Ms. Merchan inspects a student’s intersession project.

Photo Credit: Ms. Christy

Intersession 2022 was a unique experience for Upper School students.  This three-week deep dive into a topic of students’ choice is a hallmark of the GCDS curriculum. It is commonly known as a popular time, loved by parents, faculty, and students alike.

Roman, an 11th grader who experienced intersession for the first time this year thought it was a unique learning experience, reflecting that “It was really nice to experience something that I’ve never seen in a school before…it’s different and it’s something that sets GCDS apart from any other school.”

Intersession 2022 offered 15 different course options that each focused on an essential aspect of a young adult’s preparation for the real world. Not many schools provide students with the time to develop specific skills and knowledge like intersession does. Courses ranged from politics and business classes, to self-defense and cooking classes. Cal, an 11th grader, highlighted this when he said, “The sense of real world experiences and the learning you get outside of the classroom is just as important as the instruction you receive during the normal curriculum.” Sawyer, a 9th grader, reinforced this idea. “It allowed me to get out of the classroom and experience something new that was more hands-on.” 

Head of Upper School Dr. Winters, remembers enthusiastically the 2020 intersession. “Our first year of intersession was a big success and laid the groundwork for a lot of this last year’s courses. Our students and faculty were a little unsure what intersession classes would be: how would we teach a class for six and a half hours a day, every day for 13 days? Yet, the faculty and students proposed courses and we jumped in with both feet.” 

He also highlighted the goals of intersession and the way in which the administration wanted it to run. “We had a clear philosophy that a large portion of intersession classes were to be led by students. Our teachers had a solid game plan and many scheduled activities, but they also left a lot of the decision-making to students.”

This is only the second year of intersession for GCDS after it was canceled in 2020-2021 during COVID.  Therefore, 2022 represented just the second time faculty and students could experience the 3-week courses.  

Mr. Johnke, the intersession coordinator, said the school’s evaluation of COVID also threatened this year’s intersession. “Probably a week before intersession [in 2022] started I was in a meeting where we questioned, because Omicron reared its ugly head, ‘are we gonna do this?’”  He suggested that intersession was nearly called off due to the variant.  “That was a legitimate concern.”

Intersession did go through slight changes from 2020 to 2022. Due to a rise in COVID cases in the fall and winter, the administration decided it was unsafe to travel, which restricted certain course options and resulted in a common criticism among the students that there were fewer outside of school options. Jose, an 11th grader, gave voice to this criticism by saying “Last intersession we were allowed to do a lot more things outside of the classroom and the school but this year the opportunities to do that were limited.” Two big trips were scheduled to take place during intersession, one to Florida and one to Guatemala.

Students who were part of the redesigned key west marine biology intersession pose with their project. 

Photo credit: Ms. Christy

There are many ways to improve intersession going forward through feedback from the GCDS community. Michael, a 10th grader, like many other students, said he “would like to see more offerings for next year.” Student and teacher feedback is very important for the growth of this unique program by design. Parental feedback, however, seems to get less attention.  Dr. Winters commented on the feedback he received from parents and what will be done with the information. “Feedback from parents has been mostly very positive. Some describe their child’s experience as one of the most rewarding they have had during high school. Many have expressed a desire for a stronger academic component and for a continuation of math and language studies.” 

Mr. Johnke reinforced this critique by suggesting that he aims to link the courses more with academics in the future. “I think I would also ideally like to have more intersession topics that are closely coordinated with academic offerings that we have, so if you took a class in let’s say literature of the South and you could go to sights in the southern United States where you could have that experience.” Mr. Johnke further said that integrating intersession into a student’s overall experience is ideal. “Any time that we can have intersession feel like it’s a part of the overall curriculum and not something that’s totally separate… that is a win.” 

Cooper and Reese, 10th graders, serve a chicken tikka masala they cooked in their Gastronomy intersession.

Photo Credit: Ms.Christy

Mr. Johnke noted that students can and should suggest intersession topics that they would be interested in by contacting him.  “I would encourage students to think about stuff that you’re excited about, come talk to me, and find a teacher that would be willing to sponsor it. How can we get more student-driven ideas for intersession?”

With two years under the Upper School’s belt and with candid feedback from teachers, students and parents, this signature piece of the GCDS curriculum will only become more productive and successful in 2023.