COURSE CATALOG - 2017
PRO VITA MISSION Designed around the motto: Make. Perform. Solve. Serve.​, Pro Vita explores the School’s mission and its commitment to Sustainability, Sense of Place, Philanthropy, Diversity, and For Life experiences. The Pro Vita program fosters growth in our core values of integrity, perseverance, curiosity, respect, resilience, and inclusion.
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A PERIOD Sustainability AMERICAN MUSIC DOCUMENTARY: WORLD WAR II *Jim Fiedler ’64 and Anna Barter By the end of 1941, Japan was spreading its control over much of Asia; Italy had invaded Africa; and Germany was attacking Continental Europe. Meanwhile, on the radio were the catchy tunes: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Take the A Train” and “God Bless the Child.” With such divergent tones, how did war and music come together? We explore the topic as we take a closer look at the “Greatest Generation,” the men and women who fought during World War II. Singing the songs of the time, listening to the music, and reading lyrics tell us so much about what people thought and felt at the time. At the end of the class, we will design a documentary to celebrate the Greatest Generation. No musical talent or knowledge needed! *Jim Fiedler came to Berkshire as a postgraduate and graduated from Bucknell University. He then followed his interest in American history and has taught middle school in public schools ever since. Jim retired in 2014 but has continued with his passion for teaching and history with his American Music Documentary program which continues as an after-school program with over 60 students who recently performed for World War II veterans.
THE (RE)REEL OF MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS Trudy Pzynski Movies rely on music to make sad scenes gut-wrenching, scary moments terrifying, and grand finales, well, grand. Music literally surrounds us in the theater, and recycled material surrounds us in our daily lives. Our challenge is how might we use recyclable materials to create music that enhances the story of a particular scene within a major motion picture. The class will create a soundtrack to a scene of a popular movie using recycled materials found around campus as instruments. If you loved banging old pot lids together as a kid, this class is for you! SAVING THE SEASON Katie Hargrave ’18 and Kristina Splawn On average, our food travels 1,500 miles to get to our plate. How, then, is it kept ‘fresh’? We will learn about a multitude of ways to achieve preservation (some ancient and others very modern), the science behind each, and try our hand at preserving several different types of food. We will look at the mass factory processing of meat, and its difference between the grocery store chain and the local butcher shop. We will also investigate canned fruits and vegetables on the shelf versus a local farm’s preservation of their summer harvest. You will understand the ‘freshness’ of your food, and how it relates to taste, health, sustainability and the economy. At the week’s end, you will share your delicacies at Berkshire’s Tasters’ Lunch.
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SPORTS AND POLITICS FOR THE NEWBIE Dan Driscoll Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis, and the Miracle on Ice: What do these major athletic figures and events teach us about the social and political climate of their time? In this course we will examine various periods of U.S. history through the lens of major athletic events. Joe Louis’ victory over the German, Max Schmeling, in a turbulent pre-WWII era; Jesse Owens’ Olympic triumph in Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics; the defeat of the Russians by the U.S. men’s hockey team at the height of the Cold War. These events, and others, provide unique insight into our nation’s history.
Art and Design TRUE CRIME *Harry MacLean ’60 and Kelley Bogardus What do the Wolf of Wall Street, Black Mass, and In Cold Blood have in common? They are all true crime stories: stories in which authors examine actual crimes. In this class, you will investigate a true, local crime and develop a book proposal and book jacket. While you are learning the research, development, and marketing for the book proposal, you will explore human nature through the study of criminal conduct. You will debate questions such as: What sort of crimes meet the requirements of a good true crime book? What can be original in the work? What possible impact could the book have? It’s creating the ultimate whodunnit! *Harry MacLean graduated magna cum laude from the University of Denver Law School and pursued a career in the law: professor, Deputy Attorney General, District Court Judge, and General Counsel of the Peace Corps. After 15 years, his interest shifted to writing. His first book, the New York Times Bestseller “In Broad Daylight,” won an Edgar Award for best True Crime and was made into a movie. His most recent novel, “The Joy of Killing” came out in 2015.
