Academics

WinterMission

Four Days. Every Student. Every Teacher. Countless Possibilities.

As a schoolwide interdisciplinary program, WinterMission ignites students' curiosity and expands our understanding of where and how we learn — and what it means to be a power for good in the world.

The WinterMission Experience

WinterMission takes place for four days every January. During this hands-on and immersive mini-term, students encounter new subjects, skills and ideas that challenge them to explore the School's mission in unexpected ways.

WinterMission 2024 offered 48 different team-taught courses, including:

Intro to Scuba
Learned how animals breathe underwater with a visit to the Norwalk Aquarium and an in-water scuba experience
Board Game Research and Design
Designed, constructed and played their own board games
Marble and Steel: Classical Architecture and Statuary in New York City
Studied the architecture and design of some of New York City’s best-known buildings and communal spaces
Propaganda and Persuasion in Art and Media
Discussed how art can shape our thoughts and society
The Shelter Project
Built wooden structures using an array of hand and power tools
Rivertowns Exploration
Discovered the vibrant history of art, music, people, culture, food, architecture and religion in the Hudson Valley’s Rivertowns
You Break It, You Make It
Got hands-on experience with bicycle mechanics by taking them apart and putting them back together

At a Glance: WinterMission 2024

Dive Deeper

List of 7 news stories.

Discovering New Passions: WinterMission 2024

During the pandemic, some people baked bread to pass the time. Upper school Spanish teacher Allison Eggleston cooked up a different hobby: learning all about sustainable fashion.
Exploration Takes on New Meaning During WinterMission

The harmonious collaboration that has kicked off WinterMission 2024 in the Middle School is music to the ears of Katie Meadows, middle school performing arts coordinator, and Jason Reiff, middle school performing arts teacher.
WinterMission Debuts 17 New Courses

The second annual WinterMission is two weeks away and like last year, the four-day session is designed to give students new horizons to explore.
Middle School Students Embrace WinterMission With Their Might

They learned to scuba dive. They created restaurants. They solved crime. They discovered the intricacies of hip-hop and the joy of board games. They studied the influence of social media, examined the hidden stories of everyday foods, and explored the Rivertowns.
Students Dig Into the Science of Elite Performance

Why do some people rise to the challenge while others crumble under stress? What does it take to be “clutch,” and how do we avoid succumbing to pressure? What can science tell us about performance in these difficult moments?
WinterMission Takes Off in the Upper School

From the clanging of tools to the dramatic rhythm of flamenco music and the whirring of stand mixers, the upper school campus was abuzz with the launch of the four-day WinterMission program.
WinterMission Launches January 2023

Imagine collaborating with students in Malawi on a publication, studying classical architecture on the streets of New York City, bonding over common themes found in dystopian literature, or taking your class clown skills to the next level with lessons in stand-up comedy.