January Term 2014

The academic year at Salem Academy is divided into 3 terms: semester one, January Term and semester two. As is the case with first and second semester grades, grades for January Term courses and internships are recorded on the student's transcript. Successful completion of January Term is a graduation requirement.

January Term is a period of approximately three weeks following the winter holiday that is set aside for learning and exploration not typically encompassed by the curriculum of regular classes. The entire program is divided into two main parts: on-campus and off-campus. Essentially, the on-campus portion is for freshmen and sophomores; the off-campus portion is for juniors and seniors.

Following Jan Term, students present information about their experiences to faculty, staff, fellow students and the public. Here is a look at Jan Term 2012 "Sharing Day".

The On-Campus Program

The on-campus program for freshmen and sophomores is classroom-based, but it is not routine. Unlike our usual six-period academic schedule, the morning is divided into three class periods; and unlike our traditional curriculum, classes offered during Jan Term present subject matter and approaches to subject matter that are not usually a part of the traditional curriculum. Recent Jan Term classes include photography, kitchen chemistry, creative writing, natural and organic health, automotive essentials, Latin America and human rights and the history of law.

In addition, tutorials are offered during the morning schedule in math, English,and foreign language. These tutorials focus primarily on review of materials covered during first semester. Only those students who need to review material are assigned to tutorials by their first semester teachers. Students who have performed satisfactorily first semester are not typically assigned to tutorials.

The on-campus afternoon is characterized by variety. Students can select from a wide assortment of enrichment activities: from art, music and athletics, to community service in schools, and drivers' education.

The Off-Campus Program

The off-campus portion of Jan Term is mostly for juniors and seniors. The exception to this is the school-sponsored trip, which is open to all students. The off-campus program offers the student one of three possible learning experiences: (1) Internship, (2) Alumnae Honor Internship and (3) School-sponsored trip. Each of these options is an alternative learning experience outside of the traditional academic environment of the Academy.  The internship must be designed by the student herself and be educational in nature.

As is the case with 9th and 10th graders, however, juniors and seniors may also be required to remain at school for tutorials if they are experiencing difficulty in a particular course. In addition, juniors who receive an Unsatisfactory grade for their Jan Term experience will be required to take on-campus classes during their senior year. Likewise, seniors will be required to make up any Unsatisfactory grade by undertaking a new internship during second semester. For all students, successfully completing the January Term is a graduation requirement.