After-School Classes
Park offers enrichment activities after school to provide children with high quality afternoon experiences, created by Park faculty members and guest teachers, and to present opportunities to develop interests, cultivate talents, and strengthen social bonds.
After-school classes are offered on a trimester basis. The first trimester (fall) is shorter than the winter and spring trimesters. This is due to the fall athletic season beginning in the summer. Exact dates may change each year but will typically run as follows:
- Fall trimester – September 11 through October 27
- Winter trimester – November through early February
- Spring trimester – late February through end of May
Registration for Spring After-School Classes is now open. Click HERE to register. Registrations are due by Wednesday, February 14.
Confirmations/regrets will be sent via email by Friday, February 16.
In the interest of fairness, we will randomly choose students for classes. Late registrants will be added only if space is available.
Registration is not a confirmation of enrollment in the class. Confirmations/regrets will be emailed home following the registration deadline.
We limit the number of children who can participate so that the activity itself is both fun and manageable. If an activity is oversubscribed, we compile a “first refusal list” and offer a space in the next trimester if the activity is offered. When signing up, please confirm with your child that they are committed to the class and plan to participate for the entire session. In the past, we have had the occasional instance when children have dropped out mid-session due to lack of interest in the class or sports and/or music commitments. There will be no refunds for an after-school class following the first week of the class.
If for any reason classes need to be made up due to cancellations (we will not reschedule classes due to inclement weather), they will be added at the end of the session and you will be notified. Should the class fee present a hardship to your family, please contact the Lower School office.
Spring After-School Class Offerings and Descriptions
Garden Club • Alison Penning, Lower School Art teacher and gardener and Walker Miller-Breetz, Upper School Math teacher
Grades 1–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 7 weeks (3/25–5/13) **NO CLASS on 4/1**
$105/70
Are you a lover of nature, being outdoors, and watching things grow? Do you enjoy being active and using your hands? How about getting dirty, and spending time around insects, worms, birds, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and even weeds? Maybe you just appreciate the fresh smells and tastes, the unique sights and sounds, or the mindfulness a garden has to offer? Then join the Lower School Garden Club this fall! This session we will experience the glorious and unique features of autumn by harvesting fruits and vegetables, observing lots of plant and animal activity, learning how to care for and maintain the garden in fall, and then preparing the garden for winter.
Girls’ Lacrosse • Stradine Harris, Lower School Physical Education teacher
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:30 PM • 5 weeks (3/25–5/6) Monday AND Wednesday **NO CLASS on 4/1**
No Charge
Lower School Girls’ Lacrosse practice will begin Monday, March 25, 2024, on Tompkins Field. Practices are on Monday and Wednesday from 3:20-4:30 p.m. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:40 p.m. at the carpool line. Extended Day children will be brought to extended day after pick up. Students should plan to meet one of the coaches in Blaustein Gym II at the beginning of practice, but if the weather is questionable players should check the whiteboard by the LS office for indoor practice location. The last day of practice/party will be Monday, May 6. Equipment needed: lacrosse stick, mouthguard, lacrosse goggles, water bottle, and clothes for outdoor play.
Questions? Contact Stradine Harris at 410-339-7070 ext. 4519 or email sharris@parkschool.net or Robin Lowe at 410-339-4150 or email rlowe@parkschool.net.
Boys’ Lacrosse • Dia Clark, Director of Athletics–Boys’ Program
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:30 PM • 5 weeks (3/25–5/6) Monday AND Wednesday **NO CLASS on 4/1**
No Charge
Lower School Boys’ Lacrosse practice will begin Monday, March 25, 2024, on Boys’ Varsity Field. Practices are on Monday and Wednesday from 3:20-4:30 p.m. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:40 p.m. at the carpool line. Extended Day children will be brought to extended day after pick up. Students should plan to meet one of the coaches in Blaustein Gym I at the beginning of practice, but if the weather is questionable players should check the whiteboard by the LS office for indoor practice location. The last day of practice/party will be Monday, May 6. Equipment needed: lacrosse stick, helmet, mouthguard, gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, and athletic supporter and cup.
Questions? Contact Dia Clark at 410-339-4140 or email dclark@parkschool.net or Jeremy Smith at 410-339-7070 ext. 4433.
Robotics • Tara Northcott, Upper School Technology Coordinator and Computer Science teacher
Grade 5
3:15–4:15 PM • 6 weeks (4/22–6/3) **NO CLASS on 5/27**
$90/60
Hey, awesome 5th graders! Get ready for an amazing adventure with the Middle School Robotics Team! Join forces with the 6th graders from last fall and dive into the exciting world of FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). Together, we’ll supercharge the awesome robots our teams made this year.
