Enrichment Program
Poughkeepsie Day School's Enrichment Program presents students of all ages with opportunities to learn new skills in a joyful and supportive environment. The program is scheduled parallel to After-School care, so children can join their peers in After for a healthy snack prior to attending class and have the option to re-join them for some downtime when class ends. The fee for After is waived for PDS students on days that they take an enrichment class.
Monday
Found-Object Art ($170)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 3-5
Class will meet on April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20
“Upcycle” old materials into amazing art pieces. Use a variety of materials ‒ plastic bottles, boxes, old toys, bottle caps and more ‒ to produce unique sculptures, paintings and jewelry. We'll look to renowned artists, including glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and monochromatic wood sculptor Louise Nevelson, as inspiration for our creations.
Instructor Jenn Jordan is a lower and middle school art teacher at PDS. She is an avid painter and shows work regularly at the Artists' Collective of Hyde Park.
Multicultural Dance ($150)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 2‒4
Class will meet on April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20
This fun and innovative class blends a variety of cultures with creativity as cultural dance forms come together as one! Traditional styles of dance ‒ Bharatanatyam (India), West African dance, Flamenco (Spain), Salsa (Latin America) and Limón technique (USA) ‒ fuse with expressive movement exercises, bringing together different cultures and developing links between seemingly different dance styles.
Instructor Anna Mayta has choreographed, performed and taught for13 year for programs in India, Africa and England, as well as the greater area of Boston and currently in the Hudson Valley. A graduate of Empire State College with a B.A. in dance in education, she is also certified to teach yoga.
Tuesday
Create Your Own Stuffy/Doll ($160)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 1‒4
Class will meet on April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21
Turn your favorite drawing into a beloved stuffy! Using a variety of soft and plush fabrics, you can bring your drawing to life. Students learn to use needles and thread to sew simple stitches, buttons and whatever else it takes to create an heirloom friend. Each imaginary creature will be as unique as the child who has designed and sewn it.
Instructor Lynn Fordin has been teaching lower school at PDS for many years. She enjoys working with her hands and guiding children to realize simple projects, from initial conception to finished product.
Creative Yoga ($150)
3:30 to 4:30pm Pre-K ‒ Grade 2
Class will meet on April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21
This program combines yoga, creative movement and storytelling so children can stretch their bodies and their imaginations! The class will help participants improve flexibility, concentration, focus, balance, body awareness and strength using child-friendly cues and props.
Instructor Anna Mayta has choreographed, performed and taught dance for 13 years for programs in India, Africa, England, as well as the greater area of Boston and currently in the Hudson Valley. A graduate of Empire State College with a B.A. in dance in education, she is also certified to teach yoga.
Wednesday
Advanced Graphic Design ($140)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 6‒12
Class will meet on April 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22
In this project-based course, students use their knowledge and experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create elements for page layouts in Adobe InDesign. They will gain experience designing in a more comprehensive style for print and web media. Prerequisite: Participating students should have a basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. Experience with Adobe Illustrator is beneficial.
Instructor Joe Faitak is a 6th- and 8th-grade math teacher at PDS. Before becoming a teacher, he enjoyed a career as a graphic designer, editor and web designer. He has taught classes on graphic design and digital media in middle school, high school and college settings.
Art and Literacy ($170)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades K‒2
Class will meet on April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22
This class uses books and storytelling to inspire young artists to explore and create with new materials. Each class will introduce a new book and an art technique/project inspired by the book. “It Looked like Spilt Milk,””Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli” and “Lots of Dots” are a few of the books that children will use to inform their art.
Instructor Jenn Jordan is a lower and middle school art teacher at PDS. She is an avid painter and shows work regularly at the Artists' Collective of Hyde Park.
Thursday
Learn to Play Squash! ($190)
4:00 to 5:30pm Ages 11-14 years-old
Class will meet on April 11, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; June 6
This eight week course will cover all of the basics required to get students ready and able to play. Players will learn rules and safety (eyewear is mandatory for all participants*), grip, swing, movement and footwork. In addition, we will cover drive, volley, “boast” serve and return. We will incorporate conditioned games and match play and learn the basics for marking and refereeing a squash match. No experience necessary. Rackets and balls are provided. PDS will transport students to the Poughkeepsie Tennis Club and parents will pick up from the club.
Instructor Craig Thorpe-Clark is an Australian squash professional and former U.S. national coach. Craig has close to 20 years of experience as a college varsity head coach, including at Vassar, the University of Pennsylvania and currently Bard College.
*Protective eyewear is required and can be purchased from Craig or local sporting goods retailers. Craig recommends Head Rave or Pro Elite eyeguard.
Chinese Games and Sports ($150; includes $20 material fee)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 2‒5
Class will meet on April 25; May 2, 9 (cancelled), 16, 23, 30
Come explore authentic Chinese sports and games!! We will be playing badminton, Chinese yo-yo, hacky sack, and jump rope. Wear your t-shirt and sweatpants!!
Instructor Carol Tsai taught the Chinese culture program for the PDS lower school in the fall of 2012. She has been teaching Chinese language, culture and dance at different schools and organizations for the past eight years.
Friday
Learn Basic Cartooning ($140)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 2‒5
Class will meet on April 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24
Bill Fiore helps you develop your personal style while exploring a variety of forms, from single gags to longer comic strips to storyboarding your graphic novel. No drawing experience necessary.
Instructor Bill Fiore has taught lower school and music at PDS for several years. He started drawing cartoons for his high school and college newspapers and it has become a lifelong hobby. He especially loves teaching young artists the basics so they can create their own characters and make their friends and families laugh.
PDS Handball League ($160)
3:45 to 4:45pm Grades 2‒6
Class will meet on April 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24
Get ready for the ultimate handball experience and the chance to practice and play your favorite playground game with undivided focus! Class begins with stretching and a warm-up activity. It includes drills and practice scenarios, along with strategies and techniques, and then proceeds to epic handball battles! Participants choose between two sub-leagues: Varsity and Junior Varsity (with the chance to switch between the two). JV games focus on fundamentals, without player elimination. Varsity games feature player elimination and, with an emphasis on good sportsmanship, are more competitive. See you on the courts!
Instructor Noam Yaffe is a veteran of the PDS playground and has been training in the art of handball since his arrival at PDS in fall 2008. He is also the director of the after-school program and a frequent substitute teacher.
The deadline to register for the spring 2013 has passed. Be on the look-out for the fall 2013 program in September!
Please note that each Enrichment session has a minimum enrollment, and may be canceled if the minimum is not met.
In the event of early dismissal, there will be no Enrichment sessions.
Questions? Please contact Christina Powers.
