The Westbrook PTA > PTA Extra Curricular
Activities
Fall 2011 Extra-Curriculars
Westbrook After School: PTA-Sponsored After-School
Activities / Winter & Spring 2012
This is a brief guide to the after-school activities planned
by the Westbrook PTA for the spring 2012 term.
Please contact the listed parent coordinator for further information. This information may be subject to change due
to heavy demand or under-enrollment, instructor schedule changes, etc. Please
look for separate updated information regarding each of these offerings.
All students participating in after school activities must
complete the Westbrook PTA Code of
Conduct form. Scholarship information is available upon request from
Ms. Barbara Kahn in the Main Office. For general information or to
propose new activities, please contact PTA co-presidents Karen Thornton
and Cathy Stocker.
Kids’ Studio Art
Taught by Kristina Valencia
In this class students will work
will work with many different art medium – watercolor, drawing, collage –
combining and experimenting to create fabulous works!
When: Wednesdays, 3:05 - 4:15 PM for 8 weeks
Dates: Winter
session begins Wednesday, 2/8 – 3/28
Room: Room 27
Grades: K - 5th
Graders
Cost: $246 for 8 weeks (all supplies are included)
Number of students:
minimum 6, maximum 15
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
For more information contact Orly Isaacson
Introduction to Traditional Fiber Arts
Taught by Anja Caldwell this class offers students a fun and creative introduction
to several traditional fiber arts. Students get an introduction to knitting,
crocheting, needlepoint and sewing. They will learn about different fibers and
their processing, as well as the tools and resources available to create one of
a kind artwork and gifts. When:
Tuesdays, 3:05 - 4:15 PM for 8 weeks
Dates: Winter session begins 2/7 –
3/27
Room: Room 27
Grades: 1st-5th Cost: $190 (all
supplies are included as well as a healthy snack). Number of students: minimum 6, maximum 12.
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
For more information contact Orly Isaacson
Introduction to Digital Photography
Taught by Rebecca Drobis.
This course offers students a fun
and creative introduction to digital photography. Students learn how to use
their digital camera, as well as how to take a good photograph. Class session
ends with a slide show, exhibiting the best of the students’ work (parents are
welcome!)
When: Tuesdays, 3:00 - 4:30 PM for 4 weeks
Dates: 2/7 –
2/28
Room: Computer Lab
Grades: 2nd - 5th Graders
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Cost: $118 for 4 weeks
Number of
students: minimum 7, maximum 14.
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
For more information contact Orly Isaacson
Westbrook Chess Club
We teach the rules to beginners and strategy to advanced
players. Mr. Will Eager, a teacher at the U.S. Chess Center, will be our head
instructor. His philosophy places a low priority on winning. Instead, the club
focuses on improving one’s skills. Good sportsmanship is the key to having fun. Chess teaches responsibility, discipline, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Chess players learn how to make the most of their opportunities and how to turn a bad situation to their advantage. They learn not to make excuses for their set-backs, and to win and lose graciously.
Day and Time: Fridays from 3:00 - 4:30
Classroom: Media Center
Cost: $130
Dates: January 27th through May
Age restriction - grades 2 - 5 With Or Without Prior Chess Experience
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
For more information about the instruction, please call the U.S. Chess Center at (202) 857-4922 or email Mr. Mehler or contact the PTA coordinator Bob Scribner
Chinese Classes
Li Ives, a parent at Westbrook and a native Chinese speaker
from Taiwan, will offer an after school program designed to expose students in
a fun and stimulating environment to the Chinese language and culture through
Chinese arts, calligraphy games and food. The program is available to all
grades (K - 5). The Chinese curriculum includes several different aspects of
the Chinese culture including the language, arts and food.
Day and Time: Fridays from 3:05 – 4:05 pm
Dates: __ weeks, beginning February 24 (Fall session ends
2/3/12)
Location: Room 8
Cost: $270
For more information contact: Li Ives (instructor)
EcoDefenders
Eco-Defenders is a parent-led after-school environment and
nature club for 3rd & 4th graders. It is an
activity-based club and we go outside for most meetings. We meet once a month
on various topics and learn the actions we can do to really make a difference
locally. Some of the topics are invasive species, trash & recycling, water
quality, wildlife in winter, tree, bird & poison ivy ID, etc. Students are
encouraged to also be student leaders through opportunities to help with
school-wide environmental activities (recycling drives, Earth Week activities,
Trash Free Lunch, etc.).
Location: Media Center
Day & Time: First Monday of every month
Fee: $20
Contact: Register with Mikel Moore
Mad Science
Mad Science is a fun, hands-on science program open to
Kindergarten – 2nd grades. This Spring, we are offering Mad Science's FUNKY FORCES AND MORE.
Topics include: Exploring the properties of air, chemistry, circuit electricity, gravity, inertia, centripetal force, the secret behind MAGIC TRICKS, super structures, stunt planes, gliders and wacky waves. This is a great way for kids, especially K-2nd, to explore science in a fun and interactive way.
Day & Time: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:10 to 4:10pm. Students proceed directly to the class after school has let out for the day.
