Over the past few months, we have fielded lots of questions about Winter Term. The questions have come from faculty, past parents, potential families, and alums; they have ranged from what is the objective, and future of Winter Term, to how old do students need to be and where do they live. All of the questions have been great and highlight the fact that Winter Term is a program people care about and want to know more about.
Both academically and athletically, the years spent in Middle School are critical in a student athlete’s development. High quality training, paired with a large volume of purposeful training, is important for success in high school and beyond. The skills acquired and mastered at this age will be valuable for years to come.
Gould is fully committed to ensuring Winter Term is an integral part of the Gould community and remains the premier winter experience for On Snow Athletes. In order to ensure that Winter Term student athletes are being provided exemplary educational experiences coupled with unparalleled training and coaching just six miles from Sunday River, we are excited to announce a few modifications to our already rigorous academic program.
Winter Term Q&A
What is the mission and vision of Gould’s Winter Term program?
Gould’s mission is Winter Term’s vision, “to prepare students to lead lives of purpose and action.” More specifically the primary purpose of Winter Term is to provide students with an introduction to life at Gould while equipping them with the best on snow coaching in the country and providing them with an unparalleled academic experience. As a result, Winter Term students enhance their academic aptitude, abilities as on snow athlete, and personal potential as a human being.
We envision Winter Term continuing to be recognized as the best academic and athletic pre-high school experience for snow sport athletes.
Who at Gould is in charge of the Winter Term program?
Kurt Simard and Andrew Bishop lead the Winter Term Program and are the point of contact for any family that is interested in learning more about Winter Term or have questions.
Kurt is responsible for overseeing all components of the On Snow experience; Andrew is charged with overseeing the academic and residential parts of Winter Term.
Additionally, we will have a Winter Term Program Coordinator who will serve as advisor to winter term students and is the point person in the center of all aspects of program delivery to include exit and re-entry to all students home school.
How many students are in Winter Term? What grades are students in and what On Snow disciplines can participate?
As a school we are committed to ensuring the composition of Winter Term athletes promotes academic, athletic, and social growth.
We can provide housing for up to fourteen students; for 2017-2018 we are anticipating that 14-18 students will participate in Winter Term. Students are in grades 7 & 8. We are accepting applications for the following snow sport disciplines: Alpine, Freestyle, Nordic, and Snowboarding.
What are the dates of 2017-18 Winter Term program?
November 27, 2017 – March 4, 2018
We will also have a November pre-season option as well as a March Championship prep period.
Where do Winter Students live?
Winter Term boarding students will live in Vogt and Park house, both are located on the Gould Academy campus. Park and Vogt are New England style homes with attached dorm space and have full time dorm parents that are residents of the homes.
What is the academic philosophy of Winter Term? Who teaches Winter Term students?
Winter Term academics fall under the leadership of Gould Academy’s academic program and are taught by Gould teachers. Oversight of Winter Term curricula as well as teaching and learning is directed by Dr. Brad Clarke.
Winter Term students will take the following classes:
- Math
- Language (continuation of the language and level of their current school)
- Humanities (English & History with a focus on writing)
- Science (Skill based)
In addition to core academic subjects, Winter Term students also experience classes in the arts, IDEAS Center, and about health and nutrition.
Who is responsible for coordination with Winter Term Students’ home school?
The Winter Term Program Coordinator (WTPC) in conjunction with the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment will handle all coordination with home schools and families as it pertains to academic coordination. The Winter Term Program Coordinator will facilitate multiple checkpoints throughout the winter.
We are excited to announce that the Winter Term Program Coordinator for next year is Deb Costello.
How do I apply or learn more about Winter Term?
The best way to learn more about Winter Term is to schedule a visit to campus. During your visit, you will be able to see Park & Vogt House, academic classrooms, and other facilities; you will also be able to talk with Andrew Bishop, Kurt Simard, and other people affiliated with the daily operations of Winter Term.
The Winter Term application can be found here; the priority deadline for applications is April 15th.
Students that complete the application prior to April 15th will be informed of admission and financial aid decisions by April 17, 2017.
Students that start the process after April 15th will be considered on a rolling basis and accepted if spaces are still available. Given the interest in Winter Term coupled with the quality of the program, we anticipate a very limited space being available after this date.
How much does Winter Term cost? Is there financial assistance for Winter Term participants?
Tuition for the December to March 1 program is $22,000 for boarding students and $15,000 for day students. The Thanksgiving and March training camps are an additional fee that is still being finalized.
Merit Scholarships are available to offset the cost of tuition for the December 1 to March 1 program. Merit Scholarships, and the amount of tuition assistance provided is determined by three factors:
- On Snow results (times and podium finishes),
- Academic aptitude (standardized testing, GPA, and teacher recommendations),
- A commitment to community and personal growth (recommendations, student application, interview, and personal references).
For families desirous of receiving need based financial aid for grades 9-12 must complete the financial aid application now.
Additional fees to Winter Term are: Ski equipment, entry fees, season pass, overnight travel to any races and membership to Speedworks tuning facility.
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