After School

The after-school enrichment program offers a diverse selection of classes during two twelve-week sessions each school year.

The courses run daily from 3:15-4:30 p.m. and are taught by Turning Point teachers and outside professionals. Recent course offerings have included four sports classes, gardening, woodworking, story time, cooking, magic, choir, arts and crafts, newspaper, karate and dance.

Art

Arts and Crafts (4 years and up)
This class provides a supportive environment for students to explore their individual talents and gain confidence in their expression through art. Projects will include painting, drawing, techniques for portrait drawings, clay and other mixed media projects. By popular request our class will also include a tie-dye T-shirt project.
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Sculpture
(All Levels)
Students will learn different techniques in sculpture, coil pottery, and a variety of hand-built projects using clay. Students will form their favorite animals, adobe homes, and unique pieces of pottery. Individual instruction will be given to explore students' talents and two favorite pieces will be chosen for kiln firing.
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The Language of Art
(K-1 through Level 3)
In this class students create projects with a special focus on the use of text in art, exploring the relationship of images to language. They will make art using a wide variety of tools and media. Projects are designed to enhance creativity and build self-confidence with emphasis on the joy of the process.
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Mini Masters Art Studio
(K-1 through Level 4)
In this new class, students will dive into the world of famous artists! Students will learn about the artist's life, style and techniques and create their own pieces in the vein of the artist studied. Georgia O'Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Klee, and Marc Chagall are only some of the Masters to be explored.
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Cartooning
This class will use your imagination and creativity to make all sorts of zany cartoons. You will learn special drawing techniques and skills as you design your own wacky, wild characters and comics. Let your hands, eyes, and brain guide you through a variety of fun, interesting projects.
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Kids in the Kitchen: Baking Through the Seasons
(Primary through Level 2)
From fall through winter, students will learn recipes for holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas. In addition, the students will learn how to read recipes, measure ingredients, cook and clean up. We will also put together a cookbook of all the things we prepare.
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Music

Combined Junior and Senior Choir
(K-1 through Level 5)
Through singing games, reading, music theory learning, and the use of different styles of choral repertoire, students learn how to sing in tune and continue to build up their sight-singing ability. The choir will perform for different school functions.
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Middle School Chorus
(Level 6 through Level 8)
Students will learn about harmony, music theory, sight-reading, and concert etiquette through performing different styles of choral repertoire. They will learn how to use the singing voice more effectively in a choir and how to take care of the voice. This choir will perform in school concerts and other events in the upcoming school year. In addition, students from Levels 4-6 will be selected to participate in the Kodaly Choral Festival in May.
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Pick and Strum
(Level 3 through Level 5)
Allowing students to take their first steps towards a lifelong enjoyment of playing instrumental music, this class is perfect for those who are just beginners or have little experience. Students will become familiar with the guitar, learn to play scales and some simple songs, and progress to reading tablature and playing chords. Finally students will have the opportunity to jam with each other, play sound games, and share their support, experience, knowledge and advice as they grow together towards a better appreciation of music.
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Piano Workshop
(All Levels)
Using an exciting and fun approach to learning piano, this class is created specifically for a young age group. Students incorporate learning how to read music and basic theory in a fun environment. Key to Joy Music believes that music really is the “key to joy” and can bring an exciting approach to music education will remain with each student for a lifetime.
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Fiddle Class
(K-1 through Level 8)
String players of all abilities are welcome to join this Celtic Fiddling class. This class will focus on playing/performing as part of an ensemble, and there will be music for collaboration between both beginning and advanced players.
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Drama

Reader's Theater
(K-1 through Level 3)
Experience the world of drama through workshop games, improvisation and dramatic play. Special guests include a Storyteller and Puppeteer, and we'll even explore the animal world through the music of "The Lion King." Children will create their own final performance for the parents at the end of the class.
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Fall Musical
(Level 2 through Level 5)
In a course that is brand new this year, performing arts students can participate in the fall musical production of Hans Christian Anderson's, The Snow Queen. All children who audition will participate. Rehearsals will be held twice a week on Tuesday and Friday, with a final performance for family and friends on Thursday December 16th at 6:30pm. This class will be directed by Middle School Performing Arts Specialist, Mrs. Broderick.
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Science

Earthkeepers
The Earthkeepers class will focus on doing activities and learning ways we can care for the earth. It will include taking care of the TURNINGPOINT garden and other garden activities. Children will learn about endangered animals and endangered areas such as the rain forest. They will do gardening and nature-oriented art projects.
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Animalkeepers
(K-1 through Level 4)
The Animalkeepers will be a small group of students who help care for the Turning Point School lab animals, including: seven snakes, a variety of lizards, chameleons, frogs, scorpions, tarantulas, tortoises, birds, arthropods, fish and mice. Students must be calm and helpful with these animals to participate.
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Social Science

