Behind the Interim Experience

Since its launch in 2010, the Interim Term has served as a cornerstone of experiential learning for Mount Vernon students in grades 6-12. More than just travel, Interim is a carefully designed continuum of experiences that build progressively, equipping students with critical literacies, skills, and attributes that shape their academic and personal growth. Through purposeful sequencing and structured engagement, students gain real-world insights, deepen connections, and cultivate a profound understanding of the world around them.

Middle School: Laying the Foundation for Confident Exploration

Middle School Interim experiences are intentionally designed to meet students where they are developmentally, providing age-appropriate challenges that encourage independence, collaboration, and self-discovery. Each grade-level trip builds upon the previous, fostering increasing levels of responsibility and leadership.

David Ayers, Dean of Middle School Student Life, emphasizes the program’s impact: “We are building students’ capacity for inquiry and exploration while deepening peer-to-peer and student-to-teacher relationships. The progression of trips allows students to gain confidence in travel, teamwork, and real-world learning.”

Grade 6: Developing Independence and Self-Leadership
The journey begins with a short, structured experience—two nights and three days traveling by bus to Shelby County, Alabama. Through nature-based team-building activities, students practice self-leadership and collaboration while acclimating to travel away from home in a supportive environment.

Grade 7: Strengthening Adaptability and Problem-Solving
Taking their first domestic air travel trip, students journey to Boston. Navigating airports, hotels, and public spaces fosters adaptability and problem-solving as students engage in STEM-focused real-world learning. This experience prepares them for the increasing complexity of future travel.

Grade 8: Cultivating Empathy and Integrity
A pivotal experience awaits in Washington, D.C., where students immerse themselves in history through visits to the Holocaust Museum, the African American History Museum, and Arlington National Cemetery. This trip shifts the focus to empathy, integrity, and reflection, deepening their understanding of historical narratives and societal impact.

By the end of Middle School, students have developed foundational travel skills, social awareness, and self-reliance—preparing them to embark on more independent, globally immersive experiences in Upper School.

Upper School: Expanding Horizons Through Global and Career Exploration

Upper School Interim offers students increasing autonomy in crafting their learning experiences, whether through global exploration, career-based externships, or in-depth local engagement. Each pathway is designed to cultivate leadership, career readiness, and cross-cultural competence.

• Global Exploration Track – These transformative travel experiences take students beyond the classroom, fostering cultural fluency, independence, and global awareness. Whether trekking through Iceland’s landscapes, engaging in conservation efforts in the Galápagos, or exploring the rich history of Japan, each trip is crafted for deep learning and adventure. Students can choose from 11 international trips, exploring diverse cultures and environments:
  • Europe: Switzerland & Italy, Poland & Prague, Iceland
  • South America: Colombia, Galapagos Islands
  • Central America: Belize
  • Africa: Morocco
  • Asia: Japan
  • North America: Canada (French), U.S. National Parks
• Externship Track – Designed for students who want to intentionally pursue their passions and career goals, these tailored experiences provide hands-on learning, mentorship, and professional networking. Students apply academic skills in real-world settings, preparing for future success in higher education and beyond.
• CORE (Collection of Relational Experiences) Program – A locally focused initiative allowing students to explore Atlanta through curated experiences in Arts & Entertainment, Outdoor Adventure, STEM, Service, and more, further developing leadership skills in real-world settings.

Bridging Early Curiosity with Global Exploration

While Interim was originally designed as a learning opportunity for students in Grades 6-12, the faculty on the Lower Campus recognized a unique opportunity to extend experiential learning to younger students through their proximity to Upper Campus experiences. This intentional design allows even the youngest learners, starting in Preschool, to engage with the broader world through connections to Upper School Interim trips.

Examples of Lower School Connections:

• Preschool /International Trip Partnership: Students in PK3 will follow the adventures of Upper School students on the Canada, Poland, and Prague trips. Learning locations on the map and having discussions about climates and cultures.
• Kindergarten / Morocco Partnership: Kindergarten students develop curiosity-driven questions about Morocco. Upper School travelers seek answers during their journey and return to share insights.
• Grade 3 / Iceland Partnership: Students studying Viking history compare their research with real-world observations from Upper School travelers exploring Iceland.
• Grade 4 / Galápagos Islands Partnership: Students create poetry about Galápagos wildlife, which travelers carry with them, bridging classroom learning with real-world exploration.
• Grade 5 / National Parks Partnership: Students follow the National Parks trip virtually, using Google Earth and daily photo updates from a stuffed Mustang mascot sent along with travelers.

A Model for Purposeful, Experiential Learning
Interim stands as a testament to the power of intentional design. By thoughtfully creating learning experiences from Preschool to Grade 12, Mount Vernon ensures students develop the confidence, adaptability, and leadership necessary for success in an ever-changing world. Whether engaging in cultural exchanges, professional internships, or interdisciplinary studies, learners emerge as globally competent, innovative, and empathetic leaders—ready to make an impact.