Project Week 2016 catalog

September 2015 Dear Parents and Guardians: We hope that the first week of school was as exciting for your child as it was for us. You may have heard your son or daughter mention “Project Week” last Wednesday when they came home from school. If you are a returning family, you know exactly what Project Week is, how it functions, and how much our students look forward to it every year. If you are a new family to the Upper School community, please allow me to explain what Project Week is. Project Week is an annual occurrence where the entire Upper School (students and faculty) engage in learning projects outside of the classroom. These projects are experiential in nature, designed and led by faculty, and can take place at the local, national, or international level.

This is our sixteenth year running the Project Week program, and it will take place the week of March 14th through March 18th with some trips departing a few days before and returning a few days after the aforementioned dates. When deciding upon a Project Week experience for your child, please take into consideration your family’s Spring Break travel plans. Spring Break will take place the week immediately after Project Week, so it is likely that some of our international trips will carry over into Spring Break.

As you consider your choices, please note the financial, physical, and time commitments required for each experience. The costs listed on the online catalog are estimates. Final payment amounts will depend on student demand, final travel costs, and possible changes in the travel industry. Also, we have implemented a change to the program. Morgan Park Academy will no longer collect funds for any overnight trips, whether they are national or international. Parents will be responsible for paying the educational travel companies directly. Morgan Park Academy will collect money for local trips in January, unless otherwise noted.

When deciding between the different Project Week offerings, please keep in mind that not every student can receive their first choice, and they cannot switch projects once they have been placed. If there are disciplinary or academic issues that result in a student being removed from Project Week, parents are still financially responsible for the cost of their chosen project. The cost of the programs are based on group numbers and therefore MPA is not

responsible for refunds. Once you and your child have discussed and agreed upon their top four choices, you may complete the online registration form found on the Project Week page of the Academy’s website.

Please take a moment to mark your calendar with the following important dates:  September 16th: Project Week online registration is now officially open.  September 23rd: Project Week online registration is now officially closed. Requests received after this date will be considered only after all on-time requests have been accommodated.  September 30th: Project Week placements will be announced! Parents and students will be officially informed by their child’s trip leader.  October 21st: Mandatory Parent Meeting at 6 p.m. for all International Trips: Students are strongly encouraged to attend. The meetings will take place in the Library of Alumni Hall.  January 8th: Full payment due for all local trips to the Business Office, unless earlier deadline indicated.  February 24th: Mandatory Parent Meeting at 6 p.m. for all International and Overnight Trips: Students are expected to attend.  March 14th – March 18th: Project Week will take place. Consult your child’s itinerary for full details.

Please take the time to read, consider, and discuss with your child the Project Week offerings for March 2016. I, along with the Upper School faculty, look forward to your child having an incredible learning experience! If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. As always, thank you for your continued support of the Academy’s Global Studies Program.

Sincerely, Monica R. Pickett Dean of Academics Director of Global Studies mpickett@morganparkacademy.org (773) 881-6700 x. 293

PROJECT WEEK 2016 FRANCE: Language Immersion in the City of Light - $3,950

Students will study French language and culture while exploring the beautiful city of Paris. Homestays will be provided in a picturesque town near the capital of France called Brétigny. In the morning, students will study French with native instructors, grouped based on their ability level (beginners welcome!). Afternoons will be spent exploring the city with our guide. There will be plenty of traditional sight-seeing to do (Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Château de Versailles, etc.), but there will also be unique "insider" activities such as a movie night in a French cinema and a visit to a neighborhood market catering to Paris's African community. We will also be heading to the Loire Valley for a day tour of the famous castles of the region. Please note that lunch is not included in the price; students will purchase their lunches at local cafés. *Developed in Partnership with ACIS

CHICAGO: Academy Day Remix - $150

The goal of this project is to update the games and activities used for Academy Day. We will survey existing MPA games, research popular game types and fairs and carnivals, and plan updates and new games as need is determined.

Students will research games, decide what games are feasible for our group to build, look into and list necessary supplies, create a budget and appropriate shopping list, and finally, divide into teams to design, build or retro-fit, and decorate new games. Much of the research and planning will need to happen in preparatory meetings. After that, our week might look something like this: Monday: collect shopping lists and buy supplies.

Tuesday: measure, cut, diagram and draw as needed Wednesday: continue construction work Thursday: paint and decorate final products

PENNSYLVANIA: Celebrated and Forgotten - $2,300 This trip will focus on history, primarily related to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. We will visit historic Philadelphia, Valley Forge, and Gettysburg, and we will also explore the town of Centralia, which no longer exists due to environmental negligence, a forgotten history of sorts. For most of the trip, we will be staying in Philadelphia, which is most commonly referred to as the “City of Brotherly Love.� Join us as we stay in this city, the seat of democracy, and explore the historical and educational landmarks that make this city what it is. Stand where the Declaration of Independence was signed; run up the steps that Rocky Balboa ran while training to fight Apollo Creed; tour the college campus founded by Benjamin Franklin; walk the corridors of the legendarily haunted Eastern State Penitentiary. After immersing ourselves in the history of Philadelphia, we will walk and tour the battlefields of Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the United States Civil War. This trip includes official tours of the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Temple University. *Developed in Partnership with Hemisphere Educational Travel

CHICAGO: Stained Glass Mirror Project - $425 Stained glass has adorned buildings, churches, and homes for centuries.

People are interested in the designs, colors, symbolism, and history of stained glass. Creating stained glass is a multi-step process that combines artistic and mathematical principles. Color intensity, color combinations, measurements of length and angles all combine to produce an artistic personal statement. Students will attend approximately 16 hours of instructional workshop classes at Gallery's Choice, 926 Warren Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois. The stained glass mirror project will take students through the process of stained glass making with fused glass elements soldered to the front as decoration.

