After-School Enrichment
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School's After-School Enrichment program includes a variety of activities, including partnerships with local organizations. Students build practical skills, gain confidence, and explore their interests while having fun in safe, supportive environments. After-school care begins at the end of class, from 3:20 to 4:00 p.m., with a snack and free play time. After-School Enrichment classes run from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. across campus.
Spring 2023 Schedule
Study Buddies and Catalina After-School Library: March 6–May 31
Classes: March 13–May 25
The following classes are offered for Winter 2023. Classes will not take place on school holidays or other dates communicated by the school.
Class Descriptions
Each class has a minimum and maximum enrollment number. If your child is signed up for a class that does not meet minimum enrollment requirements, or is full at the time of registration, we will contact you directly.
PreK
Kindergarten
MONDAY
Sports! — Coach Schu and Coach Perez
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 8 students / Maximum: 12 students
Students can look forward to a variety of sports offerings each week, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and kickball, with more to come! Fundamentals of each activity are established before eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. We rotate through the sports and select popular activities to return to.
Coach Schu played baseball and soccer at a young age before finding a love for water polo in high school. He began coaching younger athletes at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club and interning with the Department of Recreation for California State Parks to provide community outreach programs for local schools. He played water polo for California Lutheran University in Southern California and on intramural teams for soccer and swimming. After college he went on to coordinate the Refugio Junior Lifeguard program, where he taught children the importance of marine protection while also training them to become future lifeguards. He now plays in the adult league for softball and is an avid hiker.
Coach Perez played a variety of sports at a young age and found a love for soccer at the age of 10. He played soccer for three years at the collegiate level with CSU Monterey Bay. During his college experience, he started coaching youth soccer on the Monterey Peninsula. After college he pursued a professional soccer career and played semi-pro for one season in Springfield, Missouri. He now plays in local adult leagues for both soccer and softball and loves to compete.
TUESDAY
Creative Drama: Fairytale Spoofs — Ms. Olson of Pacific Repertory Theatre
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Set in a fun, nurturing, and creative environment, young students are introduced to drama. Participating in theatre games, play, and team-building exercises, students expand their creativity, imagination, and freedom of movement and expression. Through this process-centered form of drama, students develop confidence in telling a story through improvisation.
Tanya Olson was recently appointed as the director of the School of Dramatic Arts (SoDA) for the Pacific Repertory Theatre. She is a trained creative drama instructor and has extensive experience working with students from PreKindergarten through Grade 8. She enjoys developing an atmosphere where students thrive in their creativity, imagination, freedom of expression, and movement while building teamwork. Tanya earned a B.A. in film from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an M.A. in communication arts from Austin Peay State University, and M.F.A. in producing from the American Film Institute.
THURSDAY
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $300.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 10 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
Grade 1
MONDAY
Sports! — Coach Schu and Coach Perez
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 8 students / Maximum: 12 students
Students can look forward to a variety of sports offerings each week, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and kickball, with more to come! Fundamentals of each activity are established before eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. We rotate through the sports and select popular activities to return to.
Coach Schu played baseball and soccer at a young age before finding a love for water polo in high school. He began coaching younger athletes at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club and interning with the Department of Recreation for California State Parks to provide community outreach programs for local schools. He played water polo for California Lutheran University in Southern California and on intramural teams for soccer and swimming. After college he went on to coordinate the Refugio Junior Lifeguard program, where he taught children the importance of marine protection while also training them to become future lifeguards. He now plays in the adult league for softball and is an avid hiker.
Coach Perez played a variety of sports at a young age and found a love for soccer at the age of 10. He played soccer for three years at the collegiate level with CSU Monterey Bay. During his college experience, he started coaching youth soccer on the Monterey Peninsula. After college he pursued a professional soccer career and played semi-pro for one season in Springfield, Missouri. He now plays in local adult leagues for both soccer and softball and loves to compete.
TUESDAY
Creative Drama: Fairytale Spoofs — Ms. Olson of Pacific Repertory Theatre
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Set in a fun, nurturing, and creative environment, young students are introduced to drama. Participating in theatre games, play, and team-building exercises, students expand their creativity, imagination, and freedom of movement and expression. Through this process-centered form of drama, students develop confidence in telling a story through improvisation.
