After School Curriculum Enrichment

Each year, teachers in grades 2 through 5 have the opportunity to recommend students to participate in our ACE Program, After-school Curriculum Enrichment. The ACE classes are created to offer enrichment activities to recommended students in specific content areas. The teacher to student ratio is a priority; therefore promoting more individualized instruction.  Students were invited to participate based on multiple criteria including classroom performance, standardized test results and teacher recommendations in at least one of the eight multiple intelligences.  All classes will be held on Monday, unless otherwise specified.

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ACE PROGRAMS 2009-10

History: What Happened?: Lois Wargo, Grade 5

Did you know George Washington was almost born in England? Or that Dolly Madison made ice cream famous? That the northern most battle of the Civil War was actually in Vermont? Or that Teddy Roosevelt never meant to be president? History is full of fun facts most of us didn’t get to learn.  In History: What Happened? students will have the opportunity to explore historical events and figures in more detail and to demonstrate what they have learned in fun and creative ways.

Athletic Adventures: Jaclyn Denman and Ryan Savianeso, Grade 3-4

Students will learn the specific fundamental skills and rules that make up the sports/activities covered throughout the program, good sportsmanship, and kinesthetic awareness.  Students will participate in basketball, handball, baseball/softball, football, lacrosse, volleyball and ultimate Frisbee.

Fit Fanatics: Susan Kilgallon, Grade 5

This is for students who show an extreme interest in physical activity/sports.  Students will be able to learn the influence of history and culture of games, sports, dance and other various activities.  Students will be able to learn to utilize physical activity in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle while learning appropriate behavior and sportsmanship.

Sports Fan: Brian Nelson, Grade 6

In this program, students will be challenged to participate in each activity to the best of their athletic abilities.  The student’s individual talents will be brought out naturally with the variety of physical activities played during this program.  There will be discussions at the end of each activity to optimize the student’s overall understanding of their abilities, talents and interests.  Students will learn overall sport skills and self-confidence while participating in a variety of physical activities.  Also, the students will learn the concepts of sportsmanship, teamwork and character.

Bonus Music: Alyssa Wright, Grade 3-5

Students will participate in singing, playing percussion instruments, folk dancing, composing and improvisation.  Students will learn to sing in tune, playing in an ensemble, and learning how to begin an instrumental composition. 

Beginning Jazz Band: Scott Nulty, Grade 5-6

This program is filled with multi-sensory experiences to raise a child’s understanding and appreciation of the unique American invention-jazz music.  Students will rehearse weekly.  Students will learn improvising skills and will be analyzed and critiqued.  Students will become aware of rhythmic manipulation, timbre, and orchestration.  Students will explore the connection between music and movement and visual elements in a multi-disciplinary unit.

Stafford Mythbusters: Timothy Serabian, Grade 6

The Stafford Mythbusters allows students the opportunity to expand their investigation skills of science.  They will need to use scientific method to investigate myths, urban legends, and famous sayings and put it under scientific scrutiny. They will conduct research on the topic, design and conduct an experiment, and gauge whether or not the original myth is “busted”, “plausible” or “confirmed.”  Students will learn how to make their own episode of Mythbusters.  They will learn script writing, improvisation, camera work, lighting sound, and what ways the original Mythbusters make their episodes enjoyable.

Writer’s Café: Diana Adanatzian, Grade 3-4

Students will participate in creative writing activities which enable students to collaborate and publish different types of writing genres.  Students will comprehend and apply the 6 plus 1 writing traits into their writing pieces.  They will write a script for a commercial, food menu, fan letters, pen pal letters and publish a book.  The book will be given to Kindergarteners.

Passport to Stories from Around the World: Megan Beauchemin, Grade 3

Students will explore different cultures through literature.  Students will be exposed to many different forms of literature, such as: poetry, folktales, adventure, fairytales, and legends.  They will examine the relationships between the literature and the culture. 

Mustang Express:  Stacey Romano, Grade 4

Mustang Express will enhance students’ organizational skills and instill a sense of responsibility while learning about the history of the United States dating back to the early colonial times.  Students will learn how to use different research methods to gather ideas that will assist in the design of their won successful postal system.

Word Wizards: Deborah Vurgason, Grade 5-6

Students will increase their vocabulary and improve their spelling skills through stimulating activities.  We will be playing on-line games as well as board games, card games, and competitions.  We will examine our language through activities involving word origin, idioms, anagrams, alliteration, onomatopoeia, word scrambles and palindromes.  Students will discover that using dictionary and thesaurus can actually be fun!

