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Learning
Westover Institute
Westover Institute
The Westover Institute reimagines what learning can look like by creating space for students to pursue their passions, explore emerging ideas, and engage deeply with the world around them. Serving as both an incubator for Westover’s signature programs and a hub for intellectual exploration, the Institute challenges students to think beyond the traditional classroom through innovative courses centered around big questions.
From law and leadership to sustainability, media studies, technology, the arts, and well-being, Institute courses encourage collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and active participation. With a curriculum shaped by faculty, alums, students, and outside experts, the Institute reflects the energy and interests of the Westover community itself—giving students meaningful opportunities to explore new perspectives and take ownership of their learning.
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Bee Keeping Institute copy
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1
Course Required Each Year -
30+
Courses Offered Annually -
4
Sessions Per Year -
4
Saturdays Per Course -
4
Courses a Student Can Take Per Year
1/5
Westover Institute in Action
List of 4 items.
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A Model for Real World Learning
At the start of each school year, students sign up for Westover Institute classes. The program includes over thirty classes that are divided into four sessions: two sessions in the fall semester and two in the spring semester. Each course meets for four Saturdays from 9am-12pm. Courses are graded pass/fail, removing the grade and opening up curiosity. Westover students are required to take at least one Institute course annually, though many choose to sign up for as many as four. This structure allows students to explore a variety of interests throughout the year while keeping the experience both engaging and purposeful. -
A Community-Powered Curriculum
Courses are taught by Westover faculty and staff, as well as alums, students, and outside facilitators who bring specialized expertise and fresh perspectives. This collaborative model keeps the curriculum relevant, responsive, and connected to both global conversations and the lived experiences of the community. It also creates opportunities for individuals across Westover to design and lead courses rooted in their passions. -
A Hub for Exploration and Big Questions
The Westover Institute serves as both an incubator for signature programs and a dynamic space for intellectual exploration. Each course is built around a central guiding question, inviting students to think critically, engage actively, and approach ideas from new perspectives. Across disciplines, the focus is not just on learning—but on questioning, testing, and discovering. -
Designed for Curiosity and Real-World Learning
With a pass/fail structure, the Institute removes the pressure of grades and opens space for curiosity, risk-taking, and genuine engagement. Courses emphasize real-world application, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, allowing students to explore interests, expand their perspectives, and take an active role in their learning.
Snapshot Westover Institute Courses
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Global Health: Viruses, Vaccines, & the Geography of the United Nations
What can the world's response to disease crises teach us about cooperation, conflict, and the making of history? This session offers a dynamic introduction to the field of global health, with a focus on security and diplomacy. Students will explore how health has influenced historical events and international politics, examine current global health challenges, and participate in an interactive simulation of a global health crisis. -
Adventures in Beekeeping
Did you know that 1 in 3 bites of food we eat—fruits, vegetables, nuts, chocolate, and coffee—depends on pollinators? These remarkable creatures are essential to life, sustaining healthy ecosystems and supporting crops that contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to the global economy each year. In this hands-on Institute, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of honey bees and the art of beekeeping. Through classroom learning and field work at Westover’s own hives, you’ll develop practical skills in bee biology, hive structure, beekeeping techniques, and honey extraction, while discovering the crucial role pollinators play in our environment and agriculture. Whenever weather permits, you’ll suit up and work directly with the bees. -
Fast & Fearless | Flag Football
What can playing a sport teach us about teamwork, strategy, and resilience? In this high-energy Institute, you’ll learn the skills, rules, and positions of American flag football. We’ll start with the basics—throwing, catching, and building trust as a team—then dive into strategy and gameplay. As the weeks progress, you’ll put your new skills to the test in fun, fast-paced games. With flag football set to debut as an Olympic sport in 2028, you’ll be part of a growing movement that’s capturing attention worldwide. -
Lean in Girls: Leadership in Action
What does it mean to lead with confidence, courage, and authenticity? Students are encouraged to expand their understanding of leadership through the Lean In Girls curriculum. Grounded in self-awareness, confidence-building, and inclusive values, this Institute will help students recognize their own strengths, challenge limiting stereotypes, reframe failure as growth, and take bold steps toward meaningful goals of personal growth as leaders. -
What's Up Westover Podcast: Production & Design
Ever wondered what it takes to create your own podcast? Podcasting has become a dynamic and influential medium for storytelling, with over 4 million podcasts worldwide. Join the What’s Up Westover podcast team by learning production and audio design, developing your storytelling skills, and discerning what information is most important for your audience. -
Queen of Hearts | Poker, Risk, & Strategy
How do you read the room, take a risk, and play your cards right on the poker table and in life? This Institute provides a unique platform for girls to explore poker as more than just a game. Participants will study game theory, probability, and strategic thinking while learning to make calculated risks and adapt to changing situations.Poker offers a rare environment where women can practice confidence, decision-making under pressure, and resilience, while challenging traditional stereotypes in a male-dominated field. Along the way, students will develop skills in critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and risk assessment—tools that are directly transferable to academics, leadership, and everyday life. Learn to read the room, play your cards, and take risks. -
Current Events: Reading Between the Headlines
How do we make sense of today’s fast-moving, often polarized news cycle? In this Institute, students will step back from breaking headlines and take the time to read thoughtfully from respected news sources such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Economist. Focusing on print journalism, students slow down to engage deeply with the material and uncover the stories behind the stories. -
Swiftology 101: The Sonic Tapestry and Impact of Taylor Swift on American Society
How does Taylor Swift’s music, persona, and influence reflect and shape the values, identities, and social dynamics of contemporary American society? This interdisciplinary course explores the cultural phenomenon of Taylor Swift within the context of American Studies. As one of the most influential figures in contemporary popular culture, Swift serves as a focal point for analyzing various aspects of American society, including music, media, gender dynamics, celebrity culture, and social movements.
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Be Boldly You
Westover School admits students of any race, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. As a gender-diverse girls school, Westover welcomes applicants and students who are assigned female at birth and/or identify as girls. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions and financial aid policies, and athletic or other school-administered programs.