CREATING JAZZ SOLOS Kurt Schleunes Playing music is a lifelong journey. This course will significantly change your outlook on how jazz musicians think and give you a toolkit to use on your musical journey. You will learn how to create jazz solos in three jazz idioms: blues, modal, and swing. Time in class will also be spent developing solos and performing them for the other students in the class. Ability to play an instrument and read some music is required. Drummers welcome as well! CAPTURE THE MOUNTAIN: PRINTMAKING, SKETCHING, AND CARVING *Claire Emery and Brandi Dahari Using Mount Everett as our inspiration, we will create visual art outdoors and indoors. Artist, naturalist, and scientific illustrator Claire Emery will guide students through the adventure and practice of making visual art out of the tiny things most people never notice. Students will make something beautiful and useful by hand, through discovery, the creative process,
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and the skills of sketching, carving, and printing. Experience the ‘coolness’ of learning more about Mount Everett and understand why it is important to be connected to the landscape as scientists, artists, and citizens. *Claire Emery has illustrated several books, posters, interpretive signs and publications. Her clients include W.W Norton, the New York Botanical Garden, Montana Audubon, US Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and California State Parks. Claire has also taught at the Missoula Art Museum, Montana Audubon, the Teller Wildlife Refuge, the University of Montana Wilderness and Civilization Program, and at schools and nature centers in Alaska, Massachusetts, and California.
SHAKE YOUR @$$: DEVELOPING PERCEPTUAL INTELLIGENCE THROUGH MOVEMENT & EMBODIMENT *Randy Reyes ’10 and Tess Adams This course will be an invigorating, collaborative, dance-delicious movement, nutritious for the body-mind-spirit workshop series. We will move our bodies and switch between various modes of expression including writing, observing, moving, meditating, drawing, and singing, among other surprises. No prior dance or movement experience is necessary! Simply an open heart, mind, and interest in exploring a range of movement tasks and improvisations to heighten our senses, engender new ones, and co-create new relationships to space, time, and one another. *Randy Reyes designed his own Dance & Performance Studies Major at Williams where he graduated from in 2014. Randy studied in New York as part of the choreographic ensemble The Commons Choir. He performed at Gibney Dance Center (NYC) as a selected emerging choreographer as part of their Work Up 2.0 Series and as a member Hemispheric Institute for Performance & Politics’ EMERGENYC Program. Currently, Randy is training with Bay Area artists/choreographers and will travel to Ecuador to participate as a cohort member for the TRUEQue residency seeking to integrate and establish a performance network between queer Latin(x) artists throughout the Latin-American diaspora.
RUBE GOLDBERG Dan Cooper Ever see one of those crazy contraptions that involve marbles rolling into buckets that dump over causing a rubber band to pop into a target and …? Defined as a comically involved, laboriously contrived, complicated invention designed to perform a simple operation, Rube Goldberg contraptions satirize the numerous machines around us. This class will make the simple complex and the mundane exciting as students work collaboratively to create a machine that will perform an easy task in as many steps as possible. Your work will live on in Pro Vita history with a recording of your contraption’s wild moves as your final project. IN-LIGHT-EN *David Hamilton (Explo Studio) and Pieter Mulder Here you are: In a room that is dark. Classmates whispering. A laugh. Someone nudges your shoulder and you shift your weight. A voice calls for complete silence. The murmuring stops. Now you hear the air in the ventilation system. Outside, the distant beeping of a large truck in reverse. Your own breathing. CLICK! A light hangs in front of you. It’s not like any light Page 4
you’ve seen before. It looks like…it reminds you of… In this course, what it looks like is up to you. We will challenge your perception of what a “light” is. Can you build one that moves? That directs? That tells a story? You know what? Don’t build a light. Can you build a tool that sculpts darkness? The last thing the world needs is another lampshade. Try harder. *EXPLO Studio is an innovation lab that develops engaging and creative STEAM courses for schools striving to incorporate more inquiry-based learning in their curriculum. It challenges students to think with their minds and their hands, and challenges instructors to rethink how they teach and their role in the classroom. Art and design are meaningful and intentional components of the course design, encouraging creativity and individuality as students sharpen their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
“LEMONADE” AND THE GODDESS Callie Carew-Miller “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade,” said Jay Z’s grandmother in celebration of her 90th birthday, and Beyoncé used this as inspiration to create her visual album “Lemonade.” The visual album centers around feminism and mythology, specifically goddess imagery. We will explore the deeper meaning of pop culture and examine pop culture images in order to understand the symbolism used by artists to convey meaning. By the end of the week, you will know what Athena, Isis, and Beyoncé all have in common. CREATING ART WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Ben Riva How is technology changing art? Will we need artists if computers get smart and creative enough? In this course, you will get to create art by harnessing the power and artificial intelligence of Google’s Deep Dream neural network. By using your simple camera phone, some cool apps, and traditional art tools as well as computers, you will be inspired by artificial intelligence as a source to create art. At the end of the class, we will showcase our work and create a brief video.
