Upper School ISW Programs
1. On the Town: Grab a Seat!
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Ms. Gayer, Ms. Oman, Mr. Taylor
Fee: $125
Be a theater attendee and critic for one week. Take advantage of the exciting theater in our Washington area by joining our Maret Critics Circle for a variety of plays from Shakespeare to musical theater. We will meet at 5:00 on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights (no Monday) to enjoy a light supper, prepare for our theater experience and videotape our own reviews.
2. Screen printing Workshop
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Mr. Vereecke; Mr. Welch
Fee: $75
Ever wanted to print your own art or design on a poster or t-shirt? In this Screen printing ISW, you will have a chance to do it! We will be silk screening original artwork and designs as t-shirts or large format posters. Students will use their choice or a combination of hand drawn images, photographs, or computer aided designs as the basis for their printed designs. We will learn techniques for preparing images for print in Photoshop, using techniques like halftone pattern, chiaroscuro stencil, and color separation. We will also review the basic screen printing techniques like registration, and basic color theory for printmaking. We will be using a photo-emulsion to create our stencils, and non-toxic water based (but fabric-fast) inks to print our designs. Students should arrive with design ideas in mind, and come equipped with source imagery material to use in their designs.
3. Moviemaking 101
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Mr. Engelberg, Ms. McBride
Fee: n/a
This ISW will give you the opportunity to film and edit your own short documentary. We will spend the first 2 days filming throughout the District and then we will stay on campus the last 2 days to edit and finish the documentaries. On Thursday afternoon, we will have a viewing party to share our work. You will work in groups of 2 to 3 on an issue that you would like to cover.
4. Bella Italia!
Available to grades: 9-10
Instructors: Mr. Achtmeyer, Ms. J. Hughes
Fee: $1300
Ever dream of seeing Michelangelo’s David or climbing 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome? What about eating gelato on the steps of the Duomo? If so, then this is the trip for you. We will spend our week viewing art and architecture, sampling food, and experiencing culture in the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy. Our trip will depart Friday evening, February 8 and return Thursday, February 14. We will be out and about all week exploring Florence’s many museums, buildings and squares. Students applying for this trip only need to have an interest in learning more about this wonderful Italian city. Ciaó!
5. Adirondack Chairs
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Mr. Fergerson, Ms. Sidebotham
Fee: n/a
Build your own Adirondack chair. This ISW will contain a brief history of the design, followed by the individual design and construction of a classic American chair. Students will be able to complete their own chairs (ready for painting) during the week, while learning proper use of basic woodworking tools. Some woodworking skills are helpful but not necessary.
6. Vita’s Vegan Kitchen
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Ms. T. Hughes; Ms. Mondie-Sapp
Fee: n/a
This tasty ISW will focus on the delights of vegan cooking. In addition to learning about veganism and its health and environmental benefits, students will prepare ethnic vegan cuisine. Choices include Italian, Indian, Mexican, Caribbean, West African, and African-American (i.e. Soul Food). Everyone will touch, smell, chop, and taste the many spices, fruits, vegetables, grains, and “meat” substitutes that are available for a delectable, life-affirming vegan lifestyle. Together, we will document our experience and recipes in our very own mini-journal/cookbook. Most exciting of all, this ISW will take place in the coziness of Ms. Mondie-Sapp’s very own kitchen so we will be off campus all week (transportation from Maret will be provided).
7. Kind of Blue: Jazz Workshop
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Ms. Druckman, Mr. Rogers
Fee: n/a
Spend the week playing jazz: Mainstream, Funk, Blues, Fusion, Free Jazz, Bebop, Latin, and Swing. We’ll rehearse jazz tunes of different genres, build up our improv “chops”, and record a demo CD. During the week, we’ll also go out for dinner, check out live performances at local jazz clubs, speak with professional jazz musicians, and discuss the history of jazz, genres, artists, and recordings. Jam with Mr. Rogers and Ms. Druckman (violist/violinist) on this fun ISW, voyaging through this American art form. Approximately two years experience on any instrument is recommended.
