors have staged the scene, and direct scenes of our own. There will also be guest speakers from different aspects of stage and filmmaking, and possible field trips to Apple Cinemas or the Hartford Stage to see live performances.
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Genomics
Faculty: Dr. Sanford Students will explore the applications of genetic information in the real world. The experience will be largely laboratory-based with some informational sessions. Complementary experiments involving DNA sequencing and data analyses will be led by the AOF faculty. For instance, we will extract DNA from cells, amplify DNA to determine a Lark or an Owl type of sleeper, and sequence DNA from soil using the minION. Movies such as “GATACA” and “The Perfect 46” will be shown and discussions on the bioethics of the biotechnologies presented in the movies will be student-driven. Visits to a genomic research laboratory are planned.
New for 2022 : God-Centered Life Faculty: Dr. Watt
What could it possibly mean - in this day and age - to live a God-centered life? And what does the Christian faith have to tell us about this? These are the questions to which all our efforts and readings and discussions will be directed. The Bible will be our guide, most especially, Exodus from the Old Testament, and the Gospels from the New Testament. There will also be short supplementary readings drawn from both Jewish and Christian theologians, from poets past and present, and three films screened during the evening sessions.
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New for 2022 : The Holistic Avonian Faculty: Mr. Werner, Mr. O’Leary
Bringing back the long-lost etiquette of being a gentleman, a friend, outdoorsman, & all-around virtuous man and making it relevant to our traditions and culture at Avon Old Farms. Here we will extol the virtues of manliness, industry, resolution, self-reliance, discipline, and honor through field trips, activities, demonstrations, and speakers. Learn skills like self-care, preparing for a date, ironing your clothes, grocery shopping, maintaining your vehicle, problem solving and more.
New for 2022 : Introduction to Milling and Machinery Faculty: Ms. Larson, Ms. Dexter
Students will learn the operating and engineering aspects of a Haas milling machine. Each student will be able to take home his own designed and milled metal project. This intersession will involve learning CAD (computer aided design), 3d-printing, CAM (computer aided manufacturing), and Haas operation system.
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New for 2022 : Introduction to the Practice of Law Faculty: Attorney Brendan Faulkner ’91
The aim of this intersession course is to introduce students to the world of law and the concept of the rule of law, as well as to spark some interest in law by showing students the wide array of career options to J.D.s. Students will also receive some guidance about how to get on and navigate the path to becoming a lawyer. Field trips to UCONN Law School, CT government offices, and court rooms are among the planned experiences. Students will hear from UCONN law professors and administrators about not only what it entails to apply to law school, but also what it takes to earn a degree in law. And, students will have the opportunity to see firsthand the practice of law in trial courtrooms, the state appellate or supreme courts, and the legislative office building in Hartford. There is also some planned flexibility in the course in order to account for student interests.
Law Enforcement
Faculty: Mr. Whitty, Ms. Barzun, Mr. Ford This intersession course will focus on law enforcement from the local, state and federal perspectives. The student will discuss elements of constitutional law, laws of arrest and search and seizure as it applies to criminal investigations, through case studies. The student will learn practical skills such as building searches, crime scene processing, felony car stops, arrest/control and lethal force scenarios. In addition, the student will interact with state and local law enforcement personnel, including canine, special weapons teams, bomb disposal and computer crimes units.
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Make it a Great Day in Service and Play Faculty: Ms. Steber, Ms. Moyer, Mr. Cantello
Students will spend their mornings performing acts of community service as a way to round out their development as students and future leaders in the community. Being of service is a very powerful concept and provides students with an opportunity to help others while experiencing the benefits of personal growth and fulfillment: 1) Psychological benefits: Volunteering increases overall life satisfaction by helping students feel good about themselves because they are helping others. Service can also help to decrease stress and ease depression. 2) Social benefits: Engaging with the community creates special bonds with the population being served while increasing social awareness and responsibility. 3) Cognitive benefits: Volunteering can help you enhance your knowledge, grow from new experiences, and develop stronger interpersonal communication skills. Beyond living a life of service, life is also about balance. The students will spend their afternoons experiencing the benefits of taking time for themselves to unplug and engage in good, old-fashioned outdoor play (i.e. snowball fights, tag, spud, and more as well as taking hikes, ice skating, sledding, etc.). Connecting with fellow students outside the classroom is another important way to enhance the educational experience at Avon Old Farms.
