Winter Term - Brooks School: Coeducational Private School in North Andover, MA

diving deep

Immersive learning gets real in Brooks School’s annual January Winter Term.

For three weeks, students dive deep into one topic with the goal of putting into practice the concept of “depth over breadth,” supporting the school’s mission of providing the most meaningful educational experiences Brooks students will have.

Choose From 35 Options!

With choices including “Innovations in Sustainability,” “Raku” pottery making, “Subversive Stitches: Activism and Service through Textile Art,” “Mindfulness” and “El Camino” (which challenged students to walk the 80-mile El Camino de Santiago in Spain), there’s a wide variety of subjects to explore.

A group of people standing in front of an ornate, Gothic-style cathedral with tall spires and intricate architectural details against a cloudy blue sky.

Many classes take daily field trips off campus and last year, 11 included overnight travel with destinations ranging from New York, New Orleans and Florida to Ireland and Spain.

Watch video from the Winter Term Symposium in Brooks’ Instagram highlights and see photos from all 2026 courses.

A person wearing headphones looks out an airplane window at a sunset over a sea of clouds.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Brooks teachers are asked each year to “dream big!” and produce a list of course proposals focused three kinds of classes: experiential, topical and approach-based.

In the fall, students sign up for a class that interests them. Each has its own requirements, expectations and meeting times, however most of the Winter Term courses place an emphasis on collaborative teaching.

“I think for most students, Winter Term is … one of their favorite parts of school. It’s such a perfect time to enjoy the best parts of being at Brooks.”

Scuba was unlike any experience I've ever had. It challenged me, taking me out of my comfort zone, but also allowed me to make amazing memories and close bonds with my teachers and my classmates. I'm so thankful I have had such an amazing opportunity!”

Student on Winter Term course “Guardians of the Sea, ” in which members earn their PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification.

Two scuba divers in full gear, with masks and snorkels, are swimming underwater in a vibrant coral reef environment.

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