Winterim
Welcome to Winterim!
March 14-22, 2024
OES Winterim courses take place over the six class days before spring vacation each year, and reflect an intentional time set aside in the OES Upper School for experiential and immersive education. Our courses explore an array of topics, locations, ideas, and patterns in and around our local Portland area, domestically across the United States, and internationally in varying locations each school year. Our international courses are rooted in building global competence and intercultural learning opportunities, while our domestic and local courses encourage students to cultivate their curiosity and reach beyond what is familiar by leaning into our inquiry based learning cycle of exploring, creating, connecting, committing, and reflecting. We are working towards the integration of the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards into each of our course offerings by 2024.
See OES Winterim Experiences!
In action, this means that faculty and students collaborate to plan a broad variety of experiences that provide opportunities for them to work and learn together as part of our shared community.
As a cornerstone of our inquiry-based learning, participation in Winterim each year is a requirement for all students, while also generating some of the best memories of the school year!
Travel Documents
Each student traveller will need a valid passport for international travel. Some students may also require an additional travel visa for the destination country that they are placed in. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to obtain all required travel documents for their student. Copies of all travel documents will need to be submitted to the US Main Office 30 days before departure.
Flexible-Tuition for Winterim
OES offers need-based financial support for Winterim courses. It is our goal to enable all students to participate in one international or domestic Winterim trip during their tenure in the Upper School. Families that have not completed the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) for 2023-2024 will be asked to submit tax documents along with their Winterim financial assistance application. The supplemental aid committee of flexible tuition will prioritize funding to students who have not already participated in an international or domestic Winterim trip. Domestic Winterim trips are considered to be trips that travel outside of Oregon. Please note: All families are eligible to apply for financial assistance for Winterim.
2024 Courses
2024 Domestic and Local Courses will be added before winter break 2023.
All Winterim courses will be working towards the following outcomes:
- Integration of the OES Essential Competencies
- Integration of the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards
- Demonstration of Inquiry Based Learning
NOTE: Courses marked with a 🖐 indicate that the course involves a service component.
2024 International Courses
2024 Domestic Courses
- Arches and Ascents: Ancient Trails and Modern Adventures in Moab Utah
- Buy/Sell: The Art Market in New York City
- Cactus and Canyons
- Dogsledding Discovery: Boundary Waters of Minnesota
- Joshua Tree Adventure Expedition
- Mississippi to Memphis: Following the Soulful Strides to Freedom
- Pacific Fusion: Exploring Marine Ecology, Volcanic Marvels, & Sustainable Aquaculture in Hawaii
- Physical and Cultural Landscapes of New Mexico
- Wallowas Backcountry Ski Trip
Arches and Ascents: Ancient Trails and Modern Adventures in Moab Utah
Buy/Sell: The Art Market in New York City
Cactus and Canyons
Dogsledding Discovery: Boundary Waters of Minnesota
Joshua Tree Adventure Expedition
Mississippi to Memphis: Following the Soulful Strides to Freedom
Pacific Fusion: Exploring Marine Ecology, Volcanic Marvels, & Sustainable Aquaculture in Hawaii
Physical and Cultural Landscapes of New Mexico
Wallowas Backcountry Ski Trip
2024 Local Courses
- All School Production Team
- Becoming Sherlock Holmes: Deduction Games, Escape Rooms, & How to be a Detective
- Bouldering as Self Discovery
- Ceramics: Leveling Up!
- Community Engagement: Exploring the Outcomes
- Computational Storytelling
- Films, Food, and Stories: A Journey Through Portland
- Introduction to Screenprinting: Art as Activism
- Lower School Interns
- Outdoor School Internship
- Sew Practical!
- W3 Wings! Waves! Water!