Engaging Creatively

Every trimester, the curriculum includes this class devoted to building skills in the arts, engineering, and computer sciences - and linking them to their academic studies. It’s fun and functional stuff: students spend nine weeks learning the language of a subject, and take on projects that draw parallels across time and culture - from the trenches of World War One to hip hop dance, for example.

During the course of each semester, students work individually or collaborate in small groups to develop self-selected projects to present to the entire school as well as parents and visitors from the community. Presentations include details of the research, work process, and peer feedback that helped create the finished article. Project content is guided by teachers but largely defined by students’ imagination. In recent years, Engineering studies have incorporated Lego Robotics, with students designing and building robots for cleaning homes, sweeping lakeshore beaches, and other innovative applications. Arts-based projects have included small-ensemble musical works and performances of Movement from belly dancing to African and hip hop techniques.

Focus, time-management, cooperation, and consistency are as important to success in school and beyond as mastery of traditional academic learning. Recognizing this, Étude’s Habits of Professionalism increasingly guide students as they proceed through middle school and begin thinking ahead to college and career choices.