New for 2022 : Miniature Worlds: The Films of Wes Anderson and The Art of Joseph Cornell Faculty: Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Lea
There is a theory in film studies that some filmmakers are more than just directors. Their films are so visually distinct, their themes from film to film are so overlapping and layered, their style is so much their own, that these filmmakers are really more like authors: They are auteurs. Arguably no filmmaker over the last 25 years has embodied this aesthetic mantle more than Wes Anderson. Joseph Cornell had no formal art training. He is mostly known for his shadow boxes that look like adult dioramas. His materials were usually found on his walks around New York City. Many bits of his work were at one point trash. Yet his work hangs in some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in the world. His created miniature worlds draw you in and stay with you. We will watch the films of Wes Anderson and look at the art of Joseph Cornell. We will discuss the miniature worlds that these artists created and, hopefully, through the experience and conversations, we will learn about our world.
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New for 2022 : Miracle on Ice Faculty: Mr. Reece
Have you seen the movie Miracle and want to learn more about the greatest sporting event of the 20th century? This course will examine how coach Herb Brooks was able to assemble and lead a team of amateurs to the gold medal in Lake Placid as well as how the Soviet Union was able to dominate international hockey for decades. Students will also learn about some of the social and political events that plagued America during this time. The course will include required readings, Boys of Winter, by William Coffey as well as group projects, and hopefully a field trip to a college hockey game. And yes, we will watch Miracle! If you are a hockey fan, you will enjoy this class. Space limited to 10 students.
New for 2022 : Peril or Promise? America’s Contested Self-Invention as Seen in Architecture, Art, and Monuments Faculty: Mr. Adams, Mr. Naeher
America has been from the start an exercise in deliberate self-invention as a nation that sees itself as different, special, and “exceptional.” This self-invention, however, has been persistently and vigorously contested, as evidenced most dramatically by the American Civil War. In this intersession class we will look at different visions and idealizations of American identity and destiny as seen in architecture, the visual arts, and monuments. Special attention will be given to the impact of war, depression, and perceived threats on our shared sensibilities of national promise or peril. Foundational to our exploration will be field trips to the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Museum of American Art, the Hillstead Museum, the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We may also venture into the Catskill Mountains to explore some of the sites immortalized by the Hudson River School of artists, and to consider the start of the modern environmental movement with the Storm King Mountain controversy and the response of such activists as noted Avonian Pete Seeger and his work with Clearwater. We may explore the visual compositions of tombstones in some of the oldest cemeteries in the country, as well as monuments in Hartford and New York City. Come with an open mind and an eagerness to see with new eyes!
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Political Violence and Democracy in Crisis Faculty: Dr. Doyle, Mr. Cugell
We’re used to thinking about two different paths to political power. Those alternative routes were summarized starkly by Malcolm X in 1964 as “the ballot or the bullet.” Democracies, we’ve been taught, rely on the former. Revolutionaries and authoritarian movements depend on the latter. Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese communist revolution, put his beliefs about politics bluntly: “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Over the past 25 years or so, in America and abroad, democracies have come under increasing stress both by ballot and bullet. The 2020 U.S. Presidential election marked the first time in history when the losing candidate claimed fraud, resulting in a violent riot in the U.S. Capitol that killed five people. In Hungary, Venezuela, and Russia, elections still take place, but the outcome of those contests are largely foregone conclusions. To date, at least 10 political opponents of the Russian president have been shot or poisoned. In 2020, 30 journalists were murdered globally while reporting on politics, war, government corruption, and crime gangs. The number of journalists slain while doing their job has risen every year since 2018, when Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi was notoriously lured into the Saudi embassy in Istanbul and killed by a Saudi hit squad. This year, The Economist’s annual ratings of democracy found “that just 8.4% of the world’s population live in a full democracy while more than a third live under authoritarian rule.” Democracy, it appears, is in retreat; politically inspired violence on the rise. This class attempts to make sense of these trends. It will compare the 21st-century democratic crisis to another moment in history that challenged democracy: the 1930s. It will explore threats to democracy posed by misinformation, political extremism, corruption, and the use of force to undercut democratic norms and institutions. The course will ask what can be done to avert existential threats to democracy. It will include talks by journalists, political leaders, a judge, law enforcement officials, and civil rights activists. The class may take a field trip to a Connecticut Superior Court, prison, or other places of interest.
The Science of Happiness Faculty: Ms. Jensen
We all want to live a happy life, right? And we all think we know the things that are going to make us happy, but the science shows that what we believe are the keys to happiness won’t open the doors to well-being. Based on the wildly popular Yale course “The science of well-being”, in our class we will look at the myths society creates around happiness, how our brains trick us into believing these myths, and we will put into practice many of the things that are statistically shown to actually improve our well-being. Our days will be broken up between some classroom time as well as activities in the community to put our theories into practice.