Amnesty International Chapter
(Level 5 through Level 8)
Socially conscious students are invited to use their leadership skills to start and maintain a chapter of Amnesty International—a grassroots activist organization. Students will explore their roles as global citizens and actively participate in the democratic process by utilizing a collective youth voice to promote change. Amnesty International's focus is on education and action to help preserve human rights around the world. Students will meet weekly to discuss human rights issues and implement educational campaigns to promote awareness and provide information to our community.
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Globe Trotters
Kids will have fun while learning about various cultures from around the world. Each class will focus on a specific culture and do one or more activities connected to that culture. We will do arts and crafts, play games, sing songs, learn dances, celebrate holidays, hear stories and cook and eat special treats.
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Sports

Yoga
(K-1 through Level 3)
In this playful and dynamic class we will explore the world of yoga through creative body movement, storytelling, music, games, meditation and the natural world. This class aims to educate the “whole” child and encourage creative expression and imagination. Children will have fun building strength and flexibility while connecting more deeply with the inner self and the world around them.
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Chess
(All Levels)
Children will learn the fundamentals of chess, basic openings, traps and endgames, as well as developing their strategic, analytical, and abstract problem solving skills. They exercise their concentration and creativity playing supervised games, paired according to experience.
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Karate
(4 yrs through Level 8)
Classes are conducted by Mr. Lamdan — a black belt karate and self-defense instructor with over 20 years of experience. The classes will consist of a practical self-defense system for children, as well as traditional karate. The students will learn not only how to defend themselves but also the principles of correct movement including posture and body alignment, body mechanism, and the relation of these to breathing. These techniques are applied not only to karate but to everyday life. During the classes, the students learn to respect each other and to use karate only as a last alternative for defense.
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Track
This class will teach the basics of running and conditioning. There will be 12 classes at school and 2 special days on Sat. or Sun. at a local track. If you want to prepare for an upcoming track meet, or just want to improve your endurance and skills, then this would be a great way to get yourself ready. Depending on the size of the class, we will do runs in the gym, on campus, around the neighborhood, and at local parks.
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Beginning Sports
(Primary & K-1)
This class is a beginning sports class set up for upper Primary students and some first year K-1 children. This class will introduce the basics of team sports. We play organized games and work on specific skills including – but not limited to: basketball, soccer, pillow hockey, and other fun fitness games and activities. Lots of learning and lots of fun!
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Intermediate Sports
(Elementary Levels)
This class is a continuation of the current sports class and will teach skills in basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball. All K-1 and Level 2 students are eligible to enroll and previous enrollment is not a prerequisite.
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Advanced Sports
(Middle School Levels)
This sports class will work on general sports skills in basketball, soccer, and baseball. This is a co-ed class and is designed to enhance sports knowledge, teach teamwork, and provide competitive experiences in a familiar environment.
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Volleyball / Basketball
(Level 3 and Level 4)
This class is for students who want to learn the basic skills of Volleyball and Basketball. There will be 6 weeks of volleyball and 4 weeks of basketball. During the volleyball sessions we will learn how to bump, set and serve. This class is for students interested in learning new skills and practicing for team sports in the future. In the basketball unit, students will practice dribbling, shooting and other basic basketball skills.
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Other After School Activities

Homework Buddies

Here are a few good reasons for doing homework: It helps you practice and review skills that you have already learned, it gives you the chance to finish tasks that you couldn't during the regular school day, and it helps you to learn and grow. Enrolled students will be teacher-supervised in a quiet, structured, academically stimulating environment. Students’ questions will be answered and homework progress will be monitored. Our goal, as often as possible, is to have students greet you at 4:15 saying "Guess what, I finished my homework!"

Improvistational Comedy

Students learn the basics of unscripted performance through improvisational games, role playing, storytelling, and scene work. Never losing sight of the primary objective, to laugh and have fun, the course is designed to strengthen and encourage students’ public speaking and performance ability. Students’ improve decision making skills, help to eliminate self consciousness, become active audience members, and enjoy each other’s humor as they learn improvisational comedy technique in a supportive, structured environment.

No improvisation or acting experience is necessary.

Chess

Children will learn the fundamentals of chess, basic openings, traps and endgames, as well as developing their strategic, analytical, and abstract problem solving skills. They exercise their concentration and creativity playing supervised games, paired according to experience.