Freshman Summer Courses
Summer enrichment classes offer a fun and engaging way for any student to prepare for her freshman year. On-campus, hands-on courses give her the opportunity to hone her skills and explore new interests, meet her classmates, and get to know her teachers and our school.
Summer classes will be offered between between June 16 and the end of July.
- Registration for summer enrichment courses opens later this spring.
- Registration for academic summer courses will open following placement testing in May.
Enrichment Courses
Introduction to Painting
Dates: June 16 - 20 (4 days, no class Jun. 19) OR June 23 - 27, 9:45 - 11:15 PM
Description:
Students will explore the elements of art (color, light, line, composition) through the creative process. Participants will use acrylic paint to create a color wheel, tint and shade chart, then a monochromatic masterpiece on canvas. To end the session, students will create a plein-air piece (outdoor painting) on Visitation’s beautiful campus.
Instructor: Mrs. Smith - Fine Arts Chair and Art Teacher
Tuition: $130 (June 16-20) or $160 (June 23-27)- Enrichment
- Freshman
Creative Writing
Dates: June 16 - June 20 - 12:00 - 1:30 PM
Description: Short story writer and novelist Flannery O'Connor once said that anyone who has survived his or her life to the age of fifteen has enough material to last a lifetime. The creative writing - prose class will give you the opportunity to use your writing skills for self-expression. We will take a look at all the things that interest and fascinate us, and spend our time turning them into prose works of either fiction or non-fiction. The work you write will be something you can hold onto throughout your four years at Visitation, and look back on at the end to see what you were thinking when you came in, and how you have grown during your four years here. Look forward to a fun, exciting, and creative time together!
Instructor: Mr. D’Agata - English Teacher
Tuition: $120
- Enrichment
- Freshman
Public Speaking
Dates: June 16-18 (3 days) 12:00 – 1:30
Description: Public speaking is a life-long skill that can be a lot of fun if you approach it from the right perspective. In this class, we'll talk about elements of oral communication, such as speech organization, body language, impromptu speaking, working with visual aids, and how to give appropriate feedback to a speaker. Our goal is to improve your comfort level in front of an audience in a no-pressure environment, while getting to know other Visi students as well.
Instructor: Mrs. Singleton - Director of Student Activities
Tuition: $90
- Enrichment
- Freshman
Introduction to Visitation Leadership: One-Day Workshop
Dates: June 20, 9 AM - 12 PM
Description:
Leadership is a skill that anyone can learn. Discover what it means to be a student leader and what leadership opportunities Visitation offers. Even before you meet the rest of the class at Orientation, you will have the opportunity to learn more about yourself and others, what strengths you bring to a group situation, and the importance of communication as you work to accomplish goals. We will talk about goal setting, how to be a role model for others, and expectations of leaders at Visitation and beyond. No prior leadership experience at your previous school is necessary.
Instructor: Mrs. Singleton - Director of Student Activities
Tuition: $60
- Enrichment
- Freshman
Floral Creations
Dates: June 24-26 (3 days), 12 - 1:30 PM
Description: Students will create unique floral arrangements using a variety of in-season flowers, greenery, containers, and tools. Each day participants will leave with a beautiful creation: wispy wildflowers for a window sill, an elegant centerpiece for a living or dining room, and finally, a post-Edwardian Downton Abbey-style statement piece.
Teacher: Ms. Liz Burke, Librarian
Tuition: $100
- Enrichment
- Freshman
iMovie: Create, Edit, and Inspire
Dates: June 16 - 20, 1:45 - 3:15 PM (No Class June 19)
Description: This summer enrichment course introduces students to the fundamentals of video editing using iMovie. Designed for girls interested in digital storytelling, this one-week program provides hands-on experience in crafting professional-quality videos. Students will learn essential skills such as importing and organizing footage, cutting and arranging clips, incorporating music and sound effects, applying transitions, and adding text and special effects. Each class will combine guided instruction with interactive practice, allowing students to develop confidence in their editing abilities whether they are creating social media content or highlight videos for athletic recruiting. By the end of the week, students will complete a short video project, showcasing their newly acquired skills.
