The first grade poses for a group photo during the Intersession trip to Snug Harbor.

Each year, the Lower School chooses one week in the middle of winter to break up their daily schedule so students in grades K-5 can work in multi-age groups on projects that center around one theme. During this year’s “Intersession” activities, students focused on respecting and protecting the Earth. They learned about heroes in the environmental movement, created models of the water cycle and crafted artwork out of recycled objects. Intersession culminated in a trip to the Snug Harbor Cultural Center.

The Intersession model was recently featured in Independent Teacher, the e-journal for educators published by the National Association of Independent Schools. In the article, “Turning the School Upside Down One Week a Year”, Lower School Director Kate George and First Grade Teacher Allison Siefert explain how every Bay Ridge Prep Lower School classroom becomes a one-room schoolhouse. During this week, the Lower School faculty plan and execute a single school-wide curriculum, try new teaching strategies and share students from across the six Lower School grades. Intersession is also a chance to enliven the daily routine of the school day in the middle of the year.

Read the full NAIS Independent Teacher article.

Founded in 1998, Bay Ridge Prep is an independent, K-12 college preparatory school offering intelligent and compassionate education in a progressive academic environment.