2024 Middle School Winter Term Course Catalog
Welcome to Winter Term at MICDS
Winter Term
For a two-week “term” between the fall and spring semesters, MICDS students embrace a unique experiential learning opportunity dubbed “Winter Term.” Launched in 2024, this program in January allows our Lower, Middle, and Upper School Rams to venture outside of the traditional school day in order to dive into immersive courses and hands-on experiences. From specialized classes and global learning trips to senior internships and job shadowing, Winter Term sparks a remarkable and perhaps pivotal learning adventure for all Rams!
Winter Term 2024 Gallery
In Winter Term, I valued creative ways to learn outside of the normal academic schedule.
Winter Term StudentWinter Term Student
Past Experiences
Read Past Experiences from 2024.
Lower School
Recap of Winter Term '24 in Lower School
Beasley Winter Term
Lower Schoolers were offered some incredible opportunities on celebrating difference as part of Winter Term 2024...
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Middle School Electives
In addition to the courses, what are the Middle School electives like?
Unique Electives
During Winter Term, our Middle Schoolers started all of their days with unique and engaging electives. Thirty different options were offered from Taylor Swift and Dude Perfect-themed classes to games, instruments, mysteries, and puzzles...
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Upper School
Write About Now
Write About Now
Under the careful guidance of Celeste Prince, Upper School English Teacher, students in the Write About Now course focused on the stages of the writing process, experimented with several genres, and crafted a variety of pieces...
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Upper School
3-2-1 Blast Off!
3-2-1 Blast Off!
Several years ago, Upper School Math Teacher Melanie Moody toyed with the idea of creating a fun summer course based on flight...
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Middle & Upper School
Sledding Into the Start of Winter Term
Sledding Into the Start of Winter Term
The first few days of the two-week stretch kicked off on Wednesday as students convened after Winter Break to SLED into a smorgasSNOWboard of “classes” like never before...
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Upper School
Cut, Press, Print: The Art of Printmaking
Cut, Press, Print: The Art of Printmaking
Students in the Winter Term course “Cut, Press, Print” explored the art of the ink transfer process by creating relief works, gelli prints, linoleum plates, E-Z-Cut blocks, and serigraphy (screen printing)...
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Upper School
Student Sports Journalists Launch Rams Nation Sportscast
Student Sports Journalists Launch Rams Nation Sportscast
Over Winter Term, 26 Rams studied sports journalism and launched their first episode of Rams Nation Sportscast...
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Upper School
Take a Hike!
Take a Hike!
Upper Schoolers in the "Take a Hike" course partook in several hiking adventures to view nature as would a transcendentalist with the help of Henry David Thoreau...
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Upper School
Upper School Thespians Immerse Themselves in Theater
Upper School Thespians Immerse Themselves in Theater
MICDS actors and crew members traveled to the Missouri State Thespian Conference to compete in performance and design events...
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Upper School
Cooking from Scratch
Cooking from Scratch
Students taking the Winter Term course Cooking from Scratch learned that science is a main ingredient in everything they eat...
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Upper School
Installation Art
Installation Art
Upper School students in the Winter Term course “Installation Art” enjoyed the unique experience of creating their own environment, an exhibit entitled "Lost & Found."...
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Middle School
Minecraft & Sustainability
Minecraft & Sustainability
Middle School Math Teacher Dustin Delfin, an architect, challenged the students in his Winter Term Course to use Minecraft Education, a favorite app among Middle School students, to explore sustainability...
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Upper School
Capturing the Moment
Capturing the Moment
For Winter Term, students were offered the opportunity to gain experience and skills in interviewing, writing stories, editing, design, and photography while producing spreads for a creative, innovative yearbook that records school memories and events...
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Upper School
Changing the World Through Pictures
Changing the World Through Pictures
Students were able to sharpen their photography skills while analyzing images that have been instrumental in shaping the world we live in today...
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Global Learning
Rams Explore South Africa
Rams Explore South Africa
Eighteen students and three intrepid chaperones started the new year by flying to South Africa for a two-week adventure...
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Global Learning
A Marvelous Trip to Spain for 27 Rams
A Marvelous Trip to Spain for 27 Rams
The Spain trip during Winter Term was the perfect opportunity to be immersed in the Spanish language, culture, history, and so much more...
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Upper School
The World Peace Game: A Political Simulation
The World Peace Game: A Political Simulation
Several Upper Schoolers put their problem-solving skills to the test in The World Peace Game Winter Term course where they tried to solve different, complex global crises to attain world peace.
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Upper School
Instruments by Design
Instruments by Design
From cigar-box guitars to washboard basses, American popular music has a long tradition of repurposing materials to build musical instruments...
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Upper School
MICDS Congress
MICDS Congress
The MICDS Congress course provided students with a hands-on simulation of the United States legislative process...
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Upper School
Luau Party
Luau Party
Several Upper Schoolers figuratively escaped to the Polynesian Islands during Winter Term as part of the Luau Party course offered by Jenna Lin, Upper School Math Teacher...
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Global Learning
Domestic Exchange
Domestic Exchange
Some Upper School students participated in a domestic exchange during Winter Term...
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I enjoyed facilitating something that I'm passionate about that would not (usually) fit into my regularly scheduled classes. Winter Term allowed me to use open-space curriculum, student-led activities, and problem-based inquiry; I couldn't have been happier.
Upper School TeacherUpper School Teacher
FAQs
- Is Winter Term required for each student?
