On Monday January 9, The Idea School hosted its Winter Exhibition of Student Learning and welcomed a crowd of proud parents and intrigued prospective families. Exhibitions of Learning at The Idea School are what essentially replaces final exams in favor of a public presentation of the students’ learning and accomplishments throughout the semester. Among the many projects on display was a live debate in which ninth and 10th grade students, representing either the Han Dynasty or the Roman Empire, argued as to which civilization left the greater legacy. Arguments were prepared and written solely by the students.

In a study of U.S. history, the 11th and 12th graders focused on the development of New York City over the last century and created a New York Historical Society exhibit throughout the hallways and classrooms. In the newly dedicated Miri Maker Makom, engineering students displayed their creations of arcade games, sleep temperature regulators and poetry in motion. The Idea School’s music elective students wrote songs and performed them for the audience. Students and faculty alike celebrated a successful end to the first semester and are excited to build upon this learning into the second semester.