8. Solutions to Violence
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Mr. Colman McCarthy, Ms. O’Brien
Fee: n/a
With the planet awash with people solving their disagreements with violence, as well as people in full pursuit of their favorite “ism”, racism, sexism, adultism, perhaps it’s time to take a fleeting look at peacemaking and nonviolent solutions to the messes we keep creating. Some answers are to be found in the writings and lives of Gandhi, King, Merton, Day, Rankin, Addams, Muste, Jesus, Amos, Francis, Einstein, and a long list of other peacemakers whose enduring ideas go mostly unstudied in our schools. If peace is what every government piously claims to be seeking, and if peace is what every human heart yearns for, then now is the time to stir a few brain cells and intellectually connect with peacemaking. Topics to be included during the week include: Gandhian nonviolence, the militancy of Martin Luther King, Jr. (“don’t sign for the draft”, he counseled the young in 1966 with Vietnam heating up), women and nonviolence, animal rights and cruelty-free eating, the death penalty, peacemaking through service, and how to radicalize your life while there’s still time. Ample time will be provided for discussion, debate, and dissent – and the more of the latter the better! We will also be leaving the Maret campus for some equally stirring field trips around D.C. What kind of student will do best in this ISW? It is the bold and brave one who can move beyond the conventional skill of asking questions to the daring one of questioning the answers. The only qualification to participate in this ISW is an open mind.
9. Building a Future in DC
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Mr. Bravman, Ms. Hall
Fee: n/a
This week will focus on working with Behrend Builders, a non-profit organization which helps build homes and convert previously unwanted buildings into residences, shelters and community centers. The construction will possibly entail landscaping, painting, hammering and sawing. There is also the possibility that we will spend some time developing other service projects connected to this organization. This ISW satisfies community service hour requirements and more importantly, will make you feel good while doing good.
10. Pitching in in Panama
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Mr. El-Maaroufi, Mr. Schaffer
Fee: $1200
Though perhaps best known for its canal, Panama has much to offer beyond the famous waterway. Panama possesses great natural beauty, diverse habitats, unique indigenous cultures, as well as a cultural history of its own. Following in the footsteps of previous successful ISWs in Panama, we will return to carry out service work as well as to enjoy some of the richness that Panama has to offer. Specifics of the service work have not yet been finalized, but you can expect hands-on work with visible and satisfying results. Earlier projects have included painting in schools and orphanages, working with children in a community center, and volunteering at the headquarters of a drug prevention program. On the touristy side, we will begin our activities with a tour of the Panama Canal, touring one of the locks and getting a real understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. We will also tour the historic district of Panama City. A highlight from last year that we hope to repeat is a visit to the Embera, an indigenous tribe that lives up the Chagres River, surviving off the fish in the river and subsistence farming and still practicing traditional ways. Other possible excursions include a weekly market highlighting indigenous handicrafts; a visit to El Valle, a town located in an ancient volcanic crater; and a tour of the Smithsonian’s rainforest canopy research station. We will wrap up our time in Panama by flying to the San Blas islands (in a small plane so make sure this suits you), an autonomously governed archipelago that is home to the Kuna Indians. We will spend a day and a night in the San Blas, experiencing the Kuna culture and the beauty of the islands. Proficiency in Spanish is helpful but not required. We will be extending the ISW week, departing on Friday, February 8 and returning on Sunday, February 17. This promises to be a challenging and rewarding ISW. If you’re eager for travel, open to new experiences, and ready for some hard work, sign up for the adventure!
11. Hanging with the Lower School
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Ms. Hogue
Fee: n/a
Caring, committed, and creative counselors, with a sense of humor and great flexibility, are needed to help with the Lower School ISW experience. The theme this year is (you guessed it) Sustainability. Enjoy four days of varied activities -- arts and crafts, theater, science, cooking, field trips, and more -- with small groups of Lower Schoolers and faculty from all divisions. If you need further details, please talk to Ms. Hogue in the Lower School or Ms. Levinson.
