Course Catalog

D Block

At the end of the school day, D Block balances the three core academic blocks it follows. In addition to choices offered through the Dance, Theatre, Music, and Athletic Departments, students may select from a variety of other extracurricular D Block options. A sample of those courses offered in recent years can be found below.
 

  • Art in Action: Building a Collective Vision

    Art in Action: Building a Collective Vision

    This D-block course is your chance to take action through creativity and community. Whether you're an experienced artist or simply have a story to share, your voice matters. No experience required—just bring your curiosity and willingness to collaborate. With visiting artist Joshua Winer and CSW’s own Dee Tran, students will co-create the foundational design for a large-scale mural. This collaborative artwork will celebrate who we are and honor the legacy of Michael H. Feldman ’67, as well as the 50th anniversary of Social Justice Day. As we learned on April 16th, Joshua brings decades of global experience helping communities express their values through public art. Come be part of history! Help shape the mural. Help tell our story.

  • Art Portfolio

    This D-block offers a comprehensive approach to portfolio development. Through individual feedback, peer review, research to gather information on college application requirement and hands-on learning, students will learn to create strong portfolios that reflect their unique artistic vision. 

    Forms students experience might take include:

    Introduction to Art Portfolios

    • Objective: Students will understand the purpose and components of an art portfolio. Key Points:
      • Definition and importance of an art portfolio.
      • Overview of various components (artist statement, artwork selection, and presentation).

    One-on-One Portfolio Reviews

    • Objective: Students will receive individualized feedback on their current work.
    • Assessment: Students will keep a journal to record and process the feedback they receive.
    • Key Points:
      • Importance of constructive criticism.
      • Guidelines for giving and receiving feedback.
      • Time allocated for students to discuss their portfolios.

    Group Critique

    • Objective: Students will provide and receive feedback on their portfolios by a group of their peers.
    • Assessment: Completed peer review forms.
    • Key Points:
      • Techniques for effective peer critiques.
      • Group discussions to evaluate artwork and presentation.
      • Emphasis on respectful and constructive feedback.

    Researching College Requirements

    • Objective: Students will explore college portfolio requirements and expectations. In addition, students will write an artist statement. 
    • Suggested Assessment: Create a summary of portfolio requirements for at least three colleges.
    • Key Points:
      • Overview of different colleges’ portfolio submission guidelines.
      • Importance of tailoring portfolios to specific programs.
      • Discussion on what colleges look for in a portfolio.

    Photographing Artwork

    • Objective: Students will learn how to set up lights and photograph their work for professional documentation. 
    • Assignment: Students will time to work in a studio to document their work 
    • Key points:
      • Overview of expectations in professional portfolio documentation 
      • How to use lighting in photographing various media. 

    Portfolio Preparation for Portfolio Day

    • Objective: Students will finalize their portfolios in preparation for the upcoming portfolio day
    • Suggested Assessment: Submission of a finalized portfolio with an artist statement. .
    • Key Points:
      • Tips for effective presentation and organization of portfolios.
      • Mock presentations to practice for the review.
      • Final reflection on the process and personal growth.

     

  • Artist Collective

    An Artist Collective is defined as an “initiative that is the result of a group of artists working together, usually under their own management, towards shared aims.”

    Students can sign up for the Artist Collective if they satisfy one of the following five criteria: 1) they are taking an art class that mod 2) they have permission to work on an independent study 3) they are creating a portfolio for college 4) they have permission to work on  social justice related visual arts projects (Empty Bowls, Ping He/CSW film partnership, etc.) or 5) they are an art ambassador. The Art faculty managing the D block will collaborate to guide students’ artistic efforts, regularly checking in with each student and occasionally organizing group critiques for those in the  Artist Collective.

    (NOTE: Independent study students usually need to supply their own materials)

  • Bollywood Film Study

    What is Bollywood? Why are these movies 3 hours long? Why is there so much music? In this D-Block, we will lightheartedly engage further with these questions and dive deep into the world of Bollywood Hindi films. First off, and most importantly, we'll be watching several movies (depending on time)! We will then attempt to understand the rhyme and reason behind what we watch by learning about the "rules" of these films through both fictional texts and film studies. As we watch and enjoy our films, we will also have fun pointing out the evolving cinematic structures; background context; social mores; language usage; and, of course, heroes, heroines, romance, and songs. 