Tanya Olson was recently appointed as the director of the School of Dramatic Arts (SoDA) for the Pacific Repertory Theatre. She is a trained creative drama instructor and has extensive experience working with students from PreKindergarten through Grade 8. She enjoys developing an atmosphere where students thrive in their creativity, imagination, freedom of expression, and movement while building teamwork. Tanya earned a B.A. in film from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an M.A. in communication arts from Austin Peay State University, and M.F.A. in producing from the American Film Institute.
Primary Glee — Miss Gaggini
Grades 1–3
Cost: $160.00
Minimum: 5 students / Maximum: 20 students
Does your child love to sing? Is he or she interested in learning more about singing in a choir? Join Miss Gaggini as she brings her Glee Club to the primary and intermediate levels. In this enrichment class, students work through several songs while learning about proper vocal techniques and being introduced to part-singing. The class explores multiple genres of music with an emphasis on fun, contemporary songs—and, of course, movement! Students will have the opportunity to perform at Lower School Assembly.
WEDNESDAY
Chess — Mr. Pernik of Pacific Chess Academy
Grades 1-5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Learn chess with Pacific Chess Academy! Offered to all levels (beginners, intermediate, advanced), this program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to overcome obstacles, think strategically, cultivate champion psychology, stay focused, and make new friends. Each lesson consists of interactive instructions, analysis, and tournament games during which students play against each other. Lessons are fun and easy to follow, and include individual instructions to practice at home. Students are provided with necessary chess equipment for lessons (boards, pieces, clocks, demonstration tools).
Manager and owner of Pacific Chess Academy, Jeff Pernik began as a chess instructor in 2000. Over the years, Mr. Pernik has developed a chess curriculum at a variety of schools and organized many chess tournaments for students. In 2007, Mr. Pernik founded the Pacific Chess Academy in Walnut Creek, and has expanded throughout many schools across the San Francisco Bay Area. Now living in Monterey County, Mr. Pernik dreams of helping more kids learn and play chess.
THURSDAY
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $300.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 10 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
Grade 2
MONDAY
Sports! — Coach Schu and Coach Perez
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 8 students / Maximum: 12 students
Students can look forward to a variety of sports offerings each week, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and kickball, with more to come! Fundamentals of each activity are established before eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. We rotate through the sports and select popular activities to return to.
Coach Schu played baseball and soccer at a young age before finding a love for water polo in high school. He began coaching younger athletes at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club and interning with the Department of Recreation for California State Parks to provide community outreach programs for local schools. He played water polo for California Lutheran University in Southern California and on intramural teams for soccer and swimming. After college he went on to coordinate the Refugio Junior Lifeguard program, where he taught children the importance of marine protection while also training them to become future lifeguards. He now plays in the adult league for softball and is an avid hiker.
Coach Perez played a variety of sports at a young age and found a love for soccer at the age of 10. He played soccer for three years at the collegiate level with CSU Monterey Bay. During his college experience, he started coaching youth soccer on the Monterey Peninsula. After college he pursued a professional soccer career and played semi-pro for one season in Springfield, Missouri. He now plays in local adult leagues for both soccer and softball and loves to compete.
TUESDAY
Creative Drama: Fairytale Spoofs — Ms. Olson of Pacific Repertory Theatre
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Set in a fun, nurturing, and creative environment, young students are introduced to drama. Participating in theatre games, play, and team-building exercises, students expand their creativity, imagination, and freedom of movement and expression. Through this process-centered form of drama, students develop confidence in telling a story through improvisation.
Tanya Olson was recently appointed as the director of the School of Dramatic Arts (SoDA) for the Pacific Repertory Theatre. She is a trained creative drama instructor and has extensive experience working with students from PreKindergarten through Grade 8. She enjoys developing an atmosphere where students thrive in their creativity, imagination, freedom of expression, and movement while building teamwork. Tanya earned a B.A. in film from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an M.A. in communication arts from Austin Peay State University, and M.F.A. in producing from the American Film Institute.
