Summer Enrichment Program

These two classes, designed for incoming Freshmen, will each use one of the Summer Reading novels to introduce students to the expectations of daily work, to develop reading and writing skills, and to provide the opportunity to meet the 9th grade team of teachers as well as other 9th grade students.

1. English: This class will read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. We will focus on active reading skills, learn/review grammar concepts, and improve writing by focusing on sentence and paragraph structure. Through discussion and interactive assignments, we will study the concepts of voice and identity as we read about Jr., Rowdy, Mary, Grandmother, and the others on the reservation and in town. Mrs. Cooper, Team Leader and English teacher, will teach this class. (BLOCK A)
    
2. History: This class will read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. We will focus on the geography, history, and spirituality of Santiago’s journey. Reading and writing skills will be addressed and students will be introduced to the Document Based Question (DBQ). Guided discussion with students and teachers will be an integral part of the class as we read about the lessons Satiago learns from Fatima, the alchemist, and others.
   (BLOCK B)

¡Vamos a preparar! This course will give you some foundation before you start Spanish 1. We will begin with some oral activities to learn greetings, counting, classroom objects, colors, telling time, and commands. We will work on pronunciation which will be followed by learning to spell. We will finish with simple questions and answers. Hasta pronto. (Only synchronous instruction) (BLOCK C)

This course will provide a foundational framework for starting French 1. We will begin with oral activities to learn greetings, counting, classroom objects, colors, telling time, and commands. We will work on pronunciation, which will be followed by learning to spell. We will finish with simple questions and answers. (Only synchronous instruction) (BLOCK B)

This class does not require prior knowledge in Mandarin. Students will focus primarily on speaking and writing (typing via cellphone and laptop). In addition, the class will also include cultural discussions of contemporary Chinese society, including topics such as Chinese economy, politics, food, movies, arts, and international relations. Students will be assigned to watch a variety of educational videos related to these topics prior to the class and have debates and discussions during class time. In short, this class features language application and cultural reflection and comparisons. (BLOCK C)

Want to get a jumpstart on your college essay? Learn some of the ways you can make your applications—and yourself—stand out. (Hint: The essay is one of them). In this interactive class, we will discuss the various application pieces and the role of the essay, choose and break down an application question, work on comparing and contrasting sample essays in order to examine the components of effective essays and the pitfalls of less effective ones. In addition, we will spend time with college admissions professionals to further our learning about what makes a good essay and application. (BLOCK A)

This summer, which will be unlike any in memory, has made the already complex college application process even more uncertain. Thankfully, we have our friends and community at Brewster to help students put their best foot forward on this road toward college, even though many aspects of that path right now are a little unclear. (BLOCK C)

Knower Academics, Brewster's longtime partner in offering students a confidence-building, strategic, and right-sized approach to the college entrance exams, will be offering a four-week test prep workshop this July. Classes will be hosted synchronously in Knower’s Zoom classroom for one hour a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from July 6 to July 31. This is a great way to stay connected with friends, keep learning strong, and maintain focus on college applications.

The course fee for this class is free to Brewster students. Students will only be required to pay for their books and materials ($50). Though studying for SAT and ACT isn't quite as fun as a day at the beach, Knower will offer students a great mental workout in an empowering and positive environment. This class is the perfect way to stay on track for college applications. As part of the class registration, families who are interested in more intensive one-to-one test prep can also purchase packages of sessions to work on specific math, grammar, and reading skills that students need to review for the SAT and ACT. 

Here’s Why SATs and ACTs Still Matter:
The SAT and ACT college entrance exams have been in a state of flux due to COVID-19, leaving many students unsure of how to focus their preparation. Some students are wondering if they even need to take the exams, due to reports that more colleges will offer test-optional admissions this year. However, the SAT and ACT tests still matter. While more colleges have embraced test-optional applications, only a handful are converting to a truly test-blind admissions process. This means that staying on track for college admissions includes doing everything you can to achieve your best possible SAT and ACT scores. If students want to improve their application picture, then studying for the SAT and ACT is a great way to accomplish that goal!

What You Can Do Right Now to Stay on Track:
Sign up for this class! With so many test dates cancelled, students will have a short window of time to maximize their test scores. Our rising seniors do not have the luxury of taking the test multiple times in order to develop the best possible superscore. As soon as test centers open, or as soon as stay-at-home tests become available, students need to be ready to show their best work right away. 

Here’s What You Will Get if You Register:
This is not your boring one-size-fits-all syllabus. The main topics of the class are:

1. Virtual mock test experience with projected score to gather data on where students current stand and compare to PSAT scores to determine whether SAT or ACT is their better test, 
2. Lessons in SAT and ACT test taking strategy to learn the fine print how the tests are scored, what the test writers reward, and the best way to prioritize your energy and time during a test, and
3. Practice with test-taking techniques to improve accuracy, efficiency, and consistency on the exams. 

Levels of Support

The free class this July will teach students about the best way to take the test and help them determine whether they should focus on the SAT or the ACT in the fall. That is a great start, and for many students the class may be all they need to feel confident. That said, many students can also use the SAT and ACT as motivation to improve their math, grammar, reading, and timed essay skills. One-to-one expert instruction for the SAT and ACT remains the gold standard in test preparation. Therefore, Brewster is also offering families two additional levels of support that include one-to-one test-prep sessions to address test content:

LEVEL ONE / JULY WORKSHOP: July Strategy & Technique Workshop (families contribute $50 for materials) 12 classes, one hour each, including virtual mock exam and projected score

LEVEL TWO / INDIVIDUALIZED: July Strategy & Technique Workshop with 5 individual 1:1 sessions (families contribute $520).

