How can traditional garments be reimagined through the merging of innovation and contemporary ethics with a deep-rooted history and culture?
The Project: The Umushanana-Saree Fusion
In response to the driving question, Bernice developed a bespoke saree design that acts as a cultural bridge between Indian textile tradition and her own Rwandan heritage.
The Design Goal: Working from a hypothetical client brief, Bernice sought to design a garment that felt “effortless and modern.” The result was a fusion concept inspired by the Rwandan Umushanana, reimagining the saree as a global garment suitable for high-profile celebrations like Rwandan weddings.
Innovation & Ethics: Her design process prioritized “slow fashion” ethics, researching sustainable materials like Tussar silk and examining how digital looms and CAD programs can modernize production without losing the “sacred geometry” of hand-drawn motifs.
Field Research & Immersive Learning
To ground her design in “deep-rooted history,” Bernice engaged in extensive field research throughout Mumbai:
Sacred Geometry: By studying the Kanheri Caves and the Global Vipassana Pagoda, Bernice analyzed ancient architectural patterns—such as the Flower of Life—and translated those spiritual symbols into contemporary textile motifs.
Radical Resourcefulness: An excursion to the Dharavi informal economy provided a lesson in “contemporary ethics.” She observed how the community’s circular economy repurposes every scrap of fabric, proving that high-efficiency production can be deeply sustainable.
Technical Workshops: Bernice took part in hands-on learning in Bandhani (Tie-dyeing) and Block Printing, mastering the technical precision required to balance traditional complexity with a modern, “effortless” aesthetic.
Final Product: A Bespoke Design Brief
The module culminated in a technical design for a 5,000-year-old garment reimagined for the 21st century.
The Assessment: Bernice produced a final design specification, including a client needs analysis and a structural breakdown of the saree’s Par (border) and Pallu.
The Summative Reflection: In her final analysis, she reflected on the ethics of cultural representation, arguing that the “Umushanana-Saree” is not just a piece of clothing, but a respectful evolution that celebrates diversity and the shared pride found in both Indian and Rwandan traditions.
How can I contribute to solving a problem in my local community?
Project Summary:
The Service Project “Emergency Box” focuses on improving emergency preparedness in the Township of Georgian Bay, Ontario, where many residents live far from hospitals and first responders. Through this project, Maya G. examines how remote communities face increased risks during medical emergencies due to long response times and limited access to life-saving equipment.
In this project, Maya G. investigates how the lack of nearby emergency services can lead to higher risks of fatalities and long-term health complications. Her proposed solution is the installation of community emergency boxes containing critical first-aid equipment such as an AED (defibrillator), EpiPens, naloxone for drug overdoses, snake bite kits, and other medical supplies. Maya has already taken concrete steps toward implementing this solution by writing and presenting a motion to the Township of Georgian Bay council, which has passed its first round of approval and is currently under review by staff.
A key component of the project is ensuring that these emergency boxes are strategically placed and accessible, with the first proposed location near Gibson Lake, where both road-access and water-access cottages could reach the equipment within minutes. Maya also emphasizes the importance of public awareness and education, explaining that community members must know where the boxes are located and how to use the equipment. Her long-term goal is to expand the initiative to more lakes across the township and potentially throughout Ontario, improving emergency response in remote communities.
Driving Question: How can we improve our spice tolerance through a mixture of science and cultural understanding?
Project Summary: This project was a dive into the science and Mexican cuisine and culture. Saffron and Santiago researched many different kinds of chili peppers before deciding on five local peppers that they and a group of volunteers would be eating to increase their spice tolerance: costeño, pasilla, jalapeño, chiltepín, and habanero. The pair recorded themselves doing so to share their findings.
Student Reflection: “Working on this project was painful, but it was so fun and totally worth it. I learned that eating spicy food can make you feel like you’re being stabbed and yet fill you with a rush of adrenaline, and to be able to share that feeling is simply amazing.” – Class of 2024 student Santiago D.
