Foundations
Garden School’s specialty classes are geared toward the varied interests of our students and the high standards of our parent/guardian community. FOUNDATIONS classes broaden students’ awareness and bring forth their skills and talents in a nurturing environment.
Unless noted otherwise in the description, classes are 1 hour long, run for 12 weeks, and start the week of October 6.
For students enrolled in a 3 p.m./3:30 p.m. class, it is strongly suggested that they bring a snack for the period between the end of school and the beginning of the class.
Pick-up of students in FOUNDATIONS classes should be on time. Delays will be charged based on our per hour/per day rates for the After-School Program.
For more information, contact Ms. Flanagan at jflanagan@gardenschool.org.Fall 2008 Offerings
Afro Cuban Hand Drumming (max. 10)
Rhythm takes on new meaning in this interactive, joyful workshop as voices chant a West African-based welcome song, hands play out rhythms to songs from around the world on percussion instruments, and the class comes together in a conga line for a rousing Cuban-based good-bye. Tap into other parts of the world and yourself!
- Grades/Day: PK–1/Wed. 3 p.m. No class 12/24, 12/31; final class 1/7
- Instructor: Andrea Pryor de Manrique, on faculty at Adelphi University, Concordia Conservatory and St. Joseph’s College and an active teaching artist for the Museum for African Art and the 14th Street Y.
Brainstorm and illustrate different characters and create a marionette that reflects an interpretation of the theme chosen by the class. Learn the art production skills of imagination, ceramic manipulation, face proportion, painting, and character clothing design. In creating the ceramics portion of the marionette, you will be introduced to using the pinch method as well as additive and subtractive and slab methods. The clothing design portion will utilize your created patterns, cutting, and sewing. The culmination of the class will be a group project to write and perform a marionette show.
- Grades/Day: 4th–6th/Thurs. 3 p.m. No class 10/9, 11/27, 12/25, 1/1; final class 1/22
- Instructor: Tiina Prio, Chairperson, Garden School Art Dept.
Arts and Crafts-style tile and mosaic is a timeless tradition that involves hand-making and hand-pressing tiles into beautiful mosaic forms. In this introductory class, we will learn about tiles and their importance in history and art, as well as their necessity in the everyday world. Sessions will include drawing, slab work, texture, carving and relief work, mold making, glazing, and the assembly of a self-portrait mosaic.
- Grades/Day: 1st–3rd/Mon. 3 p.m. No class 10/13, 12/22, 12/29; final class 1/12
- Instructor: Evelyn Melissen, sculptor and ceramacist with more than 7 years of experience.
It’s the ultimate urban artistic fantasy, a chance to pick your favorite thing about New York City and give it new life in your own “gorgeous mosaic” of tiles. You choose: modern, traditional or some you-defined realm that your mind can conjure. This class includes drawing, slab work, texture, carving and relief work, mold making, glazing, and the assembly of your favorite New York City subject. The possibilities are endless, so be prepared to be endlessly creative!
- Grades/Day: 7th–8th/Mon. 4 p.m. No class 10/13, 12/22, 12/29; final class 1/12
- Instructor: Evelyn Melissen, sculptor and ceramacist with more than 7 years of experience.
Take flight in this new exciting course! Explore the components of an airplane as well as other flying machines. Build model airplanes and dip into aerodynamics, physics, math, the metric system, history, drafting/plans, visual arts, and woodworking. Have high-reaching fun while making your machine soar. Once the airplanes are built, we’ll test-fly them in an open space and then take them home for more adventures.
- Grades/Day: 4th–8th/Fri. 3:30 p.m. No class 10/24, 11/28, 12/19, 12/26, 1/2; final class 1/30
- Instructor: Hobby Quest aviation instructor. All materials are handwritten by the NJ Aviation Educational Council and the FAA. Hobby Quest currently operates in more than150 public and private schools in the NY area.
We use them. We love them. But how do our calculating companions really work? Inside out, upside down—we’ll look at our electronic allies from inputs to the Internet. Find out what makes them tick so you can get the most out of these amazing machines in this specially designed program for grades 4–6!
- Grades/Day: 4th–6th/Mon. 3 p.m. No class 10/13, 12/22, 12/29; final class 1/12
- Instructor: Allyn Peterson; Garden School Science Dept.
What is forensic science? What do forensic scientists do? Learn how to detect the smallest details about things that happened in the past. Join our fun-filled, fact-finding task force as we create a classroom crime scene and connect crooks with their crimes. Get the scoop on DNA, fingerprinting, and putting the baddies behind bars!
- Grades/Day: 1st–3rd/Thurs. 3 p.m. No class 10/9, 11/27, 12/25, 1/1; final class 1/22
- Instructor: Allyn Peterson; Garden School Science Dept.
