January Term
Following the return to campus from Winter Break, the Walnut Hill community takes a break from our usual schedule to explore new topics and pilot innovative new classes during our January Term.
During January Term, our entire student and faculty communities engage in classes and activities that encourage all to…
- Explore unfamiliar subjects, concepts or art forms
- Experiment within a space where it is safe to fail and make mistakes
- Innovate by applying new ideas or methodologies to learning or artistic practices
- Nurture our community through personal self-care, collaborative creation, and community service
The Schedule
Project Block: 9:00am–10:45am
Flex Block: 10:45am-11:30am
Explore Block (opposite lunch): 11:30am–12:40pm or 12:20–1:30pm
Arts Block: 2:00pm-6:00pm (Dance & Theater 2-6:30pm)
What do people love about January Term?
“January Term is a great experience because I'm able to explore so many things that I don’t usually have the opportunity to do! I’ve been able to take leadership classes, help out as a teacher's assistant, and participate in a global discovery program.”
Olive Gallucci
Class of 2026
“January Term at Walnut Hill allows students to engage with one another outside of arts and academics, taking time to explore things that may be outside of our comfort zone. Participating in Yoga and Mindfulness allowed me to have a space to take a break from the noise and stress of everyday life and focus on my health and wellbeing.”
Daniela Minidis
Class of 2025
"This year, I taught a January Term course! This was an exciting opportunity for me to share one of my favorite hobbies, and it was my first time teaching, which was an enlightening experience. I think that the January Term experience in itself is a lovely part of the Walnut Hill curriculum—it's the perfect time for students to explore a wide range of interesting topics and activities."
Sophia Sykes-Finkelstein
Class of 2026
"I chose the January Term class Arts and Community. I really loved the opportunity to perform for all types of people who have never had this experience. It was really, really beautiful to get to share it with them."
Linda Alvarez Santos
Class of 2025
“January Term was truly an invigorating experience filled with personal growth, embracing risk, and specifically, embracing myself."
Barron Lawrence
Class of 2028
“January Term at Walnut Hill has been pivotal toward my development as a leader. From writing my class proposal, to obtaining approval, to actually teaching in front of my peers, the entire process of creating a course has helped me develop stronger organizational and communication skills."
Katherine Adolfsson
Class of 2025
“The opportunity for students to take on a leadership role is a great feature of the January Term program. For Arts and Community, my Project Course, the students involved liked it so much that numerous students have already volunteered to run the class next year!”
Tom Keenan
Faculty Member
“At a busy school like Walnut Hill, the real currency—the thing we all crave more of—is time; time to connect across majors, time for faculty to work together who normally never work together, time to explore projects and creative ideas that are super experimental or that are heavy on process. A change of pace, a deepening of our attention, a shift in our working groups—all of these make January Term a valuable part of the whole Walnut Hill experience."
Ben Gregg
Faculty Member
“Teaching the Sneaker Design class during Walnut Hill School’s J-Term was a truly rewarding experience. The course allowed students to explore creativity through a unique blend of fashion, function, and storytelling, all while learning about the cultural and historical relevance of sneaker design. Watching students bring their ideas to life—from concept sketches to final designs—was inspiring, and the collaborative environment fostered meaningful peer feedback and self-expression. I believe this class added a fresh, exciting dimension to the J-Term experience, giving students (and faculty) a space to think differently, take creative risks, and connect design with personal identity.”
Marni Griffin
Faculty Member