Trey Whitfield students are gifted, mature, intelligent, creative and precious. As we expose them to new experiences and stimulating conversations, we see their growth, passion, and hope. This month we had the pleasure of allowing the students more creative agency and opportunity to collaborate in focus groups in order to complete a writing assignment that was dear to them, as time went on and investment went in: students saw the value of their own writing reflected back to them in a screenplay that they could use to make a film, or short movie. For most students, it was their first time working on a creative writing assignment that could be translated onto screen with some planning and strategic production steps.

Students have spent the last month working on screenplays, mood boards, storyboards, log lines and have learned how to successfully pitch their ideas in order to monetize them. They’ve also spent the month indoors, cooking, learning new recipes. We’ve allowed them more avenues for expression through our SEL-free days, where students can choose between physical excercise, a mental game, or educational conversation on current events.

Most recently, we took a trip to Cooper-Union, an engineering college with multiple engineering labs,but first — An interactive exhibit by (@amandalonglastname ) who worked closely with scientists to depict different microbes through a virtual reality app developed for smart phones. The students enjoyed the freedom of using phone technology to take in art, learn about science and the engineering and design of VR.