MAY TERM
May Term is a 9th through 11th-grade program that provides students with a fun, dynamic, cross-curricular experience led by our Upper School faculty.
May Term classes meet during regular school hours the week after final exams conclude. Collegiate acts as a “home base” during May Term with many of the classes involving field trips off-campus to gain true experience.
• 3.5-day program
• Included in tuition
• 0.25 credit per experience
• Pass/Fail
• Local and regional opportunities
• Students choose their experience
DATES
Monday, May 18
Tuesday, May 19
Wednesday, May 20
Thursday, May 21 (Half-day)
COURSES
CIRCUS ARTS
Leighann Pusateri
MAY TERM COORDINATOR
Katie Hawbaker
khawbaker@louisvillecollegiate.org
502.479.0350
Step right up and join us for a thrilling 4-day circus arts adventure designed specifically for high school students! This high-energy course introduces you to the exciting world of circus performance, blending creativity, physical skill, and teamwork. Over four days, you’ll have the chance to explore a variety of circus disciplines, including aerial silks, lyra (aerial hoop), juggling, hooping, and stilt walking, all while building strength, coordination, and confidence. This hands-on course will introduce students to a dynamic range of circus disciplines, emphasizing creativity, physical coordination, and teamwork. Under the guidance of professional circus instructors, you’ll get hands-on experience with each apparatus and technique, progressing from basic skills to more advanced tricks and combinations. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your circus repertoire, this course is designed to challenge you, spark your creativity, and give you a taste of the thrill of performing in the circus ring.
COLLEGIATE CRITTER CARE
Gavin Bradley, Tracy Rucker, and Steven Sowell
This course will consider the multifaceted nature of animal care. Students will have the opportunity to meet and learn about animal caregivers, including veterinarian and animal keeper perspectives, as well as wildlife rehabilitator and educator viewpoints. Included in this course will be opportunities to aid wildlife species. This will include an amazing service opportunity: animal enrichment! Students will take part in one or more projects to construct enrichment materials (e.g. toys, obstacles, etc.) to be used by captive wildlife. If you love animals and you want to learn more about how to work with them, then this May Term is for you!
DIAMOND DAYS: A BASEBALL EXPERIENCE
Evan Hilbert, Derrick Staton, and Thomas Travis
A Baseball Experience gives students a chance to experience America’s pastime from every angle. You’ll get out on the field to play different versions of the game, hear from baseball historians and coaches who love the sport, and take a trip to the Louisville Slugger Museum plus catch a Louisville Bats game. We’ll dig into why baseball became our national pastime, pick up some skills, and enjoy everything that makes a day at the ballpark special—from the crack of the bat to the seventh-inning stretch.
EASTERN KENTUCKY APPALACHIAN CULTURE
Jen Hoban and Simon Stern Overnights: Monday, May 18 - Tuesday, May 19
Join us as we travel to Eastern Kentucky to learn about Appalachian culture and the environment. We will stay at the Pine Mountain Settlement School, where we will participate in a wide variety of activities from folk art to nature hikes and storytelling. We will gain a better appreciation for the history, culture, and natural beauty of Appalachia. Students will be able to share the history and culture of Appalachia in order to break cultural stereotypes. They will be able to understand the environmental importance of the area and the need to protect it.
GREAT OUTDOORS
Jennifer Ackerman, Todd Smith, and William Sutherland Overnights: Monday, May 18, and Wednesday, May 20
This outdoor-focused May Term trip will explore the natural beauty of the region. With two nights of camping and four days of outdoor recreational activities, students will get the opportunity to sleep under the stars in two separate locations after a full day of adventure. Challenge yourself to outdoor recreation on rock and water in the Red River Gorge. Hike among our planet’s most diverse hardwood forests. You will learn about Leave-No-Trace, caring for our local ecosystems, identifying species of flora and fauna, pitching a tent, and working as a team to stay safe and have a blast in our Great Outdoors.
HAUNTED KENTUCKY: LOCAL LEGENDS, FABLES, AND FOLKLORE
Thomas Cherry, Peter Karrer, and Alexis Perez
Kentucky’s history is rich with ghost stories and regional folklore that blur the line between fact and fiction. In this May Term course, students will explore the Bluegrass State’s most haunting tales and mysterious places and consider how these myths reflect ideas of fear, cultural identity, and belonging. From the chilling legends of the Pope Lick Monster and Appalachian hauntings to the eerie halls of Waverly Hills Sanatorium and the ghostly past of Old Louisville’s Victorian mansions, students are in for a spooky week of learning and lore!
HIDDEN WILDS: EXPLORING NATURE IN LOUISVILLE
Mark Amick and Abigail O’Brien
Louisville is home to more than 120 parks, including iconic designs by Fredrick Law Olmsted and one of the largest municipal forests in the country. Join us as we trek into the urban wild and explore the natural wonders just steps (or a quick drive) from our campus. We will take to the trails and the waterways for hiking, kayaking, and more. No experience is necessary, and a thirst for adventure are a huge plus!
LOUISVILLE HISPANIC IMMERSION
Diego Ojeda
Louisville Hispanic Immersion is a fun and culture-packed May Term course where students explore the vibrant Hispanic community of Louisville. Through visits to local restaurants, businesses, radio stations, Latino organizations, and Spanish-language newspapers, students will discover the richness of Hispanic life in our city. This course also provides real opportunities to practice Spanish in an immersion-style setting while enjoying authentic cultural activities and off-campus excursions.
MATH AND ART
Holland Evans, Michael Mahoney, and Charlie Suer
Explore the rich connections between Mathematics and Art. We will investigate patterns, perspective, shapes, and symmetry. You will get to make your own art projects inspired by cubist portraits, the reality-bending drawings of M.C. Escher, and mathematical truths about the universe. While some of our time will be spent at school in the Art Room and the Makery, we will also take field trips to see some art (probably at the Speed Museum) and some patterns and symmetry in the architecture downtown. More in-depth information on various math concepts, art techniques, and Makery options will be provided for those who are interested.
Pre-requisite: Geometry
P.L.A.Y.
JulieAnne Dietz, Alessandra Link, and Meghann Scharfenberger
Ready to conclude the school year in a fun yet meaningful way? PLAY, which stands for “Presence, Life, Adventure, Youth,” is designed as a retreat-style offering centered on fostering well-being and connection. PLAY encourages self-discovery, group bonding, and good old-fashioned fun through a wide range of activities. We will stay local while exploring the many incredible resources our city has to offer. Day trips may include ziplining and completing a high ropes course at Mega Cavern, pickleball at Goodbounce, exploring the woods on a railroad explorer, and receiving cryo and sauna treatments. We will reflect on the role of play and downtime in our lives while engaged in these activities. Programs will be held during the day. No experience is required. It is recommended that participants wear comfortable clothing for outdoor and movement activities. All participants must be willing to try all activities! It is also recommended that participants bring their reusable water bottles.
THE ART OF GLASS
Darcy Cleaver and Annie Murphy
Students will learn about and produce beautiful glass art. Our field trips will include artist studios, college workshops, and local “hot shops.” Students will experience hands-on demos from professional artists, academics, and experts. We will visit glassblowing studios to produce our own glass art to take home.
THEME PARK PHYSICS
Warren Erath, Erin Lerner, and Sarah Weyrens
Overnight: Tuesday, May 19
Have you ever wondered why you slide into your friend when you’re on the teacup ride, or why you don’t fly out of a roller coaster even when you’re traveling upside down? Join us for “Theme Park Physics” where we will examine the physics at work in popular amusement park rides. We will visit one area theme park, take data on rides, and analyze the physics of thrill rides.