  • Book Club: BIPOC Authors

    In this D block, we will focus on reading books written by BIPOC writers. We will spend time pleasure reading and sharing the joy of talking about these books. Students will have the opportunity to choose from a diverse group of authors and will be encouraged to read ones that focus on a reality other than their own. Students are welcome to bring their own books and will also have the chance to discover a myriad of new ones in the CSW Library's "Physical Displays Meets Digital World" collection. Students who are remote can access many of the library books using Overdrive.

  • Cartooning 101

    Learn how to tell stories, make jokes, design original characters, and create political commentary through cartoon drawing! No background experience required. In this D block you will learn everything you need to describe the world in your own unique way, including basic drawing skills, character design techniques, and fundamental narrative strategies. You will create 2D characters, newspaper strips, comic book sequences, and more!
     

  • Cooking & Baking

    This course will teach the students the basic culinary skills from prepping to making a quick healthy delicious meal. The students will have the knowledge to create several quick-meal recipes by the end of the course. We will explore different cultural cuisines each week. Each student will also have a chance to create their own dish at the end of the course as their masterpiece.

  • Empty Bowls

    Empty Bowls is a long-running tradition here at CSW. In this D-Block, students will have the opportunity to paint bowls, call local restaurants, create marketing plans, and plan the performance/raffle. The night of Empty Bowls is a huge celebration of food, laughter, and performances, all to benefit a good cause. This D-Block builds and celebrates skills in social justice, community engagement, and marketing/business.

    Student work primarily breaks down into two roles:

    One task is the production of the bowls, which includes creative painting as well as other  tasks, such as applying clear glaze, cleaning off excess glaze, firing the bowls, and packing them up. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in illustration, drawing, and glazing. The bowls are intended for sale, so all designs must have a broad appeal to the general audience.

    Another task is organizing the Empty Bowls event. This involves calling restaurants for donations, getting members of the CSW community to donate food, organizing live music performances, and organizing raffles, trivia, and other entertainment. The organization of the event needs to be coordinated with the Community Service Committee. 

    Tasks prioritized may vary from mod to mod or week to week. 

  • Gardening and Botany

    Welcome to the Gardening and Botany d block! In this d block we will plant and tend a garden and we will explore topics of botany, especially plants suited for our environment (zone 5). We will tend two garden boxes with edible plants for the dining hall and a few garden beds by the red barn with a myriad of plants. Some will be flowers like chamomile, others will be edible like onions and tomatoes. We might venture off to Cat Rock to explore the local botanical scene. If you like to spend time outdoors and would like to try your hand at cultivating plants, this is the D block for you!

  • Hello Hebrew

    Hello Hebrew is a one-mod course for learning the basics of reading, writing, and speaking Hebrew. Hebrew is a unique language with influences from around the world. It is an important and ancient language for Jews while also existing as a modern language within Israel. During the mod, we will explore a new alphabet and way of writing in a language never taught before at CSW. The course is designed for absolute beginners, starting from the ground up. We will cover the Hebrew alphabet, basic parts of speech, patterns of rules and grammar, verb conjugations, and everyday vocabulary. There will be lots of music, games, movies, and snacks!

  • Introduction to Psychology D-Block

    This Introduction to Psychology course will provide an overview of fundamental concepts, theories, and methods in the field of psychology. This course is for students who are interested in psychology and open to students either have or have no prior experience and/or knowledge in psychology. This course’s curriculum will borrow highlights from the AP Psychology curriculum as a vessel to initiate our discussions. We will cover both fundamental topics and areas of curiosity in order to generate interest.  The course will be light on work to fit the D-Block course structure, although we will provide extra resources for those who are interested. 

  • Iranian Films

    This D-Block course focuses on post-revolutionary Iranian cinema, which has earned international acclaim despite being produced under strict censorship guidelines prescribed by the Islamic Republic.  We will watch movies and clips by award-winning film directors Abbas Kiarostami, Majid Majidi, Asghar Farhadi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and Tahmineh Milani.  Some questions we will broach in our discussions:  In what ways can these films provide a lens, for Western viewers, into post-revolutionary Iranian culture?  Why do so many Iranian films blend fact and fiction, and feature children and the rural working class?  How are women represented? Do these films succeed in expressing social critique despite censorship by the Iranian regime?  
     