In this 6-week club, you’ll become a robot genius. Discover the secrets of gear ratios, learn to build and program a super-smart chassis, and add cool components to make your robot even more awesome! Guess what? You don’t have to be in the club to join robotics next year, but trust us – it’s gonna be so much fun, you won’t want to miss out. Get ready to rock the robot world!
Lower School Theater Showcase • Kara Leonard, Lower School Administrative Assistant and Sarah Shelton, 3rd Grade teacher
Grade 4–5 (Grade 4 if space allows)
3:15–4:30 PM • 10 weeks (3/5–5/31) Tuesdays AND Fridays **NO CLASS 3/29 and 5/10**
$260/210
This spring, students will work as an ensemble to create a showcase of short plays and musical theater numbers culminating in a final performance. Due to the nature of this class, attendance is extremely important. Students interested in joining should understand that the level of responsibility and work could be significantly higher than other after-school classes. When filling this class, we will prioritize 5th graders and add 4th graders as space allows. This class will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Chess • Arkadiy Frenkel, Experienced Chess Master
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 10 weeks (3/26–5/28)
$150/100
Are you interested in learning how to play chess, one of the most famous strategy games of all time? Come join us and learn, or improve your skills. Arkadiy Frenkel is a national chess master and full-time chess coach. Students will be working on chess problems and will learn to use a chess clock. During the practice game they will play against each other. We will learn special moves and basic chess principles. Any level chess players are welcome.
LS Girls’ Field Hockey Clinic• Stradine Harris, Lower School Physical Education teacher
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:30 PM • 6 weeks (3/26–4/30)
No Charge
Participants will be involved in fun drills and skill-enhancement activities. Activities will help the inexperienced and reinforce the skills of the experienced player. We will focus on many areas of field hockey including: dribbling, passing, shooting, driving, ball control, dodging, receiving, defensive positioning, and much more. Players will be able to combine instruction with mini-games to have fun while learning this fast-moving sport. This is a clinic you don’t want to miss!
**Participants must have a mouth guard, goggles, field hockey stick, and shin guards to participate. If you do not have a field hockey stick, we have plenty to borrow during our clinic and it is not necessary to purchase. No previous experience playing field hockey is required.
Little Veterinarian School • Little Medical School
Grades 1–3
3:15–4:15 PM • 10 weeks (3/27–5/29)
$150/100
Does your child love animals? Little Medical School is hosting Little Veterinarian School where your child will adopt their very own puppy and learn how to do a head-to-toe exam, how to make nutritious treats at home, and more through hands-on activities and interactive role-play. Your child will go home with their own lab coat, plush puppy, treat cut outs, and even receive a diploma at graduation! Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire your child to imagine a future in a profession that maybe they hadn’t considered!
*If your child did not get chosen for this class in the winter session, please register again as this is the exact same class!
Yoga Mindfulness • Lindsay Luterman, Park alum and yoga instructor
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 10 weeks (3/27–5/29) **NO CLASS on 5/1**
$150/100
Teaching mindfulness to youth can create calm, level-headed future leaders, but who says we can’t have fun while doing it? This supportive introduction to Yoga and Mindfulness is designed for kids in grades Pre-K-12th. Participants enjoy access to fun, engaging classes that teach the basics of good health habits, mindful awareness, and positive perceptions. Through this session, participants practice breathing exercises, yoga poses, visualizations, relaxation activities, and we couldn’t call it fun without games! Our educated instructors teach resilience, empowering students through the toughest and most mundane experiences in life.
*Students must bring their own mats.
D&D Club • Blair Northcott, Park parent and Harley Bosco, 5th Grade teacher
Grades 4–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 6 weeks (3/28–5/2)
$90/60
The D&D group will start with students creating their characters and selecting and painting a miniature for their character. We will then use the ‘Adventure Begins’ board game as a card-based way to play through short adventures for students to practice working together. Students will then form groups to play or DM (Dungeon Master) multi-week adventures together.
Students will work to:
• Cooperate with each other in finding ways for their adventurers to succeed,
• Respect and work with the student acting as Dungeon Master,
• Play fairly throughout the adventures and be engaged with collaborative story-building,
• Respect the shared materials.
