Welcome

The Wingspan Program at Stoneleigh-Burnham School (SBS) is a dedicated micro term taking place in May to celebrate the end of the academic year. It is a dedicated time for students to soar in their academic inquiry, creative collaboration, personal reflection, and real-world application within their chosen branch:

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• The Arts
• Entrepreneurship
• Local & Global Studies

The WINGSPAN Program provides students with in-depth, interdisciplinary, experiential, and project-based learning opportunities. 

Our WINGSPAN program incorporates the four characteristics of a high-quality academic immersion program.

1. Active Engagement

The Wingspan Program is designed to require learners to actively engage with the concepts, rather than simply passively consuming them. This is done through a variety of activities, such as:

• Simulations: Students may participate in simulations of real-world situations, such as running a business or working on a scientific experiment.
• Role-playing exercises: Students may role-play different characters in a variety of situations, such as negotiating a contract or giving a presentation.
• Problem-solving tasks: Students may work together to solve real-world problems, such as designing a new product or developing a marketing campaign.

2. Real-World Relevance

The Wingspan Program is designed to be relevant to the real-world experiences of the learners. The content is authentic and up-to-date, and the activities are designed to prepare learners for the challenges they will face in their careers or personal lives.

For example, in the STEM branch, students may:

• Raise fresh-water trout via the hatchery method to be released into the wild along with environmental educators focused on restoring the ecosystem of the Connecticut River.
• Practice engineering with alumnae Carissa Tudryn Weber ’96, an engineer with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in pursuit of space exploration.
• Learn Scratch and Python programming to design and build robots with Doreen ’25, a competitor at the Vex Robotics World Championship, the largest robotics competition in the world.
• Explore the 1802 Dinosaur Footprints—the first dinosaur prints ever to be scientifically described—right here in Massachusetts, with a local paleontologist.
• Shadow Dr. Denise Bruner ’70, a nationally recognized expert in obesity medicine and the first female Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association, to learn about women’s health and wellness.
• Revitalize our on-campus greenhouse in partnership with trained botanists in an effort to grow edible produce to help alleviate food insecurity in our local county (Franklin County, Massachusetts).

3. Meaningful Feedback

The Wingspan Program provides students with meaningful feedback on their performance. This feedback is specific, timely, and actionable. It helps learners to identify their strengths and to develop a plan for improvement.

For example, students may receive feedback from their instructors, peers, and external experts. They may also receive feedback on their work through presentations and projects.

Social Interaction

The Wingspan Program provides learners with opportunities to interact with each other and with instructors. This interaction helps learners to learn from each other, to build relationships, and to develop their communication and collaboration skills.

For example, students may work together on group projects, participate in class discussions, and attend guest speaker events. They may also have the opportunity to interact with instructors from different disciplines and with experts from the outside world.

4. Personalized Learning

The Wingspan Program is designed to be personalized to meet the individual needs of each learner. The content and activities are tailored to the learner's interests, skill level, and learning style.

For example, students may choose to focus on a particular topic within their chosen branch. They may also choose to participate in activities that are suited to their learning style.

More Opportunities and Better Possibilities

The Wingspan Program at Stoneleigh-Burnham School is an innovative learning experience that provides students with the opportunity to explore their interests, develop their skills, and prepare for their future. It is a program that is designed to help students soar.