Students will receive a basic course in astronomy, starting with stars (including our star, the Sun), planets and solar systems. Students will learn the basics of observational astronomy, including selecting and setting up a telescope, navigating the night sky and celestial sphere, and finding objects both inside and outside of our Milky Way galaxy. Weather permitting, students will have the opportunity to do observational astronomy with a telescope from the University of Virginia. Students will also participate in exoplanet research (planets around nearby stars in the Milky Way galaxy) with the help of a guest NASA scientist, and will submit data directly to NASA.

Students will spend the week learning how to create crafts, foods and beverages that are based on this wonderful season. Each day, students will be showing off their creative and fall festive side by making crafts such as leaf bowls, fall mason jar center pieces, spooky gingerbread houses and pumpkin carvings. With a trip to a pumpkin patch, each day would be incomplete without learning how to make a special fall treat including caramel apple dipping stations, gourmet hot chocolate and apple ciders. Join our intersession for some fall festive fun! 

* This course anticipates a field trip. More details will be communicated closer to the session date.

Instructors: Ms. DeRose & Ms. Detyens

This course will provide Goochland High School students with valuable information and actionable strategies for both the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing components and the Math component of the SAT. We will take apart practice questions, review commonly covered material and language, and work to help students succeed in their performance in all areas of the SAT. Freshmen and sophomores can find a great place to begin their studying and preparation for the test by gaining a baseline sense of their potential performance, and juniors and seniors can polish their skills to gain a more refined sense of where to focus and learn how to add points to their scores.

Instructors: Mrs. Holloway-Costa & Ms. Halye

Get ready for spooky season by exploring popular urban legends and cryptids! Urban legends are modern adaptations of older stories told in daily discourse, depicted in television, movies, and novels. In this intercession, we will investigate the defining features of urban legends and cryptids, their cultural history, and their popularity on the internet, in the news, and in pop culture. After examining different urban legends and other strange and mysterious stories, students will have the opportunity to create their own unique urban legend!

Ever wondered where Disney got the inspiration for their stories? Why everything always seems to end happily ever after? Well, wonder no more! Spend the mornings with us as we explore the history and literature behind 5 different Disney movies, then watch the films and compare.

Instructors: Mrs. Jacobsen & Mrs. Mistler

This course is designed for students wanting an OSHA 10 hour card in construction. Students in building trades and utility/ heavy construction are encouraged to attend but the course is open to any student. Course is limited to 30 students per federal regulation. Students will learn basic safety procedures in the construction industry and how the occupational safety health administration is in place to make the work site safe for the American worker.

** This course will only run Wednesday-Friday of the intersession week.