Enrichment at the Academy

Did you know that French is the second most influential language in the world, and that it is spoken on every continent? Children will enjoy our fun and fully immersive small French After School Program especially designed for young learners. French After School offers an educational, active, and intercultural experience for the children. Young students learn French with playful activities and explore the language through thematic projects and real-world tasks that immerse them in French language and Francophone cultures.

Children will learn new words and language structures, using them in fun, age-appropriate activities like arts and crafts, songs, dance, games, and stories. Children will have the opportunity to use their language skills to prepare them for future interactions in the real world.

Director: Alliance Française of Hampton Roads Instructors

Grades 1-3
Fridays
3:20 PM - 4:30 PM
January 7, 14, 21, 28
February 4, 11

Grades 4-6
Mondays
3:20 PM - 4:30 PM
January 10, 24, 31
February 7, 14, 28

Students of varied ability levels will engage in math-related games, art projects, and logical thinking activities.  This is an opportunity for students to broaden their math knowledge by talking about and experiencing math in fun, lively, and captivating ways.

Director: Mrs. Thornton

Grades: 1-3

Wednesdays
January 12, 19, 26
February 2
3:20 PM - 5:00 PM
 

Calling all future authors, poets, story-tellers, and writers!  Explore the tools every serious wordsmith needs to write a captivating tale.  Build up your “writer's block defenses," discover new story formats, and get inspired!  Each week we will work on your writing, play brainstorming, idea-rousing games, critique and peer review each other's work, and develop new creative writing skills to aid in the composing of your next literary masterpiece!

Director: Mrs. Kresinske

Grades: 4-6

Tuesdays
February 1, 8, 15, 22
3:25 PM - 5:00 PM
 

Welcome to Genbu Kai Karate of Virginia, where we instruct students in the art of traditional Shito Ryu Karate. Our goal is to develop good character and to become the best version of ourselves. Through our teachings, we instill a good work ethic, positive attitude, a resilient mind and spirit, along with a strong physical body.

Grades: 1-12

Mondays and Wednesdays
3:20 PM- 4:30 PM

December 6, 8, 13, 15
January 5, 10, 12, 19, 24, 26, 31
February 7, 9, 14, 16, 23, 28
March 2

Equipment: Students should be dressed for movement:  A Gi or sweatpants and t-shirt are required. 

Skills, Drills, Games,  and Fun... Bulldog Basketball is back!

Calling all boys grades 1-6 to work on your game Saturday mornings from 9:30-11:00 AM with the Varsity Boys Basketball Team. For four Saturdays in January the Varsity Boys Basketball Team will coach your son into becoming a better player. We will have a skill of the week, drills to improve, and then compete on teams to crown a league champion. Go Dogs! 

Grades: Boys in grades 1-6

Director:  Varsity Coach Eric Acra and members of the Varsity Basketball Team

Saturdays
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
January 8, 15, 22, 29

Stretch your creativity with the world's “greatest" tabletop role-playing game.  Students will play the game, write stories, paint, craft and more.  The emphasis will be on creative activities based on the adventures they imagine in the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons. 

Director: Dr. Call

Grades: 5-12

Wednesdays
3:20 PM - 5:00 PM

January 12, 19, 26
February 2, 9, 16, 23

Want to look for 5 million-year-old fossil seashells on the banks of the York River and then walk the trails of York River State Park?  Then come spend the day on the Fossil Hunt and Woods Walk! We will eat lunch in the State Park Visitors Center and enjoy hot chocolate out on the trail as we explore and discover!

Director: Mr. Carroll

Grades: 4-5

Saturday, January 8
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

 

Hike the 3-mile Osmanthus Trail at First Landing State Park to enjoy the winter woods and early sunset. Students will eat lunch in Mr. Carroll’s room upon dismissal, and then take a van to the park, and return to campus at 5:00 PM.

Director: Mr. Carroll

Grades 4-5

Thursday, December 16 (early dismissal day)
12:00 Noon - 5:00 PM
 

Fun and practical and just in time for the holiday season, this captivating and popular enrichment program will give participants the opportunity to apply their own personal touch to make gifts for the special people in their lives.  We’ll make some functional, some fanciful, and some flashy items.  You’ll need to get your creative juices flowing as you whittle away at your holiday gift list, making gifts for folks of all ages.  At the end of the day you can expect to have up to 8 gifts wrapped and ready for giving (depending on how hard you work).  Just bring along your gift list and get ready to be diligent and productive.  Everything else you need will be provided for you (including lunch).  What a fantastic way to show your love to your family and friends.

Director: Mrs. Thornton

Grades: 1-6

Saturdays
December 4 and 11
11:00 AM - 4:30 PM

This 4-week enrichment class will offer 5th & 6th graders the chance to dive into marine science, as they conduct oyster experiments and special projects to help Virginia's waterways. 

Director: Ms. Sorabella

Grades: 5-6

Thursdays
January 6, 13, 20, 27
3:20 PM - 4:30 PM

This 4-week enrichment class will offer 5th & 6th graders the chance to dive into marine science, as they learn about local whale species.   At the end of the 4-week class, students will have the chance to go out on a Whale Watch boat in search of actual whale sightings. 

Director: Ms. Sorabella

Grades: 5-6

Fridays
February 4, 11, 18, 25
3:20 PM - 4:30 PM

Saturday
February 26
 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

We will explore the shoreline of the York River to see a cliff with fossil deposits that are 5-8 million years old and walk lesser used trails in the hilly and wooded York River State Park. The trails are beautiful, and it's neat to be out in nature just one day before the winter solstice. High tide is at 11:30 AM this day, so fossil hunting will be limited, but we will be able to see the fossil deposits in the cliff and likely still find some fossils.  We will eat lunch in the heated visitors center if it's cold, and enjoy some hot chocolate!

Director: Mr. Carroll

Grades: 4-5

Monday, December 20
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Mrs. Thornton and Mrs. Turrietta and YOU! Spend this Friday night having a blast while enjoying Valentine themed activities! An Escape Room Challenge, a Paint Night and more will entertain you and your friends, while your parents enjoy some free time on Friday night! Of course, dinner and snacks will be served! 

Directors: Mrs. Thornton and Mrs. Turrietta

Grades: 1-3

Friday, February 11, 2022
3:20 PM - 8:00 PM

What better way to spend a Friday night than with Mr. Carroll! Science Movie Nights have it all; Fun with the classroom animals, outdoor activities, dinner and a movie! The best part? Mom and Dad can enjoy an evening out! 

Director: Mr. Carroll

Grades: 4-5

Movie Night #1 - Biggest Little Farm
Friday, January 7
3:20 PM - 8:00 PM

Movie Night #2 - Hidden Figures
Friday, January 21
3:20 PM - 8:00 PM

Movie Night #3 - Surf's Up
Friday, January 28
3:20 PM - 8:00 PM