Odessa (’25) shares this update with us in October 2025:
My first semester at the University of Lyon has been wonderful, and I’ve made progress with my French! Engaging with the language through classes and daily interactions is proving beneficial, even if understanding lectures is more straightforward than conversing with classmates.
My curent courses (all in French) cover Semiotics, French and General Linguistics, Creative Writing, Researching, Nordic Walking, Spanish, Reading for Understanding, World Literature, and Literature and Society. My first class for this last subject was about American book banning, and the conceived dangers of reading in American society.
I have also started a three year “Parcours Mohammed Arkoun” course at Université Catholique de Lyon on the history, art, and culture of Islam.
I’m sharing here two photos from when I first arrived. I am also very much looking forward to seeing the next edition of Gristle Butter.
The PLG hosted a cool down gathering after the PSAT test. Students could unwind with their friends while snacking and playing games.
Zoe J sent us an update of what she’s been up to so far during her semester at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington, D.C.
October 3rd, 2025:
I’m also doing great socially, I have a lot of really close friends here and I honestly am super happy here in DC, but tell everyone I miss them so much!
If you would like to read about Zoe’s full semester’s experience as shared with us after she returned to CHS, please click here.
The Cyborgs class was treated to a guest lecture by Justin Laiti, PhD student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Justin presented his research on wearable devices (think Fitbit or Apple Watch), including an original device and app that he helped develop to improve wellbeing of students in Dublin. He also shared his insights on the field of Biomedical Engineering, what it’s like to study at a foreign university as a Virginia native, and the Fulbright Program.
Although we each possess one, the human form can be one of the most daunting subjects to render in two dimensions. Yet, humans have been inspired to reproduce images of themselves since well before the dawn of recorded history. Here’s an inside peek at our Figure Drawing class hard at work in our new art studio.
Spanish Humanities students embarked on a culinary adventure to learn how to make a delicious vegan version of rich, creamy Mexican Chocolate Pudding. It looks like they succeeded!
In physics, students described one-dimensional constant velocity motion using multiple forms of representation including graphical, mathematical, verbal, and motion maps.
The students made Rube Goldberg machines in engineering class. They explored the six simple machines and the engineering design process to imagine, build, and iterate a functional energy transfer machine.
As a follow up from their visit to the Familia Argentina restaurant, the Spanish humanities gastronomy and conversation class learned about the custom of mate, including the legend of how it became an Argentine tradition.