ELEMENTARY CLASSES
2020 classes will be posted in February 2020.
Below is a sample offering for students entering grades TK-5 from LAST SUMMER.
Class descriptions are also available in pdf and you can find an enrollment worksheet here.
SUMMER 2019 CLASSES
For our younger elementary students, we have full-morning classes so that students entering TK, K, Grade 1 and even Grade 2 can stay in one class all morning.
For our older elementary students, they will be able to select classes for each of three periods so they can build a program that most appeals to them!
NOTE: all classes will run subject to enrollment. If a class is cancelled due to lack of enrollment, you will be contacted. Instructors are not guaranteed and may be switched without notice.
>>FULL-MORNING PROGRAM 8:30am to 12:30pm<<
#010 AN ANIMAL A DAY
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) & Kindergarten
Join our summer safari as we travel through oceans, jungles, forests and farms to meet an animal a day. We will practice letters and sounds, counting and patterns, and learn about animal habitats as we circle the globe to find some animal friends. On the way we will explore reading, writing, math, science, social studies, cooking, sculpting, painting, puppets and music to learn fun facts about the animal world!
Elayne Borenstein
#020 KINDERMASTERS
Kindergarten
If you are excited and ready for Kindergarten learning, then this is the class for YOU! We will have fun with letters and sounds, review sight words and make fun projects, including kooky crafts and quicky, snicky snacks. Literacy-rich activities, phonemic awareness, reading, writing and social science activity centers will be part of our daily routine.
David Petrilyak
#030 1,2,3…READY, SET, READ!
Grades K-1
Play, explore and learn! Children will have a blast exploring daily literacy activities while improving their developing literacy skills through art, imaginative play, exciting crafts and interactive read-alouds. We will focus on phonics and phonemic awareness, touch on creative writing, and play age-appropriate games that promote confidence. We will be learning and having fun at the same time!
Pat Proft
#040 INSPIRED BY NATURE
Grades K-1
Experience the wonders of nature through hands-on explorations, guided observations and inspired art projects. We will celebrate the outside world through a wide variety of literature, art, music, songs and age-appropriate games. Join us as we explore nature while having fun!
Liz Franchi
#050 BOOK COOKS
Grades K-1
Book Cooks will whet the physical and mental appetites of young readers. We will spend 3 to 4 days diving into a new book, studying the story elements, focusing on vocabulary and writing a response. We will then finish the book with a culminating cooking activity that aligns with the story! We will focus primarily on fiction titles at a variety of reading levels to engage all students as we feed our brains and our bellies!
Jamie McClung
#060 EXPLORATIONS IN MATH, ART AND LITERACY
Grades K-1
Explore “FUN”-damental math concepts, express yourself as an artist and learn to LOVE reading and writing! Dig into foundational math ideas such as counting, geometry, place value and early problem-solving. Join us as we explore multiple-media art. Delight in poetry, fiction and non-fiction books as we use these texts to mentor our journey through introductory writing experiences in a variety of genres. Come join the fun!
Stefanie Mathewson &
#070 PRIMARY OCEANOGRAPHY
Grades 1-2
This very popular class is back for another year! Taught by a team of three experienced primary teachers, this course is an in-depth study of sea life. You will attend research trips to the library and the Santa Monica Pier and even have visits from real marine scientists, all in order to gather knowledge and have hands-on experiences with sea life. You will be encouraged to apply your knowledge of sea life in a variety of activities: sea life stories, sea life riddles, pop-up books, and under-the-sea murals, just to name a few! Math and science will be integrated throughout the program. Teachers will adjust instruction to challenge and motivate the individual learning needs of all students. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Tiffany Estrada, Emma Fujiwara & Rebecca Urias
>>PERIOD I | 8:30am-9:40am<<
#101 MAKE A PLACE FOR A MAKER-SPACE
Grades 2-3
Do you like to tinker? Do you like to invent and create new things? This is the class for you! You will be encouraged to create something unique that has never been seen before. For part of each week, you will have the freedom to explore your own interests and come up with projects you would like to create. For the remainder of each week, you will work with a partner or team to solve a variety of Scientific, Technological, Engineering, Artistic and Mathematical (STEAM) problems. We will be cooking, building, creating and solving challenges using LEGO®, K’Nex®, computers and recycled materials. Join us for an action-packed, fun-filled experience and STEAM through the summer!
Lori Alexander & Carl Avitia-Witt
#102 BASKETBALL FOR BEGINNERS
Grades 2-3
This class welcomes all beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of basketball by working on their skills through drills, while learning to defend and scrimmage each other. Students will also learn teamwork and good sportsmanship, and stay fit at the same time!
Paul Kumasaka
#103 EVERYDAY MUSICAL PATTERNS – JUST BEAT IT!
Grades 2-4
From Mozart to MC Hammer, students will listen to music from various eras and learn about the elements of sound. We will tie together patterns, silence and sounds while creating art inspired by the various composers and their music. Together we will explore the connectedness between science, math and art. Join us for a fantastic listening and artistic experience!
Jennifer Mack
#104 LET’S DANCE
Grades 2-5
Come and dance with us! We’ll make your “Hands Clap” because Westside’s finest dancers never fail to impress. You will experience the power of creative dance while developing confidence, problem-solving, perseverance and collaboration. Dancers will choreograph and perform their creations. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. Come join us for summer fun and show your moves. Let’s dance!
Linda Brown
#105 STORIES THAT POP UP!
