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 6 through October 19
- Winter trimester – November through early February
- Spring trimester – late February through end of May
Please register ONLINE for Spring After-School Classes by March 3. Confirmation/regrets will be sent via email by March 10.
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
Production Class: Matilda • Kara Leonard, Lower School Administrative Assistant & Sarah Shelton, Lower School 3rd Grade teacher
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 10 weeks (3/27–6/1) 8 **This class meets on both **Mondays AND Tuesdays**
$300/200
Fourth and fifth grade families should refer to the digital letter with further details for this production class, including class dates. Students interested in joining should understand that the level of responsibility and work could be significantly higher than other after-school classes. Due to the nature of teamwork, attendance is extremely important. Occasionally, we will add extra practice sessions during the week or on weekends to prepare for the final performance.
Girls’ Lacrosse • Stradine Harris, Lower School Physical Education teacher
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 7 weeks (3/22–5/8) **This class meets on both **Mondays AND Wednesdays** NO CLASS on 4/10.
NO CHARGE
Lower School Girls’ Lacrosse practice will begin Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on Tompkins Field. Practices are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:30 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 Lower School office for indoor practice location. The last day of practice party will be Monday,
May 8 and include a party.
Equipment required: Stick, helmet, mouthguard, lacrosse goggles, water bottle, and dress for outdoor play.
Questions? Contact Stradine Harris at 410-339-7070 ext. 4519 or sharris@parkschool.net or Robin Lowe at 410-339-4150 or rlowe@parkschool.net.
Boys’ Lacrosse • Dia Clark, Director of Athletics–Boys’ Program
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 7 weeks (3/22–5/8) **This class meets on both **Mondays AND Wednesdays** NO CLASS on 4/10.
NO CHARGE
Lower School Boys’ Lacrosse practice will begin Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on Boys’ Varsity Field. Practices are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:30 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 Lower School office for indoor practice location.
Equipment required: Stick, helmet, mouthguard, gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, and athletic supporter & cup.
Questions? Contact Dia Clark at 410-339-4140 or dclark@parkschool.net or Jeremy Smith at 410-339-7070 ext. 4433.
All In The Pen: Introduction to Calligraphy • Jenny Harbold, Lower School 4th Grade teacher
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 5 weeks (3/27–5/1) *NO class 4/10
$75/50
Students will be introduced to the art of using special pens to produce beautiful italic handwriting. Materials provided. Note: this class is open to all, but acquiring the skills is more challenging for “lefties.”
Lego Mindstorm • Tara Northcott, Upper School Technology Coordinator and Computer Science teacher
Grade 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 8 weeks (4/3–6/5 NO class 4/10 and 5/29)
$120/80
The 5th Grade Robotics Club will begin with four sessions learning about input and output and building their own robots with the updated Lego Mindstorms components. Students will create their own robots with sensors, a central computer, and motors, and then will program those to move and accomplish tasks.
During the last four weeks, students will meet with the 6th Grade robotics team and will work with the more sophisticated components used in the Middle School Robotics program. This will prepare interested students for becoming a member of the Middle School team in the fall.
Production Class: Matilda • Kara Leonard, Lower School Administrative Assistant & Sarah Shelton, Lower School 3rd Grade teacher
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 10 weeks (3/27–6/1) **This class meets on both **Mondays AND Tuesdays**
$300/200
Fourth and fifth grade families should refer to the digital letter with further details for this production class, including class dates. Students interested in joining should understand that the level of responsibility and work could be significantly higher than other after-school classes. Due to the nature of teamwork, attendance is extremely important. Occasionally, we will add extra practice sessions during the week or on weekends to prepare for the final performance.
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 principals. Any level chess players are welcome.
Lower School Field Hockey • Stradine Harris, Lower School Physical Education teacher
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 6 weeks (3/28–5/2)
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 and goggles…no worries –– we have plenty to be borrowed during our clinic and it is not necessary to purchase. No previous experience playing field hockey is required.
Girls’ Lacrosse • Stradine Harris, Lower School Physical Education teacher
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 7 weeks (3/22–5/8) **This class meets on both **Mondays AND Wednesdays** NO CLASS on 4/10.
NO CHARGE
Lower School Girls’ Lacrosse practice will begin Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on Tompkins Field. Practices are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:30 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 Lower School office for indoor practice location. The last day of practice party will be Monday,
May 8 and include a party.
Equipment required: Stick, helmet, mouthguard, lacrosse goggles, water bottle, and dress for outdoor play.
Questions? Contact Stradine Harris at 410-339-7070 ext. 4519 or sharris@parkschool.net or Robin Lowe at 410-339-4150 or rlowe@parkschool.net.
Boys’ Lacrosse • Dia Clark, Director of Athletics–Boys’ Program
Grades 4 & 5
3:15–4:30 PM • 7 weeks (3/22–5/8) **This class meets on both **Mondays AND Wednesdays** NO CLASS on 4/10.
NO CHARGE
Lower School Boys’ Lacrosse practice will begin Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on Boys’ Varsity Field. Practices are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Please plan on picking up your child at 4:30 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 Lower School office for indoor practice location.
Equipment required: Stick, helmet, mouthguard, gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, and athletic supporter & cup.
Questions? Contact Dia Clark at 410-339-4140 or dclark@parkschool.net or Jeremy Smith at 410-339-7070 ext. 4433.
Yoga Mindfulness • Lindsay Luterman, Park alum and yoga instructor
Grades 1 & 2
3:15–4:15 PM • 10 weeks (3/29–5/31)
$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.
Chess • Arkadiy Frenkel, Experienced Chess Master
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 10 weeks (3/30–6/1)
$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 principals. Any level chess players are welcome.
Garden Club • Alison Penning, Lower School Art teacher
Grades 1–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 7 weeks (3/30–5/18) *NO CLASS 4/13
$105/70
Are you a nature-lover? Do you find mindfulness in being outdoors? Maybe you like being at the very start of things, such as watching a seed become a seedling, and then grow into an adult plant? Perhaps you just enjoy being active, using your hands, and maybe getting a little bit dirty. Spring is just around the corner and the Lower School garden is going to be a place bursting with adventure, growth, and beauty.
Join the Lower School Garden Club this spring as we prepare it for spring and summer planting, growing, and harvesting. There is so much to discover from using garden tools and materials and learning close-up how things grow!
Soccer Clinic • Soccer Shots
Grades 1 & 2
3:15–4:15 PM • 7 weeks (3/31–5/26) *NO CLASS 4/7 and 5/12)
$105/70
Friends, Fun, & Sports!! Soccer Shots is an engaging children’s soccer program with a focus on character development. Our caring team focuses on individual skill, fitness, and sportsmanship, providing an opportunity for children to be challenged through fun games and team interaction. Children will also be introduced to competition in a developmentally appropriate manner.
Yoga Mindfulness • Lindsay Luterman, Park alum and yoga instructor
Grades 3–5
3:15–4:15 PM • 8 weeks (3/31–6/2 *NO CLASS 4/7 and 5/12)
$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.
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.