CAWE/Winterim Week
CAWE and Winterim Week is part of our Key Experiences. They are student and teacher co-designed experiential learning that help students apply their school learning to real world situations, helping further prepare them for meaningful engagement in their communities as adults.
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Here's an overview of what's involved:
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What? Students design and execute a week of study centered around a topic, including budgeting, fundraising, analyzing educational outcomes, and a presentation of learning to their community on the final day. CAWE (Creative Academic Weeklong Experience) is for students grades 10-12, who take on greater leadership of the experience. Winterim (a term borrowed from a similar program at the university level) is more teacher-led and includes students grades 7-9. The week includes field trips, projects, and visits to/from experts. Some winterims include overnight experiences. Students may choose an “Independent CAWE/Winterim”, but are expected to complete work, like their peers. Like Project Week, students are graded for their work over the week. To see current topics, please click here.
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Who? Students work in groups of 10-20 students with a teacher advising. Some high school students may take on the role of “lead” within their CAWE.
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When? CAWE/Winterim week is the week prior to Spring Break. This year that includes March 16-20. A detailed itinerary and permission slip for each group will be given in the weeks prior. On the afternoon of March 20, community members are invited to experience demonstrations of learning from all groups in an “open house” format on the middle school campus. Watch for a detailed invite in the spring.
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Why? CAWE/Winterim gives students the opportunity to dive deeply into a topic of interest, as well as learn independence and responsibility. The experience allows students to gain expertise in planning, organizing, budgeting, leadership, cooperation, compromise, and communication. Setbacks and changes help students to build resilience.
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How? Students sign up for a CAWE/Winterim early in the school year. Some groups may fill up and students may be waitlisted for their first choice. Groups meet periodically during the school year and during Project Week. They plan, budget, and then work to earn the money needed to fulfill those plans. Teachers grade the week based on a rubric tailored for their group’s topic.
Culminating Experiences
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Capstone- At the end of each school year, all 9th grade students complete a campstone project and present it to the community. This allows them to demonstrate their analytical and interpretive skills to examine a world problem and suggest community responses on a local level. Capstones include a research paper, a related graphic, and a community presentation.
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Senior Project – As a graduation requirement, all seniors are required to complete a 40 hour (minimum) interdisciplinary project. Projects reflect their interests, abilities and potential and must be of benefit to the community. Senior projects includes writing and product or service components as well as a community demonstration.
Student Led Conferences
During our twice annual Student Led Conference (SLC) week, all students prepare a presentation for their family and peers that provides insight on the progress within each of the Grove School Outcomes and artifacts which demonstrate their progress. In the fall, students present on their yearly goals and in the spring, students reflect and share about their progress in meeting those goals and their next steps. This key experience assists students in presentation skills, self reflection, and fosters agency and self efficacy.
