Our Mission in Action

The Minimester Deep Dive

Dean of Student Life Margaret Paul
Minimester began yesterday (Wednesday), and culminates in a special assembly Friday afternoon. Margaret Paul, Dean of Student Life, organizes this annual favorite and offers the commentary below. We are truly thankful that we have enjoyed lovely fall weather, as this is an excellent opportunity to use the city as a classroom. 
 
Hello families!
 
I am invigorated and ready to try my hand at some designing! My office is across the hall from the Project Runway minimester and I just had the opportunity to listen to Sean Kelly, winner of Project Runway Season 13, talk to and then confer with the group of 11 students partaking in this experience. The last time I used a sewing machine was some time when I was in high school, but I’m itching to make something amazing right now (because obviously 30 minutes listening to Sean has given me all the skills I will need)! All of the students are in the middle of their designs in preparation for their runway show at tomorrow’s share and Sean was able to provide feedback to the groups, a la Tim Gunn. 
 
This experience was yet another reminder of how special our little high school is. These students get to spend 2 ½ days exploring, in depth, a topic they have some interest in. How many other places offer this enriching opportunity? The reports I heard yesterday from Faculty were great. The Games! Minimester spent the day trying out a variety of games that the Library has to offer and today they are at Twenty Sided Store in Brooklyn where the owner opened early just for our group and has a day of gaming set out for them. Digital Comedic Shorts is making short comedy videos that they will share with the community tomorrow afternoon. This minimester is one of twelve (of the nineteen total) being offered and led by students!
 
Ask your student what they did in their minimester today and you should hear an amazing variety of responses: rehearsed with my new band, cooked some South Indian food, learned more about being an agent of change in stopping rape culture, toured St. Anne’s Warehouse, and the list goes on. I look forward to hearing from the students once they are all back together and I hope these 3 days spark some interesting conversations in your homes.
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