Spring is here, and the end of the 2021-2022 school year is fast approaching. It’s time to get ready for Q-Terms!
The Q-Term is an SKS Signature Program– a selection of short, intensive courses outside of SKS’s regular academic schedule and often outside the classroom. Q-Terms allow students and faculty to collaborate, create, innovate, think critically, and solve problems while immersed in their subject of choice. Q-Term will take place right after finals, May 19-27.
Once again, we have an engaging roster of faculty-created courses for our students to choose from. From the sciences and engineering to art, music, the environment and outdoors, social sciences, and many others, our students will be sure to find a course that will spark at least one of their passions.
THE ARTS
Explore the exciting world of digital art. We will collaborate on projects, learn lots of tips and tricks, share knowledge, and create excellent art. Beginners to advanced, everyone is welcome! You will need the ProCreate app which comes with the iPad, or you can also use Sketchbook or any other digital platform. There are free drawing apps available, but you may also decide to purchase one that you like.
Instructors:
John Carruther
Megan Liggett
“I try to give people a different way of looking at their surroundings. That’s art to me,” said Maya Lin (known for her sculptures and land art). Painting a mural takes a certain amount of preparation, equipment, and hard work, but the effect the finished product can have on one’s surroundings is unequaled in the art world. Add your voice to our ongoing mural project throughout the school so that the creativity of today’s students will be enjoyed by all! We may be doing a mural at the Armory in Newburgh, which will be exciting to do something for the community that will be seen by many.
Instructors:
John Carruther
Megan Liggett
Did you want to take the fashion course this year but weren’t able to? Or maybe you did take it and would love the opportunity to develop your skills further? This is for you! We will cover a wide range of skills like using patterns, sewing techniques of varying difficulty, appropriate fabric selections, use of sewing equipment, and much more – all while working on a project of your choosing. All experience levels are welcome. Students will need to buy all fabric and notions for their project.
Instructor:
Alanna Whitesell
This course will introduce you to various music software programs. You will learn the basic functions within these software programs, and you will compose your own songs using loops and virtual instruments.
Instructor:
Paul Connors
During Pop Goes Punk we will take popular top 40 songs and convert them into a punk rock style. As a group, we will decide whether to record some songs and/or make a music video. For this project, we need one or more singers and musicians who can play 6-string guitar, bass guitar, or drums.
Instructor:
Michael Vondras
Improvisational theater often called improvisation or “improv”, is a form of theater, often comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted and created spontaneously by the performers. In its purest form, the dialogue, action, story, and characters are created collaboratively by the players as the improvisation unfolds in present time without the use of an already prepared, written script.
Instructor:
Zhenya Kiperman
This hands-on course is dedicated to producing short video reportages about the various courses and activities of the Storm King School’s Q-Terms. The course will lead students through all stages of the process, including choosing and pitching ideas, research and preparation, videotaping activities, interviewing participants, and editing material. The best videos will be put on the school’s web site and youtube channel.
Instructor:
Zhenya Kiperman
THE ENVIRONMENT & OUTDOORS
The purpose of this group is to inspire our community to join in on the fight for a sustainable future. We will address the need for a change in public policy as well as individual behavior. We will raise our voices to make everyone aware that now is the time to act for the benefit of the planet.
Instructor:
Gerard Prunzion
This active class consists of two outdoor themes. Our gardening and horticulture activities will enhance the campus grounds, and we will learn about sustainability and the environment. We will also build garden boxes using hand and machine tools to plant herbs for our kitchen and beautify the campus. Afternoons will be a time of reflection and writing.
Instructors:
Ben Harnick
Cathy Hecht
In this class, we will learn mountain biking skills, explore nearby trails, and travel to several others by car. We will learn how to maintain our bikes and repair them as needed. Some experience is required.
Instructor:
Jeremy Freeman
Travel to and enjoy day hikes to several nearby majestic waterfalls. Students will explore these beautiful sights and will produce a video journal and reflective writing pieces inspired by these trips. Reflections may include poetry, sketching, ecological observations, and/or journal entries.