Primary Glee — Miss Gaggini
Grades 1–3
Cost: $160.00
Minimum: 5 students / Maximum: 20 students
Does your child love to sing? Is he or she interested in learning more about singing in a choir? Join Miss Gaggini as she brings her Glee Club to the primary and intermediate levels. In this enrichment class, students work through several songs while learning about proper vocal techniques and being introduced to part-singing. The class explores multiple genres of music with an emphasis on fun, contemporary songs—and, of course, movement! Students will have the opportunity to perform at Lower School Assembly.
WEDNESDAY
Chess — Mr. Pernik of Pacific Chess Academy
Grades 1-5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Learn chess with Pacific Chess Academy! Offered to all levels (beginners, intermediate, advanced), this program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to overcome obstacles, think strategically, cultivate champion psychology, stay focused, and make new friends. Each lesson consists of interactive instructions, analysis, and tournament games during which students play against each other. Lessons are fun and easy to follow, and include individual instructions to practice at home. Students are provided with necessary chess equipment for lessons (boards, pieces, clocks, demonstration tools).
Manager and owner of Pacific Chess Academy, Jeff Pernik began as a chess instructor in 2000. Over the years, Mr. Pernik has developed a chess curriculum at a variety of schools and organized many chess tournaments for students. In 2007, Mr. Pernik founded the Pacific Chess Academy in Walnut Creek, and has expanded throughout many schools across the San Francisco Bay Area. Now living in Monterey County, Mr. Pernik dreams of helping more kids learn and play chess.
THURSDAY
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Kindergarten–Grade 2
Cost: $300.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 10 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
Grade 3
MONDAY
Coding — Mr. Monnerat
Grades 3–5
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Calling all future game designers and computer programmers! In Coding class, we explore all things technology and learn what makes it tick (literally!). From programming computer games to exploring coding through interactive stories, we find new ways to engage with computer systems while having a blast with friends. Led by Mr. Monnerat in the Creativity Lab, Coding is sure to be a class you don’t want to miss.
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Grades 3–8
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
TUESDAY
Sports! — Coach Schu and Coach Perez
Grades 3–5
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 8 students / Maximum: 15 students
Students can look forward to a variety of sports offerings each week, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and kickball, with more to come! Fundamentals of each activity are established before eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. We rotate through the sports and select popular activities to return to.
Coach Schu played baseball and soccer at a young age before finding a love for water polo in high school. He began coaching younger athletes at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club and interning with the Department of Recreation for California State Parks to provide community outreach programs for local schools. He played water polo for California Lutheran University in Southern California and on intramural teams for soccer and swimming. After college he went on to coordinate the Refugio Junior Lifeguard program, where he taught children the importance of marine protection while also training them to become future lifeguards. He now plays in the adult league for softball and is an avid hiker.
Coach Perez played a variety of sports at a young age and found a love for soccer at the age of 10. He played soccer for three years at the collegiate level with CSU Monterey Bay. During his college experience, he started coaching youth soccer on the Monterey Peninsula. After college he pursued a professional soccer career and played semi-pro for one season in Springfield, Missouri. He now plays in local adult leagues for both soccer and softball and loves to compete.
Primary Glee — Miss Gaggini
Grades 1–3
Cost: $160.00
Minimum: 5 students / Maximum: 20 students
Does your child love to sing? Is he or she interested in learning more about singing in a choir? Join Miss Gaggini as she brings her Glee Club to the primary and intermediate levels. In this enrichment class, students work through several songs while learning about proper vocal techniques and being introduced to part-singing. The class explores multiple genres of music with an emphasis on fun, contemporary songs—and, of course, movement! Students will have the opportunity to perform at Lower School Assembly.
