In addition to the three summer sessions, each student undertakes three kinds of independent work during the two intervening years.

 

Between the first and second summers:

Working with a mentor, students study the outline of the curriculum in their subject specialization, as well as researching and preparing one specific "main lesson" topic. The results of this research and preparation are shared with other students during the second summer session. In addition, students keep year-long journals of their independent reading, record their observations of adolescents, and continue with ongoing artistic practice.