Before and After School Programs

April 2 to June 8, 2012

To signup for the programs listed below, please download and print the registration form and return it with the class fee by Friday, March 16. (If you need help printing the form, please go to the reception desk). Limited financial assistance is available for most classes. Please put your request in writing to Fred Antonoff, the business manager.

Classes are filled on a first-come/first-served basis. Some classes fill up early so please return your registration form and payment as soon as possible! Registration does not carry over from session to session except where indicated. Classes are subject to cancellation if there are not enough registrants.

Please note that Lower Elementary study hall meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; Upper Elementary study hall meets on Mondays through Thursdays. Elementary students may go to study hall on a drop-in basis. The cost is $30. Please notify the office in the morning if your child needs study hall that day. Also, Early Morning Drop-Off and Clubhouse are available on a drop-in basis (see details below). The Primary Afternoon Program, however, is not available on a drop-off basis. Registration for that program is managed by Bertica Spencer, the Primary division coordinator, and is not considered part of the Before and After School Program.

Mondays, April 2 to June 4 (No classes on 5/28):

Primary Soccer (with Adam Bluth) 4- to 6-year-olds, 2:45 to 4 p.m. $270 for 9 sessions. Join Mr. Bluth for a soccer adventure! Players will be introduced to the fundamentals of soccer, with an emphasis on individual skill building and team play. Soccer is a great way for children to develop their gross-motor skills as it encourages them to use all parts of the body except the hands. They will learn how to open and close spaces, pass, shoot, keep goal, and control the ball. Enrollment limited to 12 students.

Chess for Elementary Students, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. $270 for 9 sessions. Chess fosters creative problem solving and abstract thinking. Players work on developing opening strategies, middle game planning and end-game theory, as well as tournament skills. Children will be evaluated and placed in the appropriate class according to their skill level. All the teachers have a hands-on teaching style to promote enthusiasm for chess along with critical thinking skills and sportsmanship.

• Beginner Chess (with Matthew Vescovi)

• Intermediate Chess (with Peter Barkman)

• Advanced Chess (with Andre Harding)

Pottery Wheel (with Ayano Ohmi) 2nd grade and up, 3:20 to 4:30 p.m. $270 for 9 sessions. This class is a hands-on experience where the students learn how to create objects on a pottery wheel. The students practice how to adjust the speed of the wheel, how to center the clay, and how to throw a cup and a bowl. They will decorate a piece and glaze the final product. Class enrollment is limited to six students.

Lower Elementary Study Hall (3:15 to 4:30 p.m.): $125 (No study hall on 4/2 or 4/23; ends on 5/14)

Upper Elementary Study Hall (3:30 to 5 p.m.): $225

Tuesdays, April 3 to June 5:

Challenges with Clay (with Ayano Ohmi), 3:20 to 4:30 p.m. $300 for 10 sessions. Students will learn how to make everyday objects such as a cup and saucer, vase, sugar pot, candle holder, picture frame, etc. The focus will be on making a one-of-a-kind work that is not only beautiful but also useful at home. This class is designed for the student who wants to do clay work outside of art class. Enrollment limited to eight students.

Lower Elementary Soccer (with Adam Bluth), 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. $300 for 10 sessions. This class focuses on developing soccer skills, and practicing more advanced maneuvers and strategies. The class is structured around a progression of games in which players interact in complex ways. Enrollment limited to 10 students.

Upper Elementary Study Hall (3:30 to 5 p.m.): $250

Play the guitar! (with Stephen Selman) Upper Elementary; 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. $450 for 10 sessions. Students gain the skills they need to start playing the music they want to play. Chords, melodies, and some reading combine to form a solid foundation for further study. The guidar is an excellent (and fun!) vehicle for learning a wide range of musical styles, and can quickly become a lifelong asset. Students will experience diverse playing situations as they work one-on-one with an instructor, in small groups, and as a whole.

Wednesdays, April 4 to June 6 (no class 5/2):

Wild Artist — A Journey into 20th Century Art History! (with Marianne Garnier) All Elementary, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. $270 for 9 sessions. Children will explore 20th Century art movements, from Cubism to Op-art. Great artworks will be used to spark their imagination and to help them play with new concepts and exciting techniques. Through painting, collage, printmaking, 3-D design, and their own personal exploration, children will learn to appreciate diverse methods of expression and develop a better understanding of their visual world. Enrollment limited to eight students.

Lower Elementary Study Hall (3:15 to 4:30 p.m.): $100 (No Study Hall 4/18; ends 5/9)

Upper Elementary Study Hall (3:30 to 5 p.m.): $225

Thursdays, April 5 to June 7

Primary Chess (with Fred Wilson) 4- to 6-year-olds, 8 to 9 a.m. $300 for 10 sessions. This workshop is designed to teach Primary-aged children the basic rules, moves, and strategies of chess. Children are taught through stories and visuals that help them to understand the concepts of chess. After they are introduced to a particular strategy, children are given class time to practice. A 1992 American Chess Foundation study showed that playing chess improved reading scores because the cognition processes are similar. Besides, chess is fun!

Primary Art (with Marianne Garnier) 2:45 to 4 p.m. $300 for 10 sessions. Students will learn the basics of making art through line, color, geometric form, and composition. Children will use different mediums such as paint, pastels, and clay to solidify their foundation in formation of art projects. Enrollment limited to 10 students.

