Wells River, VT — This year, Blue Mountain Union´s J-term lineup is new and improved with new and returning classes, giving students opportunities to gain new skills. J-term is a one-week program where students step away from their regular academic classes and participate in hands-on learning based on which course students selected.
J-term is important to students because it offers something entirely new that students otherwise might never have experienced. This January, BMU is offering a mixture of returning classes and brand new classes. Returning J-term classes like: Service Squad (Mrs. Girrior and Mrs. Gawel), Board and Card Games (Mrs. Maccini), Ice Fishing (Mrs. Kalnins and Mr. Hatch), skiing (Mrs. Adams), and Cooking (Mrs. Coon) are joined by the new classes such as Quiet Crafting (Mrs. French), Stress-Less (Mrs. Maccini), Color Alchemy and Design Your Vibe (Mrs. Hill), Ice Skating (Mrs. Montague), and Rockstar 101 (Mr. Bryant and Mr. Emerson). This article will feature both student and teacher perspectives to get a better look on how this J-term will look.
From the student side, Senior Kurtis Brooks, who chose Ice Skating, shared that he´s never been before and is ¨hoping to learn how and be able to develop my skills.” Kurtis added that he wanted to choose a class that sparked his interest and learn something new since he had never ice skated before.¨
Teachers are also excited about the opportunities J-term gives students. Mrs. Coon, who is teaching Cooking, expressed that ¨Cooking is a life skill” and knowing how to cook nutritious meals can lead to a ¨longer, healthier life¨. So for students wanting a class that teaches important life skills, look no further than Mrs. Coon’s Cooking class. Mrs. Girrior, who is leading the Service Squad along with Mrs. Gawel, said she wants students taking her class to understand that ¨The gift of time and kindness is the most valuable gift of all¨. The Service Squad takes on tasks to provide assistance to the unhoused; these tasks vary from prepping meals, organizing comfort packages, and working in non-profit thrift stores. Mrs. Girrior added that this year’s Service Squad has ¨more students, and more shelters,” meaning its effort is much needed in our communities.
A major change is going to bring an exciting end to the 25-26 school year now with BMU´s reintroduction of a second J-term in June. When asked about the second J-term, Kurtis mentioned that ¨the end of the school year usually feels empty…¨ and that the ¨extra fun days make the end of the school year much more fun.¨
Overall, this year´s J-term at BMU is packed with variety, creativity, and opportunities. Passionate teachers and new classes mean students will be encouraged to take advantage of the learning experiences. J-term is an opportunity that gets students out of a regular high school classroom and into something more hands-on, creative, and skill-building.