Garden School offers a unique opportunity for its students in grades 2–4 to gain awareness of the different challenges confronting the world today and some of the things people are doing to address them. Each class features a guest speaker and/or multimedia presentation that conveys a basic understanding of a particular social action issue, followed by a creative project to benefit that week’s cause. Special hour and a half class.
- Grades/Day: 2nd–4th/Wed. 3p.m. No class 12/24, 12/31; final class 1/7
- Instructor: Ivette Mayo, Garden School Parent, and Just Be Cause, a local group dedicated to making service learning a larger part of youth education. Featuring guest speakers from various nonprofit organizations.
Experience the magic of Lego bricks in a new way by building, constructing, and programming your own creative, interactive, autonomous robot! Each student gets the chance to design a robo-friend while learning new skills in problem solving, logic, mechanics, and more. The culmination of these efforts will be an in-school event to test our mechanical robotic creations.
- Grades/Day: 2nd–5th/Fri. 3:30 p.m. No class 10/24, 11/28, 12/19, 12/26, 1/2; final class 1/30
- Instructor: Peter Glus, Garden School parent and environmental engineer at Malcolm Pirnie Corporation, assisted by an engineer.
“The way of the hand and the foot” is not only for self-defense and exercise but also for learning focus, self-control, discipline, and manners. Classes start with warm-ups and stretches and then we’ll move into kicking, blocking, and learning the forms—choreographed movements that help us practice our skills. Classes finish with a game and meditation.
- Grades/Day: 1st–6th/Mon. 4 p.m. No class 10/13, 12/22, 12/29; final class 1/12
- Instructor: Stephanie Sarran, Garden School faculty and second-degree black belt, Tae Kwon Do
Dance Program
All classes are taught by Kim Hayes (“Miss Kim”), who has been dancing for more than 20 years and teaching students of all ages for 13 years. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, and acrobatics. Dance class students will perform a recital at the end of the school year.
Acrobatics (max. 10)Build strength and flexibility through exercises, learn basic tumbling and gymnastics, and put all that together with dance to create an acrobatics routine you’ll want to break into every chance you get.
- Grades/Day: PK–1st/Thurs. 3 p.m. No class 10/9, 11/27, 12/25, 1/1; final class 1/22
The perfect start for aspiring dancers! We’ll begin with the 5 basic ballet positions and practice the techniques of classical ballet. We’ll also learn the names of each movement and weave them together to create a ballet.
- Grades/Day: PK–1st/Wed. 3 p.m. No class 12/24, 12/31; final class 1/7
The next step for returning ballet dancers builds on what they have already learned, as they continue working with all the classical techniques and positions of ballet and advance to new moves and routines.
- Grades/Day: 2nd–5th/Wed.4 p.m. No class 12/24, 12/31; final class 1/7
Learn the groove-cool dance moves while building coordination through jazz techniques that combine other styles like ballet, tap, and African rhythms. Dance to the latest pop music and learn to move like an MTV star!
- Grades/Day: 2nd–5th/Thurs. 4 p.m. No class 10/9, 11/27, 12/25, 1/1; final class 1/22
Hip-hop fuses together jazz techniques and street dance styles while emphasizing body isolations and strength. Get in on the moves and music of the hottest music video stars in this über-happening class.
- Grades/Day: 6th+/Thurs. 5 p.m. No class 10/9, 11/27, 12/25, 1/1; final class 1/22
For returning and new students. Come join us for an afternoon of dance, acting, and song in this show-stopper of a class. We’ll write our own scenes and star in an all new musical event of our choice. Got dreams of the stage? This class is for you! For returning and new students.
- Grades/Day: 2nd–5th/Tues. 3 p.m. No class 11/4, 11/11, 12/23, 12/30; final class 1/20
A dance-op to learn how to channel tempo and rhythm through your feet, starting with basic tap steps and working up to more complicated routines that will look and sound great, whether it’s to foot-tapping music—both contemporary and from the theater—or a cappella. Please arrange to have tap shoes for your child at the first class. Now available for students in 2nd through 5th grade!
- Grades/Day: 2nd–5th/Tues. 4 p.m. No class 11/4, 11/11, 12/23, 12/30; final class 1/20
- Grades/Day: 6th+/Tues. 5 p.m. No class 11/4, 11/11, 12/23, 12/30; final class 1/20
Note on Attire
We suggest leotards with tights for girls and leotards or tight shirt with stretch pants for boys for all dance classes, except hip-hop, where sweats may also be worn. Children should have jazz oxfords or booties for acrobatics, musical theater, and hip-hop/jazz classes; ballet shoes for ballet; and tap shoes for tap. If you have questions about where to buy dance clothing or shoes, please contact Ms. Flanagan (jflanagan@gardenschool.org).