TADA! Musical Theater (with TADA! performers) All Elementary, 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. $550 for 10 sessions; with study hall/clubhouse before, $750. With the guidance of two teaching artists (a music director and a director/choreographer), students learn the music, dance, and theater skills needed to become competent musical theater actors. Music is drawn from TADA!’s repertoire of more than 15 original musicals written expressly for performance by children.

Scratch (with Gabriel Acosta-Cohen), Upper Elementary; 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. 10 sessions, $300. Discover a whole new world of computer lanage with Scratch from the creators of Lego Mindstorm. Scratch is a computer program for children of all ages. With Scratch, you can create you own game, animation, interactive story, or even a music video. Enrollment limited to six students.

Lower Elementary Study Hall (3:15 to 4:30 p.m.): $125 (No Study Hall 4/19; ends 5/10)

Upper Elementary Study Hall (3:30 to 5 p.m.): $250

Fridays, April 13 to June 8 (no class May 25)

Dazzling Discoveries (with Godwyn Morris) Extended Day and first grade; 2 to 3 p.m. $350 for 8 sessions. Uncover the science of wild weather, science magic, chemical reactions and simple explosions, gems and minerals, fossils, speed and impact, air pressure, and many other exciting topics with Dazzling Discoveries’ hand-on science program. Through experiments, demonstrations and activities, we will explore scientific principles of the world around us. Each week children conduct tests and design and create “make and take” projects that incorporate the science theme of the day. At the end of each class, students receive a fact sheet so that they can continue their explorations at home. NEW PROJECTS EVERY TERM!

Motors and Machines (with Godwyn Morris) Second grade and above; 2 to 3:15 p.m. $375 for 8 sessions. Curious about how machines work? This course provides hands-on experiments with electrical circuits, switches, gears, motors, solar and battery energy, sound and light sensors. From making their own batteries to building a motorized vehicle, students explore electricity and circuitry, robotics, gears and levers, simple machines, motors and other related topics. Each child will build and take home his/her own mechanical and electrical creations as well as learn about the inner workings of many of the toys and tools we come in contact with every day. Some projects are complex and take several weeks to complete. NEW PROJECTS EVERY TERM!

Mohr’s Explorers (with Mike Mohr) 6- to 12-year-olds, 2 to 4:15 p.m. Cost: $425 for 8 weeks. Gear up for weekly EDventures in Central Park! Possibilities include sledding, snow sculptures, an Explorers-only style of “fishing” (weather & park fencing permitting) plus an original variety of awesome outdoor games & activities! The potential for snow equals a memorable season in this challenging, FUN program that builds confidence while encouraging teamwork, creativity and open-ended education. We will be outdoors; please be prepared for all types of weather and visit the Mohr’s website for more information. Please note this program runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Daily offerings:

Early morning dropoff, 8 to 8:45 a.m. Cost for the year: $1,800; cost for the spring term: $500. Drop-in fee, $15.

Clubhouse, 2:45 to 6 p.m. Cost for the year, $3,300; cost for the spring term: $900. Drop-in fee: $35. Clubhouse members have snack, play in the playground, create art projects, read, and relax. Elementary children attend study hall first. Space is limited to ensure quality care. Pickup is flexible.

Yearlong enrichment programs

Upper Elementary Intramural Sports (with Adam Bluth), Fridays 2 to 3 p.m. Students participate in soccer, volleyball, basketball, and outdoor activities such as ultimate Frisbee and tag games. Critical thinking aspects of the game and sportsmanship are emphasized. Sign-up for the school year is held in September and it is not necessary to re-enroll. There is no fee for this program, but it is not available on a “drop-in” basis.

Elementary Strings (with Marc Szammer). The strings program is offered at no cost to MMS students. Signup for the school year is held in September and it is not necessary to re-enroll.

Primi Violin: Session One: Tuesdays, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. OR Session Two: Fridays, 2 to 3 p.m. Primi Violin is the first level of violin training for children who have been exposed to the violin in Extended Day or have no prior experience. Primi violin students endeavor to develop a basic mastery of violin technique. (Please note there are two sections to choose from for Primi violin but children only participate in one class per week).

Secondi Violin: Thursdays, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Secondi violin is the intermediate level of violin training at MMS. It is designed for students in their second and third year of training. Having developed a sound understanding of basic violin technique, Secondi violin students seek to develop competency in music literacy. Learning to read music is at the core of the Secondi violin curriculum, and classroom composition projects play a significant role in that pursuit.

MMS Orchestra: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. MMS orchestra is the advanced level of violin training at MMS. Designed for students of all grades who demonstrate competency in violin technique and music literacy, MMS orchestra explores the wide world of music through the violin. Repertoire is drawn from a variety of genres and regions, and classroom composition remains an important element of the curriculum. MMS orchestra students continue to refine their technique, and learn to play music with parts.

Violins may be rented from:

Johnson Stringed Instruments (mail order), 1-800-359-9351
Strings and Other Things, 1995 Broadway, 6th floor (corner of 68th Street), 212-362-0857.

The cost for renting a violin for the school year can be from $262 to $474 depending on the quality and size of the violin. Please do not order an instrument until your child is measured for the proper size.