***This event has been postponed until 1/16 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.***

Students were considered their own teachers during the inaugural J-Term program that was held at the WACO School District this January.

The required program that lasts from January 3-11 was molded from the “plus one” Fridays that were formerly offered in the district after they changed to a four-day school week. Eleven groups in the junior and high school performed different hands-on projects with two instructors helping facilitate each of the groups. Principal Jeff Nance explains the digital display group, “We have bought a 65-inch touch-screen TV and we’re putting the history of WACO on there and it’s really cool. The kids are designing the touch screen itself, and then they’re putting on every aspect of WACO as far back as they can find information on.”

The projects range from stop-motion animation to home renovation, and seniors did internships in the area. Nance describes a group that was led by the special education teacher, “We have about eight special ed. kids in this and then we had about seven or eight non-special ed. kids come in, and they’re learning how to work with those kids and do different aspects. They went swimming the other day with those kids and they’re playing games with those kids. They went to the animal shelter and these kids are finding out how to work together and how to just be a better me.”

Students will be presenting on their J-Term groups at an open house from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at WACO High School, where there will also be a bake sale and silent auction to raise funds for future J-Terms.