Wintermission 2023

Recently we saw the inaugural run of Wintermission, a four-day mini-term between the first and second semesters. Teachers from both the Middle and Upper Schools banded together to design courses on unconventional subjects that are all connected to the part of Masters’ mission statement: to learn, to strive, to dare, to do — to be a power for good in the world. Jason Hult, director of learning initiatives...

Upper School math teacher Michele Dennis and Upper School history and religions teacher Nyasha Chiundiza taught a course on heterodoxy for this year’s WinterMission. Heterodoxy refers to ideas or thoughts that differ from traditional viewpoints or narratives. The course aimed to provide students with a better understanding of heterodoxy and the role it has in community and discussion, whether locally or na...

Dumpling and Deep Thoughts, led by Upper School Spanish teacher Victoria Jansen and Upper School English teacher Stacey Browne, quickly earned its place among the most popular courses on the sign-up form. The possibility of both cooking and eating food was among the most exciting parts of the course; yet, the class exceeded the expectations of both students and teachers, according to sources interviewe...

  CPR and First Aid were offered to Masters Students interested in getting certified this past Winter Mission Cycle. This introduction from Kayla Medina and Mikelle Sacco into the medical field proved to be extremely useful,  especially for students who plan to work this summer.  Freshman, Caleb Grashiem, said, “When I come back to sleepaway camp as a lifeguard I want to have some former...

Over the four days of Wintermission, 14 students gathered to put their love and care into learning the skill of crocheting in order to create hats and donate them to the Knots of Love non- profit organization.  Founded in 2007 by Christine Fabiani, Knots of Love is a charity focused on donating handmade hats to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Upper School History Teacher Colleen Roche an...

First, Jennica started with her right foot on a ledge higher than the left. She then alternated between moving her left hand and right hand to grasp the next available “climbing hole” or hand grip, climbing up something like a staircase of climbing holes. Bending her knees, she swung up and let go of her right hand to reach the highest holds. Junior Jennica Pereiras, one of the 14 participants in t...