During the week between the first and second semesters, some students walk outside and learn to extract maple syrup from trees, while others practice CPR in Fonseca Center. These activities are part of WinterMission, a mini-term in which students take a single week-long class outside their normal curriculum. Some students and faculty believe that the break from school is beneficial, while others see the logistical and educational issues caused by this break as too great to overlook.

WinterMission was introduced in 2022-2023 through the efforts of Dean of Teaching and Learning Jason Hult and Head of School Laura Danforth as a way for students to have a break between the two semesters of the year to learn something new and fun. Hult said, “Before I worked at Masters, I worked at a program called Cityterm, which was a lot like WinterMission. Every week, there were three days where we’re in the classroom and three days a week where we were in the city doing stuff, and there were no specific courses.” While working at City Term, Hult was approached by Danforth. He said, “Ms. Danforth was really excited about the idea of a mini-term at Masters and asked me to join the school in order to help create WinterMission.” 

The idea behind WinterMission is to create a unique learning environment where students can focus on something they are really interested in. This opportunity to learn something new and fun is much appreciated by many students. Nathan Beckman, a junior, said, “It was really great to have a bit of a break from the academic year to learn something fun.” 

Elizabeth Merrill, a biology teacher in the Upper School said, “Wintermission is a really great idea. It allows students to explore topics and areas of interest that they wouldn’t normally get to experience, so in that sense it’s a great idea.”

Another benefit of WinterMission is the opportunity it provides for students to get to know one another. Hult said, “I think it’s really valuable for you as young people to be required to try something new and join a new group.”  Even when the prospect of being forced to take a class with new people is daunting, Hult still views it as extremely beneficial.  He said, “I also hear from students who are really nervous and terrified about WinterMission, in part because they have to meet a new group of students and a new teacher. And so I think for those students, WinterMission is really valuable.” 

As the program has developed since its founding, some drawbacks have emerged. One specific topic of controversy is the impact that WinterMission has on AP curriculum. Merrill said, “In my advanced classes, the schedule is very, very, tight.  We just don’t have enough teaching hours, and I think that impacts learning in a negative way.”  

Merrill said, “Logistically, given our schedule, it’s very difficult to take a whole week out of very limited time and devote it to something entirely different.”

Some students find WinterMission interferes with their ability to focus and stay present in their classes due to a lack of continuity.  

 Zach Stewart, a sophomore, said, “A major con of WinterMission is that it’s hard to hit the ground running again after having the week off like that. I find myself starting slow and feeling disorganized in a lot of classes.”  Merrill seconded that point, saying, “I think it really takes away from the continuity of learning for kids. For deep, meaningful, learning, kids have to have consistent sessions, and WinterMission sometimes detracts from that.”

Merrill said that despite the issues, she believes WinterMission is a good concept, but the scheduling issues pose a big threat to the success of students’ learning, especially in rigorous classes.  

Hult acknowledged the scheduling issues, but argued that the break provides benefits to students’ academic performance.  He said, “Because of where this (WinterMission) lands, it is an amazing moment for students, I think because they have a bunch of assessments, usually at the end of the first semester, and so it’s kind of nice to have a breather between semesters. Having that break sometimes makes it easier for students to refocus for the next semester.” The total loss of class time, in his view, is not too large. “Advanced placement classes have two extra missed days of school, and so there’s definitely a cost to that. I don’t want to pretend like there’s no drawback to that, but it is on par with a severe winter storm that would take two days out. And for me, the benefits are worth it, both for faculty and for students.”