Forever Learning

During Alumnae Weekend, attendees had the option to attend one of three concurrent master classes on Saturday afternoon. Presented by Winsor staff and alumnae, each class offered a brief deep dive into a different subject, giving attendees the chance to engage in literary and historical discussions, flex their artistic muscles, and even explore Winsor’s own past. 

Winsor archivists (and mother-daughter duo) Jane Hoeffel Otte ’57, P’84, ’86, GP’25 and Margaret Otte Warren ’84 delved into the Winsor archives—a place both know well—in their class, “Uncovering History: Detectives Wanted.” Jane and Margaret introduced attendees to the Winsor Archives, which Jane created and shepherded for years before passing the job along to Margaret, and shared highlights from the school’s collection of ephemera, records, photos and other treasures. Attendees were then invited to help solve mysteries: labeling unidentified photos, adding to the archives’ store of knowledge and preserving it for the future Winsor community. 

Maia Monteagudo ’06 led an expressive art therapy session entitled “Empower Your Family Through Wellness and Art.” A Winsor School counselor and expressive arts therapist, Maia demonstrated several tools the Winsor Wellness Department uses to support students and help them heal and express themselves through art. Attendees were encouraged to try the techniques for themselves, and even take the practices home to continue their own artistic and internal exploration. 

Finally, outgoing Head of School Sarah Pelmas taught a class focusing on Jesus as a literary figure, drawn from her Winsor English course, The Bible as Literature. Sarah’s class touched on the historical contexts of the Gospels according to Matthew, Luke, and John; the aspects of Jesus’ character highlighted in the first few chapters of these texts; and the way they introduced Jesus as an important figure to various audiences. Combining history, literary criticism, and critical thinking, Sarah’s session examined the particular portraits of Jesus drawn by each of the Gospel writers. 

Forever learning, Winsor alums are curious and eager for knowledge. Year after year, master classes like these are well attended events. Read more about previous master classes, which are a hallmark of Alumnae Weekend.