The first two weeks after Christmas Break is host to the Bethany J-term. Each year teachers lead different activities that vary from year to year. This year, there were new classes as well as continuing ones.
Dale Shenk led a ukulele building class. The main goal was to build and be able to play a ukulele. A typical day would include watching an instructional video, then following what the video said. Periodically, one or two students would use a professionally made ukulele to practice chords, etc. Dale plans to do this class again, but with some modification. He would have the students build some homemade instruments like cigar-case guitars while the ukuleles were drying.
Benji Hurst led a 2-D animation class. The goal of these two weeks was to introduce kids to professional level software, and to warm them up to 2-d creative animation and design. During a typical day, students were allowed to work on their own projects within some set parameters. Many students also explored different types of media to supplement their projects. Benji most enjoyed watching the final projects and seeing how far the students had come from day one.
Craig Mast went to Miami with his group, specifically Little Havana, a part of the city that is mostly populated by Cubans. Craig had the goal of immersing students in a different culture and Spanish speaking environment. A typical day consisted of eating together for breakfast, followed by two hours of class. After class, they would have lunch somewhere in the community, followed by some experiential learning based on the day´s theme. After this, they would have dinner and conversation with their hosts. Craig most enjoyed conversing with their Honduran hosts.
Adam Graber-Roth led a Technical Theater group with the goal of learning more about technical theater terms and jobs, as well as building part of the set for this year’s Bethany musical. A typical day consisted of a morning of “lecture” which could be anything from technical terms, to script reading, to field trips to other theaters. In the afternoon, the students would build the set. Adam most enjoyed getting to know the students as well as have the opportunity to pass on his knowledge of technical theater.
Michael Yeakey and Josh Weaver led a Bicycle trip J-term that only met for one week in January. They will finish their time in the summer, when the weather is more suitable to biking. The main goal of this J-term was to teach students about bicycle maintenance and safety. A typical day consisted of training on stationary bikes, watching instructional videos, and working on personal research projects. Michael most enjoyed teaching about different aspects of cycling, as well as going on field trips to different bike stores around town.
Krysten Parson led a leadership J-term focused on leadership and problem-solving skills. A typical day was spent with the 4th and 5th graders, teaching, leading and playing with them. The last couple of days were spent at Friedenswald with the 4th and 5th graders. KP enjoyed watching her students get more confident and grow in leadership.
John Mast lead a food J-term. This was aimed to teach students where food came from, and how to get it locally, as well as how to cook it. A typical day was spent at East Goshen Mennonite Church, where they cooked and had guest chefs come in to help them. John most enjoyed the Ethiopian food, and the fact that everything was made from scratch.
Eric Kaufman led a Civil Rights J-term that traveled to Chicago. There, they learned about different Civil Rights issues and about the movement. They also volunteered at different inner-city agencies that helped low income people. After this, they would head over to the DOOR headquarters to have some lectures and a debrief of the day. Eric most liked that his group enjoyed and showed interest in the topic, as well as helping others.
Bethany J-terms are always a highlight in the student’s years, and everyone enjoys the opportunity to learn something outside of the standard curriculum.
-Corey Hostetler