Sense of Place BERKSHIRE: UNDER THE HOOD Skip Bowman and Dory Driscoll Discover the inner workings behind the beautiful buildings on campus and meet the people who dedicate themselves to our community. You will learn about the technical operations, life skills and knowledge it takes to run a 500-person family like the Berkshire community. Topics will include: ice preparation and maintenance in the Jack, technology, laundry, car and grounds maintenance, food preparation, and budgeting. You will share the insights you have gained through a video documentary that you will create. Look under the hood, try your hand at something new, and discover the community in which you live.
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MAGAZINE OF THE DECADE (PRO VITA, THAT IS) Chris Perkins and Heidi Woodworth Pro Vita is turning 10 this year. Help commemorate Berkshire’s beloved program -- from A Cappella Palooza to the Saturday morning meeting -- with a color magazine edition of The Green and Gray. This special edition will tell the story of ten years of Pro Vita both within and outside the community. Students will not only collaboratively design the magazine, but they will also be embedded journalists who get to ‘sit in’ on different Pro Vita classes from Sheffield to New York City. If you love all the Pro Vita classes, enjoy writing and can’t decide which to take, this is a perfect sampler!
Diversity/Global Studies YOGA AND MEDITATION Dr. Bernie Rhie and Stephanie Turner Can yoga and meditation techniques help you achieve self-awareness and inner peace? In this class, we will try to provide students with concrete techniques that are known to help people cope with, and even reduce, stress. The effects of our exercise will also produce greater self-awareness, helping students make more authentic choices in all aspects of their lives. The class will include a day at the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass., one of the country’s leading wellness and learning retreats. In order to share this new knowledge, the class will produce two instructional videos, one on meditation and the other on yoga. Come achieve the goal, of both yoga and meditation, to open the heart. (Students will need $20 for lunch in Kripalu’s amazing dining room.) HBCU’s IN AMERICA LeRhonda Greats Where did W.E.B Dubois, Ralph Ellison, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Oprah Winfrey go to college? Historically black colleges and universities, including Tuskegee, Morehouse, Tennessee State, and Howard. In this class, you will understand the history of these colleges and universities in order to appreciate their value today. Through film, discussion, and even a step show (moves that black sororities and fraternities are famous for), you will discover the history of these institutions in American culture. We will end the week by designing and implementing a discussion panel inviting historical black college and universities to Berkshire. TRUMP: THE FIRST 100 DAYS Andrea and Kevan Bowler How might we objectively study Donald Trump’s policies and actions since being elected, in order to evaluate the early stages of his presidency? We will look at the transition that he and his team have made from candidate to President of the United States. Students will talk with local politicians to form their opinion on the transition and look back at some of the campaign promises that Mr. Trump made on immigration, trade, taxes, the Supreme Court and healthcare, to evaluate whether President Trump has been successful in implementing
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his vision so far. In the end, students will defend their individual report card of President Trump and the implementation of his vision to ‘Make America Great.’ A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY Peter Kinne The sweat lodge ceremony is an adaptation of the sweat bath common to cultures around the world. The sweat lodge is a place of spiritual refuge and mental and physical healing, a place to get answers and guidance by asking spiritual entities, totem helpers, the Creator and Mother Earth for needed wisdom and power. Spend the week learning about the various types of lodges and the rituals involved, along with stories of others' spiritual journeys. The week will culminate with an actual sweat. Come delve into the spirit world! LACROSSE: THE CREATOR’S GAME John West What can be learned by studying the origins of the game of lacrosse? By looking at the rules of the game (ie: no boundaries), as well as the physical and spiritual reasons for its development, students will gain a deeper understanding of Native American culture. We will string a traditional Native American wooden lacrosse stick from scratch, gaining an appreciation for processes that have been used for generations. (Students will need $56 to purchase a wooden lacrosse stick to keep for their own.) FEVER PITCH Jesus Ibanez and J.J. Jemison ’09 Soccer is the most popular sport in the world; some fans follow the sport with religious fervor. In this class, we will take a look at the atmosphere surrounding soccer and how the fans approach each game, whether they venture to the stadium with thousands of fellow fans or watch the game in the neighborhood tapas bar. We will investigate how soccer serves as a common denominator, bringing people together no matter where they are from or what their beliefs are. The class will also discover the regional foods and traditions from the countries where soccer reigns, and share their tapas with the Berkshire Tasters’ Lunch.
