Chess Tactics
Tactics are an integral part of chess and occur throughout all phases of the game. This dynamic class focuses on common tactics such as Pins, Forks, Skewers, Double Attacks, Deflections, Discovered Checks, and Mating attacks. Each week we prepare a variety of puzzles and chess brainteasers, so students at all playing levels will be challenged and engaged. This class encourages imaginative chess play, and is ideal for a student who has mastered piece movement and the basic rules, may have tournament experience, and who enjoys working on puzzles and exercising creativity.
Tuesday
Intro to Model UN
Students act as United Nations delegates, collaborating in teams to develop policy recommendations and debating current global issues aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goals. Students enhance their research and communication skills, while gaining solid exposure to debating international affairs, problem-solving in a diplomatic context and making persuasive presentations.
Cheerleading
Cheerleaders will work on energetic movements and chants as well as basic stunting and tumbling skills. By emphasizing teamwork, athleticism, and spirit, our team will learn and grow in cheerleading together. This class will familiarize our new cheerleaders with cheer vocabulary and set them up for a future of spirited success.
Wednesday
Coding and Computing
Every activity in this course is designed to help students build fundamental coding skills. They give each young inventor an opportunity to strengthen their logical thinking, develop their troubleshooting skills, and become resilient to the challenges that always come with using any new technology or tool. Almost all of our activities task students with programming physical devices (circuit boards, robotics kits, motors, sensors, etc.) that serve not only as an important visual learning tool but also as an additional avenue for creativity and engagement. Examples of topics that we will cover include: Advanced physical computing, fundamentals of syntax, and input & output conditional coding.
Pickleball
Students develop the key skills and knowledge needed to enjoy America’s fastest-growing sport. Each session focuses on serving, “dinking,” and forehand and backhand strokes, with an emphasis on learning how to play and score a competitive match. Through interactive games and drills, students build confidence while practicing sportsmanship, teamwork, and individual effort—all in a fun and supportive environment.
Thursday
Special Effects Movie Making
Become a special effects pro! Learn how to create amazing visual effects, awesome make-up looks, prosthetics, props, and costumes to use in an original sci-fi, fantasy, or adventure film. Kids will get creative as they try their hand at various special effects techniques: building prosthetics and masks, combining claymation and live-action videos, experimenting with the potential of green screens, practicing various camera tricks, utilizing stock videos, video filters, and much more! Participants will learn how to make movies from start to finish as they plan, write, film, and edit one awesome SFX-inspired project, utilizing professional software for post-production.
Parkour
In this dynamic movement class, students continue to build strength, coordination, and confidence through obstacles and movement games. They refine safe and efficient movement patterns while developing self-regulation, problem-solving, and social skills—all while having fun and making new friends. Progressions are carefully scaled to each child’s age and skill level, with partner activities and group games fostering a strong sense of community.
Friday
Painting and Drawing: Where imagination meets technique!
Explore a range of classic painting methods in this fun twist on traditional art techniques. Each week, we'll delve into a variety of mediums, such as charcoal, watercolors, colored pencils, acrylics, gouache, and more. Ideal for children eager to expand their knowledge of drawing and painting.
Fantastic Structures
Design and build your own fantastic structure from your favorite story! Stories bring an element of play, and play is the key to architectural and engineering design, which has both plot and structure. Did Jack’s beanstalk really reach into the clouds? Was Rapunzel’s braid strong enough for a climbing rope? What could you change to help these three little pigs keep their houses from wolf’s destruction? Could we live under the sea? This course is about turning your favorite story into an actual built reality.
