Students Embark on Week-Long Immersions to Discover Their Passions During InterSession 2024

InterSession, an experience completely unique to NDB, immerses students in a week-long course of their choice to explore interests, learn skills and discover their passions. Each year, NDB provides an array of activities from which students can choose. Gazing at the Washington Monument, making pizza in Italy, hugging Brixton the therapy dog and venturing to Alcatraz were just a few of the many highlights of InterSession this year! 

On Tuesday morning, February 20, campus was buzzing with a variety of creative on-campus courses, including:

• Creative Circle - Jewelry Making
• 克里卡特設計空間
• EmpowerHER - Impacting Young Women’s Lives
• From Telling to Showing: Screenwriting and the West Wing
• Non-Violence Workshop
• Screen Printing
• 為初學者和經驗豐富的縫紉師縫紉
• Strum, Pick, and Play - Guitar for All
• Threads that Turn Heads - Embroidery Art

As the popular Taylor Swift lyrics danced through the halls, "Make friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it," Tigers in the Creative Circle Jewelry Making class made bracelets and water bottle charms for their friends with Ms. Martin.

The sound of Taylor Swift wasn't the only music that travelled through the halls. The sweet sound of strumming also echoed from the NDB basement where Tigers joined Mr. Estrada for daily jam sessions. "Strum, Pick, and Play" provided a comprehensive guitar class designed to take beginners on an exciting journey into the world of guitar playing. Perfect for students with little to no prior experience with the guitar, the class covered the fundamentals of guitar. By the end of the week, students played some of their favorite songs and learned basic production with Garage Band.

If you walked the halls that week, you may have also noticed the sound of Cricuts coming from the Art Room. The Cricut Design Space class empowered students to learn how to screen print clothing and decals using the Cricut printer. Students designed iron-on and stick-on decals featuring their favorite characters with Mr. Thiesen and Ms. Soto.

While Tigers laughed and learned on campus, some students enjoyed immersions that combined on and off-campus activities including: 

• 1,2, 3, Blastoff - STEAM Rocketry
• Haunted Jaunt Around the Bay
• 寵物的生活
• Service with a Smile
• Speed and Agility Camp
• The Thrill of the Thrift: Master the Art of Sustainable Style

If you needed a pick-me-up on Wednesday morning, there was no need to fear because Brixton the famous Bay Area therapy dog was here! An esteemed facilitator of laughs and comfort, Brixton brought a smile to not only the Life of Pets class, but the entire campus as she walked the halls in a sparkly getup and stylish sunglasses. 

While the Life of Pets Class enjoyed their warm and furry visit with Brixton, the Haunted Jaunt Around the Bay class ventured off for the thrill of the chill. Students visited Alcatraz to learn about the history and hauntings of the famous prison on The Rock.

The mission to find happy and not-so-happy haunts didn't stop there. Students ventured to the Winchester Mystery House, an architectural wonder and historic landmark in San Jose, CA that was once the personal residence of Sarah Lockwood Pardee Winchester, the widow of William Wirt Winchester and heiress to a large portion of the Winchester® Repeating Arms fortune.

While Tigers looked for haunts around the Bay, the Service with a Smile class donated their time and smiles to charity organizations around the bay including Jasper Ridge Farm, a non-profit organization in Portola Valley that provides animal interactions and therapeutic horseback riding for children, adults and military veterans in need. Students spent the day cleaning the barn, washing tack and grooming adorable animals including goats and horses.

The mission to spread smiles while providing service didn't stop at the farm. Later in the week, students conducted a beach cleanup at the bay for the city of San Mateo.

While Tigers gave back to our community by cleaning the bayshore, others dashed to the finish line in the athletic Speed and Agility Camp with Coach Douglas. By working on specific skills such as lifting and running, students learned new ways to better themselves through physical activity.

While some students enjoyed the thrill of the race in the Moore Pavilion on campus, others enjoyed feeling the burn on the trail. The Peninsula Hikes group enjoyed the Coastal Trail in Half Moon Bay (5 miles), Crystal Springs (5 miles), Mavericks Cliffs and trails (4 miles) and Windy Hill (5.4 miles).

In addition to Peninsula Hikes, students enjoyed a variety of local off-campus activities including:

• Bay Area College Tours
• Empowerment through Sustainable Farming
• Culinary Discoveries: Cooking, Giving, and Exploring
• College Visits
• Family Trips
• Volunteer or Internship

Did you know that there is an entire science that goes into cultivating sustainable soil? Students visited the historic Filoli Gardens to learn about sustainable farming. Tigers learned about irrigation drip systems, sustainable soil composition, steam heat for greenhouses in the winter and so much more!

Meanwhile, some Tigers ventured out of state or abroad for a variety of off-campus overnights, including:

• Bella Italia
• CloseUp Washington D.C.
• Pajaro Valley Immersion: Casa de la Cultura with Sisters of Notre Dame
• SoCal College Visits
• College Visits
• Family Trips
• Volunteer or Internship

What do Tigers do when in Rome? Make a vlog, of course! Tigers traveling across Italy vlogged their experiences on NDB's TikTok account to let their fellow NDB peers know what they were up to while they were abroad. Their travels included visiting the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, the Trevi Fountain and attending a pizza and gelato making class.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Tigers ventured to Washington D.C. to learn U.S. history. They visited many historical sites including Mt. Vernon, the Supreme Court, the Washington Monument and Belmont Sewall, where Alice Paul stood when the 19th amendment was ratified giving women the right to vote. 

Among the many immersions, many Tigers visited a variety of colleges across the country and were given person tours by a variety of NDB alumnae - once a Tiger, always a Tiger!

While many Tigers travel and packs, some venture off solo to immerse themselves in professional internships. Haley shadowed Anna Goggiano Ranes '03 to learn about being a Physical Therapist.

All in all, Tigers had an incredible week full of incredibly creative and unique experiences that captivated each of their interests. 

Learn more about InterSession at NDB