Academic
Enrichment 2007-2008
Below
is an overview of the programs planned for school-day assemblies and
after-school enrichment during the 2007-2008 school year. The substance is engaging and fun so your
children will be refreshed by the experience!
Registration and additional course information on all
after-school programs will be sent to parents as the classes are being
organized throughout the school year.
All St. Agnes students are welcome to participate and if a class is
oversubscribed, we will conduct a lottery.
If the class is offered both semesters, those not in the fall class will
have first priority in the spring. We
have budgeted to provide scholarships and those interested should contact the
principal.
These programs are available because of many generous parent
volunteers. Please consider joining us
as a volunteer. It’s a great way to
enhance the lives of our children, make new friends, and support our
school. If you have any questions or
additional suggestions for either after-school programs and/or assemblies,
please contact committee chair, Jennifer Caterini 703.527.8480 home, or
703.609.6258 cell or email jcaterini1@comcast.net).
* * * * * * * *
Monthly Enrichment Assemblies During
the School Day
December 13-14, 2007: The Rolling Rainforest truck from
Discovery Creek came for two days and enabled students to learn about climate,
plants, animals, insects and much more.
January 8, 2008: “Lights, Camera, Action!” Students spent the day preparing a video of a
newscast and learned all sides of production, editing and filming. Meeting in small groups by class, they
learned the up-front and behind-the-scenes tasks of putting on a show.
February 2008: “Leap
into Lent” Professional singer Janis Clarke will perform several
assemblies and visit the classrooms to work w/students to prepare gifts to be
presented to Pope Benedict at the Eucharistic Congress in
March 31, 2008: “Presidents
and their First Ladies, Dramatically Speaking” will introduce Calvin
and Grace Coolidge to our middle school students by professional actors William
and Sue Wills.
April 2008: “Albert
Einstein Live”
May 2008: “How to go to the Movies” seminar
with smaller groups of students with film critic James Bowman designed to have
age appropriate conversations about what to look for at the movies.
Thomas Edison Live, The NED
show (character formation via yo-yo’s), Ocean in Motion,
and Blue Sky Puppets, are all possible assemblies in the upcoming
months.
After
School Programs
Capitol Adventure: A new
opportunity this year is offered by a St. Agnes parent who will organize a field trip to the
US Capitol Building for a tour and the opportunity for our students to meet
with one or more members of Congress. Date and details to be determined. Coordinator: Tori
Gorman
Chess Club: Chess Club will meet after school during the Spring semester on a day to be announced, for approximately
45 minutes. We plan to offer it for the Spring semester and it will be limited to 20 students. It is open to grades 2 through 8 and there
will be a class fee between $25 and $35 to cover cost of snacks and the
coach. Coordinator: Anne Nimey
Clay Café Studios: The “Fusing,
Flinging and Funky Pottery Painting” course is conducted by Clay Café Studios
over eight weeks, during which students are introduced to a variety of methods
for decorating ceramics. Each project
will allow the student to try a different style of painting. The course will be offered to grades 1
through 8 on Wednesdays during the Spring
semester. There is a class fee which
will cover all instruction and associated materials. Coordinator: Lisa Stuart
Drama Class: This will be designed to provide students the
opportunity to become more familiar with the stage and learn about putting on a
production with hopes of actually performing for a crowd. Coordinator: Moira McCormick
Girls on the Run: This is a program for girls from ages 8 to 12 that
combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing and
uplifting discussions. This 10 - 12 week
program uses physical activities and experiential leaning to promote healthy
living and healthy decision-making.
There is a fee for the class.
Coordinator: tbd
GASP - Great Art in
School Program: Each month a
different artist is selected and students become familiar with his/her work
through a brief presentation and discussion followed by a related art
project. This very popular program is
organized by grade and relies exclusively on parent volunteers. Coordinator: Lisa Nardini
703.528.0085
Global Arts Odyssey: Pack your
bags and join us for a trip around the world!
Offered by Left Noodle, Right Noodle, Global Arts Odyssey is designed
for students to explore art, music, dancing, folktales, creative writing,
drama, games, language and ethnic snacks from at least 8 countries. We will weave a carpet in Mongolia, move to
the rhythm of Cuban salsa, mine for jewels in Madagascar, wing it in the rain
forests of Costa Rica, polka through the Czech Republic, and catch a dream with
the Plains Indians in America. There is
a fee that will cover all expenses for craft and food supplies. Fall & Spring courses are offered. Coordinators: Jennifer Caterini & Axelle Harasty.
Junior Great Books
Program: Students read and
discuss short stories in a small group setting while developing the essential
skills of reading carefully, thinking critically, listening intently, and
speaking and writing precisely. St.
Agnes teaches this course from the Great Books Foundation curriculum. (Check out the website at www.greatbooks.org.) Open to students
in grades 2 through 8, we meet after school for an hour once a week. The program will be offered in late winter
and runs for eight weeks. There may be a
nominal fee and parents share responsibility for providing a snack. Coordinator: Lee Morris 703.243.1882
Language Instruction: We will be coordinating several after school
language programs.
Italian: This is a new course and is
being developed by St. Agnes parent Maggy Groccia. It will be designed to expose students to
basic Italian vocabulary as well as cultural and historical aspects of
Latin Instruction: Latin is back and our own Mrs. Woods, Miss Soos, and Miss Leathers are the instructors. We are using a book series based on stories
about a real Roman family that lived 2,000 years ago in Vindolanda
(
Coordinator: Megan O’Boyle 703.516.7062
Lunch-time
Literature Club - Classic Comics:
This popular program is repeated during lunch time and offers participants a
chance to read some of the greatest stories ever told by the world’s greatest
authors, brought to us by Classics Illustrated.
The comics are from the mid 1940's, 1960's and 1970"s, from a
collection that is generously on loan for the year. Stories may include The Three Musketeers
(Dumas), A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens), Don Quixote (Cervantes), Robinson
Crusoe (Defoe), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Stevenson) Lorna Doone
(Blackmore), The Prince and the Pauper (Clemens) and Jane Eyre (Bronte). Offered to grades 4 through
8. Coordinator: Holly Carroll
703.521.6204
Mad Science: Due to its
enormous popularity, we are again offering this program which is open to 1st
through 5th graders for six or eight week sessions. It offers an innovative approach to
scientific concepts through hands-on learning in a fun, creative
atmosphere. For more information, visit
the website at www.madscience.org. There is a fee. Coordinator: Anna Manville (Howard)
Public Speaking
Workshop: St. Agnes parent,
Karen Czarnecki, a regular panelist on To the
Contrary, a weekly national public affairs program on PBS, will again offer a 6
week course on speech and public speaking skills. Open to students in grades 4 through 8, the
course meets once a week. The workshop
aims to teach valuable speaking techniques such as improving eye contact, skill,
pace, and most of all, comfort level with speaking in public. Guest lecturers add to the fun. Coordinator: Karen Czarnecki
703.575.9710
Odyssey of the Mind, Math Club, and Lunchtime
Jeopardy are terrific opportunities for our students to flex their
cerebral muscles and we’d love to offer them.
If any parents are interested in coordinating or volunteering for these,
please let me know. Thanks! Jennifer Caterini