Seventh Grade Immersion Experiences: Exploring, Creating and Connecting

Food Immersion: Students explored the deeper meaning of meals in our lives. Through hands-on activities, cultural cooking demos, a visit to Gilmour’s gardens, a service project with St. Augustine Food Pantry, a visit to local eateries, a dining etiquette class, and a shared Seder meal, students discovered how food connects us to each other, to our faith and to the world around us.

The Wild Side of Cleveland: Students began with a volunteer experience at Rescue Village, an animal shelter. They then visited the Upcycle Maker Space in downtown Cleveland, focusing on sustainability and participating in a project to develop a social enterprise addressing a social issue they were passionate about. Students explored the Cleveland Zoo, discovering animals from around the world and learning about conservation efforts. The final day took them to the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, where they hiked, learned about the Great Lakes ecosystem, and tested the water and air quality.

Art Odyssey: Inspired by artists like Eric Carle, Matisse and Jackson Pollock, students discovered how art communicates powerful messages. They visited the Cleveland Museum of Art, learned about photojournalism and created their own artwork reflecting these influential styles.

Evolution of Gaming: Diving into game design, students learned classic board games and explored the business behind them. They partnered with “Games for Love,” a nonprofit that creates games for children with disabilities, and even designed a new game called “The Race in Space,” a strategic, resource-focused game with a European influence.