Philanthropy BRIDGING THE GAP: RAISE THE BAR FOR AFRICA Linda Bellizzi RAISE (Reaching Africa through Independent School Education) is a nonprofit organization started in 2013 by two Berkshire graduates who wanted to help Africa’s most promising yet underserved students, by assisting them in their application process to U.S. boarding schools. Even after being accepted with a “full ride,” financial aid does not cover all of the costs of a boarding school education such as clothing, plane tickets, and insurance. RAISE helps bridge the gap. In this class, you will be planning and implementing a much needed fundraiser and creating a website to help RAISE spread the word and increase support for African students in U.S. boarding schools.
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For Life CAST IRON CHEF Jim Wilson P ’17 and Jean Maher Sometimes having the right tool for the (cooking) job is all you really need. Using just one cast iron pan whenever possible, you can learn essential cooking techniques including knife skills, grilling, roasting, baking, and creating vinaigrettes, sauces and desserts. You will gain confidence in the kitchen realm and be inspired to cook for yourself and others. And the best part? Cook and share the fruits of your labors at the Berkshire Taster’s Lunch. *Jim Wilson is an accomplished chef who spent over ten years working with Alice Waters at the renowned Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. He received his formal training at l’Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris and established Jim Wilson Cooking in Summit, New Jersey where he offered “Simply to Go.”
MOCK TRIAL Mike Bjurlin Do you love to argue? Can’t wait to debate? Or binge-watch Law and Order? Then enroll in this class for a front row seat to the legal field and how it operates. You’ll be introduced to our country’s legal process, perform in a mock trial, and visit the Great Barrington Courthouse. You’ll gain real exposure to the judicial, legal, and criminal proceedings supervised by an employee of the Massachusetts government as well as local practicing attorneys. When the week is over you’ll better understand the legal process and will have had the chance to hone your debate skills. WILDERNESS FIRST AID Flynn Stewart ’18, Anita Loose-Brown, and Marc Wysocki Whether you are hiking to Black Rock or out for a cross country ski, first aid in the wilderness is essential in a medical emergency. This course will train students in various first aid methods that will teach them how to handle potential life-threatening situations in the backcountry. Moreover, many skills learned will be helpful outside the wilderness as well. The class will create Mountain First Aid cards for the School’s trail system to promote safety in the outdoors. If you have ever wanted to know how to tackle ‘backcountry stitches’, water rescue, hypothermia or lightning strikes, this class is for you! REPRESENT: PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER BERKSHIRE Tony Mohammed First impressions matter. In a world where it is challenging to stand out from the crowd, this class will provide scholars, artists, musicians, and athletes with best practices to help prepare for internships, interviews, and the college process, including specialized recruiting for athletics and artists. We will identify tangible goals, polish marketing materials (social media, CV writing, video, and portfolio), understand the financial aid/scholarship component of college applications, demystify the recruiting process and rules, and discuss expectations of conduct for young professionals. Learn how to market your best self!
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DOMINO EFFECT Klayton Johnson ’09 Entertaining and competitive, the game of dominoes enhances the growth of strategic skills. Playing dominoes helps improve arithmetic skills and develop both critical and strategic thinking. The history of the game is as diverse as the number of ways to play it. The game’s early development began in China in the 12th century, then it traveled to Europe in the 18th century, after which it migrated to the Caribbean where it became the national game for many. Dominoes promotes good sportsmanship, collaboration, and the acceptance and celebration of differences. Take this class and play the bones! SO YOU THINK YOU CAN COACH? Jason and Sylvia Gappa How do coaches create a team dynamic? In this course, you will look at different coaching philosophies and ultimately develop your own. By looking back on the coaches who have inspired you, as well as those who have not, you will piece together the qualities that define a great coach. Then, using what you discover, you’ll tackle some of the tough decisions coaches make on a daily basis. By the end of the week, you’ll even create your own philosophy and solve conundrums coaches have faced for decades: Who to play and who gets doused with Gatorade? MUSIC AND POLITICS Liam Bullock ’17 and Mike McCabe Dylan, Holiday, Marley, Bono, Ice Cube: these songwriters all spoke out through their lyrics. Music has always been a staple of our society, and this class will explore how current events have affected and influenced music throughout time. We will explore musical groups, songs, lyrics, and historical musical events both in America and abroad to understand how music impacts our society and conversely how society impacts our music. Come to rock out but also be ready to understand the deeper meaning and implication behind your favorite lyrics.
