Winterterm
Each year, STA meets winter head-on with its incredible Winterterm Program of Studies. We are blessed and fortunate to have professionals within our community who support education and allow our school to advance your education in unique and awe-inspiring ways. Students are given the opportunity to challenge their minds, support their passion, and transform their perception of learning so that they may fully embrace what promises to be a remarkable educational experience.
The Winterterm program provides meaningful and enriching educational experiences for STA students with its array of offerings. The enhanced single course structure allows students to devote their time and attention to a singular area of study where they can engage in academic topics that are not typically offered in the regular semester curriculum.
To learn more and take a look into some past Winterterm offerings, click here to view our 2026 Program of Studies.
International Travel
Take a trip of a lifetime.
Each year, we offer transformative service and cultural immersion trips that open students’ eyes to the global classroom while embodying the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Recent destinations have included Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, the Galápagos Islands, Ireland, Curaçao, Canada, Africa, and more! Explore below to learn more about two of our recent journeys.
Costa Rica
Students embarked on an unforgettable adventure through Costa Rica, combining cultural exploration, environmental learning, and community service. The journey began in San José and continued to Sarapiquí, where they explored the rainforest and toured the Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Highlights included white-water rafting, zip-lining, and horseback riding amid breathtaking scenery. Traveling on to the Arenal region, Guanacaste, and several national parks, students discovered the country’s rich biodiversity, volcanoes, and wildlife. They also participated in a cooking class and enjoyed authentic Costa Rican cuisine, and gave back to local communities through service visits at a local orphanage and school—making the trip both meaningful and memorable.
During my Winterterm trip to Costa Rica, I was able to see the diversity of a new culture and my appreciation was deepened for it. I was able to leave the trip feeling as if I could do so much more to change the community around me, just as we did in Costa Rica. It was a trip that I will certainly never forget and will forever be grateful that STA was able to provide this opportunity.
– Ava Lyder, STA Class of 2025
Peru
Throughout Winterterm, students traveled on a journey through Peru, exploring its incredible diversity—from the arid plains and towering Andes Mountains to the lush Amazon Basin. The trip offered a balance of cultural exploration and meaningful service, allowing students to experience both modern Peruvian life and ancient Incan heritage. Highlights included visits to Lima, Cusco, and the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, along with excursions to the Ollantaytambo ruins, Moray, Maras salt mines, Rainbow Mountain, and Humantay Lake. While in Cusco, students completed impactful service work at the Sunflower Children’s Home, making lasting connections and memories in this breathtaking country.
One of my favorite aspects of working at STA is traveling with our students and providing them with the opportunity to witness, experience, and understand how other cultures live their lives. I’ve been part of trips to Kenya, Chile, and Peru, and one of the most rewarding things I see on each of our trips is watching our students serve the communities there. Seeing the students form bonds of friendship with the people they help is priceless. Returning from these service trips and hearing our students’ testimonies about their own experiences confirms how important it is to provide our students with these wonderful experiences, which we are sure will stay with them and help positively shape their faith, lives, and character.
– Profe Puertas, STA Spanish Teacher
On and Off Campus Courses
Condensed, out-of-the-box, mini-classes
Winterterm provides meaningful and enriching educational experiences, allowing students to focus on a single course of study and engage deeply in topics not typically offered during the regular semester. This concentrated structure fosters close collaboration between students and faculty while creating opportunities to explore new intellectual passions.
Our Winterterm program features around 30 diverse on-and off-campus courses, enhanced by the participation of faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and local professionals as instructors. These experiences offer students a rich, college-style educational environment and the chance to expand their learning horizons in unique and exciting ways.
Craig Groeschel once said, “if you’re too big to serve, you’re too small to lead”. Students often aspire to be recognized as leaders, yet they sometimes overlook that true leadership begins with serving others. Serving the Seacoast focuses on actively living out our school’s mission by serving others with love, compassion, and humility. Throughout the week our group partners with Blue Ocean to clean up a local beach and also collaborates with Lazarus House in Lawrence, MA to volunteer in their food pantry distributing goods to over 1,800 families weekly. We have also dedicated time to serving at the NHSPCA, local nursing homes, the Dover Children’s Home, and various other organizations throughout the Seacoast. I’ve grown to really love this week, as it provides students with the opportunity to experience the joy that comes from serving others.
– Mrs. Leah Cosgrove, School Counselor | Serving the Seacoast Winterterm Coordinator
Internships and Independent Studies
Test run post-graduation plans with purpose
During Winterterm week, students have the chance to expand their learning beyond the classroom through internships and independent studies that may be service-based, vocational, job-sharing, or other hands-on learning experiences. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in an internship, independent study, or career shadow opportunity related to their potential field of study, and must complete a minimum of 16 hours.
Winterterm reflects St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s mission to transform lives through Catholic education, encouraging students to develop their unique gifts, explore new interests, and challenge their minds. This week offers a remarkable opportunity to pursue your passions, gain real-world experience, and deepen your understanding of the world around you.
