Fall 2015 / 5776 Enrichment Classes
SHALLER CAMPUS LOWER SCHOOL (GRADES K-3) All Classes are from 3:00-4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted
MONDAY – GRADES K-3 BASKETBALL – grades 2-3 Rudy Crichlow This class is geared for the student who loves basketball and wants to improve their skills. The class will consist of drills to develop shooting skills and ball handling techniques and short games!
BEGINNER’S KARATE – grades 1-2 Chris DiRico Training in the martial arts builds strong bodies and strong values. Children gain flexibility, balance, and strength as they learn the elements of martial arts. Focus, concentration, listening and respect are stressed with the goal of helping children to develop confidence, self discipline and self esteem. Chris is a dynamic teacher who focuses on skill building in a positive atmosphere. This class is open to white, yellow and orange belts. Beginner students will begin sparring in the spring semester. Students in the fall class will have priority placement in the winter semester.
CHIMERS – grade K Gene Gerstein This ensemble of 10 glockenspiels (an instrument close to a xylophone) is a perfect way to introduce music! Learning notes and rhythms will prepare children to play whatever instrument they later choose - piano, violin, guitar, etc. As the children play familiar songs on the glockenspiel, they will learn to connect sound and notation to the tunes. Children will enjoy this experience as they play music with their friends. We might even add singing! Our young musicians develop the beginnings of a musical language learning notes and rhythm and ear-training and the skills of working musically and performing in a group setting. At the end of the semester, Chimers will perform for parents and students.
YOUNG CHEFS – grades 1-3 Diana Kooy Have fun in the kitchen while making (and eating!) your favorite foods. Our young chefs will learn to make a dip, a shake, a main dish, a desert and more while developing kitchen skills such as measuring, pouring, cracking eggs, and rolling dough. Students work in pairs so that everyone follows the recipes from start to finish.
TUESDAY – GRADES K-3 AMAZING ARTISTS – grades 2-3 Amazing artists are those who like to make art, try out new things, advance in art skills, and
have lots of fun! Due to small class size, each student will receive individual guidance and do projects that are beyond what is offered in the Lower School Art Program. Classes will be held both outdoors and in the art room. Artists will sculpt with clay, paint on a large and small scale, draw with charcoal, do photography and more. Weather permitting we will venture outside to paint en plein air, like the French Impressionists, collect nature to print and imprint, and go on photo safaris, and also learn about famous artists. Amazing artists will leave the class with exhibit worthy artwork and a sense of pride! Students will have an art reception and exhibit in our Lower School Conference Room Art Gallery on the last day of class.
CREATIVE DANCE - grades K-1 Gail Kelly Young dancers will learn the fundamentals of dance with a focus on rhythm, dance styles, and physical expression through movement in a fun and positive environment! Open classes for parents to visit in the fall and winter and a spring recital. FALL: Dance visiting day on November 4th @ 3:30pm WINTER: Open Class on March 29th @ 3:30pm watch the class & see dances the students have been working on. SPRING RECITAL: June 7th @ 4pm
GYM GAMES – grades K-1
Matt Baluch
A great class for young athletes who want to develop skills and learn the rules of the games in an exciting, non-competitive environment. Students will play modified versions of traditional games while building team work.
INTERMEDIATE KARATE – grades. 2-3 Chris DiRico Training in the martial arts builds strong bodies and strong values. Children gain flexibility, balance, and strength as they learn the elements of martial arts. Focus, concentration, listening and respect are stressed with the goal of helping children to develop confidence, self discipline and self esteem. This class is open to students with orange, purple and blue belts. Students in the fall class will have priority placement in the winter semester.
WEDNESDAY – GRADES K-3 BEGINNER’S KARATE – grades 1-2 Chris DiRico Training in the martial arts builds strong bodies and strong values. Children gain flexibility, balance, and strength as they learn the elements of martial arts. Focus, concentration, listening and respect are stressed with the goal of helping children to develop confidence, self discipline and self esteem. Chris is a dynamic teacher who focuses on skill building in a positive atmosphere. This class is open to white, yellow and orange belts. Beginner students will begin sparring in the spring semester. Students in the fall class will have priority placement in the winter semester.