WEDNESDAY
Chess — Mr. Pernik of Pacific Chess Academy
Grades 1-5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Learn chess with Pacific Chess Academy! Offered to all levels (beginners, intermediate, advanced), this program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to overcome obstacles, think strategically, cultivate champion psychology, stay focused, and make new friends. Each lesson consists of interactive instructions, analysis, and tournament games during which students play against each other. Lessons are fun and easy to follow, and include individual instructions to practice at home. Students are provided with necessary chess equipment for lessons (boards, pieces, clocks, demonstration tools).
Manager and owner of Pacific Chess Academy, Jeff Pernik began as a chess instructor in 2000. Over the years, Mr. Pernik has developed a chess curriculum at a variety of schools and organized many chess tournaments for students. In 2007, Mr. Pernik founded the Pacific Chess Academy in Walnut Creek, and has expanded throughout many schools across the San Francisco Bay Area. Now living in Monterey County, Mr. Pernik dreams of helping more kids learn and play chess.
THURSDAY
Digital Photography — The Weston Collective
Grades 3–5
Cost: $300.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Capture the beauty of Monterey and the Santa Catalina campus in Digital Photography! Led by Zach Weston of The Weston Collective, your budding photographer will surely develop a keen eye and technical photography skills in this class. Students learn all that goes into taking a great picture, from lighting and framing to focusing the lens and adjusting aperture. Students are introduced to Photoshop to edit photos and create prints to take home!
Zach Weston is a professional fine art film photographer and the executive director of The Weston Collective, an organization that inspires and uplifts the next generation of photographers through youth programs, mentorships, exhibitions, community workshops, and The Weston Scholarship Competition. Having grown up in Monterey County, Zach’s mission is to mentor young photographers across the region and inspire future generations of artists to explore their creativity.
Bring your own digital camera. SD cards and flash drives are available for purchase in the bookstore, or you may bring your own.
Grade 4
MONDAY
Coding — Mr. Monnerat
Grades 3–5
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Calling all future game designers and computer programmers! In Coding class, we explore all things technology and learn what makes it tick (literally!). From programming computer games to exploring coding through interactive stories, we find new ways to engage with computer systems while having a blast with friends. Led by Mr. Monnerat in the Creativity Lab, Coding is sure to be a class you don’t want to miss.
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Grades 3–8
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
TUESDAY
Sports! — Coach Schu and Coach Perez
Grades 3–5
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 8 students / Maximum: 15 students
Students can look forward to a variety of sports offerings each week, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and kickball, with more to come! Fundamentals of each activity are established before eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. We rotate through the sports and select popular activities to return to.
Coach Schu played baseball and soccer at a young age before finding a love for water polo in high school. He began coaching younger athletes at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club and interning with the Department of Recreation for California State Parks to provide community outreach programs for local schools. He played water polo for California Lutheran University in Southern California and on intramural teams for soccer and swimming. After college he went on to coordinate the Refugio Junior Lifeguard program, where he taught children the importance of marine protection while also training them to become future lifeguards. He now plays in the adult league for softball and is an avid hiker.
Coach Perez played a variety of sports at a young age and found a love for soccer at the age of 10. He played soccer for three years at the collegiate level with CSU Monterey Bay. During his college experience, he started coaching youth soccer on the Monterey Peninsula. After college he pursued a professional soccer career and played semi-pro for one season in Springfield, Missouri. He now plays in local adult leagues for both soccer and softball and loves to compete.
Improv Acting — Miss Slama
Grades 4–8
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 16 students
In this class, young performers learn the fundamental tools needed to become capable and self-assured actors. Through improvisation exercises and short scenes, students learn to take risks, make strong character choices, and develop character relationships. We also work on refining audition skills and learning theatre terms. Build self-confidence on stage and off!
Miss Slama has a B.A. in theatre arts and continues to work professionally as an actor and stage manager in Monterey County.
WEDNESDAY
Chess — Mr. Pernik of Pacific Chess Academy
Grades 1-5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Learn chess with Pacific Chess Academy! Offered to all levels (beginners, intermediate, advanced), this program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to overcome obstacles, think strategically, cultivate champion psychology, stay focused, and make new friends. Each lesson consists of interactive instructions, analysis, and tournament games during which students play against each other. Lessons are fun and easy to follow, and include individual instructions to practice at home. Students are provided with necessary chess equipment for lessons (boards, pieces, clocks, demonstration tools).
