JanTerm
JanTerm is one of the most exciting times of the year for Upper School students. During the three-week period, Upper School students focus on a single topic in great depth and at an accelerated pace. Each JanTerm course offers cross-disciplinary experiences in the classroom and off campus—seeing real-world impact is a vital part of the experience. JanTerm fosters collaboration and provides venues for students to create, innovate and problem-solve outside of their academic classes.
JanTerm Highlights
Each year, students choose from more than 40 JanTerm offerings. Courses cover a range of topics including business, history, sports, global cultures, technology, and so much more! Below, view highlights from courses offered during JanTerm26.
Biodiversity and Sustainability
This course explores the vital role biodiversity plays in sustaining healthy ecosystems and examines the environmental, cultural, and scientific challenges connected to conservation and sustainable development. Through the study of local initiatives at Westminster and across Atlanta, students investigate how communities are working to preserve natural resources and promote environmental responsibility. The course extends beyond the classroom through immersive travel to the Florida Everglades and Keys, where students examine diverse ecosystems firsthand and analyze the relationship between human activity and environmental stewardship. Through field research, discussions, and collaborative projects, students develop a deeper understanding of sustainability and consider how individuals and communities can contribute to the long-term health of the planet.
Cultivating Well-Being and the Psychology of Flow
This course examines the psychology of well-being through the study of “flow,” the state of deep engagement in which individuals become fully immersed in meaningful activities. Drawing on psychological research, experiential learning, and personal reflection, students investigate how flow contributes to happiness, resilience, creativity, and a sense of purpose. Through activities designed to encourage mindfulness, self-awareness, and personal growth, students identify the experiences and practices that enhance their own well-being. The course also explores broader themes of health, stress management, and human flourishing, culminating in the development of a personalized well-being practice grounded in the science and psychology of flow..
Global Education Guatemala-Learn, Build Connect
Students examine the historical, cultural, and economic connections between Guatemala and the United States while exploring the challenges of housing insecurity and community development. Through the study of Guatemalan history, geography, language, religion, government, and economics, students develop a deeper understanding of the country’s people and culture prior to travel. Partnering with the organization From Houses to Homes, students collaborate to raise funds and travel to Guatemala to work alongside local families in the construction of safe, sustainable, and culturally appropriate homes. Through service learning, cultural immersion, and community engagement, students explore how housing, education, and healthcare intersect in shaping opportunity and quality of life. The course culminates in reflection projects that connect students’ experiences abroad with broader questions of global citizenship and social responsibility.
Global Education: Voices of Resilience
The Jewish people have endured centuries of exile and genocide. In the midst of this adversity, they have demonstrated remarkable resilience. This course explores the history of the Jewish experience and antisemitism from antiquity to the present. Using firsthand accounts, literature, film, art, and immersive travel, students analyze the origins, varied manifestations, and persistence of antisemitism today. Students also examine the psychology and neuroscience of group dynamics and the strategies that leaders use to appeal to innate cognitive biases. Students travel to the Czech Republic and Poland to visit various historic sites including concentration camps, museums, and synagogues.
Hispanic Cuisines and Cultures
This course explores the cultural significance, history, and diversity of Hispanic cuisines and their influence throughout the United States and across the world. Students investigate how food reflects identity, migration, tradition, and community while studying culinary practices spanning Latin America, Spain, and other regions shaped by Hispanic culture. Through cooking, tasting, research, and discussion, students analyze the emotional and cultural connections people maintain through food and examine how cuisine serves as a powerful expression of heritage and belonging. Field experiences in Atlanta’s Hispanic communities allow students to engage directly with local restaurants, markets, and cultural spaces. The course culminates in a final culinary and cultural project that highlights the relationship between food, history, and identity. No prior Spanish experience is required, though students will develop basic culinary vocabulary and conversational phrases throughout the course.
Live Performances: Experiment, Collaborate, and Present!
This course examines the role of live performance in shaping community, personal expression, and cultural identity. Through the study and practice of musical and spoken performance traditions — including jazz, Americana, storytelling, spoken word, and slam poetry — students explore how artists connect with audiences and communicate ideas through performance. Working alongside professional performers and engaging in collaborative workshops, students develop confidence, stage presence, and creative voice through daily performance experiences. The course includes immersive travel to New Orleans, where students investigate the city’s rich musical and cultural history through live performances, historical sites, and conversations with local artists. The experience culminates in a final live performance in which each student presents an original or selected piece developed throughout the term. No prior performance experience is required; curiosity, collaboration, and active participation are essential components of the course.
Disney: Imagineering Identity
This course explores how Walt Disney’s “Worlds”—diverse media holdings, multiple theme parks, and a gigantic corporate empire—reflect and often shape the nature of identity in contemporary society. Whether it is recent controversies surrounding the casting of The Little Mermaid, depictions of disability in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, changing attitudes regarding social mobility and socioeconomic realities in America, or the changing roles of Disney’s female heroes, Disney’s vast impact on the cultural landscape of America reveals cultural contradictions, preoccupations, and established values and beliefs that have informed viewers and visitors alike. Through the screening of Disney animated full-length features, documentaries, short films, and selected readings, students are looking at these cultural landscapes and honing skills in critical viewership. In addition, students enjoy a visit to the “Happiest Place on Earth,” Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Students design and create a final project that reflects the themes of the course.
This Janterm was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I love how we got to truly experience life in Kenya through staying in the dorms and at the boarding school. The best part of the trip was the connections you make among peers.Student, Mount Kenya Exchange Program
JanTerm26 By the Numbers
Engaging, experiential, cross-disciplinary and project-based learning.
130K+
Miles traveled during JanTerm
41
Courses
280
Field trips
60+
On-campus speakers
55
Internships
11
Years running and counting!