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Jestermester

Jestermester is a once-per-year mini-term when students have the opportunity to do a dive deep into a single topic that interests them for a full week of immersive, hands-on learning.

During Jestermester, Emma teachers and students alike embrace the spirit of the Jester and bring an extra sense of play and adventure to the work of teaching and learning. Jestermester courses are designed to energize and inspire our student body, asking them to think on their feet, work together to solve problems, and step outside of their comfort zones to explore the world beyond their classroom walls. Here is a listing of the Jestermester courses for the 2024–2025 school year.

Interested in more information about Jestermester? Contact:

Caroline Boyajian

Caroline Boyajian

Director of Curriculum and Innovation, English Instructor
Jon Calos

Jon Calos

Experiential Learning Department Chair, Signature Director, Homer L. Dodge Instructor in Science
Emily Carton

Emily Carton

Director of Student & Community Life
john brown grave

A group of five students who had attended the John Brown Jestermester in March attended and spoke at the annual John Brown Day in Lake Placid—a public event with roughly 200 attendees. Our students were highlighted in the event and got to lay wreaths on John Brown's grave in the ceremony. A few students gave speeches, including one by Zahari F. ’26 and Margarette H. ’24 on their Jestermester experience.

Spring Showcase 2024

Spring Showcase, a much-anticipated tradition on campus, highlights students’ hard work from the 2023–2024 school year in Signature capstone projects, Jestermester, and Emma Artists.

Students standing in front of a brightly painted wall in a city, the wall has messages of encouragement on it.

In March, Emma Willard School embarked on the first ‘Jestermester,’ a minimester during which students and faculty engage in unique learning opportunities. While there will be more in-depth coverage coming later this spring, we’re taking a look at what the community was up to during this inaugural experiential week!

A student with back to the camera talks to a faculty member about a trip, they are looking at flyers and posters.

Friday the fifteenth of September was an exciting day. Director of Curriculum and Innovation Caroline Boyajian, Experiential Learning Department Chair Jon Calos, and Director of Student & Community Life Emily Carton stood before the school community during Morning Reports to announce the launch of Jestermester to our students. The moment was a significant milestone during an extensive process stretching back to  Emma Willard Schools strategic planning meetings in 2020.

Jestermester Fair!

Faculty shared their excitement about their Jestermester offerings at a fair in September!