X Days are an opportunity for students to discover and pursue passions outside of the rigid class schedule. To date, all students have had the opportunity to select from an array of choices and design their own X Day schedule. However, on the February 2 X Day, all five academic departments- English, Social Studies, World Languages, Math, and Science- sponsored their own full-day X Day activities, providing a unique opportunity for students to delve into stimulating topics in the discipline.

History:

The focus of the History Department’s X Day was gaining a multifaceted understanding of migration and refugees. Students were split into groups and rotated between different sessions in the morning. The focus of one session was exploring the difference between a migrant and a refugee through modeling, as well as the legal implications of these definitions. In another session, students delved into exploring the economic impacts of immigration, adopting a current events lens. In another session, students engaged in a simulation in which we put ourselves in the shoes of an immigrant family needing to travel to Europe. We were forced to make many of the choices that refugees face on their journeys, such as whether to travel by sea or by foot, whether or not to trust smugglers, and whether or not to split the family before reaching the destination. After lunch, all students attended a panel comprised of people who had their own immigration journeys. Some were refugees, and it was moving to hear their unique stories. They all shared their journeys as well as their experiences assimilating in the United States.

English:

The English session was split into two groups. One of the groups began by watching Derek DelGaudio’s documentary In & Of Itself, a one-of-a-kind, one-man show about the nature of storytelling and identity. This show engaged the audience with a series of magic tricks and emotional stories, leaving people wondering what’s really true and what’s not. The other group heard from speaker Jeff Polish, former CA Upper School Biology Teacher and Executive Director of the Monti, learning about his job and experience with storytelling. The Monti is a non profit organization, and its mission, as stated on its website is “to create community through telling stories.” People are invited to share their own stories during different shows. Students in this workshop wrote their own stories about an experience that was impactful to them, finishing off by sharing them in small groups. Students from this workshop now have a short story practiced and ready to tell for whenever the opportunity arises. In an interview, Mr. Polish explained that ever since he was a kid he had the dream of storytelling. He was only able to do it on the side until he took a risk and made a career out of it. The Monti actually began in the back of a restaurant, where he had to turn people away because there was so much interest. He also says that a typical day for him consists of consulting as well as presenting and meeting with schools such as what he did at Cary Academy.

Science:

This session also completed two different activities. The first activity was building and painting bird houses, which have been placed in different locations around campus. In the second activity, students had the opportunity to launch rockets by harvesting hydrogen from a chemical reaction and calculating how much was needed to make an effective rocket. Students attempted to launch the rockets onto the roof of the CMS upon the conclusion of this session.

Math:

Students who spent their X Day with the math department utilized applications of math in different scenarios. The session included board games and a presentation by a guest lecturer who spoke about how mathematics is inherent to various occupations and fields. Students also engaged in a math competition using Kahoot. The students in this session also practiced manipulating computer programming into TI-84 calculators.

World Languages:

Participants in the World Language Department’s X Day learned different facts about the education system in the countries associated with each language and then tested their new smarts with a Kahoot.