Down the hall in another classroom at St. Margaret's School in Tappahannock, freshman Lexie Winiecke sweated bullets.

A guest lecturer in her class on mysteries asked her to steal a wallet during a break. Soon after, the expert interviewer put Winiecke on the hot seat, demonstrating how to ferret out the truth.

Across the campus of this private girl's school, a student walks into the dining hall and pauses to admire the huge, striking mural of "The Last Supper."

The life-size installation is decorated in the style of famous artists such as Picasso and Warhol.

It's all being done in the school's "minimester," a two-week term where students put their energies and interests into a single class.

Designed as a transition between the second and third trimesters minimester is a favorite time for everyone.

This year, the offerings are as eclectic as ever.

The class where Kessler and other students have been busy with design skills is "From Funky to Junky."

Under the watchful eye of five instructors, many of whom spent the year gathering materials and "cool junk" for the class, the students have turned dilapidated pieces into stylish furniture.

"We even took a field trip to Caroline Street in Fredericksburg so the students could see the type of things that sell," said instructor Cupper Dickinson. " we're going to auction their creations and give the money to a charity they choose."

The mystery class is taught by history and literature teachers, using everything from Nancy Drew to a visit to Jamestown to get at methods of unraveling mysteries.

The "Last Supper" installation is the product of a class rooted in the best-selling novel, "The Da Vinci Code."

Said art teacher Ignat "Konst" Konstantinov: "We really just used the book as a starting point to connect to the study of many things, including the styles of a wide variety of artists."

George McDowell, dean of faculty and a "Da Vinci" teacher, said that flexibility of scheduling is a big plus of the minimester.

"If a class wants to start a particular day at 2 p.m., then travel to see a play and have a discussion afterwards that lasts until 11 o'clock, that works," he said. "They get the same hours in, just shifted to suit the day's schedule."

McDowell said the classes in the minimester grow out of interests from students and teachers alike. Ideas are brainstormed by the faculty, with an eye for interesting ways to teach.

That leads to things like Southern culture taught with visits to a historic Richmond hotel and looks at Andy Griffith and NASCAR.

Or "Da Vinci Code" with a look at secret societies and a virtual visit to the Louvre.

Cathy Sgroi, assistant head for school life, said the students and teachers like the minimester approach, which allows for a range of trips and independent study, including internships and shadowing professionals away from the school.

This year's trips: to Costa Rica for environmental study; to South Carolina, a service trip for Habitat For Humanity; and Disney World, with a study component on character development.

Also on tap: a driving course that includes not only behind-the-wheel training, but visits to the DMV, traffic court, an inspection station and instruction on how to check vehicle fluid levels.

Laurie Wilbur, is a freshman in the mystery class.

"Compared to last semester, a full load with physics and intro to literature, this is a nice change of pace," she said, "with courses full of things you wouldn't necessarily get in ordinary classes."