Each student will choose a pattern and decide on a color scheme for a beginner panel. They will cut and grind colored glass and assemble their panel using copper foil and lead solder. Since the fusings can be very unique showing much personalization, keeping the exacting stained glass portion simpler will allow for more creativity on the fusing items for decoration. The mirror will be framed in zinc so that they will be able to hang their artwork in their homes. The class discussions will include the science of glass, especially the science of fusing. Students will gain experience using a number of tools, and they will have the opportunity to recycle and reuse glass to which they may have access and have a sentimental attachment. Through the purchase of tools and a work board, students will be able to continue making stained glass as an artistic hobby long after the project is completed.

THAILAND: Culture, Service & Community - $3,350 Friendly, exotic, and rich in history, Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the world. Our journey will include exploration of both rural and urban Thailand. We will spend the first few days in Bangkok where we will shop for dinner at local markets, visit parks, and explore grand temples. Next, we will take an overnight train to Surat Thani, and then transfer to Kuraburi and begin our community service project along the Andaman Sea. We will spend the next few days on the remote Golden Buddha Island in a homestay where we will explore the wetlands, make traditional Thai tie-dye, and learn about the areas that were devastated by the 2004 tsunami. Most of our time, however, will be devoted to volunteering at a local school where we will assist the English teachers with their lessons, and tutor students after school.

This trip is best suited for those students and parents who are comfortable travelling off the beaten path. *Developed in Partnership with SAGE – Educational Travel for Global Engagement

INDIANA and TENNESSEE: College Tours and the Music City - $2700 Visit five college campuses while exploring the cultural roots of music in America. Departing MPA via coach bus, we will stop at Purdue University and Indiana University en route to Nashville, music city USA.

Once in Nashville, we will visit classic Nashville landmarks, including the Grand Ole Opry, and RCA Studio B where the likes of Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton recorded their iconic music. We will hear live music and learn about the historical and cultural roots of music and recording in America. Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, and Fisk University are included in our exploration of Nashville, TN. *Developed in Partnership with EF Explore America

CHINA: Culture and History - $2,600 Over 5,000 years of fascinating history endows China with a profound culture, which penetrates every aspect of daily life. The diversity of ethnic groups with interesting folk customs and traditions infuses vigor to the development of this nation. Some of the cultural heritage like Chinese food, martial arts, traditional medicine and craft works raise an aspiration and pursuit worldwide.

Ready to capture the ethos of the country? Let us lead you through the encyclopedic scope of Asian civilization. China might be thought of as a kingly dragon hanging on a huge imperial necklace, the Great Wall, the spectacular landmark which winds 5500 miles across the country from east to west. The mighty Yangtze and Yellow Rivers nourishing the vast land outline the exquisite royal patterns. The Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, and many other famous sites are the shining decorative pearls. Follow us to explore the popular attractions and discover the essence of the heritage left by nature and history to this ancient oriental realm. The cost of this trip does not include passports, visas, and tips. *Developed in Partnership with Nexus Holidays

CHICAGO: Neighborhood Noshing - $500 This four-day culinary experience centers around the appreciation of, and indiscriminate liking of, you guessed it: food. We’ll be working with a renowned company, “Chef Driven Food Tours”, and they will offer us a delectable buffet of meals – but we’ll also bear witness to the local architecture, culture, and history of each of the neighborhoods we’ll be visiting. It’s an opportunity to not only visit new neighborhoods, but to have a taste, both literally and figuratively, of what each has to offer. Come join us, and come hungry! We will meet at and return to MPA. Our trip, more specifically: Uptown/Argyle Meet at school and take the Metra downtown. We will then be picked up by Chef Greg, a Chicago native for almost his entire life. From their website: “Our Uptown/Argyle walking tour is a trip through the gritty, jazz-speckled, art deco entertainment district of prohibition era Chicago. This diverse community is highlighted by great ethnic cuisines that are featured in the Southeast Asian vortex of Argyle Street.”

The part you’ll pay attention to: the food tastings. It will include: cuisine of Ethiopia; appetizers of Vietnam; Hong Kong BBQ; and French-inspired pastries.

Pilsen/Little Village/Heart of Chicago Meet at school and take the Metra downtown and be picked up by Chef Greg and driven to the Pilsen area. From their website: "These vibrant and bustling West Side neighborhoods were originally inhabited by both wealthy and working class Czechs and Eastern Europeans who were bound by culture and not welcome in other areas of the city. In the early 1960’s the neighborhoods started to become Latino and is today home to some of the best Mexican food, art and culture anywhere. ‘The Heart of Chicago' neighborhood is

located within Pilsen, and ‘The Little Village’ neighborhood, which is south of Pilsen, is known as 'The Mexico of the Midwest”.

South Side From their website: “The South Side’s rich history includes barons of industry, Blues and Jazz immortals, the President, Mayors, Politicians, literary giants, and entrepreneurs, not to mention some of America’s best food. Today, revitalization and a long overdue renewed interest have energized these great neighborhoods.”

We will check out eateries around Obama’s neighborhood; the Chicago Blues District; “Garifuna Flava Carribean – ‘A Taste of Belize’”; and desserts in Bridgeport and Chinatown.

Taylor Street From their website: “The port-of-call for Chicago’s Italian-American immigrants, Taylor Street inherited the title of Chicago’s Little Italy. Home of great restaurants, historic Roman Catholic Churches and the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame.

Everyone loves the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of our Taylor Street walking tour.” *A 50% deposit for this tour is required before January.