12. Hanging with the Middle School- Williamsburg
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Mr. Markoff, Mr. Koerner, Ms. Rajan , Ms. Triggs
Fee: $175
The Middle School ISW which takes 7th graders to Williamsburg is looking for a few dedicated Upper Schoolers to help out with this program. If you are interested, please see Ms. Levinson.
13. Hanging with the Middle School- New York
Available to grades: 11-12
Instructors: Ms. Hester, Ms. Pettengill
Fee: $550
Would you enjoy serving as a guide and role model for younger students? Expand your vision and learn to be a leader as an assistant to Ms. Hester and Ms. Pettengill during four art-packed days in New York City. Please speak to Ms. Hester or Ms. Pettengill for more information if you are interested.
14. Hanging with the Middle School- Engineering
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Ms. Sweigart
Fee: n/a
The Middle School ISW called Engineering Extravaganza is looking for a couple of interested Upper Schoolers to help Ms. Sweigart run the show. If you are interested, please see Ms. Levinson.
15. Independent Community Service
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Ms. Dunn
Fee: n/a
Spend ISW week working in the community. This ISW enables you to design your own week of service. If you are new to service, this is a good opportunity to get to know the workings of one organization well. If you are a service veteran, you may spend the week working with an organization you already know. You must work a minimum of six hours per day (which will fulfill your community service hours requirement) and provide your own transportation to and from service sites. As the name suggests, this ISW is independently constructed and executed although Ms. Dunn is available to assist in the process.
16. Sounds of Silence
Available to grades: 9-12
Instructors: Ms. Lavelle
Fee: $50
How silent is your impact on the environment around you? Spend the week learning about and experiencing non-violence, yoga, meditation, and nutrition. Daily sessions will include readings, movies, & discussion; extended yoga sessions; and both guided and silent meditation. This ISW will include a trip to a local Buddhist temple & and possibly a vegetarian meal at a local restaurant.
17. Model: Figure and Painting Workshop
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Ms. Saunder
Fee: n/a
This ISW is designed for the beginning and advanced art student. Working from the model, students will employ a variety of drawing and painting media and techniques using line, action drawing, value rendering and the formal aspects of the organization of space in charcoal, graphite, ink, acrylic, oil stick, collage and mixed media. Emphasis will be on learning how to see and how to use drawing as a prime vehicle of expression. We encourage diverse approaches as we explore technical skills and concepts. In addition to examining the work of several different figurative artists, we will spend one day in the museums and art galleries. Critiques, both group and individual, will be emphasized. This is an excellent portfolio development course for those applying to art school, or to a college with a good studio program.
18. The Greatest American Movies of All Time
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Sra. Betina
Fee: n/a
We are going to watch the Greatest American Movies of All Time, we are going to engage in the Greatest Movie Debates of the Century, we are going to eat the Greatest Snacks, Pizza and Chinese Food in DC, and we are going to have the Greatest ISW of 2007-2008!
19. Windows and Mirrors: A Glimpse into the Soul
Available to grades: 9- 12
Instructors: Ms. Hinderlie
Fee: n/a
Are you curious about your inner self? Would you like to find out what makes you tick? Interested in getting a glimpse into the minds of others? Then this ISW is for you! We will spend the week gaining new insights into ourselves through a variety of media, including art, palm reading, personality testing, and personal narrative. We will take trips in and around DC (National Holocaust Museum, National Portrait Gallery) to explore the personal stories and inner strength of unknown heroes. Take a journey into the lives of others and yourself!
20. Habitat for Humanity, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Available to grades: 10-12 (must be 16 or older)
Instructors: Ms. Groppe, Mr. Walker
Fee: $100
Help others, work with your hands, learn a new skill, visit a new state, and earn community service hours as well. Join Habitat for Humanity in Rocky Mount, North Carolina as it tries to “eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world”. We will drive down on Sunday, February 10 and return late Thursday night. Habitat for Humanity provides us with a group room with bunks. We will cook our own meals and enjoy down time together. Bring your good work ethic, a positive attitude, some good recipes and a smile. Join this ISW and you'll feel like you've done your part to address the issue of affordable housing.