Manager and owner of Pacific Chess Academy, Jeff Pernik began as a chess instructor in 2000. Over the years, Mr. Pernik has developed a chess curriculum at a variety of schools and organized many chess tournaments for students. In 2007, Mr. Pernik founded the Pacific Chess Academy in Walnut Creek, and has expanded throughout many schools across the San Francisco Bay Area. Now living in Monterey County, Mr. Pernik dreams of helping more kids learn and play chess.
Musical Theatre — Ms. Brooks of Pacific Repertory Theatre
Grades 4-8
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Receive training in musical theatre by singing, acting, and dancing on stage. Develop and practice skills such as: voice production, projection, physicality, acting, choreography, stage presence, auditioning, and singing. Students perform in scenes, songs, and dances from various children’s musicals/plays. Every student practices and performs in our final showcase at the end of term. Students gain a respect for the arts, a passion for performing, team spirit, and self-confidence—all in a safe and nurturing environment.
Chrissy Brooks holds a B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago and studied dance at Giordano Dance in Chicago, opera at Northeastern Illinois University, musical theater at Syracuse University, and vocal performance at Washington University. She has performed with companies including Metro Children's Theater Company in St. Louis, Missouri, Broadway By the Bay, Palo Alto Players, Bay Area Children's Theatre, and The Western Stage. She is also a recording artist and can be heard on the original cast album of Tales of Olympus, a Greek Myth Musical and Broadway By the Bay's holiday albums. She has taught and directed young artists, ages 3-18, for two decades. For more information, see chrissybrooks.com.
THURSDAY
Digital Photography — The Weston Collective
Grades 3–5
Cost: $300.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Capture the beauty of Monterey and the Santa Catalina campus in Digital Photography! Led by Zach Weston of The Weston Collective, your budding photographer will surely develop a keen eye and technical photography skills in this class. Students learn all that goes into taking a great picture, from lighting and framing to focusing the lens and adjusting aperture. Students are introduced to Photoshop to edit photos and create prints to take home!
Zach Weston is a professional fine art film photographer and the executive director of The Weston Collective, an organization that inspires and uplifts the next generation of photographers through youth programs, mentorships, exhibitions, community workshops, and The Weston Scholarship Competition. Having grown up in Monterey County, Zach’s mission is to mentor young photographers across the region and inspire future generations of artists to explore their creativity.
Bring your own digital camera. SD cards and flash drives are available for purchase in the bookstore, or you may bring your own.
Intermediate Glee — Miss Gaggini
Grades 4–5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 5 students / Maximum: 20 students
Does your child love to sing? Is he or she interested in learning more about singing in a choir? Join Miss Gaggini as she brings her Glee Club to the primary and intermediate levels. In this enrichment class, students work through several songs while learning about proper vocal techniques and being introduced to part-singing. The class explores multiple genres of music with an emphasis on fun, contemporary songs—and, of course, movement! Students will have the opportunity to perform at Lower School Assembly.
Grade 5
MONDAY
Coding — Mr. Monnerat
Grades 3–5
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Calling all future game designers and computer programmers! In Coding class, we explore all things technology and learn what makes it tick (literally!). From programming computer games to exploring coding through interactive stories, we find new ways to engage with computer systems while having a blast with friends. Led by Mr. Monnerat in the Creativity Lab, Coding is sure to be a class you don’t want to miss.
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Grades 3–8
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 10 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
TUESDAY
Sports! — Coach Schu and Coach Perez
Grades 3–5
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 8 students / Maximum: 15 students
Students can look forward to a variety of sports offerings each week, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and kickball, with more to come! Fundamentals of each activity are established before eventually moving on to more advanced techniques. We rotate through the sports and select popular activities to return to.
Coach Schu played baseball and soccer at a young age before finding a love for water polo in high school. He began coaching younger athletes at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club and interning with the Department of Recreation for California State Parks to provide community outreach programs for local schools. He played water polo for California Lutheran University in Southern California and on intramural teams for soccer and swimming. After college he went on to coordinate the Refugio Junior Lifeguard program, where he taught children the importance of marine protection while also training them to become future lifeguards. He now plays in the adult league for softball and is an avid hiker.