Yes, Winter Term is required for each student and attendance is mandatory. In the Upper School, participation in Winter Term all four years is a requirement for graduation. Vacations are not considered an excused absence from Winter Term.
- What happens if my child misses more than one day of Winter Term?
If a student misses more than one day of Winter Term, the Winter Term committee will review the feasibility of a student receiving credit for the course and whether a student must enroll in the June make-up Winter Term course option.
If a student is going through a medical emergency or family emergency, the family can send an email of appeal to withdraw from Winter Term to the Winter Term Committee with specific details about their emergent situation and their request about participation. The committee may request additional documentation. Once appropriate documentation and details are shared, the committee will outline an appropriate course of action related to that student’s Winter Term Participation/Credit moving into the following school year. Possible remedies include participation in a summer course.
- Will students receive a grade for Winter Term?
Students will be expected to complete coursework on a pass/fail basis. Transcripts will include “Winter Term” and denote whether the student passed or failed the session.
- Is this like summer camp with craft activities? Or is it academic?
Winter Term is primarily academic, offering a deep-dive into a “pure learning” environment with classes in the morning and afternoon.
A typical Winter Term course can cover classic topic that includes the common elements of an academic course (teacher-curated content, essays, tests, presentations, teacher-designed projects, etc.) while offering an opportunity to stretch into something that provides more space for students to develop the content and topics and drive the direction the course might take. The courses are driven by student-centered activities and active learning. Courses include peer and self-assessment/reflection of competencies and skills found in an open exploration of a topic, theme, or question.
To help break up the day, there are supplemental activities designed to encourage students to have fun with their classmates and perhaps explore a new hobby or skill.
- Doesn't Winter Term take time away from regular classes?
While shifting two weeks from our typical courses does reduce contact time in those classes, Auxiliary classes offer additional time in those courses across the year. Additionally, Winter Term is an opportunity for students to do something different and find new areas of interest. We are always thinking about the best ways to engage, challenge, and support students and are ever mindful of the opportunity cost of all of our programs.
- How is Winter Term structured in the Upper School?
Each Winter Term course is 150 minutes long for either eight or nine meeting periods (it depends on the year and how the calendar falls). Courses are designed to adhere to the mission and values of the Winter Term program. They are student-centered and very hands-on and activity-driven, leveraging student voice and choice. The time allotted to each course is filled with content that engages students and provides opportunities to improve the skills that each course selects. Each day will include an activity period that is student-planned during the lunch block to allow for breaks.
- Is there homework for Winter Term classes?
There is no homework for Lower and Middle School Winter Term courses. For Upper School students, there is minimal homework. Any assignments are issued to advance or prepare for upcoming work or conversations in class. Homework is confined to watching a documentary or movie excerpt, reading relevant material that previews the next day’s work, or listening to a podcast, and won’t exceed 30 minutes. Homework won’t be writing a paper or creating a podcast or movie; those tasks are included within the class structure.
- How are students selected for each course?
Middle and Upper School students are surveyed in advance of Winter Term and are able to rank select their courses of interest. We aim to give each student their highest choice possible while also maintaining balance in the student body. Students who enroll late will be placed in a Winter Term course with availability. All Winter Term course placements are final. Students are now allowed to repeat Winter Term courses and may also be restricted from participating in two courses that are similar in nature during the same term (for example, two cooking classes).
- I’m a senior; what can I expect from the Senior Experience?
The Winter Term courses are designed for students through 11th grade, while the Senior Experience is designed for 12th grade in anticipation of their matriculation to college. Seniors make connections and dive deeper into their personal areas of interest by volunteering or exploring future career interests through internships. Seniors may also apply to participate in a domestic or international travel program.
- Why is this special term in January rather than in May?
We are hoping to support enthusiastic engagement in school despite the dreariness of January. In May, there are already many events and programming that we don’t want to undermine or compete with. Additionally, we want to include our seniors, whose class time typically concludes in early May.
- Why is Winter Term the two weeks after Winter Break and before MLK day?
This timing creates two semesters of equal length to support depth of study in our credited classes and a change of pace in the winter.
- What is the Lower School schedule?
Lower School follows the regular school day schedule. Some grades may attend special events, classes, and/or assemblies based on the programming for those grades, but the overall daily schedule will remain with normal school hours.
- What is the Middle School schedule?
The Middle School follows the traditional class day and contains two courses and an elective.
- What is the Upper School schedule?
Grades 9-11 follow the traditional class day and includes two courses, time in advisory, and an activity that could be student-planned and by advisory, class, or with all students on campus.
Twelfth-grade students are expected to participate in full-day activities of their choosing (approved by MICDS) in the Senior Experience.
- Will Winter Term interfere with sports?
With the exception of trips, all Winter Term activities happen during the school day and should not interfere with sports schedules.
Course Catalogs
The Senior Experience
The Senior Winter Term Experience
The Winter Term Senior Experience is an opportunity to extend learning beyond the MICDS curriculum and campus. Seniors can pursue their interests, try something new, and use skills learned at MICDS in real-life situations. Options for the Class of 2025 seniors include internships, job shadowing, community service, and travel learning programs.
My advice for seniors next year is to find an internship or opportunity that deals with an issue or topic you're passionate about. For me, finding an opportunity to be involved in grassroots organizing and environmental policy was something that I will never forget and made these two weeks so crucial.
Agatha Curylo ’24Agatha Curylo ’24