B PERIOD Sustainability THE INTERNET OF THINGS: BERKSHIRE STYLE *Richard White ’84 and Mandy Morgan One of the buzzwords in technology circles right now is the “Internet of Things” (IoT): when everyday objects have network connectivity so they can send and receive data. We will explore the IoT in order to create a network of environmental sensors or monitors to better track the environmental footprint of Berkshire’s buildings and automate decisions based on results. Students will solder, build, program, and install a network of sensors around campus that will track various conditions via a web-based dashboard. If you love to tinker with
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computers and tools, and dream of creating the next great invention in sustainability, then this hands-on class is for you! *Richard White has extensive technical and project management experience in leading the design, development, and deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He possesses a breadth of experience across diverse industries such as environmental, financial and insurance, telecommunications, government, and facilities management. He is adept at analyzing end-user needs and providing customized solutions using software, spatial analytics, and large spatial databases within various development environments.
BEYOND THE BOX Caitlin Cooper Everyone loves new STUFF. But why buy it when you can design it yourself? With 90% of all products shipped in the United States packed in cardboard, we will utilize this typically discarded abundant resource to design and build items you would normally purchase. With an open and creative mind, there are no limitations to what can be created out of cardboard! Students will be mindful, resourceful, and innovative, building with their hands and their imaginations, all while never having to press ‘Add to Cart.’ PASSION FOR FASHION *Katherine Erwin ’99 and Erica Cohn Fashion: It’s an industry that’s in constant demand. But it is also an industry that’s impacting the Earth in ways that aren't always positive. The fashion industry creates demand and changes the interests of consumers, creating a perpetual market for the next new trend. In this class, we will examine the impact of fashion now and through history while also studying its impact on the environment. We’ll then put our new skills to the test and create a fashion show from sustainable sources. Pay attention and you could be the next eco-friendly designer, the next hot fashion editor, or the CEO of a sustainable fashion brand! *Katherine Erwin attended Berkshire School in 1996-97 where she took full advantage of RKMP and 3D-animation courses. Shortly after Berkshire, she moved to New York City and worked in the music industry where she fell into the role of fashion stylist. For nearly a decade Kate worked as a stylist for various advertising, editorial, film and television productions. Her last editor title was at the eclectic Intersection Magazine which sparked her passion for motoring. After returning to the Berkshires, she has worked for Lime Rock Park and also began another career writing about adventure travel, action, and motor sports.
SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND FARMING Peter Benedict ’18 and Martina Moodey How can the farm to table movement affect a community like Berkshire? As a class, we will explore the pros and cons of eating local, sustainable food versus premade, wholesale food from the grocery store. Through visits to a local farm, work in their greenhouses, and food preparation using local produce, you will get a chance to create a documentary of sustainable farming as well as whip up some delicacies for the Berkshire’s Taster’s Lunch.
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Art/Design CONCEPTUALISM ART: BERKSHIRE AT ITS CORE *Lisa Warren-Kruger P ’15, ’20 and Andrew D’Ambrosio Conceptualism is the creative process of an idea becoming the machine that makes the art. In other words, how do we express words or ideas in art? In this class, we will use Berkshire School’s core values--integrity, perseverance, curiosity, respect, resilience, and inclusion-- to create visual art, performance art, installation, music, photography or film, the tools artists use to express ideas. Students will think about one of Berkshire School’s core values and ask themselves how they would express this concept within an artistic medium. *Lisa Warren-Kruger is an artist who is a currently exploring identity through an autobiographical narrative that uses a variety of materials. Lisa’s most recent show was “Reconnecting with Nature” at The Flinn Gallery in Greenwich, Conn. in 2014. She graduated from Yale with an MFA in 1995, received her BFA from RISD in 1992, and was a fellow at the Skowhegan School of painting and Sculpture in 1991. Lisa was a member of The Painting Center in 2003. Her website is lisawarrenswork.com.
