Latin School of Chicago

Upper School For the upper school, Project Week resumed domestically. Nick Baer, upper school drama teacher and dean of eleventh and twelfth grades, led a group of students to Los Angeles, where they met with actors, producers, writers and directors in the television and film industry. "It's such a powerful week for students," said Baer. "Getting out of the classroom and deeply exploring a subject just opens a lot of eyes for students." Additionally, students meet people from all grades and form relationships. Michael Cardoza '24, an eleventh grader, did service work with Habitat for Humanity in Chicago last year. "It was fun to meet and mix with the upperclassmen," he said. "We got to ask them questions about junior and senior year." And students get to see teachers in a different light. "I personally chose Habitat because of the teachers who were attending the trip," said Cardoza, who had had those teachers previously. "I thought this would be a good way to get to know them better." These hands-on, immersive experiences where students can talk to experts and delve deep into a subject are vital for student development. Anaitzel Franco '23, a senior, took a trip to Memphis, Birmingham and Montgomery, exploring the civil rights trail. "I really enjoyed being with people who are just as amazed and curious about civil rights as I am," she said. "What I value most about the trip is that it transformed my understanding of United States history." Top right: Upper school students on the "LA TV & Film" Project Week met actor and Latin alum Ike Barinholtz '95. Newly Formed Endowment Supports Experiential Learning and Access Randall Dunn, Head of School from 2011 to 2022, was passionate about experiential learning. He inspired the creation of Senior Projects early in his Latin career, where students can pursue an individual interest, (sometimes non-academic) during the last month of their senior year. More than 90 percent of Latin seniors participate in a Senior Project, but funding was sometimes an issue for students pursuing a particular project. The Randall Dunn Experiential Learning and Access Endowment was created to help alleviate those barriers. The endowment will provide permanent funding for experiential learning and student-driven learning such as Senior Projects, Capstones (where students engage in a challenging, multi-disciplinary, experience, usually for their entire senior year) and Independent Studies (where students pursue a semester- or year-long academic interest under the supervision of a faculty member). Whether the funding is used to hire artists to teach students dance techniques or to purchase supplies, students can dream big. "I am very excited to have Randall Dunn acknowledged for all that he's done," said Ingrid Dorer Fitzpatrick, director of academic initiatives, and an upper school history and social studies teacher. "The endowment will make it easier for all students to have access and to financially support their ideas." A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 0 2 1 – 2 2 1 3

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