FENCING – grades 2-3 Alex Kushkov Fencing, the art of swordsmanship, has been practiced for centuries. Originally geared for combat it is now staged for Olympic gold. The sport of fencing develops quick thinking, discipline, agility, and speed, but most importantly it is safe and fun. Open to new and continuing students. There will be an end of semester demonstration.
YOUNG ACTORS THEATRE TROUPE: PETER PAN - grades 1-3 3:00-4:30 p.m. Gail Kelly In this class we’ll take a trip to Neverland as we become characters from the beloved children’s story Peter Pan. Using an adapted script for young actors, students will learn the fundamentals of character development, staging, and story as we bring this play to life!
Final performance on Wednesday, December 2nd @ 5pm Added Rehearsal on Wednesday, November 11th from 1-3pm
INVENTORS WORKSHOP: MARVELOUS MAGNETS: grades K-1 (3:00-4:00 p.m.) grades 2-3 (4:00-5:00 p.m.) Marvelous Magnets Class: This Inventors Workshop Class will focus on the inventing process in an open ended, child-driven environment. The class will use the SSDS Inventors Workshop, which is filled with science resources, materials, and opportunities, including the Inventor's Workshop Building Supply area, the Take-Apart Table, the Video-Microscope Center, the Science Experiment Stations, the Architects Building Corner, Green Screen, Stop Motion Station and more. There will also be an experiment/focus of the week, which will draw resources from Steve's vast personal catalog of STEM related I.D.E.A.'s (Inventions, Discoveries, Experiments and Activities). For this series the focus will be on Magnets and Magnetism. We will explore the ways magnets interact with metals and each other, test out some very strong magnets both large and small, and also discover the magnetic properties found in some unusual places! The 4:00 class is open to Wednesday Extended Day and Afterschool Hour students.
THURSDAY – GRADES K-3 CHESS WIZARDS: grades K-3 Chess Wizards Chess Wizards returns with their unique educational program offering specifically designed classes that cater to all levels of children with fun games and lessons that entertain and mentally stimulate the children. Chess enhances cognitive development in children and helps strengthen skills such as focusing, visualizing goals, and abstract thinking. Students are grouped by level for instruction and games.
FLOOR HOCKEY: grades 2-3 Jesse Wolf This class is a great way to learn the basics of floor hockey! Students will focus on stick handling, safety, passing and shooting. This class runs from October 8 – December 10.
NEWCOMERS’ KARATE: grade K Chris DiRico
Training in the martial arts builds strong bodies and strong values. Children gain flexibility, balance, and strength as they learn the elements of martial arts. Focus, concentration, listening and respect are stressed with the goal of helping children to develop confidence, self discipline and self esteem. Chris is a dynamic teacher who focuses on skill building in a positive atmosphere. Students in the fall class will have priority placement in the winter semester.
RAINBOW CHOIR: grades 1-2 Gene Gerstein This choir is for all children who love to sing and want to learn songs from many countries. Singing rounds and harmony, learning how to use voice – the instrument that is given to every child – will build self-confidence in every student. This is an opportunity to be part of a performing group and learn about music and art through singing. “Rainbow” will perform at the end of the session and at special programs at Schechter. Included in the cost of the class is an $18 charge for a t-shirt. Please
contact Liz Chesarone for a refund if you already have one.
RUNNING CLUB: grades 2-3 Matt Baluch
Ready, set, go!! Stretch and run as you enjoy this fun non-competitive sport.
SHOOLMAN CAMPUS UPPER SCHOOL (GRADES 4-8) All Classes are from 3:15-4:15 p.m. unless otherwise noted
MONDAY – GRADES 4-6 SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL – grades 4-6 Gail Kelly Join us as we bring Dr. Seuss stories to life in a funky, fun, and magical production of Seussical the Musical with a full set and costumes. Loved by adults, children, and teens this show is all about imagination and storytelling with classic Seuss characters and upbeat music. Students will develop acting skills, vocal technique, and dance/movement skills during the rehearsal process as we come together to create a fabulous production! Students with all levels of experience are encouraged to participate, everyone who auditions will be cast. Our final performances will be December 21st and 22nd. There will also be 4 Sunday rehearsals and extra rehearsals during Tech Week.
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY – grades 4-6 Robotics or 3D printing for grades 4-6 on Monday afternoons. We will be sending out more information about this class later in the summer.
