June Term is RPA’s tradition of giving students two weeks to deep-dive into whatever they’re passionate about learning. In Stitch & Sew, that meant teaching students to sew—and watching intimidation transform into confidence, one stitch at a time.

Instructor Ms. Hagel: What Inspired You?

“Teaching students how to use a sewing machine! Many were intimidated at first, but once they learned, they jumped right in and started making awesome things. It was also fun to see students’ creativity in what they wanted to make and how they wanted to tackle it.”

What Happened:

• Sewing machine basics and safety
• Project design and personal creative choices
• Creating wearable goods (scarves, puppet components)
• Building confidence through hands-on craft
• Problem-solving during creation process

What Students Are Saying:

“Sewing has always been a hobby of mine, but I haven’t had the time this school year to really sew. Stitch and Sew has allowed me to dive into one of my favorite hobbies again and freely experiment and make things I now love and will hopefully expand into a wide cast of different puppets.” — Renzo

“I enjoyed being able to explore a new art form and learn a skill that I’ll be using in the future. I was provided with all of the materials I would need and help when I needed it, but I was mostly left alone to do my work, which is my preferred method of learning.” — River

“This class offered me many tools and taught me some new skills. One I’m very grateful for is learning how to use a sewing machine. I got to make a lot of scarves during this class as well and sew seals on them!” — Malia

Stitch & Sew proved something important: give students the right tools, a supportive teacher, and permission to work at their own pace, and intimidation disappears. Students left this class with a real skill and the confidence to keep sewing. That’s what a two-week deep-dive into something you actually want to learn looks like.

June Term shows what RPA is all about: flexibility, real learning, and teachers who are genuinely invested in your growth.

Ready to experience education as unique as you are?

Apply for Fall 2026 today and discover what’s possible when school works with you, not against you.

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