After-School Enrichment Classes Start Next Week!

Starting October 2, PDS will offer ten different Enrichment classes for students of all ages. Below are a few that we are highlighting in this issue, but please see a complete list and register here!

(Wednesdays) Bake Me a Cake, PreK-Grade 2

October 2, 2019 – December 4, 2019 : Meets Wednesdays : 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

“Chef Gabe” welcomes the youngest cooks in our community to this fun and age-appropriate foray into the art of baking. Learn to crack eggs, mix batters, knead dough, and decorate with frosting. Each class will concentrate on making and baking one kind of delicious baked good for students to take home or, if they can’t resist, to eat on the spot! Cookies, cupcakes, galore! Buns and breads, and more!

 

(Thursdays) Parkour, Grades 3-6

October 3, 2019 – December 5, 2019 : Meets Thursdays : 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Parkour is best described as the method of mindfully, curiously exploring the physical challenges one is capable of meeting already, refining and improving one’s technique in those challenges, and carefully, incrementally adding new items to that list. It tends to involve running, jumping, crawling, climbing, swinging, vaulting and all other natural movement patterns innate to human beings. The process of parkour is totally personalized to where each individual’s abilities and interests lie and the creative aspect of imagining how one might move through a given terrain is highly emphasized, making it a satisfying source of self-expression in addition to a highly functional physical training system. Innate Movement Parkour prioritized careful risk-management as the fundamental aspect of all training, and the development of this mindset keeps practitioners safe as they slowly build confidence in their ability to move with quality.

About the instructor:
Founder and Head Coach Dylan Johanson holds an ADAPT Level 2 certification in parkour teaching. This certificate is not given out lightly; it must be earned through demonstrating a high level of coaching ability, physical and mental conditioning, technical proficiency, and knowledge of the discipline. Simply put, there aren’t very many parkour coaches in the world who have attained ADAPT Level 2. Dylan has trained with many world-renowned practitioners including three of parkour’s founders- Chau Belle, Laurent Piemontesi, and Yann Hnautra- as well as Dan Edwardes, Andy Pearson, Chris ‘Blane’ Rowat, Frederico Gato Mazzoleni, Mikkel Thisen, Jesse Danger, Sasa Sevo, Max Henry, Juho Kuusisaari, Ryan Ford, Amos Rendao, and many others.

To learn more please visit InnateMovementParkour.com. Often the best way to understand parkour is to see it, and we have many videos on our website as well as our Facebook and Instagram that will give you a sense of what we do.

 

(Thursdays) Yoga for Very Young People, PreK-Grade 2

October 3, 2019 – December 5, 2019 : Meets Thursdays : 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Come and play yoga together in this creative and fun class for young children! Through songs, games, and storytelling, we will explore concepts of yoga and mindfulness including breathing, focus, and awareness. Go on imaginary adventures, create animal shapes out of yoga postures, and learn to relax together in class. Through “yoga play”, children will make positive connections within themselves and to yoga at an early age.

About the instructor:
Marnie (Medha) McKnight-Favell is a healer, homeopath, and yoga instructor who has been teaching yoga classes for over 15 years. She works with adults, babies and kids of all ages, and prenatal yoga students, providing a classical approach to yoga instruction. She teaches classes regularly at The Yoga Way in Wappingers Falls, and sees clients in private practice, Dragonfly Holistic, LLC. Marnie lives in Poughkeepsie with her husband, their PDS student Violet, and three cats.

 

(Tuesdays) Stop Motion Animation, Grades 4-8

October 8, 2019 – December 10, 2019 : Meets Tuesdays : 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Ever wonder how movies like Missing Link, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Fantastic Mr. Fox were made? During this course, we will explore the fascinating process of making our very own animated films, using the technique of stop motion video. Experimenting with the KomaKoma stop motion app, students will discover how to make toys, clay, found objects, paper, and sometimes green screening come to life on the screen. We will design our own sets and characters as a team and on solo projects.Students as stop motion artists will also hone skills in visual storytelling and development as they brainstorm ideas using storyboarding for each animation.

This course is geared to students in Grades 4-8, but there is flexibility on either end, depending on the student’s level of interest. No experience is needed. Only imagination and enthusiasm is required. At the end of the course, students will share their original creations and short films in a special movie screening presentation with family and friends. Students will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the ClayTime enrichment students.

About the instructor:
Marilyn Almonte is the technology coordinator and a media teacher at Poughkeepsie Day School. She has been teaching media and maker camps for several years. She is passionate about teaching and making film and media projects with others. In her free time, Marilyn loves to read, enjoys the outdoors, and tries different flavors of vegan ice cream. Coconut is a favorite!

See a complete list of offerings and register here!