Saint David's Magazine Vol. 34 No 1 | Page 35

A R O U N D C A M P U S New Multi-dimensional Partnership with the Metropolitan Opera Saint David's unique year-long partnership with the Metropolitan Opera allows our fifth graders to collaborate on their own mini-operatic production, while also learning some important lessons about the collaborative process and respect. Initial sessions included presentations at the school by Met educators, a private backstage tour of the Opera House, and attendance at a final dress rehearsal of Puccini’s La Bohème. Drawing inspiration from that opera, in late fall the boys began working with artist/storyteller Michael Littig to brainstorm story ideas for the four arias they will compose with a Met educator and perform during their final production in March. (See Jeffrey Moore’s article on page 10 for more about this partnership). Ancient Greece and Rome Eighth graders visited the Greek and Roman galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of several trips to the museum that they make throughout the year in their humanities class. The class, a cornerstone of the Saint David’s curriculum, incorporates history, art history, research skills, and rhetoric. It culminates with the 10-day Italian Study Tour in March. Robotics Fifth graders used LEGO Mindstorms to problem-solve how to build robotic machines. Winter 2020  •  35