Curiosity drives creation
At Acera, our Inquiry, Maker, Passion projects (IMPp) give Upper School students dedicated time and mentorship to transform their interests into ambitious, self-directed work.
For 2–4 hours each week, students collaborate with their Core Teacher and the broader IMPp Mentor Team to design and pursue a project that grows from a genuine question, curiosity, or calling.
"Encouraging creativity and complex problem solving is another great philosophy of Acera that we love. This has helped my child to go beyond what he is comfortable and challenge his thinking. He complains a lot less about being bored."
Students begin their Independent Maker Project (IMPp) by pairing with a mentor whose expertise aligns with their idea. From there, they move through a clear, empowering process designed to help them transform curiosity into creation.
The IMP process
Discover
Students start with a literature review or discovery phase, exploring background knowledge, existing work, and foundational concepts.
Pitch
They present a project pitch to peers and mentors, refining their idea through feedback and gaining approval to move forward.
Build
Students dive into hands‑on work: building, coding, designing, experimenting, or writing - often recruiting classmates as collaborators.
Iterate
Through testing, revising, and problem‑solving, they strengthen their project and deepen their understanding.
Share
Students communicate their progress and present their final work to the community, celebrating both the product and the learning journey.
Every student is supported by a mentor who brings real‑world expertise and professional insight to the project. Our mentors include scientists, engineers, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs—individuals who model how ideas become reality.
Areas of Expertise:
- Engineering
- Art & Design
- Philosophy
- Electronic Arts
- Lab Science
- Computer Science
- Game Design
- Mathematics
- Woodworking
- Technology
- Music
- Journalism
- Creative Writing
- Marketing
Mentors guide students through authentic inquiry and creative production, helping them plan, problem‑solve, and make meaningful decisions - just like professionals do.
IMPp empowers students to take ownership of complex, meaningful work. They learn to plan and manage multi‑step projects, navigate real challenges, communicate their progress, and advocate for their ideas.
Some IMPps last only a few weeks as students explore the process. Others evolve into long‑term, multi‑year pursuits that become defining parts of a student’s identity.
Examples of Student Projects
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Join us for a 1.5-hour Information Session & Tour designed for parents, guardians, and other adults interested in learning more about Acera.
Tuesday
September 22, 2026
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Thursday
October 22, 2026
9:30 – 11:00 am
The Acera School
5 Lowell Avenue
Winchester MA 01890
781.729.3489
Acera School welcomes all and does not discriminate against students, families and teachers on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, marital status, religion, political beliefs, disability, gender or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school administered programs.