Lauren Salzman Staff Writer Every student knows about Project Week, a Latin tradition since 1972. But do you really know what goes into planning it? Teachers and administrators spend countless days and nights planning these intricate trips and in-town initiatives. There are three main considerations that teachers take into account before they propose a trip or project. The first is whether they are passionate about the topic. The trips are intended to reflect something that the teacher is involved with and excited about. For example, Mr. Close loves biking, and he is leading a bike repair project this year. Mr. Mahoney is passionate about outdoor adventures and will lead a trip to Bolivia. The second factor is that the project has to be hands on. A learning experience, as it is often put. It is not supposed to be a vacation from school. Mr. Graf says that Project Week is about the head, the hands, and the heart. The last factor is cost. There is a budget cap for each type of project, and teachers try to keep the cost of their trips under the said cap. If that is not possible, then the trip is unfortunately cut. There are some things that most students don’t realize about Project Week, such as that it is a requirement for graduation to have participated in four Project Weeks. Another misconception is that seniors get priority with their choices. In fact, Project Weeks are assigned by a random lottery. Mr. Close said, “I think that being as it is, a random lottery, that is as fair as it possibly can be. As of now, I don’t know of a better system.” Project Week is something that many students look forward to all year. It provides the students with a hands-on learning experience and fosters cross-grade relationships. Senior Frani O’Toole said, “Project Week allows students and teachers the opportunity to pursue topics of interest in different settings, with different people, and under different circumstances. The chance to be immersed in one topic or one place for a week is something I really value, and it is fun to share the experience with people from across grades and friends groups.” Whether or not you are in town or out of town, service learning or cooking, make sure to value the creative learning environment and try to make friends with people who you do not necessarily spend time with. This Project week, learn and interact with your head, hands, and heart.  ]]>