Coach Perez played a variety of sports at a young age and found a love for soccer at the age of 10. He played soccer for three years at the collegiate level with CSU Monterey Bay. During his college experience, he started coaching youth soccer on the Monterey Peninsula. After college he pursued a professional soccer career and played semi-pro for one season in Springfield, Missouri. He now plays in local adult leagues for both soccer and softball and loves to compete.
Improv Acting — Miss Slama
Grades 4–8
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 16 students
In this class, young performers learn the fundamental tools needed to become capable and self-assured actors. Through improvisation exercises and short scenes, students learn to take risks, make strong character choices, and develop character relationships. We also work on refining audition skills and learning theatre terms. Build self-confidence on stage and off!
Miss Slama has a B.A. in theatre arts and continues to work professionally as an actor and stage manager in Monterey County.
WEDNESDAY
Chess — Mr. Pernik of Pacific Chess Academy
Grades 1-5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Learn chess with Pacific Chess Academy! Offered to all levels (beginners, intermediate, advanced), this program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to overcome obstacles, think strategically, cultivate champion psychology, stay focused, and make new friends. Each lesson consists of interactive instructions, analysis, and tournament games during which students play against each other. Lessons are fun and easy to follow, and include individual instructions to practice at home. Students are provided with necessary chess equipment for lessons (boards, pieces, clocks, demonstration tools).
Manager and owner of Pacific Chess Academy, Jeff Pernik began as a chess instructor in 2000. Over the years, Mr. Pernik has developed a chess curriculum at a variety of schools and organized many chess tournaments for students. In 2007, Mr. Pernik founded the Pacific Chess Academy in Walnut Creek, and has expanded throughout many schools across the San Francisco Bay Area. Now living in Monterey County, Mr. Pernik dreams of helping more kids learn and play chess.
Musical Theatre — Ms. Brooks of Pacific Repertory Theatre
Grades 4-8
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Receive training in musical theatre by singing, acting, and dancing on stage. Develop and practice skills such as: voice production, projection, physicality, acting, choreography, stage presence, auditioning, and singing. Students perform in scenes, songs, and dances from various children’s musicals/plays. Every student practices and performs in our final showcase at the end of term. Students gain a respect for the arts, a passion for performing, team spirit, and self-confidence—all in a safe and nurturing environment.
Chrissy Brooks holds a B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago and studied dance at Giordano Dance in Chicago, opera at Northeastern Illinois University, musical theater at Syracuse University, and vocal performance at Washington University. She has performed with companies including Metro Children's Theater Company in St. Louis, Missouri, Broadway By the Bay, Palo Alto Players, Bay Area Children's Theatre, and The Western Stage. She is also a recording artist and can be heard on the original cast album of Tales of Olympus, a Greek Myth Musical and Broadway By the Bay's holiday albums. She has taught and directed young artists, ages 3-18, for two decades. For more information, see chrissybrooks.com.
THURSDAY
Digital Photography — The Weston Collective
Grades 3–5
Cost: $300.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Capture the beauty of Monterey and the Santa Catalina campus in Digital Photography! Led by Zach Weston of The Weston Collective, your budding photographer will surely develop a keen eye and technical photography skills in this class. Students learn all that goes into taking a great picture, from lighting and framing to focusing the lens and adjusting aperture. Students are introduced to Photoshop to edit photos and create prints to take home!
Zach Weston is a professional fine art film photographer and the executive director of The Weston Collective, an organization that inspires and uplifts the next generation of photographers through youth programs, mentorships, exhibitions, community workshops, and The Weston Scholarship Competition. Having grown up in Monterey County, Zach’s mission is to mentor young photographers across the region and inspire future generations of artists to explore their creativity.
Bring your own digital camera. SD cards and flash drives are available for purchase in the bookstore, or you may bring your own.
