Enrichments
After school, learning continues with a variety of enrichment programs for preschool students (ages 3 and 4) and all elementary students. These short-term enrichments are offered throughout the school year.
Elementary Enrichment
Offered to kindergarten through fifth-grade students, typically meeting once a week for six weeks (on average). Classes have included art outside the box, archery, Odyssey Of The Mind, kids yoga, golf, basketball and clay creations. Upon completion, performances may be held at the school. A snack and organic milk or water are provided by the school prior to the activity. Then the fun begins! A popular choice for second- through fifth-graders is the school’s cross country team. Team members practice several times a week and compete against area elementary schools in races at the local and state levels.
Preschool Enrichment
For 3- and 4-year-olds, typically meeting once a week for six weeks (on average). Recent offerings have included creative dance, kids yoga, storytelling, and tumbling. Participants enjoy lunch brought from home and organic milk or water provided by the school. Then the action starts! Information regarding enrichment classes is distributed to families with children of age to join in the fun. Fees are incurred according to enrichment offerings. Registration is on a first-come, paid-in-full basis. Class subjects and dates vary, and each has a minimum and a maximum number of participants required for the group to meet.
Example of offerings:
Preschool Art: Portraits and Process Art. Preschoolers will explore new materials and processes, including: oil pastels, watercolors, printmaking, collage, and monoprinting.Music Club: Our music club will be open to students in Grades 3-5. Much of our club time will be student-led! Students will have input on what we do musically. Our choices could be dancing, singing, or playing instruments. We will perform a couple of our favorite activities at the Arts Showcase! Come and join us for some good old-fashioned fun!
Yoga: This yoga experience will help children develop strong, limber and healthy bodies and set a lifelong foundation for well-being, increase focus, concentration and attention span, have strong, well-coordinated bodies, foster creative expression and imagination, cultivate self-esteem, setting patterns of success and achievement, nurture strategies for coping with life’s stressors more effectively.
Winter Arts and Crafts: Crafts class is intended to inspire a love for crafting as well as engaging my friends creative side. Each week we will be completing a different project that will be focused on a holiday, season, or theme. There will be music playing to help inspire thoughts and emotions. Members of the class will be given the opportunity to suggest crafts they would like to work with and explore. They will learn to manipulate a variety of different medium to enhance their crafting knowledge. Some may include: sewing needles, cotton, felt, mog-pog, etc! Crafts class is a fun way to experience a love for crafting that will continue to grow over time!
Introduction to Drawing: In this class we’ll explore drawing with different materials, including pencil, colored pencils, crayons, markers and pastels. While encouraging the students to create freely, the class will also provide structure and guidance as students experiment with different techniques and materials.
Roots and Shoots: The Mission of Roots and Shoots is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and inspire each individual to take action to make this world a better plan. As a part of Dr. Jane Goodall’s global environmental youth program, the group meets twice a month to participate in various service and compassion projects through the school and the community at large.
Preschool Forest and Field: Children will enjoy time in the great outdoors while we take walks and explore our forest, fields and garden. We will gather nature treasures and make simple crafts from what we find, build forts, and simply have time and space to play with sticks and leaves and flowers. At the end of our adventures, we will gather together to hear a story or see a puppet show.
Preschool Yoga: This yoga experience will help children develop strong, limber and healthy bodies and set a lifelong foundation for well-being, increase focus, concentration and attention span, have strong, well-coordinated bodies, foster creative expression and imagination, cultivate self-esteem, setting patterns of success and achievement, nurture strategies for coping with life’s stressors more effectively.
No Bake Cooking: No bake cooking class is meant to inspire culinary creativity and a love for cooking. Friends who join the class will become familiar with cooking utensils, ingredients, and how to follow a recipe. They will receive their very own cookbooks of the creations we make. They will have the opportunity to measure out ingredients, combine ingredients, and watch food transform before their eyes. After a couple weeks of exposure to the class, friends will be invited to help make decisions about what we cook. Cooking is a wonderful skill that children can build upon for the rest of their lives and that love can continue to grow.
Outdoor Adventures: Take an afternoon each week to discover the unique outdoor environment at Virginia Chance! From hiking, plant identification and animal tracking to camp crafts, songs and games, Outdoor Adventures is your chance to explore and connect with Mother Nature at her best.
Drama K-2: Friends will learn to use their bodies, voices and imaginations to act out stories, develop characters and create worlds in this beginner’s drama class that combines basic acting fundamentals with life long learning skills like cooperation, communication and listening. Each class will culminate in a sharing to offer families an inside look at the work we do in class. Theatre is a safe and creative way for children to try something new and take risks as well as a wonderful way to build friendships and learn what it means to work as a team and support one another.
Drama 3-5: Friends will learn to use their bodies, voices and imaginations to act out stories, develop characters and create worlds in this beginner’s drama class that combines basic acting fundamentals with life long learning skills like cooperation, communication and listening. Each class will culminate in a sharing to offer families an inside look at the work we do in class. Theatre is a safe and creative way for children to try something new and take risks as well as a wonderful way to build friendships and learn what it means to work as a team and support one another.
Archery: Following the National Archery in the Schools training, curriculum and guidelines, participants will learn the basics of target archery, including self-discipline, self-reliance, listening and observation.