It’s a Great Vacation!:  Leigh Sweeney, Grade 4

Students will learn about geography, map reading and use math skills and find out points of interest across the United States.   Students will receive a budget of $5000 to plan a vacation to a particular state.  They will use the internet, maps and brochures to complete this task.  They will include points of interest, food and lodging for this trip.  The information will be compiled in a booklet to be shared.

Culture Quest:  Christine McCollum, Grade 6

Students will use their natural interest and curiosity to explore the lives of children from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  Literature, music, film, internet and news media will be used to gain insight about the impact of culture on both children historically and in modern times. Linguistic, artistic, and musical talents will play a role in various projects and activities that will help bring the cultures studied to life.  Students will apply their existing understandings of themselves to identify with and understand others.

Brain Twisters: Hope Scherlin, Grade 3

Students will use math concepts to explore different types of strategy and logic games.  They will also explore games of chance.  Students will explore how different games of strategies and logic will give an advantage to winning a game verses game of chance or luck where there is no advantage toward either player.

Breslow’s Stadium Tour: Daniel Breslow, Grade 4

Students will be challenged mathematically through various enrichment activities according to the core curriculum content standards.  The activities will be designed to incorporate the different learning styles to promote higher learning.  The students will be able to research areas of the United States on the internet to locate Major League Baseball Stadiums.

Space Odyssey: Deborah DeFilippis, Grade 5

Space Odyssey is designed for students to learn science content, to build teamwork, to use critical and creative problem solving techniques and to make responsible decisions. Activities leading up to a trip to the Buehler Challenger Space Center are designed to appeal to diverse learning styles, helping to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed. Relying on prior knowledge in math and science and activities during the program students must apply higher order thinking skills to complete “authentic space mission tasks” to complete the mission at the space center.

Click Club: Mandy Nelson, Grade 3-4

The Click Club will utilize various computer capabilities to research and create a Power Point Presentation about Stafford Township.  This tour of our town will include our town’s history, geography, schools, attractions and facts.  Students will learn research, digital photography, and a variety of computer skills.

Winter Web Olympics: Danielle Roesch, Grade 4

Students will research the history and events of the Winter Olympics.  The students will utilize internet access to research and study the winter games.  Students will present information by creating a power point presentation. 

A+ Artwork: Janet Colombo, Grade 3-4

In A+ Artwork the students will explore various techniques of several different famous artists. The students will then be given the opportunity to try out the techniques in a piece of artwork. We will also be studying landscapes with a heavy concentration on the winter season. Student artwork will be displayed in an art show at the end of the program.

Be…ORIGINAL: Jeanette Smith, Grade 5-6

This program is designed to encourage children to be involved with hands on art activities linked to the art of cooking.  Their unique personalities and contributions matter when setting goals and developing their creative powers in the kitchen. When involved with hands-on art activities children are actively solving problems, thinking critically, becoming visually literate, communicating and enhancing self-confidence strategies.

ACE ART: Sarah Ewen, Grade 5-6

The ACE Art program includes skill development in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and crafts.  Students will develop their communication, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills through written, verbal, and visual expression.

ACE-Applying Creative Effort: Jessica Deuber, Grade 5-6

This program will expose students to a wide variety of art mediums, and introduce them to work and style of local professional artists, as well as famous artists from history.  As a group, we will explore advanced drawing, painting, sculpture, and claymation techniques.

Making Math Stories and Games: Janeen Wegryn-Fritz, Grade 6

This ACE class is designed to have students understand math concepts.  They will think of ways to teach those concepts to younger students.  They will create picture books, create Power Point presentations and create quick and easy games to play with students in lower grade levels.

Title:  Inspiring Students through iPods: Natalie Finley & Shannon Mastrogiovanni, Grades 5-6

Have you ever wanted to travel to a faraway place?  Well, here's your chance!  Through the use of some really cool technology we will be taking a cyber trip to the place you have always wanted to visit.  You will have the opportunity to use an iTouch and a Mac computer to create and showcase a podcast about your dream vacation.  Pack your bags and get ready for an experience you'll never forget!

Quorum Forum: Kathleen Naughton, Grades 3-6

This ACE year, class activities such as group discussions, debates, and other creative opportunities will challenge critical thinking and reasoning skills to learn elementary civic and economic principles.