A Jumping June
Although the academic year ended on June 9, many Chapin students continued their scholarly, creative, athletic and artistic pursuits throughout the summer months. Below, you’ll find just a glimpse of their various endeavors across divisions.
Beginning the week of June 12, students in Classes 4-9 had the opportunity to participate in the first of two sessions of “Travel a Path on Paper,” or TPP, an online writing program led by several Middle School faculty members and one former Chapin MS teacher. (The second session was held in August.)
Twice a week, the writers logged into Canvas for new prompts. After exploring a particular writing technique together, the students work independently (online or offline) through a series of exercises to help them flex their creative muscles. They were encouraged to write at least one piece using that technique, which they then submitted to instructors to receive private feedback. Students often shared their work with their peers to practice public speaking and receive additional comments, as well. Courses available this summer included Poetry I, II, III and IV; Mystery Writing, Flash Fiction, Short Fiction and Fantasy Fiction.
The following week (June 20) saw the launch of June Jamboree – an immersive two-week experience for Kindergarten through Class 5 students. Through engaging workshops held at Chapin, students collaborated, designed, investigated, and, importantly, had lots of fun!
Activities centered on STEAM, drama, sports, cooking, dance, jewelry design to storytelling and much more. Students also enjoyed field trips to the Bronx Zoo, Liberty Science Center and to Asphalt Green for a “splash day!”
One parent remarked, “The trips were magical – thank you for taking the students! And thank you for the wonderful camp. My child loved every minute of it.”
Adventures Abroad
Meanwhile, as the programs above were taking place in New York City, a group of Upper School students were undergoing had a unique experience of their own across the Atlantic!
In partnership with World Leadership School (WLS), 14 US students and three teachers headed to Greece to foster deep connections, refine their leadership skills and delve into the country’s rich culture and history.
Our scholars began the trip with their first learning session, “AMPed (Analyze, Manage, Prepare) Up,” before heading to the ruins of Mycenae in Nafplio. After touring the ancient site, they attended a pottery workshop run by a local artist who taught various styles of Greek pottery and helped students create their own ceramic pieces.
After swimming in the Aegean Sea and enjoying a delicious traditional Greek dinner, they closed the day with a WLS group circle facilitated with ANCHOR (Appreciate, News, Concerns, Health, Observations and Reflection). Their time in Nafplio also included exploring the sunken city of Epidauros and a 900-step hike up to the Palamidi Fortress.
From there, our Global Gators headed to Athens, Greece, where they visited the Acropolis and Parthenon; analyzing the structures and their deep history. Students also spent time at Solidarity NOW, a Greece-based NGO that works with refugees and migrants to aid in their integration into Greek society. “They provide economic, legal and psychological support for those seeking asylum due to persecution in their home countries,” students noted.
“In the several hours we spent with the organization’s leaders, we learned more about the legal process behind seeking asylum and how this has changed over time. We had the wonderful opportunity to engage in a Q&A with a Solidarity NOW lawyer, watching videos about the organization’s powerful impact in the community and hear directly from a youth counselor about the experience of unaccompanied minors,” students shared.
Our scholars began work, in collaboration with Solidarity NOW, on in-depth presentations on four main areas of interest: Youth Empowerment, Issues Impacting Climate Refugees, Citizenship Awareness and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace. (They would present a few days later after ample research and preparation.)
To underscore their analyses, the students also worked with Melissa Network, another NGO for migrant and refugee women in Greece, which provides a platform for networking, advocacy and life skills. The following day, students spent time at Doctors of the World, where they learned more about the global fight for medical rights.
Between participating in robust learning sessions such as “Community Inquiry,” “Finding Your Inner Leader” and “Building Utopia,” the students indulged in delectable dinners of pasta, seafood and traditional Greek bites. To wrap up their 12 days together, the students wrote down something they appreciated about each person in the group. Here, they shared how much they valued this experience and the “wonderful family dynamic our group has developed.”
