Summer 2019 Newsletter EDITORIAL TEAM Managing Editor: Heather Wilkins Contributors: Carrie Zulanas, Arturo Valdez, Dan Kearney, Christine Downie, Lindsay Winn, Jennifer Engleman
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 3 Leading Our Falcons: Señora Foerster
PAGE 4 2019 – 2020 International Field Studies
PAGE 7 Learning STEAM Through Play
St. Mary’s Introduces Intersession 2020 BY DAN KEARNEY
A major part of the St. Mary’s experience are the experiences themselves. We believe when students learn through a hands-on method learning is deeper and more profound. Our student-centered, innovative approach to education empowers young people to care about the world they live in and to value the contributions they can make. In Middle School, this manifests itself in many ways, for example, theatre about the Holocaust and tolerance; podcasting about immigration in I&S; using big data to justify action plans on global issues in our math classrooms; and, in science class, examining how individual actions affect the planet. It is in this spirit we proudly share a new program in St. Mary’s Middle School: Intersession 2020. This exciting new program will build upon our philosophy of innovation and student-centered learning. Intersession will take place April 6-9, 2020, the week prior to Spring Break and will take the place of regular academic classes for all Middle School students. This program is an extension of the current International Field Studies offering.
During Intersession students will have the opportunity to explore the beauty of Southern Utah.
The goal of Intersession is to provide students with a wide range of choices that will further develop their world-sized hearts and world-class minds. From working with homeless animals or learning to surf, to taking a trip to Silicon Valley (cont. on page 4)
“Intersession 2020 is the next step in the evolution of experiential education at St. Mary’s. Grounded in individual choice, community engagement and collaboration, students have opportunities, near and far, to extend their learning beyond the conventional. In the process, they have the opportunity, to deepen their understandings of themselves, others and the world – while fueling their curiosities and perhaps igniting new passions.” – Walt Linaweaver, Head of Middle School.