On Monday, October 28, 2024, students participated in an all-school Enrichment Day. The day allowed students to deviate from their normal daily schedules and learn in new environments. Each form went on different trips in the area for a lesson catered to their current curriculums.

The third form travelled to Philadelphia to the Franklin Institute and Philadelphia Zoo where they were free to explore everything both sites had to offer. This science-focused trip invited students to learn about many different topics from the human body to habitats and ecosystems.

Fourth form students took a trip to Gettysburg, Pa. to get a closer look at the history of the Battle of Gettysburg. Students visited the Cyclorama to see a massive, wraparound painting of the battle in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum before they went on a self-guided tour. They then went on a guided bus tour of the battlegrounds in which they made several stops, including one at the Pennsylvania monument plaque to locate Jackson Bala ’27’s great-great-great-grandfather who served in the 150^th infantry.

The fifth form class visited the Museum of the American Revolution and Independence Hall in Philadelphia where they toured both sites. Afterwards, they had the opportunity to stroll down the cobblestones of Old City. Additionally, they experienced the cultural adventure of the Reading Terminal Market to finish their day.

Sixth form students split their day between local or on-campus workshops led by a variety of faculty members and completing their upcoming college applications. Mark Pearson ’78 P’20 ‘24, Senior Master Teacher of Humanities, worked with students through a workshop about Vincent Van Gogh where they created line drawings of the Alumni Chapel by tracing at the window. Yoon Soo Lim, Athey Family Master Teacher of the Arts, and Laura Cobbs, Adjunct Dance Instructor, taught a combined DJ workshop, introducing them to the equipment and teaching them how to make beats and the popular dances that go along with them. Faculty members in the English Department hosted a session for students who needed assistance with their college application essays. Students received feedback and quiet time to work freely, something that is so necessary during this busy time of year.

After lunch, sixth formers gathered for a keynote speech offered by Pinckney Benedict ’82. Benedict is a director and professor of the Digital Humanities Lab of the College of Liberal Arts at Southern Illinois University. His speech was centered around the future of AI and how it will affect students’ lives and education.