Third Annual WinterMission Sparks New Interests

 

And just like that, the course I Have A Bridge To Sell You: Exploring the Brooklyn Bridge became part of this year’s WinterMission, the School’s four-day, immersive interdisciplinary program.

“In that shared passion, we saw an opportunity to create a unique program that would cover a range of topics accessible to students with diverse interests,” Sas explained. “From engineering and medicine to painting and poetry, there’s something for everyone built into the limestone of that bridge, so we set out to design a curriculum that would foster appreciation for the bridge, New York City’s evolving history, and our contemporary surroundings.”

Noa Benerofe ’25 found the experience enlightening: “Although I have been to the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO before, it was a highlight to get to see it and walk across it after learning the intricate history it holds. As a New Yorker and an artist, it adds another layer of depth to the appreciation I have for it.”

Those are the a-ha moments that mean so much to Jason Hult, WinterMission director and dean of teaching and learning. This year marks the third schoolwide WinterMission with the debut of 18 new courses out of 49 total. “It’s been energizing to see the program grow and evolve,” Hult said. “It is neat that it continues to be a sandbox for innovation.”

Andrew Schneider, associate head of school for finance and operations and chief financial officer, partnered with Michael Coyle, middle school science teacher, to teach real-world lessons in finance with the class, Masters Student Investment Fund: Managing an Endowment.

"Students heard from industry professionals and seasoned investors how to digest the complex and ever-changing world of investing,” Schneider said. “They learned the basics of accounting, valuation, financial modeling and forecasting. With these new tools, they are well prepared to begin investing on their own and to continue studying business when they enter college."

Another new course, Crack the Code: A Journey into Data Science, led by upper school math faculty duo Amelie Obas and Stella Carey found a fan in April Wang ’27.

"I had the opportunity to explore data analysis techniques, learning how to manipulate and visualize data using tools like R Language,” Wang explained. “It was fascinating to see how data can be used to uncover patterns and inform decision-making, and the hands-on projects made the concepts feel real and applicable. I left the session with a greater understanding of how data science is shaping industries and the skills necessary to pursue it further."

This year’s courses sparked curiosity across a wide range of interests: making, mending and thrifting in #MeMade at Masters: Creating Radical and Responsible Fashion; interacting with industry pros in Not Here to Make Friends: What Reality TV Reveals About Us; learning to build a fire in Winter Wilderness; honing film writing skills in From Pen to Lens: Writing Your Own Screen Adaptation; conquering fears in To Dare, To Do, To Boulder: An Intro to Rock Climbing; and perfecting deviled eggs and short ribs in Let Them Cook.
 
In Haunted!, upper school English teachers Tom Cusano and Stephanie Andreassi guided students through a course that explored everything from the paranormal to the spiritual. Cusano, who joined the Masters faculty this year, found the experience thrilling from start to finish: “It was really exciting to have the opportunity to build a course and have all these resources. [The subject] was something that I've been interested in, and I felt like I was learning alongside the kids.”