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Skate Deck Design Faculty: Ms. Pinton
Combining illustration with contemporary design (digital and manual) techniques, we will be creating and applying self-created art to functional skateboards, using a variety of mediums including spray paint, stencil work, oil markers and acrylic paint. Course will include a visiting contemporary artist in the field of design, a look at skate culture, as well as photo-session with skate decks at a local graffiti/mural skate park. Enrollment is limited to 12 students due to materials.
Songwriting and Music Production Faculty: Mr. Raposo
We will explore the popular song from Ragtime to present day through readings, film, listening, and discussion, and then analyze well-known songs from many different genres. Students will apply the techniques we use to create analyses of their own favorite songs and present their work in class. Ultimately, students will elect to either work alone or form groups and write original songs, using the analysis process to improve their work. This course is limited to 10 students who have prior experience singing or playing an instrument.
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New for 2022 : Textile Tycoons: Plan and Launch a Sustainable AOF Thrift Shop Faculty: Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Doemland
Build your very own Avon Old Farms Thrift Shop! Students in this class will research business models and create a sustainable plan for an on-site reuse store. The AOF Thrift Store--yet to be named and branded--will offer experience in marketing, business plans and models, space design and usage, pricing, sizing, inventory control, and product management. Students interested in finance, profit, and non-profit businesses can expect information from economic experts and data-driven analytics. We’ll explore the world of textile production, reuse, and recycling markets. Students will visit global thrift shops such as Goodwill and Savers for a hands-on experience at some of the most successful re-use retailers. Students will visit a local consignment store to explore the differences between markets, profit margins, and business philosophies. Students can expect to be both on and off-campus in preparation for our Grand Opening! on the final day of Intersession.
Train Mean, Live Healthy: Connecting the Body, Mind, and Soul Faculty: Mr. Symes, Mr. Stern
This course will examine the connection between one’s body, mind, and soul. First and foremost, this course will address the importance of proper diet and nutrition, which is the foundation for ultimate performance inside or outside of the classroom. Furthermore, this course will introduce students to various strength-focused activities, which includes, but is not limited to, weight training, yoga, Crossfit, Pilates, endurance training, and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). To help students further balance life, this course will study modes of self-awareness, including meditation and serving others. At the end, students will be equipped with a variety of tools that they can choose to implement into their life to become a better person.
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Try the Guitar
Faculty: Mr Rice, Mr. Perry Students who have never played guitar, but wanted to try, will be allowed limited access to the Guitar Now Online course used in the AOF guitar curriculum. Students will be given a guitar to use, and will get 4-6 hours a day to learn the basics. If the student wishes to continue, they can enroll for the course for the second semester, and pick up the curriculum where they ended. Enrollment is limited to 8 students.
Understanding Personal Finance and Investments Faculty: Mr. Orenstein, Mr. Murphy
The world of finance and investing can be extremely intimidating. A vast majority of high school students enter college without knowing how to manage or invest their money and without understanding the most basic of financial concepts. We firmly believe that the stock market and the greater financial world will not seem so complicated once you learn some of the lingo and major concepts. Course topics include how to set priorities, the basics of banking, the basics of investing, understanding the stock market, how to control debt, how to hire financial help, how to buy a car, understanding taxes and many more.
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Winter Fishing
Faculty: Mr. Malchoff, Mr. Fekete Do you enjoy being outside in the freezing cold, standing in the open air until your fingers and toes become numb? Do you gain satisfaction from waiting patiently? Do you long for the peace and tranquility that can only come from a wilderness setting? Would you rather spend time outdoors instead of playing mind-melting video games? If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, Winter Fishing might be the right course for you. In this class, students will explore the underwater world of local lakes and rivers in the dead of winter. There might be a bit more life going on than what you would expect. We will learn about the different species of fish in the area along with their feeding habits. Students will then explore different techniques for catching fish through the ice and in bodies of water that remain unfrozen throughout the year. This includes both ice fishing and fly fishing. Students will learn a variety of knots and rigging techniques along the way. Using the skills and information that they have acquired, students will head into the outdoors and attempt to catch our target species. Prior fishing experience is helpful, but not required. Enrollment is limited to 12, and all students will need to have or buy a CT fishing license.
Win, Lose, or Draw: The Theories Behind Games Faculty: Mr. Magee, Ms. Magee
Have you ever wondered just when is the best time to go “all-in?” Which properties will really make you the most in Monopoly? Where should you start to ensure global victory? Behind all of our most popular games lies the insights of game theory. In this course we will investigate simple board games, cards games (including poker), strategy board games, and collectible card games to reveal core principles of game design, theory, and practice. Each day will focus on a core game style, look for patterns, and play the games. For example, in the morning we will see the probability and statistics involved in poker. In the afternoon we will discuss strategy and see examples of poker hands. In the evening we will play and see these strategies in action!
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