OVERVIEW
Registration for Remote Enrichment Programs is open!
NEW! Just launched: Middle and High School Electives from 3:30-5:30pm EST will run for 5 weeks from May 4 to June 5. All are welcome! These elective classes, marked “NEW” on our class lists, can also be part of the Acera Pop-Up School experience. Choose “Spring 2020 Middle/High…” from the drop-down menu in the registration form.
Watch our new video to hear Enrichment Director, Faith Blake, and School Director, Courtney Dickinson, describe Acera’s new electives and approach to remote enrichment. You’ll learn about the authentic lab science happening in “From Micro to Macro: Hands-on Biology”, the rich argumentative discussions happening in “Philosophy Salon”, and the interdisciplinary problem solving in “Making Wearable Electronics” – taught by specialist educators with passion and field-based expertise.
Enrichment classes for all ages that began April 6 (our “Trimester 3” classes) are still open for mid-session enrollments. Email enrichment@aceraschool.org with questions.
Questions about these classes? Attend an Info Session
Acera will be holding virtual Info Sessions to share more about our Pop-Up Extension School, new elective classes, and philosophy of teaching and learning. Visit our Calendar page for links to join us at any of these sessions:
- Wednesday, April 29, 5:00-6:30pm EST
- Thursday, April 30, 4:00-5:30pm EST
- Saturday, May 2, 11:00am-12:30pm EST
Pricing
The cost for our afternoon programs is $150-250 for trimester 3 (launched April 6) and Spring 2020 5-week courses (launch May 4). Please note: all classes marked “NEW” run for 5-weeks beginning May 4.
MONDAY
Classes are listed by age range.
Movie Making with Miniatures (ages 5+)
Imagine, design, and build your own “miniature movie set,” and then create an original movie using your toy figures, puppets, and stuffed animals!
Fitness at Acera: International Dance (ages 6-9)
Explore the vibrant and diverse languages of dance in this taste tester class! Journey from Bhutanese, Russian, and Latin dance to ballet, hip-hop, modern dance, and more. Learn along the way what dances speak to you most and how this helps you understand your unique self and what you want to express and share with the world. These classes will include learning choreography, creating your own choreography as well as improvisational, exploratory movement.
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Science Investigators (ages 7-10)
Scientists are learners, observers, analysts, and explorers! Students will engage in inquiry-based investigations of complex scientific phenomena, using their senses and critical thinking skills to observe and describe their discoveries. Each trimester, we will dive into a different corner of scientific investigation: chemistry, biology, physics, and ecology. There is no prior knowledge of science needed, just a passion for the subject matter! Instructor: Acera Staff
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Live Action Role Play (ages 10+)
Have you ever wanted to seek treasure and uncover the secrets of the world? Battle brutal bandits, gruesome goblins, and deadly dragons? Find your way through the dungeon and claim the ancient treasure? Now you can in an interactive world of live-action roleplay (LARP). In a one-of-a-kind experience, you will explore community, art and self-discovery by becoming your own personal hero at the Zelmore Heroes Academy! You will learn a hero’s values, perspectives, and discipline as you adventure through the fantastic world of Etheraz from a new and unexplored area in the story’s world. Through themed games, art projects, and interactive theater, we will create a world of wonder, go on fantastic adventures, and discover magical mysteries. Led by LARP Adventure Program.
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Homework Help (ages 10+)
Work on your distance learning assignments with supportive teachers and tutors.
NEW! Build Your Own Arcade Games (ages 11-15)
Apply design thinking and engineering skills to build your own pinball machines, mini foosball/billiards tables, and more! Materials needed include cardboard, rubber bands, duct tape, and marbles. To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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TUESDAY
Classes listed by age range.
3D Fantastical Creations (ages 4-8)
Where would the Loch Ness Monster sleep? What kind of furniture would a troll have? In this hands-on class, kids create three-dimensional sets for animals, goblins, and fairies where fantastical drama unfolds! Miniature in scale, our dioramas will be contained in boxes of different styles and sizes, and will be transformed using a combination of hand-made and pre-made elements including clay, paint, paper, moss, twigs, and much more! In later trimesters, we will focus on a spectrum of hand-made toys, including marble labyrinths, “thaumatrope” animations, and mini-soccer fields. Instructor: Camila Garcia Enriquez, Acera Integrated Arts Specialist
This class is currently full for Trimester 3; please choose this class on the registration form to be added to the waiting list.
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Programming and LEGO Clubhouse (ages 7+)
Grow your creative coding skills using Scratch and LEGO. Instructor: David Alsdorf, Acera Technology Specialist
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Songwriting (ages 7+)
Make your own original songs with Mr. Dylan! Instructor: Dylan Foley, Acera songwriting teacher, instrument maker, and tinkerer
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Table Top Role Play/D&D (ages 10+)Register Now
NEW! Character Design (ages 11-15)
This course examines how to develop characters by conducting visual research, looking for a style and working in stages to arrive at a final design. Students in this course should be curious to work on their illustration and communication skills, study color theory and look critically at existing characters from children and young adults media. To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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NEW! Principles of Photography (ages 13+)
Master the use of SLR or other cameras as powerful tools to create beautiful images. Learn foundational concepts such as aperture, shutter speed, focal depth, composition, and more! To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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WEDNESDAY
Classes listed by age range.
Constructions with Cardboard (ages 6-8)
Learn woodshop basics, crafting unique objects with real tools!
