Winter Term Program
Overview Gould Academy’s Winter Term program provides student-athletes (alpine, snowboarding, and freeride/freestyle) with the best combination of training, competition, academics, and healthy community life. The Winter Term program runs concurrently with Gould’s Winter Trimester, from mid-November through mid-March.
Winter Term Program Director Gould is pleased to welcome Andrew Whyte as the new Winter Term Program Director. Mr. Whyte joins Gould from Australia where he taught at the Alpine School for Student Leadership and administered the Mount Hotham Race Squad in Mount Hotham, Victoria. Prior to this, he worked for five years with Killington Mountain School in positions including Dean of Students, Director of Student Life, and Head of Residential Life. Having recently completed his Masters in Education Leadership, he is now focused on building a positive community and providing effective student support. Also an accomplished mariner, Mr. Whyte has captained two sail crossings of the Pacific. His wife and two children will remain in Australia during the 2016-17 term.
Academics Winter Term’s academic programming consists of two parts: a student’s home math and language curriculum and the Gould Winter Term humanities, science, design thinking, and arts curriculum.
Home math and language. In the month prior to students arriving and in
the last month of the program there will be a phone conference with the Winter Term Program Director, home teacher, and parents. The first conference call will establish relationships, learning goals, and assessment protocols. Throughout the winter term, the Program Director and home teacher will be in regular contact to discuss student progress. The final conference call will evaluate student progress and establish a plan for transition back to their home curriculum.
Humanities. Gould’s humanities curriculum will focus on reading, writing, and analytical skills through engagement with literary and historical sources. The course will be designed by Dr. Brad Clarke, Gould’s History Department Chair and Associate Dean of Academics. Dr. Clarke will also serve as the Winter Term Program Director’s academic mentor.
Science. The Gould science curriculum will be designed by Peter Southam,
Gould’s Science Department Chair, and will develop scientific skills and critical thinking through lab work and work in the field, including such units as winter ecology and the physics of snowmaking.
Design Thinking. Students will engage in a term-long design thinking
challenge with the support of Sara Shifrin, Gould’s IDEAS Center Director. This challenge will focus on an aspect of their experience at Sunday River and will build their creative confidence through interviewing, storytelling, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Visual Arts. Students will have regular visual arts classes that engage their creative and visual talents. Students will gain a broader understanding of the fundamentals of art and design through experience with a variety of faculty, materials and processes.
Progress Check Ins. The Program Director and parents will meet during
Gould’s winter Parents’ and Family Weekend for midterm progress meetings. Parents will also have access to student grades and performance through the Canvas learning management system. Final grades will be issued the week after the end of Winter Term. Of course, we’re happy to talk anytime!
Winter Term Dorm at Viking Village
Life at The Mountain Gould’s Winter Term House is located less than 1,000 feet from the Kailey Competition Center in Sunday River Resort’s Barker base area. On a typical training morning, students will eat breakfast here before making the short walk up to our slopeside lodge. After training, students will take a quick bus ride down to Gould’s campus for lunch and academic work. Evening study hall can be held on campus, at the house, or at the Kailey Competition Center, depending on the academic and competition preparation needs during that time. To accommodate transfers between Sunday River and Gould Academy, the Winter Term Program will have dedicated transportation. Day students can start their day at the Kailey Competition Center or have breakfast on campus before catching the bus to Sunday River. Parents may pick up their student(s) at the end of the class day or after evening study hall. The new Winter Term House located in Sunday River’s Viking Village features separate boys and girls bathrooms and bedrooms conveniently located on different floors, with the Program Director’s suite well-placed for supervision. As with all of Gould residential facilities, there will be regular visits by school administrators to ensure the highest community and safety standards. Parents are also welcome at the house anytime.
Life on Campus The fun and energy of campus life are central to the Winter Term student experience. As such, lunch and dinner will generally be eaten on campus and class time will be conducted in dedicated classroom space. Each student will also have access to their own locker located within the Day Student Commons. On campus, students will take part in Gould programming including formal dinner on Tuesday evenings; all-school assemblies; and will participate in Gould’s annual events including Winter Carnival and Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day. This is in addition, of course, to the work they’ll do in the campus’s IDEAS Center, science labs, and Art Cottage. Evening study hall will also be held on campus one or two nights each week to provide regular access to the Math and Writing help centers.
Being Away from Home Five months is a long time for students of this age to be away from home. We encourage parents to be a regular presence during the course of the program (e.g. dinner during the week, weekends at home, and visiting the program house for weekend dinners and movie nights). Parents should contact Mr. Whyte at any time with concerns or special family circumstances. One of Gould’s strengths is the healthy network of relationships that keep students safe and helps them achieve their goals. On a daily basis students will be embedded in this network which includes Mr. Whyte, Coach Simard, Deb Costello, discipline-specific coaches, the athletic trainer, health center staff, other Gould faculty, and friends.
For more information about the Winter Term Program contact:
Cory McClure
Associate Director of Admissions 207-824-7732 | mcclurec@gouldacademy.org