Intermediate Glee — Miss Gaggini
Grades 4–5
Cost: $180.00
Minimum: 5 students / Maximum: 20 students
Does your child love to sing? Is he or she interested in learning more about singing in a choir? Join Miss Gaggini as she brings her Glee Club to the primary and intermediate levels. In this enrichment class, students work through several songs while learning about proper vocal techniques and being introduced to part-singing. The class explores multiple genres of music with an emphasis on fun, contemporary songs—and, of course, movement! Students will have the opportunity to perform at Lower School Assembly.
Grades 6-8
MONDAY
Art Club — Ms. Kumar
Grades 4-8
Cost: $270.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 12 students
Do you love to doodle, draw, and design? Join us for Art Club and identify the art that speaks most to you! Explore various mediums, techniques, and styles to find the type of artistic expression that helps you express yourself best. Whether you are a budding artist, seek creative growth, or utilize art as a healing tool, this class is for you!
Ritika Kumar is a professional art teacher and the director of Art Abilities, a program focused on developing the skills of artists with intellectual disabilities. Ms. Kumar is dedicated to the practice of adaptive art, a strategy offering freedom in artistic expression to encourage the exploration needed to find an artist’s focus.
TUESDAY
Improv Acting — Miss Slama
Grades 4–8
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 16 students
In this class, young performers learn the fundamental tools needed to become capable and self-assured actors. Through improvisation exercises and short scenes, students learn to take risks, make strong character choices, and develop character relationships. We also work on refining audition skills and learning theatre terms. Build self-confidence on stage and off!
Miss Slama has a B.A. in theatre arts and continues to work professionally as an actor and stage manager in Monterey County.
WEDNESDAY
Musical Theatre — Ms. Brooks of Pacific Repertory Theatre
Grades 4-8
Cost: $225.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Receive training in musical theatre by singing, acting, and dancing on stage. Develop and practice skills such as: voice production, projection, physicality, acting, choreography, stage presence, auditioning, and singing. Students perform in scenes, songs, and dances from various children’s musicals/plays. Every student practices and performs in our final showcase at the end of term. Students gain a respect for the arts, a passion for performing, team spirit, and self-confidence—all in a safe and nurturing environment.
Chrissy Brooks holds a B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago and studied dance at Giordano Dance in Chicago, opera at Northeastern Illinois University, musical theater at Syracuse University, and vocal performance at Washington University. She has performed with companies including Metro Children's Theater Company in St. Louis, Missouri, Broadway By the Bay, Palo Alto Players, Bay Area Children's Theatre, and The Western Stage. She is also a recording artist and can be heard on the original cast album of Tales of Olympus, a Greek Myth Musical and Broadway By the Bay's holiday albums. She has taught and directed young artists, ages 3-18, for two decades. For more information, see chrissybrooks.com.
THURSDAY
STEM Fun — Seeds4STEM
Grades 6-8
Cost: $200.00
Minimum: 6 students / Maximum: 15 students
Calling all future STEM leaders! If you love to explore the wonders of our planet, understand the complexities of life and biology, or think of creative solutions that can change the world, you will feel right at home in this class. Led by Shannon Bliss of Seeds4STEM, students explore the science that shapes Monterey Bay. Whether they are making plant cell models or creating art based on coding and DNA, students are sure to delve deep into the world of STEM and see the natural world in a new way
Seeds4STEM is a nonprofit focused on utilizing local natural resources to provide hands-on, real-world STEM experiences to groups of children in STEM clubs. Classes are facilitated by plant biologist and 30-year STEM educator Shannon Bliss and a team of her college STEM students. Seeds4STEM keeps youth engaged with STEM concepts and with their peers.
Study Buddies and Catalina After-School Library
Our After-School Enrichment program provides after-school care and homework help through Study Buddies (PreK-Grade 3) and CASL (Catalina After-School Library, Grades 4-8). Study Buddies and CASL are facilitated by our After-School Enrichment team, which includes a coordinator and four to five staff members.
Study Buddies (PreK-Grade 3)
Study Buddies is offered March 6–May 31.
