J-term broadens horizons

Ashby students expand experiences during the session

By Lauren Radomski (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, February 16, 2008

Grilling, snowshoeing, sewing, even taxidermy: These are just some of the activities Ashby students dabbled in this week as part of the school’s third annual January term.

Known as J-term, the tradition is modeled on the month-long class some colleges offer between first and second semesters. In Ashby, J-term takes place over two days, with students in grades seven through 12 attending regular classes in the mornings and a class of their choice in the afternoons.

“The idea is for students to try to get exposed to something they wouldn’t normally see during the school day,” said Principal Tom Otte.

Lori Risbrudt, who works with fellow teacher Heidi Kent to organize J-term, said options for students have grown since the first year.

“We just kind of brainstormed and made lots and lots of phone calls, and people volunteer very freely,” she said. “We’ve always had really great luck with people giving us their afternoons.”

In addition to on-site options like breadmaking, students travel to locations like the Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA for racquetball, the Fergus Falls ice arena for skating and A Touch of Class in Battle Lake for a business lesson. Teachers do their best to match students with at least one of their top three activity choices.

Because J-term combines students across several grade levels, Otte said, students who typically don’t share a class get to spend an afternoon together.

“You get a unique mix of students that you otherwise wouldn’t get,” he said. “I have heard nothing but good things from students.”

Risbrudt echoed similar sentiments.

“They love it,” she said. “They can’t wait for it to come.”