Salem Academy Students Enjoy Janterm 2023
JanTerm 2023 at Salem Academy was a huge success, with all students taking part in enriching classes, meaningful community projects and immersive internships. The freshman and sophomore classes attended special JanTerm classes in the mornings, including pottery and virtual classes like “Travel to Rome,” to name a few.
In the afternoons, these two classes took part in “ComPASSION” volunteer projects throughout the Winston-Salem community. In a new twist for JanTerm, the organizations that the girls volunteered with were researched and presented by the sophomore class to ‘recruit’ the freshmen students to join them, giving the sophomores a chance to produce sales pitch video presentations as part of their experience. Then, students traveled to places like AARF, Sunnyside Ministries and RestoreOne to assist with everything from socializing foster animals to packing emergency food boxes and sorting toys and clothing for foster children and the families caring for them.
As is tradition for JanTerm, junior and senior students took part in internships in fields or with organizations that interest them personally. For Karma A’24, this meant traveling to Lansing, Michigan to work with the Forensic Pathology department at E.W. Sparrow Health System. Karma’s goal of becoming a medical examiner is now even stronger after her hands-on experience in labs, with autopsies and more. “I know even more now that it’s what I want to do,” she said.
Andreanna A’23 and Elizabeth A’24, both headed to the tropical locale of Belize, taking part in coral reef conservation and scuba diving with Reef Conservation International. A little closer to home, Paige A’24 interned with greeNest, a Winston-Salem non-profit organization that aides those coming out of homelessness and establishing new homes through providing furniture, housewares, bedding and more through its “Finally at Home” program. “It was amazing to see folks move into their homes,” Paige said. “They were so excited and so proud to have a place of their own.”
Kaitlyn A’23 headed to the Big Apple, where she had the wonderful opportunity of working with Purple PR, a global communications agency focusing on lifestyle, fashion and beauty brands. Morgan A’23 spent her JanTerm in Charlotte with Foster Village Charlotte, an organization that creates connection with dignity for families and children experiencing foster care. Meanwhile Sapphire A’24 traveled to Chicago to work on a marketing campaign with Utopia Connect Foundation, a group focused on creating healthy communities. Sapphire specifically provided support around a sexual health campaign with the group, designing campaign graphics, infographics and more. “It was great to get to be a part of a team creating the pieces that the public would see for this project,” she said. “And I really enjoyed spending time with family in Chicago.”
These are just a few of the many experiences Salem Academy students had during the JanTerm period. “The variation of all of the JanTerm experiences at Salem Academy are what make this time a favorite memory for all Academy students and graduates,” said Kris Sorrells, Head of School at Salem Academy. “They get to pick something that they are passionate about, and then take that passion even further. We are so grateful to all the wonderful companies and organizations that take our students in and let them see what really goes on in their respective worlds. This program would not be nearly as successful as it always is without such amazing partnerships.”