A host of new Innovation Block mini-classes kicked off this week in the Upper School for students in grades 9 and 10, which allow them to explore relevant learning opportunities of their choice that nurture health and wellness, personal growth and life skills outside the normal structure of class.
The Innovation Block debuted last school year for grades 11 and 12 after hearing student feedback that asked St. Margaret’s to make learning more relevant and to nurture life skills that will serve them well in school and beyond. This year, it was expanded to include all Upper School students.
This semester’s offerings include:
Grades 9 and 10: Athleisure, beach SUP and kayak, cooking basics, DIY handcrafts, hiking and the outdoors, international cooking, intro to tools, life lessons in poker, mindfulness and stress management, outdoor cooking, retro video games to esports, self-defense, study skills/life strategies, virtual and augmented realities, yoga.
Grades 11 and 12: Beach SUP and kayak, DIY handcrafts, hiking and the outdoors, home and care repair, international cooking, life lessons in poker, meals in minutes, outdoor cooking, painting Bob Ross style, Pokemon Go, recreational sports and games, rock climbing, self-defense, stress management and yoga
The service learning/innovation block occurs once every three weeks, with grades alternating between taking innovation block classes like these, or working with service-learning advisory partner in the community. Grades 11 and 12 worked with their service-learning partners this week, and will start their innovation block mini-course later this month.