PINBALL WIZARDS *David Hamilton (Explo Studio) and Jasper Turner You pull back on the plunger and hold it. The spring presses back against your fingers. Your eyes scan the board. Where is that multiball trap? Can you get there without hitting that giant kicker? A deep breath. The plunger slips between your fingers. The steel bearing rockets up the launch chute riding the curve over the kicker and slamming headlong into the first slingshot. You move your hands instinctively to the flippers. Wait for it… wait for it… NOW! In this course we will build our own working pinball game — the arcade cornerstone invented nearly 300 years ago. Using the most humble of materials, we will construct saucers, switch gates, whirlwind spinners… anything that makes pinball, pinball. Your physics teacher sticks her head in, “You know, you’re just investigating Newton’s Laws.” Don’t worry about her. You worry about unlocking Wizard Mode. EXPLO Studio is an innovation lab that develops engaging and creative STEAM courses for schools striving to incorporate more inquiry-based learning in their curriculum. It challenges students to think with their minds and their hands and challenges instructors to rethink how they teach and their role in the classroom. Art and design are meaningful and intentional components of course design, encouraging creativity and individuality as students sharpen their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
MODERN POETRY: WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A HEN? Victor Li ’18 and *Hilary Russell You will ask yourselves this and many other questions as you investigate the fun and the ridiculous in Modern Poetry. Throughout the week, you will write, read and look at the texture of words through activities--anything from word games to hiking the mountain to
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improvisation. We will create a poem written collectively, made from fragments, in various, fun activities. In this class, you want to disregard the rules! *Hilary Russell taught English at Berkshire from 1968-72 and 1985-2005. He also headed the English Department for 19 years, advised “The Dome,” coached lacrosse, soccer, and club hockey, ran various outing groups, and began Berkshire's boat building program in 1997. He is the author of three books, including a collection of poetry. His poems have appeared in various poetry journals.
SIEGE MACHINES Mike Dalton Medieval Engineering or… “How did the cow get tossed over the castle wall in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail?” In this class, you will learn how siege engines (like ballistas, catapults, and trebuchets) were constructed over 1,000 years ago. You’ll learn the physics behind these machines to gain an understanding of the mechanics incorporated into these early forms of weaponry. You’ll meet with a member of the timber-framing guild, who will share hand tool and joinery techniques still in use today. You’ll choose from a set of plans to build a scaled, tabletop siege weapon which you’ll construct and test for its success in launching projectiles. Keep your cows safe from this crowd! ONE-MINUTE FILM FESTIVAL Dave Olson As all Berkshire seniors learn during Hamlet Night, "brevity is the soul of wit," and in One-Minute Film Festival you will be challenged to channel your creativity into a BRIEF film. In this class, you will learn techniques of filmmaking: cinematography, sound, and screenwriting. You will also learn how to use advanced video editing software programs like Final Cut Pro. All of this will be part of the process of creating a one-minute film--a subgenre of film that has the special constraint of only being one minute long. Witty, profound, funny, heartbreaking, or whatever--the content is yours to choose. Films will be shared in class at the end of the week, and all will leave with a greater understanding of the movies they see in theaters and the many things that go into making them. PURE DATA, PURE SYNTHESIS Dr. Clive Davis Come gain a deeper understanding of electronic music by learning to program through the PURE DATA programming language. PURE DATA is an object-oriented software that can be used to create various means of expression, mostly musical. Each student will build their own software synthesizer by learning PURE DATA and then program their own musical environments. This course, although centered around music, gives students an opportunity learn computer programming. The core reward is learning how to approach something new, practice and program through trial and error, and create an environment that has an aesthetic and musical application. A CAPPELLA FOR ALL Dr. Tasia Wu Think you can’t sing but love to? In this class, we will help you find the confidence you need
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to sing. Through collaboration with others, you will organize, plan, and learn the skills necessary to create an a cappella version of a song the class loves. We will touch on the history of a cappella, the differences of a cappella groups in voicing, and finally, how to make your own music. No prior singing experience is required or assumed. Instead, sign up if you’ve always dreamed of singing with a group and performing live in front of your friends!
Sense of Place LEADERSHIP: CLIMBING BIG ROCKS Rafael Arrendondo ’17 and Rob Lloyd The risk and challenges of rock climbing are real. The skills learned in the process of climbing and belaying make what could be a dangerous activity safe and teach students how to behave in situations where their actions have immediate consequences. The power to overcome physical and mental challenges can make you a better leader. Through various climbs on the School’s campus, including the climbing wall, Boulder Field and cliffs on the Secret Road, students will not only gain climbing skills and learn techniques, but also achieve a better self awareness and leadership skills. We will also discover and record routes for the benefit of future climbing generations at Berkshire. BUILD A BETTER BERKSHIRE Lissa McGovern and Peter Quilty Can you solve the backpack piles in Allen and Benson? Or identify ways to make recycling in dorms more automatic? In this class, you can try both by exploring the design-thinking process! Design-thinking offers an opportunity to think differently, develop ideas collaboratively, and create a solution that addresses a specific challenge. You will identify an issue on campus to be addressed and actually build the solution. During the process, you will learn about design and building from professionals here at Berkshire. Grab a slide rule and a hammer and let’s build a better Berkshire!