Grades 2-5
Express yourself with words and 3-D pop-ups. Awaken the creative writer and artist within you! Once you learn the basic steps for making pop-ups, using all kinds of crafty materials, you can create your own designs. Use your imagination in new ways to illustrate and illuminate your stories using crafty materials. Write better paragraphs with captivating details that actually jump off the page. Have fun improving your essential writing skills. Our summer session will culminate with a WRITERS AND ARTISTS SHOWCASE for families to attend. Freedom of expression is your key to Stories That Pop Up!
Ila Sender
#106 BRICKS 4 KIDZ
Grades 2-5
In this class, you will learn, build and play with LEGO® bricks, and be introduced to basic principles of architecture and engineering, building self-confidence while having fun. Bricks 4 Kidz teachers will lead a discussion related to that day’s model, using materials designed by educators to teach STEM concepts and be fun-centric across a variety of subject areas. Themes will include models from Super Heroes®, architecture and engineering, Transformers®, Star Wars® space travel, natural science and geography. Join us for building and learning fun!
Bricks 4 Kidz
#107 AMAZING ART
Grades 2-5
Join this class to learn about the seven elements of art design: line, shape, texture, color, value, form and space. You will observe and discuss how famous and contemporary artists used these basic concepts of art design in their works. You will incorporate a variety of materials in your projects, including crayon, marker, paint, pastels, pipe cleaners and paper. You will express yourself and have fun while creating your own personal drawings, paintings, collages, weavings and sculptures. Be an artistic star ̶̶ join us and make Amazing Art!
Stephanie Neumann
#108 MATH GAME MANIA
Grades 2-5
Enrich your math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, number sense, money and problem-solving. You will also improve your critical thinking while playing with dice, cards and math puzzles. Fridays are Math Mania days, where we play any of the games we have learned. The class ends with designing your own board game. Improve your math skills while having fun!
Rosio Medina
#109 PE FUN IN THE SUMMER
Grades 2-5
We will play and build skills through a variety of PE games that are demonstrated throughout the school year. All our favorite games are designed to build sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation, skills and FUN! We will play games from SPARK® PE, part of the current SMMUSD district-wide curriculum. New games and skills will be introduced as well. The importance of sportsmanship, daily aerobic activity, improving athleticism, warming up, staying hydrated, cooling down and maintaining a positive attitude will be emphasized.
Tony Murphy
#110 DIGITAL STORYTELLING
Grades 3-5
Are you a creatively-minded, tech-savvy kid looking for tons of fun? Join us and you’ll be given an opportunity to learn and master the art of storytelling using animation technology, storyboards and digital tools that bring your stories to life! Come work in collaborative, story-interest groups and use iPads, iPods, desktop computers and digital cameras to perfect and publish your work. Stories will also be produced using clay, a variety of art materials, LEGOS®, still-life props and green screen. You will receive a flash drive or CD containing your stories, creations and productions to take home to share and enjoy. Are you ready to be a digital star?
Deborah Talbott
Note: This class is for any child already tech-minded with some experience using technology.
#111 THE WONDERS OF READING
Grades 3-5
Children will recapture their love of reading! Each student will be immersed in reading “just right” books and engage in book-related projects guaranteed to help reading comprehension flourish. Our daily activities will involve author studies, the use of sketch books to capture mental images while reading, creating book jackets and posters, book talks and podcasts. Join us and get lost in reading!
Paula Flynn
#112 INTRODUCTION TO TENNIS
Grades 3-5
This class is an introductory course that teaches you the basics of tennis. It is designed for children who have yet to play tennis or who recently began the sport. We will focus on the basics, such as proper grip, strokes, racquet control, ball control, body control, movement and footwork, forehand, backhand and volley. As skills progress, students will use modified nets and court dimensions to play their way towards rally games and learn how to keep score. An appropriately sized racquet will be provided for you.
Jeremy Munson
#113 & #213 ACTING-DRAMA
**This is a 2-period class.**
Grades 3-5
Students will be provided acting workbooks with simple scripts, focusing on developing imagination, elocution and improvisation, as well as one- and two-act plays for memorization and performance. During our time together, students will develop stage presence, speaking and movement skills, and memorize lines and perform at least two short plays during our final week. Students will also design and create their own scenery backdrops for their plays.
Faron Isom
#114 FUN MATH GAMES
Grades 3-5
We will have fun while gaining confidence in mathematics. You will sharpen your number sense and build math proficiency while playing a variety of board games requiring addition, subtraction and multiplication, as well as higher-level problem-solving skills. Come have fun with math!
Christine Brewer
#115 CODING CHALLENGE WITH OLLIE AND DASH
Grades 3-5
Get into the driver’s seat! Put your coding skills to the test. Code Ollie and Dash robots to program tricks, navigate obstacles and follow your creative commands! You will have fun while learning and problem-solving, using a coding app on an iPad and watching your virtual coding come to life.
Kazuki Uema
#116 CHESS CHAMPIONS
Grades 4-5
Did you know that there are more possible chess games than atoms in the earth? Do you have what it takes to be the next great chess champion? In this class you will learn basic strategies of chess playing and work on your master openings and defenses. You will have an opportunity to play traditional chess against partners, play four-player chess and also play games online to become a master. All skill levels are welcome.
Gerardo Rodriguez
#117 CULTURE CLUB
Grades 4-5
Let’s “travel” together and learn about a variety of different people, places and cultures during our five-week summer journey. We will be world travelers as we unpack and explore Mexico, England, Australia, Canada and Jamaica through art, culture, music, language, geography, sports and sampling delicious cuisines. All aboard for a wonderful journey!
Audra Radcliffe
NOTE: Foods served are often non-gluten free and may contain animal products. Parents of children with severe allergies are cautioned.
