Chances are, if you’re here you already think GA students are pretty lucky. The campus, sure. The community, of course. But can we talk about those courses? After years of hearing curriculum-night proclamations of Hey, I wish I could take this class!, US English teacher Kent Motland decided to answer the call. GA is pleased to offer Gator U, custom courses created specifically for the non-student members of our community. Register today!

What?


Three multi-week offerings taught on campus by GA Upper School faculty.

When?


  • Wed Oct 11, 7:00 PM
  • Courses run three & four weeks

 

Who?


  • Current parents
  • Past parents
  • Alumnae

Please note: Gator U is meeting Wednesdays this term. Schedules below have been adjusted.

The Doctor Will See You Now: Chekhov’s Short Fiction

Teacher: Kent Motland
Three weeks: Oct 11, 18, 25 (makeup date: Nov 1)
Tuition: $360

It is difficult to find a period in history when another civilization produced an equal number of literary masterpieces as Russia’s “Golden Century” from 1815-1917. 

We will start with a quick look at Tolstoy and Dostoevsky for some context, but our real focus will be on the most humane and understated of the Russian greats, Anton Chekhov. A rare master of two genres, drama and short fiction, he basically ushered in Modernism at the close of the 19th century. He also somehow found the time to be a practicing physician who, in addition to building schools and advocating for prison reform, treated thousands of patients free of charge. 

Over the course of three meetings, we’ll look at a handful of Chekhov’s short stories including The Huntsman, Easter Night, Gusev, The Student, Gooseberries, The Lady With the Little Dog, and The Bishop.

Requirements: Books will be distributed in our first meeting, so there is no need to buy anything in advance. We will use The Selected Stories of Anton Chekhov, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky. I’ll also email you a short reading before our first meeting. 

Seize the Clay! Clay for Beginners 

Teacher: Rob Pursell
Four weeks: Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1 (makeup date: Nov 8)
Tuition: $500

Have you always wanted to work with clay, but didn’t know where to start? This four-week course will focus on the fundamental fabrication techniques for ceramics. We will go through the exciting multi-step process of transforming clay into functional objects and durable works of art. Demos and group discussion will drive this hands-on studio class for beginners. Be prepared to roll your sleeves up and learn the techniques for creating something truly unique! 

Completed pieces will be available for pickup 2-3 weeks after our last meeting.

Requirements: No previous experience required. The only requirement is to show up!

The Pizza Lab

Teacher: Josh Pepe
Four weeks: Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1 (makeup date: Nov 8)
Tuition: $500

Pizza is undoubtedly one of the world’s best foods. However, most of the pizza that we eat is mediocre at best. There is a lot that can go wrong when making pizza at home or even in a restaurant for that matter. Careful attention must be paid to ingredients, technique, and most importantly, the science behind what really makes an excellent pie. In this four-week course, we’ll focus on how to assemble and bake four different types of pizzas: Detroit, New York, New Haven, and finally grilled pizza. Using GA’s state of the art culinary lab and outdoor pizza ovens, you’ll learn a variety of techniques that can also be adapted for use in your home kitchen. By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong foundation in making/shaping dough, selecting/preparing toppings, and sliding pies in and out of the oven. Pizza mastery takes years to achieve, but with the skillset learned in this course, pizza may eventually become part of your culinary wheelhouse. 

Requirements: Making homemade dough to use in class will be strongly encouraged, so having a good stand mixer at home is recommended. 

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