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Cooking: Art, Science & Culture (ages 7-10)
How does what we eat reflect who we are? Why do some cultures eat with chopsticks, others on banana leaves? Through a tour of food history, geography, and biology, deepen your knowledge and skills in the kitchen! Each class will explore concepts through hands-on cooking classes, ending in taste testing. Instructor: Dylan Foley, Acera songwriting teacher and cooking enthusiast
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Photoshop Pros (ages 7-10)
What stories can be told with an altered image? From photojournalism to science, silly animations to graphic design, photo editing is a useful tool across the board. Using GIMP and Photoshop, you’ll learn the basics and have the chance to create the extraordinary! Instructor: Acera Staff
This class is currently full. Please choose this class on the registration form to be added to the waiting list.
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Theater: Onstage and Offstage (ages 7-10)
Hone your performance skills while also exploring backstage elements of theater, such as prop and costume making! Instructor: Vanessa Roman, Theater Teacher
SEEDS: Electronics, Robotics, an Computational Art (ages 8-12)
Budding artists, curious scientists, and enthusiastic engineers – unleash creativity and explore design skills from your in-home SEEDS StudioLab!
NEW! Table Top Game Design and Storytelling (ages 11+)
Design and develop your own original story-driven games, with attention to character-building, theme development, graphic design, prototyping, and game mechanics. Entrepreneurial students will have the option of purchasing and publishing their finished game. Taught by Mr. Rob Taylor, who has successfully launched a game on Kickstarter! To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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NEW! Philosophy Salon (ages 13+)
Develop your rigorous thinking and metacognitive skills in this informal and discussion-based program centered on readings from Plato’s dialogues. Instructor: Yonaton Schreiber To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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THURSDAY
Classes listed by age range.
Cooperative Storytelling (ages 4-7)
Let’s team up and make stories together! Scary stories, silly stories, faery tales, etc…Using collaborative games that will inspire us and help us practice teamwork. Instructor: Dylan Foley, Acera songwriting teacher and creative storyteller!
This class is currently full for Trimester 3; please choose this class on the registration form to be added to the waiting list.
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Programming Art (ages 7-10)
Explore coding languages to create computational drawings. Instructor: David Alsdorf, Acera Technology Specialist
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Photoshop Pros (ages 7-10)
What stories can be told with an altered image? From photojournalism to science, silly animations to graphic design, photo editing is a useful tool across the board. Using GIMP and Photoshop, you’ll learn the basics and have the chance to create the extraordinary! Instructor: Acera Staff
Register Now
SEEDS: Electronics, Robotics, and Computational Art (ages 8-12)
Budding artists, curious scientists, and enthusiastic engineers – explore design skills in the SEEDS StudioLab!
Register Now
Homework Help (ages 10+)
The primary purpose is writing coaching and support; however, if your student has homework that they are struggling to keep up with, this is an opportunity to dig in with knowledgeable coaches in a calm environment. Open to Middle School students only. Instructor: Vered Brooks, MS1 Core Teacher
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Model UN Club (ages 10+)
Explore the big challenges of our time and open up your mind as an emerging world citizen. Engage in deep discussions about current events. Get exposure to primary sources and formative ideas in the political science, governmental, historical and philosophical landscape. Each trimester, participate in Model UN conferences in which you take on the perspective and voice of different countries, focusing on current issues. Through this experience, come to understand historical perspectives on the relationships between nations, their different beliefs and viewpoints, and broaden your perspective on the world.
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NEW! Hands-On Biology: From Micro to Macro (ages 14+)
Explore food webs and ecology by making your own ecosystem! Study how the mitochondria serves as the powerhouse of the cell by making bread! Investigate your own microbiome to learn about population dynamics and natural selection! In this 5 week course, students will investigate key principles of the life sciences through hands-on activities. They will also learn the basics of experimental design including lab report writing, controls, and scientific iteration. Students will be expected to keep a lab notebook and complete weekly readings and writing assignments. This course is recommended for anyone who has completed all or part of a full year biology course and wants to augment or add to their knowledge on the topic. Lab materials will be sent via mail, and basic household materials will be used as well. To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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FRIDAY
Classes listed by age range.
Roleplaying Club (ages 5+)
Team up with your friends to explore new imaginary worlds in this roleplaying club!
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NEW! Making Wearable Electronics (ages 11-15)
Using micro:bit microprocessors, sensors, textiles, and more, create unique functional electronics that you can wear! Deepen skills in coding, design, and creativity. Students will receive micro:bit by mail. To register, please select “Spring 2020 Middle/High School 5 Week Courses” under “Trimester” in the form’s drop down window.
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REGISTER
Registration for the 2019-20 school year is now open!
You can browse each weekday’s offerings on this page, and register for one or more after school programs via our registration form!
Tech Hub enables students to emerge as community-minded technologists able to solve problems to benefit the whole school. More a philosophy than a place, Tech Hub can start as simply a cart in a cafeteria with one student fired up to be a knowledgable, technically skillful community member. Concurrently developing emotional intelligence skills and a wide array of technological abilities, Tech Hub members model and spread an attitude of fearlessness at using STEM tools to solve real problems.
Small children can understand big ideas, and computer science is no exception. Acera’s hands-on “Computers and Me” curriculum introduces early elementary students to computer science concepts, and is one example of many creative ways computational thinking and technical fluency can be developed throughout K-12 education, starting at age 5. Pilot-tested and ready to translate for adoption by public schools, these computer science learning approaches help students become facile and fearless.
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