Classroom: Room 18
Dates: Spring session is 8 weeks and begins Tuesday February 21st - April 19th
Cost: $112
Register directly via the Mad Science website.
For more information contact: Julie Coe
Glee Club
Come sing and dance to the music of your favorite Disney
musicals! The spring session will culminate in a performance for friends and
family. We will offer 25 spots for kids in 2nd through 5th
grade. We also need some parent volunteers to join us during Glee Club. For
those of you who love to sing, this will be really fun. We may even let the
parents sing a little at our performance!
Our instructor is Holly Shockey and she was highly recommended
by our own Gianne McNeil (Westbrook music teacher and parent). For the last 15
years, Holly has been a soloist with the US Army Band. She has performed as the
lone vocal soloist representing the United States at the Edinburgh Military
Tattoo. She sings in major events locally and has performed at the White House.
Holly is not only a great performer, though. She is a vocal teacher and works
with the incredible Notebusters program at Janney. (Take a look at their site
at: www.notebusters.org)
We are so excited that we were able to convince her to come to Westbrook.
Day & Time: The Glee Club kicks off on November 7 and
meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10 to 4:10 for 10 weeks.
Practice dates for January & February are as follows:
January
Monday 1/9 and 1/11
Monday 1/16 no school but Wednesday section will meet on
1/18
Monday 1/23 no school but Wednesday section meets on 1/25
Monday 1/30 and Wednesday section will meet on 2/1
February
Monday 2/6 and Wednesday 2/8
2/13 (we will probably do a performance this week)
A spring session will begin sometime in March.
Location: Both groups meet in Gianne McNeil’s portable
(portable #5).
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
Cost: (Price is determined based on number of students who
sign up.)
For more information, contact: Cathy Stocker
Keyboarding
This introduction to computer keyboarding class is offered
by our very own Ms. Kim O’Connell (3rd grade). The class is open to
students in grades 3 – 5. No previous experience is required and the teaching
material is tailored to each student’s individual experience level.
Day and Time: Wednesdays 3:15pm-4:15pm
Dates: January 11 - March 28 (12 sessions)
Location: Media Center
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
(opens 9am, Jan.4)
Cost: $45.00
For more information, contact: Ellen Crupi
Lego Club
Snack Attack
Kindergartners and 1st graders. We offer up to 4
teams, each of which can accommodate up to 6 kids. Teams take a “hands on”
approach to the topic of food safety by exploring how proper preparation and
storage can help keep us healthy. Teams will learn about simple machines as
they build a model made of LEGO® elements with a motorized moving part, and
will create a team Show-Me Poster to represent their Snack Attack findings.
Day & Time: Thursdays, 3:10 – 4:10 pm
Dates: Thursday, January 19th and go through
Thursday, March 1st (7 weeks)
Cost: $65
Classrooms: 6 & 7
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
(Registration is now closed, but additional classes will be offered later in
the spring)
Adventures with Robots
One class for 2nd and 3rd graders and
one class for 4th and 5th graders. Twelve kids in each
class
Day & Time: Wednesdays, 3:10 – 4:10pm
Dates: Wednesday January 18th - Wednesday,
February 29th (7 weeks)
Cost: Approximately $110.
Classrooms: 6 & 7
Register on www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
(Registration is now closed, but additional classes will be offered later in
the spring)
For more information, contact: Cathy Stocker
Year-long, Before School Language Classes
French
This year we’re offering three levels of French: Beginner,
Intermediate and Advanced. Here are the details, plus everything you need to
know about how to enroll. Classes are filled on a first-come,
first-served basis. Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 23.
The class schedule is:
Beginner French: Friday, 8:00-8:45 am
Intermediate French: Tuesday & Thursday, 8:05-8:35 am
Advanced French: Monday & Wednesday, 8:05-8:35 am
French classes begin the week of Oct. 3, and run until
mid-May. (If you are unsure about which French class to select for your child,
please contact Janet Gaffney to discuss class offerings and placement.)
The cost for the year is $315.
French classes are open to students in all grades, including
Kindergarten students.
Need-based scholarships are available. Please contact a
member of the Foreign Language Committee if you need assistance. All
inquiries and grants are kept confidential.
Classes will fill quickly, so please register promptly at www.pay4schoolstuffonline.com
For more information, please contact: Janet Gaffney
Spanish
Spanish is offered before school by FLES, an exciting
language and culture program providing quality language instruction for
children in Kindergarten - 5th grade. The program is designed with
young language learners in mind. Games, songs, roleplay, story–telling and
hands–on activities make lessons interactive, lively and fun. The teachers, who
are native speakers, bring the FLES classroom to life as they introduce
children to the traditions and customs of their own country. The classes are
offered at four different levels: INTRO:
kindergartners and first graders
BEGINNING: 2nd-5th
graders
INTERMEDIATE:2nd-5th graders ADVANCED:2nd-5th
graders
Registration occurs in the fall only and is online at www.fles.org
Cost:
$260 for the year (about 20-22 sessions). Each session is at least 45 minutes
long.