One of the themes of the AP curriculum is beauty and aesthetics. The students are currently studying art, beginning with drawing, in order to catch the tail end of the acclaimed Mount Holyoke exhibit “Matisse Drawings” (which closes Dec. 14).
The museum staff provided French teacher Sue Michalski with reprints of the art displayed, and her students prepared exposes, which they will present in French, in the museum, in front of the actual work of art. Ms. Michalski described it as “a wonderfully rich and unique opportunity.” After the museum, the class will have lunch at a French restaurant, where they will continue their French discussion of the larger exposition.
Students in AP Environmental Science will visit the Easthampton Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tuesday, December 9. This field trip, from 1:40 p.m. – 3 p.m., is required for the 10 students who are enrolled in APES and will be overseen by science teacher Matt Spearing.
During a similar trip last year, Sally Peters, the Coordinator of the Industrial Pretreatment Program at the City of Easthampton Wastewater Treatment Facility, gave the class an extensive tour of the facilities. The tour started at the influent where the wastewater drains from all over town and included the primary physical separation of solid material takes place, followed by biological breakdown in the secondary treatment with bacteria and protozoa doing most of the work, and then the final settling tanks and chlorine added to the effluent.
Nine students in Advanced Integrated Science will head to the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Saturday, December 6, for the AIS Workshop with the UMass iCons program. The trip is required for the class and will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (periods A, F, D & G and the beginning of the Afternoon Program). The field trip is being overseen by Bill Berghoff, science faculty member and department head.
Fourteen students in Acting I and Scenic Design will head to Smith College on October 30 to see a production of “Taming of the Shrew.” The trip is required for students who are enrolled in either class, which meet periods C and D. Acting 1 is a first trimester class that introduces students to the pivotal movements in the history of theater, along wiht the diverse acting techniques used to build a role. Scenic Design, also a first trimester course, introduces the principles of design, the methods of creating a design concept, and the creating of 3D computer models of their designs. The field trip, from 6:45-10 p.m., will be chaperoned by Director of the Williston Theatre Emily Ditkovski.
Students in Advanced Practices in Studio Art will head to Eastworks in Easthampton on Wednesday, October 29 for a field trip to the studios. The trip is optional for art students and will take place from 11:25 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (students will return before the Afternoon Program). The trip is being overseen by faculty member Natania Hume.
Six students will head to the University of Hartford on Saturday, October 18, for the National Portfolio Review, an art field trip.
The trip is optional for art students who are seniors applying to art schools, and wish to have a review of their portfolio by admissions officers of over 40 art colleges. The trip will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is being overseen by faculty member Ed Hing.
Students in AP Biology B or Genetics G classes will go to an on-campus conference on Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Genetics Update Conference, with visiting speaker Sam Rhine, covers such topics as genetic advances, the latest research, and career opportunities. The conference will take place in the Williston Theatre Read more about the conference here.
Twelve art students will visit Mass MoCa and the Clark Museums in North Adams on October 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The field trip is required for students who are enrolled in Advanced Studio Practices, a full-year course that focuses on in-depth artistic exploration through theme-based studio and independent work. Susanna White and Natania Hume, two of the three co-teachers of the course, are overseeing the trip. The students have previously visited the Smith College Botanic Garden and Greenhouse in Northampton. Read more about the course on The Willistonian student newspaper.
Students in Upper School String Ensemble or Upper School Wind Ensemble classes will meet with visiting speaker Regina Carter for an on-campus workshop on Oct. 8 from 1-2 p.m. The event is optional for the Middle School String and Wind Ensemble, and any other students who wish to attend are welcome. The program is overseen by Fine and Performing Arts Department Head Ben Demerath.
Art students will head to the Smith College Botanic Garden and Greenhouse in Northampton tomorrow at 10:50 a.m. The field trip is required for students who are enrolled in Advanced Studio Practices, a full-year course that focuses on in-depth artistic exploration through theme-based studio and independent work. Susanna White, one of the three co-teachers of the course, is overseeing the trip to Smith. The 11 students will return by noon.