Some of our destinations will be:
- BUSHKILL FALLS
This waterfall is located in the Pocono Mountains on the edge of the Delaware Water Gap. It is known as the “Niagara Falls” of Pennsylvania. ($15 entrance fee) - KAATERSKILL FALLS
This waterfall is in the Catskill Mountains and is the highest cascading waterfall in NY State. - INDIAN BROOK FALLS/ CONSTITUTION MARSH NATURE PRESERVE AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
This nearby trail is in Garrison, NY, with a bird sanctuary and a wildlife habitat.
Instructor:
Tim Gillet
The infamous Appalachian Trail passes just south of The Storm King School as it runs its course of 2200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Students will hike nearby sections of the trail while completing a project related to their preferred subject area. The course may include both day and overnight trips. We will learn important wilderness survival skills along the way. * Students may need to purchase appropriate clothing items and/or equipment.
Instructor:
Tim Gillet
COMMUNITY & LOVE
Did you know that the simple act of feeling and expressing gratitude could make you healthier, happier, and more resilient? Research has found that the practice of gratitude is associated with a myriad of positive outcomes. In this course, we will study how and why gratitude affects us, and learn what we can do to make gratitude a part of our daily routine. Through journaling, meditation, and creative projects, we will reflect on our feelings of gratitude. Ultimately, we will each create a unique expression of gratitude. This course may be of interest to students who enjoy psychology, writing, creative expression, and mindfulness.
Instructors:
Marybeth McDonough
Heather Cosgriff
Explore the historical and cultural significance of Philadelphia, PA. Starting in the classroom, students will research and discuss the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Students will be expected to read Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”, which was written in his Philadelphia home. Then traveling to the city, students will visit Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, the Betsy Ross House, and Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site, and, of course, will feast on Philly Cheesesteaks. *Fees: $300 – Travel & lodging
Instructors:
Ellen VanDunk
Dennis Costello
MYSTERY, ENGINEERING, & PROBLEM SOLVING
Sherlock Holmes is the most famous character in all of English literature. He has been portrayed by hundreds of actors in over 25,000 films, TV shows, stories, and plays. His address in Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories—221B Baker Street, London, England—receives thousands of fan letters each year, many by people who believe him to be a real person. In just the last few years, he has been played by Robert Downey Jr. (also known as Iron Man!) and Benedict Cumberbatch (also known as Dr. Strange!).
This will be a multimedia class. We will listen to a few of the original stories; we will watch a bunch of movies and TV shows. We will try to answer age-old questions, like “Why is Sherlock Holmes so popular?” and “Which actor (or actress) played him best?” Finally, we will try our hand at writing our own Sherlock Holmes story!
Instructor:
Mark Rigg
Lots of people are interested in Dungeons & Dragons and other role-playing games…but they don’t know where to begin. This course is a great way to get started. We’ll talk about where these games came from and why they are so much fun. We’ll talk about The Lord of the Rings and Conan the Barbarian and the Cthulhu Mythos. We’ll watch some movies and TV shows. And, of course, we’ll play a lot of D&D!
No experience is required.
Beginners are encouraged.
Instructor:
Mark Rigg
What is engineering, and what do engineers do? To get a flavor for what engineering is all about, students will learn about the different engineering disciplines including working with hands-on models, surveying the historical development of rocket flight, and implementing the engineering design cycle as they work together to design, build, fly, and evaluate model rockets. Students will employ relevant physics and engineering principles including measurement techniques to characterize the performance of model rocket engines and evaluate the flight characteristics of their rocket designs. That’s real Rocket Science!
Instructor:
Jon Zenz
In this class, we will explore the art of escape room design. We may also test our problem-solving skills at one or more commercial venues. Then we will design and create our own escape room, brainstorm a storyline, create puzzles, and engineering props. We will incorporate content and skills you have learned in your classes to challenge fellow students who will be invited to escape! *Fees: $30+ for tickets if we go on a field trip
Instructors:
Matthew Ciunga
Paul Feffer
OTHER
Do you have a special interest that you’d like to pursue during Q-Term week? Request a faculty advisor, and submit a proposal ahead of time for approval.
Instructor by Request
Quantum Information Science (QIS) is an emerging field with the potential to cause revolutionary advances in fields of science and engineering involving computation, communication, precision measurement, and fundamental quantum science. In this class, we will explore the fundamentals of Quantum Mechanics and QIS. Depending on interest, this “seminar” class may meet outside of the regular Q-Term schedule.
Instructor:
Paul Feffer