Spring Arts and Crafts: Crafts class is intended to inspire a love for crafting as well as engaging my friends creative side. Each week we will be completing a different project that will be focused on a holiday, season, or theme. There will be music playing to help inspire thoughts and emotions. Members of the class will be given the opportunity to suggest crafts they would like to work with and explore. They will learn to manipulate a variety of different medium to enhance their crafting knowledge. Some may include: sewing needles, cotton, felt, mog-pog, etc! Crafts class is a fun way to experience a love for crafting that will continue to grow over time!
Yoga: This yoga experience will help children develop strong, limber and healthy bodies and set a lifelong foundation for well-being, increase focus, concentration and attention span, have strong, well-coordinated bodies, foster creative expression and imagination, cultivate self-esteem, setting patterns of success and achievement, nurture strategies for coping with life’s stressors more effectively.
Green Team for 4th & 5th grade:
The Green Team is a collaborative group of 4th and 5th-grade students who lead and facilitate environmentally sustainable practices and model stewardship for our school and our environment. Members of the Green Team are “catalysts in the classrooms” and advisers to faculty, staff, parents, and partners and are facilitated by the Director of our Environmental Programs, Rachel Beck. Due to COVID-19, this year’s virtual Green Team will be exploring and investigating sustainability and stewardship within our homes! One way we may do this is through creating our own compost systems, home recycling plans, home critter habitats, etc. The team will also be invited to take what they have learned from their explorations and create a home guide curriculum and kit for families and teachers wishing to embark on environmental education. Opportunities like virtual meetings with partners and onsite outdoor explorations within a cohort will be planned and communicated after enrichments have started. While we will base our project out of our homes, the team will have deciding power on their chosen project and how to carry out research and development.
The Green Team is a collaborative group of 4th and 5th-grade students who lead and facilitate environmentally sustainable practices and model stewardship for our school and our environment. Members of the Green Team are “catalysts in the classrooms” and advisers to faculty, staff, parents, and partners and are facilitated by the Director of our Environmental Programs, Rachel Beck. Due to COVID-19, this year’s virtual Green Team will be exploring and investigating sustainability and stewardship within our homes! One way we may do this is through creating our own compost systems, home recycling plans, home critter habitats, etc. The team will also be invited to take what they have learned from their explorations and create a home guide curriculum and kit for families and teachers wishing to embark on environmental education. Opportunities like virtual meetings with partners and onsite outdoor explorations within a cohort will be planned and communicated after enrichments have started. While we will base our project out of our homes, the team will have deciding power on their chosen project and how to carry out research and development.
Artistic Explorers for Kindergarten - 2nd grade:
Throughout the fall, during our time together, students will have the opportunity to create process art using various mediums such as clay, watercolors, acrylics, and natural materials. We will collaborate, share ideas, and discuss famous works of art and techniques while creating our own masterpieces!
Throughout the fall, during our time together, students will have the opportunity to create process art using various mediums such as clay, watercolors, acrylics, and natural materials. We will collaborate, share ideas, and discuss famous works of art and techniques while creating our own masterpieces!
Book Club: Join Ms. Moore and other Intermediate friends to read and share ideas. As a group we will pick a book to read, set up a reading schedule and meet weekly online to talk about the book. We will supplement our discussions based on where our conversations take us. Hope you will join us!
Theatre (K-2nd): Get ready for some play, creativity, connection and fun! In this program we will explore the many aspects of theatre making and creating -- acting, improvisation, storytelling, creative dramatics, theatrical movement/dance, scene work, puppets, and so much more! You will enhance your creative skills by putting them into action, build confidence by sharing your ideas with others, learn some new ways to bravely express your creative self, and be a part of a supportive, encouraging community. Join us as we get to explore theatre in a whole new virtual realm!
Theatre (3rd-5th): Get ready for some play, creativity, connection and fun! In this program we will explore the many aspects of theatre making and creating -- acting, improvisation, storytelling, creative dramatics, theatrical movement/dance, scene work, puppets, and so much more! You will enhance your creative skills by putting them into action, build confidence by sharing your ideas with others, learn some new ways to bravely express your creative self, and be a part of a supportive, encouraging community. Join us as we get to explore theatre in a whole new virtual realm!
Chess Club (1st-5th): Are your kids itching for something new to do during these nationwide school closings? Or are they feeling bummed because it’s been such a long time since their last Chess Wizards class? One thing’s for sure – our Chess Wizards still want to teach, and are so excited to be teaching our curriculum online! Chess Wizards online classes are working with some nifty software solutions that bring chess to life on the screen with no extra materials needed. After registering please take the time to look at our placement test. This will help us know what level your student will be playing at. Introduction to Chess Wizards, Placement Test,
Chess Club (1st-5th): Are your kids itching for something new to do during these nationwide school closings? Or are they feeling bummed because it’s been such a long time since their last Chess Wizards class? One thing’s for sure – our Chess Wizards still want to teach, and are so excited to be teaching our curriculum online! Chess Wizards online classes are working with some nifty software solutions that bring chess to life on the screen with no extra materials needed. After registering please take the time to look at our placement test. This will help us know what level your student will be playing at. Introduction to Chess Wizards, Placement Test,
Art (K-2nd): An opportunity to explore, experiment and create pieces of art using a variety of materials and techniques. The students will be drawing, painting and creating 3D sculptures. Most art materials will be provided and ready for pick up beforehand.