Learning Without Limits In Post Oak's J-Term

At the start of the second semester, the Post Oak High School takes a break from the classrooms and instead splits into groups to focus on one specific topic. Across the years, we have had a course on the inner workings of computers, the flora and fauna across the Rio Grande River, and even a trip to Singapore! This year, however, featured something new: a nine-day trip to learn about sustainability in a small town up in the mountains of Costa Rica. 

The twelve students on the trip stayed three nights in San Jose and six nights at Rancho Mastatal, a self-sustaining educational ranch, about a four-hour bus ride from the capital. The town of Mastatal has a population of just over 100 people and many of these residents rely on the crops made from the ranch. Students took classes on permaculture, herbalism, soap making, and natural building. These classes allowed us to understand how the ranch functions without producing waste or relying on outside sources. While in the mountains, we had the opportunity to visit a pair of local farms, a chocolate farm, and a coffee plantation. These unique opportunities are so beneficial for learning, as they show the natural processes that go into our everyday needs. 

Along with trips overseas, Post Oak also offers courses in Houston. One of these was an Asian culture study. This course explores the vast cultural diversity throughout Asia. This course was taught largely by guest speakers, literature, and films. That is one of the unique aspects of Post Oak’s J-term, the teachers take a step back and let experts lead the instruction. Sophomore Olivia Chavez says “Being able to hear these stories firsthand was very insightful and helped us to better understand the Asian American experience.” This course was in preparation for the students who will travel to Thailand in March to immerse themselves in the religious aspect of the country, mainly Buddhism, as well as visit museums and ancient sites to understand the history of Thailand. 

As students experience new perspectives, whether it is in the mountains of Costa Rica or stories of Asian culture, Post Oak’s J-term allows for students to develop new interests, or expand on further knowledge. This program gives students opportunities for experiences that leave a lifelong impact.