Upper School Intersession 2025

Why were grown men once absolutely terrified to ride trains? What would compel well-to-do women to swear off all physical activity and eat nothing but heavy cream soups? Why were doctors so worried about wristwatches? How did Coca-Cola – with traces of cocaine – become America’s favorite headache remedy?

In a word: anxiety. 

In this session, we’ll explore the history of modern America through its wild, amusing, and sometimes disturbing responses to big changes that included the rise of cities, new technologies, lightning-fast transportation, access to drugs, and shifting gender roles and identities. To do this we'll examine medical literature, fairytales, Victorian fiction, and a bit of 19th century pseudoscience.

For students interested in history, medical mysteries, gender studies, source analysis, and storytelling.

This workshop explores magic and witchcraft as tools of the radical imagination—experimental and empowering methods for challenging the dominant narratives and systems of control in our lives and “rewiring” reality itself. Together, we’ll examine these multifaceted concepts, tracing their evolution, cultural significance, and philosophical relevance to our world today. Students will explore the intersections of magic with politics, art, and psychology, and have a chance to craft their own “spells” to confront and transform the limiting structures they encounter in their lives. No previous knowledge of the subject matter will be expected. All are welcome.

In this full-day stand-up comedy writing workshop, high school students will dive deeper into the art of crafting and performing original comedic material. Throughout the day, students will explore advanced techniques in joke writing, comedic timing, and personal storytelling, while developing their unique comedic voice. The morning will focus on brainstorming ideas, understanding different comedy styles, and learning how to turn personal experiences into relatable humor. In the afternoon, students will refine their material through peer feedback, revision, and performance practice. By the end of the day, each participant will have the basis of a stand-up set or comedy sketch ready to perform and the skills to confidently deliver their work in front of an audience.

Hear from New York Times-bestselling author Jasmine Guillory as she reads an excerpt from her latest book. After, she'll open up space for a Q&A.

In this course, students will learn about poems, songs, and literary texts from across Spain and Latin America. No prerequisites are necessary as the course will be 1/2 lecture and 1/2 discussion based

In this session we will use tools to to figure out what aspects of your experience could lend itself to memoir, whether in a short form or a book and as well as how to structure your material and potentially publish it. There are no prerequisites: just the desire to explore your experiences.

In this course, students will learn about poems, songs, and literary texts from across Spain and Latin America. No prerequisites are necessary as the course will be 1/2 lecture and 1/2 discussion based