21. Woodley in History
Available to grades: 10-12
Instructor: Mr. Kilborne
Fee: n/a
During this year's Woodley ISW, we will continue to uncover the past of Woodley and the people who once lived there. On the first day, our research will be centered at the Library of Congress. Subsequent destinations will be determined by the research that we do between now and then and may take us to the National Archives, Mount Vernon, the Montgomery County Historical Society, the College of Southern Maryland, and Sotterley Plantation. This ISW will include lunches at historic or quasi historic restaurants and a VIP tour of the White House.
22. Maret Goes to Wall Street
Available to grades: 10-12
Instructors: Mr. Farquhar, Mr. Gage
Fee: $100
In this course, we will study investing in stocks, bonds and commodities by learning the workings of the three major exchanges, NYSE, NASDAQ and COMEX. To this end, each student will choose at least two stocks and then chart their progress throughout the week. We will learn how to read the stock tables in The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. In addition, we will view the movie Wall Street and The Boiler Room. Local field trips include visits to the Arlington brokerage office of Friedman, Billings, and Ramsey, the Connecticut Avenue office of Sanford Bernstein, as well as the Washington Bureau of the Wall Street Journal. On Thursday, we will travel by train to New York where we will visit Wall Street and have a special NASDAQ presentation at either the NASD tower in the heart of Wall Street or the Visitor’s Center in Times Square. Get ready for an intense week of high finance!
23. 4 Art Forms in 4 Days 4 You
Available to grades: 10- 12
Instructors: Mr. Estrada
Fee: n/a
As this ISW’s title suggests, we will tackle one art form per day, with possibilities including painting, literature, sculpture, dance, and architecture. During our four days together, we will create, explore and discover. There will be both food for thought and food for the mouth. We will participate in workshops, visit exhibits, and share amazing discussions. And, of course, we will have tons of fun…seriously.
24. Concert Choir ISW Performance Tour to NYC 08
Available to grades: 10-12, current Concert Choir students
Instructors: Ms. Bartilucci; Mr. Cosh, Ms. Dinger, Mr. Erwin, Ms. Erwin,
Ms. Glines., Mr. Spraggins
Fee: $450
What better way to enjoy ISW than surrounding yourself with the smells, sights and sounds of the Big Apple? If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere! Join the Concert Choir as it tours New York City. Students will depart from the Maret campus on February 10th and return on Thursday, February 14th. We will perform a spirit filled set at six schools in and around the New York City area, entertaining students from a diverse population who attend both independent and public schools. In addition, the chorus will perform a set at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, Grand Central Station, and at the famous Bellevue Hospital. Fun and entertainment will involve seeing two shows, line dancing at the Rodeo Club, and possibly singing for Maret Alums in a special concert in Greenwich Village. The chorus will be staying at the Chelsea Savoy Inn in the Chelsea Neighborhood at Broadway and W 23rd.
25. Eat, Cook, and Be Merry
Available to grades: 11-12
Instructors: Ms. Fieldhouse, Ms. Sweeney-Hammond
Fee: n/a
This week will be devoted to learning basic cooking techniques as you plan and cook menus in several different cuisines. Each day, you will select recipes for a different cuisine and prepare a five course meal, which you will then devour! In the past, we have done Indian, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Southern and French cuisine. This is a great opportunity to increase your skills in the kitchen and taste new foods. All cooking will be done in Ms. Sweeney-Hammond's kitchen so we will be off campus (with students responsible for their own transportation).
26. Learning and Surfing in Mexico
Available to grades: 11- 12
Instructors: Ms. Lipton, Ms. Mandeville
Fee: $1300
Come experience Mazatlan on Mexico’s west coast for 5 glorious days (Sunday, February 10 to Thursday, February 14)! We will spend our days exploring the area, visiting a turtle rescue farm, doing a beach clean up, learning about ancient petroglyphs, as well as doing yoga and learning to surf. This trip is all-inclusive. All you need is an open mind, a swim suit, flip flops, and a love for the ocean.
