Extracurriculars

Cardboard Arcade is a tuition-based after-school science enrichment program for 2nd grade students.

Students will build engineering skills as they work in teams or individually to design, test, redesign, retest, and eventually create a working arcade-type game. Students will consider game design, rules for playing, and prior science knowledge when designing their arcade games.  

• Students will work in pairs to design arcade-type games
• Students will think through game design, strategies for success, rules, and prize systems
• Students will run their games at their school carnival or at a family event, such as science night

Coding Club is an after school program that encourages 3rd grade students to learn about coding, then design, create, test, and improve their designs. Students will use the computer to play musical notes, create a music video, and build an interactive music display while learning how programming is used to create music. Due to the advanced nature of the class and the focus necessary for success, students are expected to have a strong work ethic, consistent attendance, appropriate behavior and be dedicated to the program. Some coding experience is helpful, but not required.

Flight Club is a tuition-based after-school science enrichment  program for kindergarten and first grade students. 

Students will build engineering skills as they work in teams or individually to design, test, and modify four tools that interact with air: kites, parachutes, paper airplanes, and simple rockets. Students will learn about the basic principles of flight and design when creating each of these tools.

• Students will spend approximately 2 weeks learning about, designing, and testing each type of flying object
• Students will learn about kites, parachutes, paper airplanes, and rockets. 

The program where failure is not an option - it's a necessity! STEAM Team is tuition-based after-school science enrichment program for 3rd grade students.

Students will build engineering skills as they work in small groups to design, test, redesign, retest, and eventually create a working Rube Goldberg machine that performs a simple task. Students will apply science knowledge, creativity, and grit to work through each challenge. 

• Runs 8-10 weeks, based on campus need
• Engineer design program where students create Rube Goldberg machines
• Each machine has a goal and parameters (i.e. pop a balloon in 5 steps)
• Students use a combination of simple machines: pulley, wheel and axle, lever, inclined plane
• Optional: recording and editing of working Rube Goldberg machines

(5th grade students)

(4th and 5th grade students)

Young Astronauts is a tuition-based after-school science enrichment program for fourth and fifth grade students. The topic changes each year, and all lessons and activities focus on building student interest and understanding in the area of space science. The program culminates in February with our annual Stargazing event for fifth grade Young Astronauts.

• Space-science related curriculum as an after-school program
• focus changes yearly
• training will be held in late September each year
• 8 lessons—these can be done weekly, monthly, etc. The schedule is decided by the campus.
• Stargazing Night—a district-wide event held at Ward ES the last Friday night in February for fifth grade Young Astronauts