All in the Pen – Introduction to Calligraphy • Jenny Harbold, 4th Grade teacher
Grades 4–5
3:15–4:30 PM • 5 weeks (3/28–4/25)
$75/50
Students will be introduced to the art of using special pens to produce beautiful italic handwriting. Materials are provided.
Note: This class is open to all but acquiring the skills is more challenging for “lefties.”
Minecraft • Tara Northcott, Upper School Technology Coordinator and Computer Science teacher
Grade 2
3:15–4:15 PM • 6 weeks (4/25–5/30)
$90/60
Hey there, future Minecraft masters! Join us for six weeks of epic adventures where we’ll dive into the pixelated wonderland of Minecraft and have a blast building and exploring together!
In this super cool club, you’ll learn the ABCs of Minecraft – from crafting and building awesome structures to exploring the magical world around you. We’ll team up to conquer challenges, share our coolest creations, and have a ton of fun with fellow block-loving friends.
Guess what? You don’t need to be a Minecraft expert to join in on the fun! Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, everyone is welcome! And here’s the best part – being part of the club is like unlocking a special power-up for your Minecraft skills. So, get ready to dig, build, and create unforgettable memories in our Minecraft Club. Let the adventures begin!
Parents, please note: Students will need to bring their own iPad or computer to participate. Please load Minecraft for Education before the first class (students will receive a login at the first club meeting).
Chess • Arkadiy Frenkel, Experienced Chess Master
Grades 1–2
3:15–4:15 PM • 10 weeks (3/28–5/30)
$150/100
Are you interested in learning how to play chess, one of the most famous strategy games of all time? Come join us and learn, or improve your skills. Arkadiy Frenkel is a national chess master and full-time chess coach. Students will be working on chess problems and will learn to use a chess clock. During the practice game they will play against each other. We will learn special moves and basic chess principles. Any level chess players are welcome.
Intro to Entrepreneurship • Carly Levin ’03, Park alum and Lower School parent
Grades 4-5
3:15–4:15 PM • 5 weeks (4/5–5/3) **NO CLASS 4/26••
$75/50
Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey into the world of entrepreneurship? Introducing the Entrepreneurship Club, where you’ll learn the ins and outs of starting your own business. Over the course of our sessions, we’ll dive deep into various aspects of entrepreneurship, from brainstorming unique business ideas to creating profitable business plans, marketing strategies, and more. Don’t worry if you’re new to entrepreneurship — we’ll all learn together. Get ready to unleash your inner entrepreneur, and make your mark in the business world!
Yoga Mindfulness • Lindsay Luterman, Park alum and yoga instructor
Grades 1–2
3:15–4:15 PM • 7 weeks (4/5–5/31) **NO CLASS 4/5, 5/3, 5/10••
$120/80
Teaching mindfulness to youth can create calm, level-headed future leaders, but who says we can’t have fun while doing it? This supportive introduction to Yoga and Mindfulness is designed for kids in grades Pre-K-12th. Participants enjoy access to fun, engaging classes that teach the basics of good health habits, mindful awareness, and positive perceptions. Through this session, participants practice breathing exercises, yoga poses, visualizations, relaxation activities, and we couldn’t call it fun without games! Our educated instructors teach resilience, empowering students through the toughest and most mundane experiences in life.
*Students must bring their own mats.
Lower School Basketball Clinic • Brian Vaught, Lower School Physical Education teacher
Grades 2–3
3:15–4:15 PM • 6 weeks (4/19–5/31) **NO CLASS 5/10**
$90/60
Lower School basketball clinic (offered to 2nd & 3rd graders) will begin on Friday, April 19th at 3:15pm in Blaustein Gym II. Practices will be held on Fridays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Each session will include, but is not limited to, fundamental skills & drills; fun scrimmage style games that reinforce the introductory rules and game play. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:20 p.m. at the carpool line. Extended Day children will be brought to extended day after pick up. The last day of practice/party will be Friday, May 31st. For more information, please contact Coach Brian Vaught at bvaught@parkschool.net.
Equipment needed: athletic shoes (sneakers are preferred), clothes for active movement, and water bottle.
Important
All students must be picked up in the carpool lane by 4:30 p.m. If a student is not picked up on time, they will be taken to Extended Day, and applicable fees will be charged. As always, regular Extended Day attendees will be delivered to Extended Day directly from the after-school class.
All pick-up information will be included in your confirmation letters.
Payment
Parents should not send payment for after-school classes with the registration. Should your child register and be accepted into an after-school class, you will receive an email confirmation. Your Park School bill will reflect the charge for this trimester’s class shortly after the class has begun.