Diversity/ Global Studies BREAK IT DOWN David Akomolafe ’18 and Dr. Lauren Riva Freezes, Power Move, Top Rock, and Bottom Rock. Sound familiar? If so, you know those are breakdance moves -- from the 80s cultural phenomenon that started in the black and Latino communities. In this class, we will explore some basic moves from the four variants of breakdance and will also examine the rules, competitions, and history. The class will design a performance and display a footwork show featuring solo performances. Next stop, the stage! WORD OF THE YEAR: POST-TRUTH (THE CLINTON AND TRUMP CAMPAIGNS) Stuart Miller ’97
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In any political campaign, a successful candidate needs to connect with the public in a personal way to win over people beyond those who vote simply by political party. This class will explore the rhetorical moves employed by the 2016 presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, via commercials, speeches, websites, debates, and social media and the effect those messages had on swaying public opinion and indeed, voters, on election day. Drawing from demographic statistics, the class will learn which strategies were most successful within a specific group, and look to the future in the “post-truth” world. UNDER THE CIRCUS BIG TOP Annie Rosenberg and Elaine Tolvo Aerial static trapeze, aerial hoop, Spanish web, and aerial fabric… come learn what these exotic-sounding things might be as you study traditional circus aerial arts! Circus arts, like many performing arts, offer a unique way to express ideas and emotions as well as challenge fears and insecurities. Aerials provide so many benefits including improved brain-body connection, focus and coordination, team work, increased self-esteem, and the opportunity to overcome fears in a safe space. Circus is a safe and fun way for students to explore and grow and challenge themselves in a supportive environment. Come fly with us! KOREA: ONE HISTORY, TWO STATES Sean Kim ’18 and Andrea Dunchus Only 66 years ago there was one only Korea--no division of North and South. Why was it divided? What kind of cultural trauma has been endured, and should the states remain divided? To explore these questions, we will begin by learning about the unification of the original single Korea through language and food. Then, we will compete in political teams composed of researchers, policy analysts, and foreign ambassadors. Countries in the Situation Room will include N. Korea, S. Korea, China, the U.S., and Russia. The competitive debate will be documented on film to become the ‘text’ for a Berkshire Modern World History class. BLACK LIVES MATTER & SOCIAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA Doug Davis and Sydney Satchell This course seeks to challenge students by asking how to promote change and understanding. With racial and cultural tensions high, and the country divided over this year’s presidential election, this topic is crucial to understanding the current political, social, and cultural environment. By the end of the week, students will share, through spoken word, their understanding of culture, privilege, perspective and diversity to draw their own conclusions about the Black Lives Matter movement and gain an understanding of some of the precedents for social justice movements in America. CULTURE OF DANCE Amy and Jason Keefer On the dance floor, do you know when to follow and when to lead? Here is your chance as you learn Salsa, Tango, or Bachata! Although from the different countries Argentina, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, these dances all share common roots. We will explore the culture, history, and traditions in social partner dances and their importance to family and
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society. In considering the place of social dancing, students will look into their own family traditions. Take this class and transform yourself from wallflower to snazzy dancer! GETTING PUNK Dr. A.J. Kohlhepp Trying to define “punk” is a perennial endeavor that leads to endless frustration. But the elusiveness of the concept is also its strength. We will explore the concept of punk, beginning with the rock and fashion movement centered in England in the late 1970s, and then trace the many permutations that have emerged over the past 40 years. Students will understand the founding principles and overarching themes of punk culture, and the questions that we ask about punk will allow students to develop a clearer sense of their own identity through exploring and appropriating the punk aesthetic. The duality of “getting it” can refer to comprehension or to acquisition. We will engage in both.