TUESDAY – GRADES 4-5 FENCING: grades 4-5 (3:15-4:15)
grades 6-7 (4:15-5:15)
Alex Kushkov Fencing, the art of swordsmanship, has been practiced for centuries. Originally geared for combat it is now staged for Olympic gold. The sport of fencing develops quick thinking, discipline, agility, and speed, but most importantly it is safe and fun. There will be an end of semester demonstration and a tournament in the spring.
FLOOR HOCKEY: grades 4-5 Josh Bartley A season of intramural floor hockey with Josh Bartley! Students will focus on stick handling, safety, passing and shooting. Divide into teams and play a season of this popular sport!!! CLASS STARTS ON OCTOBER 20TH!!
IMAGINATION AUTHORS: grades 4-5
(3:15-4:45)
Chyten Learning Center In Imagination Authors, Chyten teachers foster a love of writing by helping students write and publish their own real book! Using novels like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia as inspiration, each class designs a fantasy world that includes major and minor characters, settings and locales, an extended backstory and a world of wonder. The authors use artwork and brainstorming to design plot twists and dynamic characters. Teachers continually guide the students, providing contextual lessons on writing techniques that include the use of appropriate dialogue, detailed descriptions, sensory-rich word choice, as well as character, plot and theme development. Chyten instructors then synthesize the collective works into one class-wide novel representing those amazing imaginations. At the end of the course, students receive their first real novel—published, bound and signed by our Imagination Authors.
WEDNESDAY – GRADES 4-8 RECORDING STUDIO: grades 4-5 An opportunity for students to become music producers, taught by the upper school music teacher, David Schockett, who has studied music production and technology with some of the leading digital music producers and self produced an original album Students Learn the tools, language and techniques of professional music makers in this hands on recording and production workshop. . The fall class will be a structured introduction to arranging full pieces of music using garage band. Students will produce recordings each week focusing on a different set of tools and instruments, culminating in a fully recorded piece of music. Even the most experienced garage band user will learn new techniques and a deeper understanding of music production.
CERAMICS: WHEEL AND HAND BUILDING grades 4-5: Explore the 3-D world of making art objects. Class time will be divided between time on the wheel and hand-building. Students will learn to use the wheel and master hand building and glazing techniques. Our young artists will create both functional pottery and artsy clay creations.
THURSDAY – GRADES 4-8 CROSS COUNTRY: grades 4-5 (September 10 – October 1) Jesse Wolf In this class we will work on the cross country basics such as proper running form and pacing through running drills, games, and distance runs through the trails. Running is a fun and competitive sport and a great way to develop a healthy life style at a young age.
FLAG FOOTBALL: grades 4-5 Josh Bartley Join Josh Bartley, our intermediate division physical education teacher, for a season of football! Play like a Super Bowl champion. Pass, catch, run the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
PUBLIC SPEAKING: grades 6-8 Our speech and debate program challenges students to write and deliver speeches to student and adult audiences. Students learn effective techniques for speaking to an audience including making eye contact, proper posture, using visual aids, addressing questions, proper tone and voice control. Students give persuasive speeches, informational talks and use Power Points. As part of the debate portion of the class, the students work in teams to debate topics, learning how to take sides and defend their own point of view. Topics include such questions as “Should we have seat belt laws?” and “Should taxpayer money be used to help send humans to populate Mars?” All of the speeches relate to themed units including “Wild Weather,” “The Marvelous Moon” and “The Dinosaur Days.” The skills learned in speech and debate will help prepare students for presentations they will give in middle school, high school and eventually, the workplace.
FORENSIC FUN: grade 4-5 High Tough High Tech Solve the crime! Become a CSI technician. Learn how the experts collect and analyze evidence. Dust for fingerprints, discover DNA, a mystery powder, teeth impressions, lip prints, and much more. Students will do hands on activities to learn these skills and then ready to be investigators will solve the crimes!! Taught by High Touch High Tech of new England. This is an 8 week class ending on November 19th.
FRIDAY - GRADES 4-7 KARATE: grades 4-7 Karate with our master sensei, Chris DiRico. Training in the martial arts builds strong bodies and strong values. Children gain flexibility, balance, and strength as they learn the elements of martial arts. Focus, concentration, listening and respect are stressed with the goal of helping children to develop confidence, self discipline and self esteem. All levels welcome to this class.