Fall Intersession 2008

Hogwarts School

During the recent intersession, fourteen 6th & 7th graders spent a week studying wizardry at the Hogwarts School. Professors Sprout (Ellin Klor), Trelawney (Andi Barlas), and Madam Hooch (Gaby DiMuro) kept the first year students busy visiting Diagon Alley for school supplies (wands, quills, ink, and rolls of parchment), playing quidditch, performing house elf duties (shrunken mandrake's heads & clean-up), making Halloween treats at Honeydukes, attending courses such as the History of Magic, Arithmancy, and Divination, and enjoying scones, crumpets, and drinkable potions for elevenses.

The students were sorted into four houses, and treated to a delightful rendition of the Sorting Hat Song. Competition for the House Cup was intense, with Hippogriff House emerging as the winner by a hair.

Women in Film

During intersession, students had an opportunity to examine the role women played in films between 1930 and 1950. Films centered on their portrayal from victim to villain and themes focused around loyalty and ambition. Movies included Baby Face (1933), Rebecca (1940), Notorious (1946), Mildred Pierce (1945) and All About Eve (1950). By the end of the week, students were able to analyze the transformation of women from the beginning of the movie to the end; messages of the film; and how these films fit in communally and culturally of that era.

Culture and Practice of Middle-Eastern Dancing:
Bellydancing for middle schoolers!

Native to North Africa and parts of Asia, middle-eastern belly dancing is based on one of the oldest social dances in world history. An eager and talented group of GMS students had the opportunity to learn this brand new art and fitness skill during Intersession. The students participated in all aspects of the choreography, rehearsal and performance of a short piece which they shared with their fellow students during the Assembly, allowing everyone on campus to experience this historically-significant and celebratory dance form. The students in the class also made their own "hip scarves" which are a traditional element of the bellydancing costume because they enhance the dancer's movements both visually and musically with their jingly beaded trim. It was a great mix of art, music, history, and cultural awareness packed into a half-day class for the lucky participants.

Sneak Peek Apprentice Week at SuperSecret, Inc.

Twelve GMS girls went to work every day at SuperSecret, Inc.’s headquarters located on the Embarcadero Piers in San Francisco. They were truly apprentice product designers and all week played hard… hmmm, I mean worked hard… testing out a new online entertainment site for tweens. They provided valuable feedback to the company and along the way discovered how online games are made. Each day the apprentices spent time interacting with a different department learning how it all comes together. They observed the programmers coding, the designers illustrating, and the business people worrying about all the rest. The week culminated with the girls designing “virtual ice creams” that will be on display in the final product.

GMS Mural

The GMS Mural was designed and painted during Fall 2008 Intersession week. It was made to represent our perspective that we are not only part of the GMS community but that we are also members of a larger global community. The words around the border describe our unique personalities and characteristics. The ten silver stars painted in the sky of the mural commemorate GMS’s 10th anniversary year; each star represents one year of GMS’s history. The words “We are GMS” around the globe summarize our commitment to building a diverse, inclusive community.