LEVEL THREE / INTENSIVE: July Strategy & Technique Workshop with 10 individual 1:1 sessions (families contribute $990).

To learn more about Knower’s one-to-one approach to test-prep, please visit https://www.knoweracademics.com/courses/knower-test-prep/summer/ about these offerings.

Charges for the test preparation programs will be billed to student's tuition accounts and must be paid prior to the start of the program. 

This course covers some of the basic principles underlying the physics of everyday life, including forces and motion, momentum and energy, and optics. Topics will be presented both conceptually and mathematically. Students will have exposure to Brewster’s scientific writing process through analyzing data collected with award-winning lab simulations. Each unit will have a student-choice activity to connect the content of the week to a real life scenario, increasing knowledge retainment. (BLOCK B)

This course covers some of the basic principles of chemistry. Students will be introduced to topics related to matter, atomic structure, the periodic table, molecules, ions, and balancing equations. Students will have exposure to Brewster’s scientific writing process through analyzing data collected with award-winning lab simulations. Each unit will have an emphasis on creating data tables, graphing, and critical thinking. (BLOCK C)

The Zoom Where It Happens:

Learn the story behind how Lin-Manuel Miranda got the inspiration for the creation and musical styles of hit Broadway musical Hamilton, while receiving guided instruction on analyzing and using documents from history. As part of a final project, you will create your own Hamilton-style performance, with "your shot" to be featured nationally on social media. The Hamilton Education Project, also known as EduHam, is a partnership between the producers and the Gilder-Lehrman Institute for U.S. History, now available this summer to all middle- and high-school students. Its curriculum features exclusive videos from Lin-Manuel Miranda on the creative process behind many of the musical's hit songs, including how he used different perspectives from historical figures to craft unique and diverse musical styles. Read the primary source-documents and biographies that come to life in the musical of the century, while you explore a database of historical documents & stories on your own that will allow you to craft an original musical number. One of the first teachers to teach EduHam as part of its pilot program in 2019, Mr. Browher will be your historical guide and ambassador while you learn essential preparatory skills of analysis, research, and using historical evidence, to give YOUR voice a chance to be heard. (BLOCK B)

Preparing for Precalculus? In this four-week online course we will be reviewing topics covered in Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. We will cover the topics that will be most helpful to success in Precalculus. These topics include solving linear equations, solving equations with exponents, graphing lines, and graphing quadratics. We will look at these topics in a rigorous and applied way. (BLOCK A)

In this multidisciplinary course, you will delve more deeply into the world of science through artistic interpretations of scientific findings. Throughout the four weeks you will learn the psychology behind color and compositions, as well as come to a better understanding of the world around you by creating artistic representations of scientific discoveries such as phospholipid bilayers, double helix DNA, viral structures, and anatomical structures. This course is suitable for all grade and experience levels. (BLOCK B)

In 1968 artist Andy Warhol said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Our thirst for storytelling and human connection has met a remarkable technology for delivery and storage. What impact does the sudden rise of electronic communication carry? Students will explore the ways modern media has changed and how it has changed us. We will analyze a sampling of modern media, consider its power, and make some of our own. (BLOCK C)

Artist Pablo Picasso said, “Art is the lie that helps us see the truth.” He was talking about painting, but the statement certainly applies to the short story. Students will examine the way writers create worlds on a page, explore human conflict, and provoke thought. Students will read contemporary authors and consider what ails them. Fancy yourself a writer? Students will tinker with the craft as part of their exploration of a collection of strange, unsettling, and piercing visions of truth. (BLOCK A)

In this course, students will have the opportunity to experience a variety of aspects of theater. We begin with a sampling of different aspects of performance and writing. Students will be able to finish the session by focusing on an area of interest such as audition skills, storytelling, and playwriting, or musical theater. (BLOCK B)

Use the modality of yoga to learn about how the muscles joints and fascia work together to move the body. We will practice yoga poses and pair the movements with the study of the structure of the body. Students will learn basic anatomy and kinesiology terms and will understand the functions and mechanics of movement. A great class for dancers, human biologists, or anyone curious about the way the body moves. (BLOCK C)

Learn to develop your own personal sketching style—get emotional! Channel your energies into abstraction, journaling, creative drawing with us this summer. Don’t let the blank page scare you. Now is your chance to spend time doodling, sketching, collaging, and working with mixed media. Practice your artist critique skills with peers and your teacher. Study how emotional prompts can illuminate your inner artist. Join us for a summer experience filling the pages of your sketchbook. 
Materials: (a variety of materials preferred) but can be done with pencils/color pencil and pen only 
(BLOCK A)

Learn the techniques the pros use to take captivating photos and tell a story with pictures. All shot on your cell phone. With these latest techniques you can capture shots with the quality of a professional camera. Improve your instagram posts and stun your friends! You don't need to bring anything to the class except the phone in your pocket! See you online! (BLOCK C)