When starting this project I was extremely passionate about psychology and mental health. I wanted to expand on the knowledge that I had gained in AP psychology, and the next natural step for me was to focus on the brain. I wanted to understand its different components, what everything was responsible for, and what would happen if certain parts got damaged.
-Class of 2022 Student Effie H.
For her personal project, Class of 2022 Student Effie H. focused on the driving question: How might I expand my knowledge of the brain and discover what makes it so unique?
Effie’s project on brain anatomy focused on the intricacies of the brain and what allows us all to be individuals. Her project highlighted the emotional and memory functions of the brain and how without them, we would all essentially be a vegetable.
Her final work consisted of diagrams showing different parts and functions of the brain. Her goal was to help people see that the brain isn’t scary and that it’s fascinating to learn about — the concept doesn’t need to be a scary one, and can easily be broken down into more palatable sections.
Driving Question: How can I modernize traditional Filipino fashion?
Project Overview: For her mastery project, CM1 Student Gigi Engalla set out to create a fashion collection that modernizes the traditional Filipino. To do so, she mastered elements of couture craftsmanship and developed a deep understanding of Filipino fashion by learning about its significance and how its classic features can be integrated into a modern medium.
Driving Question: How can I raise awareness and facilitate alternative solutions to food waste and loss in Mexico?
Project Overview: For her service project, CM2 Student Isa Luna Moro set out to facilitate a circular economy system to reduce food waste inside Queretaro’s food industry. To do so, she worked with local restaurant Moser to improve their sustainability practices and contribute to the circular economy through techniques such as composting and recycling.
Project Reflection: ““My service learning project was a journey of exploration, creativity, and boldness. During this project I decided to go out of my comfort zone and take one of my passions to the next level. I was able to improve my leadership, communication and self-confidence.”
Driving Question: How can I learn about music theory and teach others by analyzing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata?
Module Overview: For this project, Diego learned about music theory by researching chords, scales, and sheet music elements like clefs, staff, accidentals, and dynamic markings. Diego then analyzed and played Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata to identify the elements used in this song.
Project Reflection: “I didn’t feel this project was work. I thought it more like a hobby, just one more day doing what I like. I learned many things that I didn’t know about the theory, even though I have been playing the piano for several years now. It is the first time that I have shown many people what I can do or play, and that’s really exciting to finally share.”
Driving Question: How can I apply my knowledge of emergent behaviors in a visual program to find the most efficient rule sets for species’ environments?
Module Overview: Throughout the course of this project, Seb learned how to program in C# and Java alongside learning how to create a polished simulation of emergent behaviors in species using the Unity 3D-processing software. Emergent behaviors refer to when individual parts come together to work as a whole, in this case, the flocking behavior of birds.
Seb started by looking at birds as they are the most heavily documented species in emergent behaviors. He gathered data about the best rule sets. Based on this data, he determined which of the birds’ flocking patterns, including separation, alignment, and cohesion, were the most effective.
Project Reflection: “I learned a lot in all aspects of the product: data synthesis, graphing, programming, and more. The bit I enjoyed most was by far the data analysis, as I got some actual feasible results, all from my computer simulation.”
Driving Question: How can I use creative art practices to engage in discourse and dialogue on counterculture, social justice or everyday life through zines?
Project Description:
In this module I made a zine (book) about the life of Rupert Murdoch, why he does what he does, and how his influence works.
Quote:
I learned that with a little bit of inspiration and a non-judgemental audience, art becomes a lot easier.
Driving Question: How can I use photography to raise awareness about our human behavior’s impact on the environment?
Project Description
My personal project this term is a photography project about human behavior’s impact on the environment. While wondering why we are not acting as urgently as we should for the climate crisis, I found people often see the crisis as a distant challenge, both in time and in space. Through this project, I wanted to raise awareness about the impact of our daily and individual actions on the environment, and ultimately, bring people closer to the challenge.
Reflection:
“My main takeaway from this project is that, no matter how global any challenge is, the individual action will end up making the difference.”