  • Japanese Cooking

    In Japanese cooking, students will learn about Japanese culture through cooking various dishes. They will also find out about inclusivity and learn about using different ingredients and methods for gluten‑free, vegetarian, and vegan cooking. Dishes will include rice balls, omuraisu (fried rice in omelet), miso soup, mochi ice cream, purin (Japanese flan), sushi rolls, and udon and soba noodles.

  • Junk Kouture

    Junk Kouture  challenges young people to design, upcycle and create high end Kouture from recycled Junk. Students enrolled in this D-Block will have the opportunity to develop high-fashion designs from "Junk." Interested students may submit their work to the international Junk Kouture competition. 

  • Knitting

    Want to learn to knit? Want more time to knit? Want to learn new ways to knit? Then knitting D-block is the place for you. In a relaxed setting we will work on our knitting and unwind from the day. Knitting facilitates relaxation, logical thinking, spacial awareness, and dexterity while creating something completely new. Knitting needles and yarn are provided, but you can always bring your own projects, too.

  • Math Club

    This course dives deeper into the topics of the math curriculum by working on competition-level math problems.  Students will use mathematical intuition and creativity to solve very challenging puzzles in number theory, geometry, algebra, combinatorics, and probability.   The emphasis is on creativity, deep understanding, and finding connections between diverse branches of mathematics.

    No previous experience required, students of all levels are welcome. 

  • Mock Trial

    Mock Trial is a nationally recognized program to introduce students to the ins and outs of presenting a legal case in a trial court! In this D block class, you will learn how to craft a legal argument, make objections, and learn the basics of procedural etiquette - just like in an actual courtroom. Our class is open to all students and will spend the first three weeks discussing and learning about mock trials. During the final three weeks we will prepare for and participate in our very own trial, where you can practice being a lawyer or taking on the critical role of witnesses, experts, or the defendant.

    No experience is required to participate. This class is open to all students.

  • Model UN

    Students participating in Model U.N. are asked to take an active interest in current events within the U.S. and abroad. Participants in Model U.N. practice problem-solving, conflict resolution, research, and debate. A variety of media is used to learn about global affairs, including on-line news sources, GoogleEarth, and films based on historical or current events. Model U.N. is a student-driven organization, so students are expected to come up with discussion topics and present background information on their topic to the group in order to lay the foundation for discussion. Recent topics include the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the situation in Haiti following the earthquake and cholera outbreak, the ongoing health care debate in the United States, and the U.S. Mexico Drug War.

  • NaNoWriMo

    NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is every November (Mod 2 at CSW). The challenge is for students to write a draft of an entire novel in just one month. It is a fun, empowering approach to creative writing where students allow their imaginations to take over, so they can just create! No editing allowed!

  • Poetry Workshop

    In this collaborative, generative D-block, students will produce and receive feedback on original poems. We will provide modeling and prompts at the beginning of each session, but students will also be permitted (and encouraged!) to continue ongoing projects or explore areas of personal interest. The hope is that by the end of the mod, students will have drafts of five new poems and feedback to edit at least two of them. We will follow the standard workshop model, in which students will present work for feedback and critique. Students will have the choice to be workshopped anonymously. No previous experience writing poetry or the workshop model is expected. 
     

  • Robotics: Competition

    Students will put their skills to the test in competitive Robotics. Previous experience is not required, and students with all manner of skill sets (artists, coders, tinkerers--) are welcome.

    Students will receive 2 D-Block credits and 1 Athletic exemption credit for participation in this two-mod Ensemble experience.

  • Writer's Workshop

    In this collaborative, generative D-block, students will produce and receive feedback on original creative work. We will provide modeling and prompts at the beginning of each session, but students will also be permitted (and encouraged!) to continue ongoing projects or explore areas of personal interest. We will follow the standard workshop model, in which students will present work for feedback and critique. Students will have the choice to be workshopped anonymously. No previous experience with writing or the workshop model is expected. 

  • Yearbook

    In Yearbook D Block, we work to create the CSW yearbook released every spring. We take
    photographs and select photos of people and activities at CSW for the yearbook. We also work on putting the yearbook together (layout and formatting). This D block is ideal for students who like to take photographs, design, and who want to meet people and learn more about all the exciting things that go on at CSW.

Department Faculty

45 Georgian Road | Weston, MA 02493 | 781-642-8600

CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.