A diorama created by Lower School students representing arctic wildlife.

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.  This year  Lower school students studied the Arctic. Small groups conducted research on different animals of the arctic, created "blubber gloves" to simulate cold-weather adaptation of seals and whales, and explored how natural resources available in the Arctic relate to cultural traditions of the indigenous people of the region. The entire Lower School worked together to create a diorama showcasing the arctic ecosystem.

Intersession began in 2013 and was featured in the Fall 2016 NAIS Independent Teacher e-journal. The article, “Turning the School Upside Down One Week a Year”, explains 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.

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