SMS Minimester Inspires Hands-On Learning

Minimester connects academics to real-life experiences. Whether on campus or exploring another part of the world, students take two weeks to learn by doing.

Tory Sterling '10 participated in Next Steps, an experiential class for juniors. This program helps students develop SAT test taking strategies, find colleges that match their interests and learn more about issues related to campus life.

"I feel more confident about taking the SAT because I know what to expect after practicing with the guidance of my teachers," Sterling said. "Visiting college campuses allowed us to observe each school and build a foundation of college characteristics so we could compare what we liked and disliked."

Lissy Sanchez '13 took a look at the strange and the unsolved in It's a Mystery to Me. The class studied Nancy Drew, visited the Edgar Allan Poe museum and learned the basics of crime scene investigation and mystery writing.

"This relates to what I have learned in my classes this year because I studied Edgar Allan Poe in English," Sanchez said.

Linh Tran '10 says she watches movies differently now that she knows more about camera shots and angles. In The Big Picture: A Study of Film students studied cinema and film production. Groups of production crews were seen around campus as the class wrote, produced and filmed their own movies.

Claire Chretien '11 participated in the community service trip, Hammer and Nails. This group traveled to Charleston, SC, to work with the United Methodist Relief Center and the Habitat for Humanity to do some repair work for a local homeowner.

"I would do this trip again because I feel a sense of accomplishment," Chretien said. "I also feel like I've made a difference in someone's life."

Another service trip traveled to the Dominican Republic. Students volunteered at an orphanage where they taught English and entertained local children with arts, crafts and sports.

Changing Lanes and Growing with Grace led a group of freshmen and sophomores on a four-city tour that focused on career exploration. They met with alumnae, visited businesses and toured college campuses.

In Charleston, students met with Janet Gregg '80, a jewelry and interior designer. "Her style showed through and I really enjoyed the individualism of the field," Keara Faust '11 said. "It might become something I want to pursue in the future."

Rebecca Parker '11 discovered just how tough she is as her group studied the history and culture of Belize through adventure activities such as cave exploring. "A few of us climbed to the top of a Mayan ruin," Parker said. "It was scary and hard work, but the view was amazing."

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