Teacher: Brian Maloney, History Teacher
Tuition: $120
- Enrichment
- Freshman
Walking Tours and History of Washington, DC Neighborhoods
Dates: June 23 – 27, 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Description: Students will examine Washington as a living city: a city whose politics, economy, neighborhoods, architecture, culture, and population have evolved over time. In addition, the course emphasizes the importance of students learning how to ask thoughtful questions about their environment, finding ways to answer these questions, and effectively communicating their answers. Excursions into different neighborhoods and guest speakers will happen daily.
Instructor: Mr. Petri - History Teacher
Tuition: $300- Enrichment
- Freshman
Mind Benders: Unlocking Critical Thinking Through Puzzles & Inquiry
Dates: June 23-27, 1:45 - 3:15 PM
Description: In this course, students will learn strategies for critical thinking and problem solving through the use of puzzles and inquiry activities. We will learn to define a problem, identify alternatives for its solution, and implement a plan. While the class will not focus specifically on math and science problem solving, students will be better equipped for solving mathematical word problems upon finishing. There will be no homework (other than to continue thinking).
Teacher: Bernard Griggs, Science Department Chair
Tuition: $150
- Enrichment
- Freshman
Women Making History
Dates: July 7 - 11, 9:45 - 11:15 AM
Description: Students will explore the history of American women and how their experiences have shaped society. Students will use images, art, objects and other primary sources to examine the ways women have influenced history and determine what lessons we can learn from their examples.
Teacher: Nora Hoffman-White
Tuition: $150
- Enrichment
- Freshman
The Cost of Starbucks: Helpful Financial and Economic Concepts for Your Everyday Life
Dates: July 7-11, 12 - 1:30 PM
Description: Visi students are known to frequent the popular beverage chain Starbucks, braving DMV traffic and navigating the perils of mobile order all in the name of a caffeinated beverage. In 2024, most Starbucks beverages landed close to $6. However, that drink costs more than the price in the app. Time spent getting to the Starbucks, money lost that could have been spent on a different drink, or even the decisions of the past that necessitated the Starbucks make the pursuit of caffeine a costly endeavor. Before you think Dr. Angermeier has a vendetta against Starbucks, the truth is that everything has a cost. To better understand those costs, many of us look to Economics, the Study of Choice. This class will provide you with a few basic economic tools to help you navigate a complex and opportunistic financial world so that you can make the most out of your opportunities and make choices helpful to you (and your wallet). Is there such a thing as a free lunch? Spoiler: No. Why is a cake pop so expensive, corporate greed or the natural upward growth of prices? How does the stock market work? Is online shopping really cheaper? Why are credit cards both very helpful and very risky? Take this course and you will get answers to these questions and so much more!
Teacher: Dr. Derrick Angermeier, History
Tuition: $150
- Enrichment
- Freshman
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: Enrichment courses are offered on-campus unless otherwise noted.
Registration: Registration for enrichment classes will open later this spring. Full tuition is due at registration. Enrollment is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitation will maintain a waitlist in Veracross in the event of cancellations. Visitation reserves the right to cancel any class that does not meet the minimum enrollment.
Financial Aid: A limited amount of financial aid is available for Summer Enrichment courses. If you would like to apply for aid, please email Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Janet Keller at janet.keller@visi.org.
Credit: Students do not earn credit for summer courses.
iPads: iPads are required for math and English classes to take and organize notes, submit assignments, and view some course materials. The courses will introduce apps that students will use during the school year, such as Notability. Other classes may also require an iPad.
Lunch: Lunch is NOT provided. Students taking multiple classes are responsible for their own lunch / snacks.
Questions: Contact Summer Enrichment Coordinator Eric Chalfin at eric.chalfin@visi.org.