MONDAY–FRIDAY
Study Buddies
PreK–Grade 3
Cost: $10.00 per day; see totals below
Study Buddies offers students a chance to play and connect along with time to work on their homework in a fun and supportive environment. Students have several options in the library—there are learning-centered games, paper and drawing materials, and lots of books! On "no homework Fridays," students are led in fun outside play, games, and activities.
Students are picked up from their classroom at 3:20 p.m. and enjoy a snack and recess at the playground. Around 4:00 p.m., students head to the Lower School Library, where they can work on their homework until pickup at or before 5:30 p.m. Parents picking up students after 5:30 p.m. will be charged an additional fee of $10.00 for each late pickup.
Students can attend Study Buddies between 1 and 5 times per week. Day of the week must be predetermined and cannot be scheduled as needed. All program adjustments must be made prior to March 17, 2023. All cancellations made after that date will not be refunded.
Total cost by day for the spring trimester, 11-12 weeks:
- Mondays = $110.00
- Tuesdays = $120.00
- Wednesdays = $120.00
- Thursdays = $110.00
- Fridays = $110.00
Catalina After-School Library (Grades 4-8)
Catalina After-School Library is offered March 6–May 31.
MONDAY–FRIDAY
Catalina After-School Library
Grades 4–8
Cost: $10.00 per day; see totals below
Catalina After-School Library (CASL) allows students to have designated time and space to work on their homework in a fun and supportive environment. If students do not have homework, they may bring in a quiet activity. Students have several options in the library—there are games, Chromebooks, paper and drawing materials, and lots of books!
A snack and recess start the class from 3:30–4:00 p.m. By 4:00 p.m., students head to designated classrooms where students work on their homework in a study hall environment until pickup at or before 5:30 p.m. Parents picking up students after 5:30 p.m. will be charged an additional fee of $10.00 for each late pickup.
Students can attend CASL between 1 and 5 times per week. Day of the week must be predetermined and cannot be scheduled as needed. All program adjustments must be made prior to March 17, 2023. All cancellations made after that date will not be refunded.
Total cost by day for the spring trimester, 11-12 weeks:
- Mondays = $110.00
- Tuesdays = $120.00
- Wednesdays = $120.00
- Thursdays = $110.00
- Fridays = $110.00
Drop-In Care
We understand that some families may need occasional after-school support. To meet this need, we are offering drop-in care for students to attend Study Buddies and CASL for individual days as needed.
- Drop-ins are $30.00 per day and must be purchased in packages of 5 for a total of $150.00.
- These drop-ins can be used within one school year and will not roll over into a new school year.
- Drop-ins are limited to 10 students per program per day (e.g. 10 students in Study Buddies and 10 students in CASL each day) to ensure we have adequate staff support. Spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
- Drop-ins must contact the After-School Enrichment office at afterschool@santacatalina.org no later than 10:00 a.m. the day of drop-in. However, we highly recommend scheduling drop-in days as far in advance as possible.
- To purchase a package(s) please follow our registration link below to create a Procare account.
Payment Policy
All payments for After-School Enrichment must be submitted before the beginning of the program on March 6, 2023. If students sign up for Study Buddies, CASL, or an enrichment class after the winter trimester has begun, the total amount of their registration fee will be due on the day they begin their program.
All adjustments to student schedules for After-School Enrichment must be made prior to March 17, 2023. We make exceptions for changes related to school sports and tutoring schedules; however, these exceptions do not apply to outside sports, tutoring, extracurriculars, or events. All cancellations made after that date will not be refunded.
All students must be picked up promptly at 5:30 p.m. A $10.00 fee will be charged to the student’s account for every day they are not signed out by a pre-approved adult by 5:30 p.m.
If your student attends Study Buddies or CASL on a day when they are not scheduled to attend the program, a $40.00 charge will be added to their account for the service.
Registration
Registration is done through Procare. You will create a registration application for each student. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. You will receive notification regarding your enrollment along with an invoice for your enrolled classes. Please note that once your student account has been created through your registration, any changes or additions will need to be communicated to the after-school team at afterschool@santacatalina.org.