For Life TO KNEAD OR NOT TO KNEAD Nancy Florio From the Neolithic period starting over 23,000 years ago, to today, bread has been an enduring staple of many cultures. Starting with the Egyptians who are credited with isolating yeast, to the Romans who formed the first Bakers Guild in 168 BC, to ancient Greece where towns vied for the bragging rights to the best bread, the art of bread baking had been embraced by most cultures. We will explore the history of bread as we focus on the no-knead technique for baking artisanal breads. Using a variety of flours and grains in recipes ranging from traditional artisan bread to bagels to focaccia and more, you will learn how the combination of three simple ingredients has come to be known as “the staff of life.” RESPONSIBLE GUN LAW Cooper Tuckerman ’18 and Jeff Pzynski Gun ownership and gun use have been at the center of an ongoing controversy for many years. Today, the Second Amendment regularly comes under scrutiny and violent news stories appear in the headlines far too often. In this class, students will examine how, through firearm safety and education, we might reevaluate our gun laws for a 21st-century America. Students will hear from speakers from each side of the gun divide, attend a day of gun safety class, learn basic knowledge of firearms, and practice skeet shooting at Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds in Millbrook, New York. Students will then collaborate to create what they deem a set of common sense gun laws at the end of the week. This class is open to fifth and sixth formers only. (Students will need $35 for the trip to Orvis Sandanona.) GET ON THE BALL, AND GET TO THE POINT! *Claire Naylor-Pollart P ’14, ’17 Relieve stress, unwind knots, and loosen tight muscles with this self-massage trigger point program. Students will learn how to take care of their own aches and pains while improving strength and flexibility and enhancing performance in sports. The goal for this class is to
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teach students how to efficiently target your painful and tight spots and effectively eliminate them with success. Basic human muscle anatomy will be taught so students can better understand how to map out pain patterns. Warm-ups and post-exercise stretching will also be taught for re-education and positive muscle memory. *Claire Naylor-Pollart has 35 years of experience working in Myofascial Release, Muscle Rehabilitation, and Exercise Consultation. She has conducted numerous workshops on the subject of muscular pain and dysfunction and currently teaches self-help workshops built around the three P's – Pain, Posture, and Performance. Her classes and workshops give her audiences the tools and confidence needed to eradicate pain, improve posture and enhance physical performance.
HARRY POTTER: GOOD AND EVIL Julie Kokot ’17 and Clay Splawn This class will explore the idea of good versus evil in the context of the Harry Potter series through both the books and the movies. We will debate the role of God, Aristotle, and others’ beliefs in this age-old question. In a world that often seems increasingly dangerous, we will discuss the use of religion, nationalism, and philosophy to justify the actions of individuals and groups. For many, the good, the bad and the very, very ugly will be shocking, but Harry Potter will introduce these big ideas in a safe and accessible medium. In the end, students will debate good versus evil in color and not just in terms of black or white; because nothing, especially the human condition, is ever that simple. ART OF THE DEAL Dary Dunham and R.G. Meade Card games have been around for centuries, and the social skills gained through card play are critical in school, in the workplace, in social settings and the communities in which we live. By examining games like the Korean card game Hwatu and considering card cultures closer to home like Las Vegas, Bridge tournaments, The World Series of Poker, and President Clinton’s fascination with Oh Hell, we will look at the similarities and differences between card games and gain insight into the nuances of the cultures they create. Through game play, participants will gain card sense, learn rules for dealing and table etiquette, and develop the skills needed to compete as an individual and as a partner, all while honing their social and communication skills. THE BACK GAME OF BACKGAMMON Screven Lorillard ’18, Anne Marie Boardman ’19, and Mike Doyle What is the world’s oldest game? Backgammon, of course. It’s definitely old: There is archeological proof that backgammon boards were being used in Persia as far back as 3,000 BC. And it’s popular: people all over the world play the game. Backgammon is so popular in Greece that it is played in the squares and cafes of nearly every town. During the week, students will learn to play backgammon in its many variations and gain an understanding of the mathematics, strategies, logic, and history behind this popular game. The class will wrap up with tournament play, and who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself at the annual Backgammon World Championship in Monte Carlo someday!
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TEA & INDUSTRY Amber West From a cup of tea to a global business: learn how one person’s passion became a livelihood and drink lots of tea along the way! We will investigate the history, culture, and health benefits of tea and taste a wide variety from around the world. With a deeper appreciation for tea, students will then turn their sights to the nearby Millerton, NY headquarters of the hugely successful Harney & Sons company to learn how it evolved into a lucrative, family-run, international business. The course will culminate with students creating various blends of tea and corresponding advertisements for each. Blends will be taste-tested and voted on by the community to decide the winning “Berkshire Blend!”
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