After School Enrichment
Enrichment Programs
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19.
Didion’s STEM4AL Afterschool Program focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, the Arts and Foreign Languages. It is our continual effort to ensure our children are developing key 21st century skills necessary to succeed in a global society as creative, independent, and socially responsible members of our community.
The Afterschool Program schedule for the AY2019-20 follows:
- 4th R: Daily 7am-6pm
- Food Explorers Club: Mondays (4th-8th grades, 2:30-3:30pm)
- Fun to Learn Mandarin: M-W (K-8th grades, 2:30-3:30pm)
- Early Engineers: Tuesdays (K-2nd grades, 2-3:10pm) and Tuesdays (3rd-6th grades, 2:30-3:40pm)
- Young Actors Stage: Tuesdays (K-8th grades, 2:30-5pm & Thursdays 1:30-4pm)
- Honey Code: Wednesdays (3rd-6th grades, 2:20-3:30pm)
- Baking and Beyond: Wednesday (1st-3rd grades, 2:00-3:10pm) and Fridays (4th-6th grades, 2:30-3:40pm)
- Violin: Wednesdays – Mozart class (1st-3rd grades, 2:20-3:10pm) and Vivaldi class (4th-8th grades, 3:20-4:10pm)
- One Striped Bee Creative Beginnings: Thursdays (K-3rd grades, 1-2pm)
- Mad Science: Thursdays (K-2nd grades, 1-2pm) and Thursdays (3rd-6th grades, 1:25-2:25pm)
- Chess Academy: Fridays (1st-6th grades, 2:20-3:20pm)
Got questions about Didion’s Afterschool Program? Contact office staff Gail Nakamura (916-433-5039) or parent volunteer Andréa Pantoja Garvey.
Want to start an Afterschool Club? Click here for more information.
Fun to Learn Mandarin
Fun to Learn Mandarin with Mrs. Heng Sun is an enjoyable opportunity for children in all grades to learn Mandarin through the use of interactive flashcards, practice conversations, fun games, and crafts activities. Mrs. Heng has been teaching Mandarin for over 10 years and this year marks the first of her classes being offered at Didion. Mondays & Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30pm, Rm TBD. For more information, email Mrs.Heng or call (916) 233-8154.
Early Engineers
The Early Engineer’s mission is to educate the whole child by providing opportunities to build using a variety of construction media, including: Legos, K’nex, Play Foam, Mega Blocks, Makedo and Clay. Projects and lesson plans are created by professional artists, architects and engineers with backgrounds in psychology and early childhood education. Students dabble in Math, Science and Design through the program’s carefully planned building projects. Tuesdays: K-2nd 2:00-3:10pm, Rm TBA; 3rd-6th 2:30-3:40pm, Rm TBA.
Honey Code
HoneyCode introduces students (3rd-6th grades) to the language of technology. Students will learn all about the fundamentals of coding science, including sequencing, logic, problem solving skills, algorithms, and much more! Wednesdays, 2:20-3:30pm, Rm TBD. To register, go to Dream Enrichment’s Registration website.
Baking and Beyond
Through the Looking Glass Cakes presents Baking and Beyond at Didion. In this four-day course, young chefs will explore the world of baking and create a delicious array of sweet treats. Shanna Spinola will introduce the children to the fundamentals of baking—from reading and following recipes to the importance of kitchen safety. Kids will enjoy working alongside classmates as they practice making from-scratch versions of favorites such as classic cupcakes, cookies, and doughnuts.
Violin
The Sacramento Institute for Music and the Arts is excited to be returning to Didion with their violin program. No previous musical experience is necessary! As their Didion program grows, more classes will be offered for advancing students. For more information, contact Ingrid Peters at ingrid.peters@sacima.org or (916) 242-8342.
Mozart Class (1st-3rd grade), Wednesday, 2:20-3:10pm.
One Striped Bee Creative Beginnings
Didion parent and middle-school art instructor Stephanie Seelig is now offering an after-school art workshop and hands-on exploration for kids K-3rd grade. In her program, One Striped Bee Creative Beginnings, children will be exposed and inspired to the colorful world of some of our great artists. Thursdays, 1-2pm, Staff Lounge. Using a collection of children’s books, art history, and games, children will discover amazing artist like Paul Klee, Henri Rousseau, and Frida Kahlo.
Mad Science
Mad Science afterschool program allows children to engage in exciting hands-on activities, watch spectacular demonstrations, participate in inquiry-based discussions and take home things that they have made themselves like model rockets, periscopes, Mad Science putty, and more. What better way to engage in the world around us than through the exploration of the sciences. Thursdays: K-3rd 1-2pm (Rm TBD); 4th-6th 1:25-2:25pm (Rm TBD)
Chess Academy
Come discover the legendary game of chess and engage in a rich learning process that can help improve memory, focus, and patience. Together we’ll master openings, endgames, strategy, and tactics. Classes held on Fridays, 2:20-3:20pm, Room TBD. To register, go to Dream Enrichment’s Registration website.
Session A: 09/27/2019, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8
Young Actors Stage
Spring 2020 only. Young Actors Stage is coming back to Didion next spring with another exciting Broadway Jr production: Frozen Jr. Cast members will sing, dance, and act each day to classic Disney tunes. They will see their hard work pay off, and feel the magic of the stage, when this full scale production is presented at the 24th Street Theater, May 2020.
February 25, 2020 – May 3, 2020
Tuesdays (2:30-5:00pm) & Thursdays (1:30-4:00pm)
Location: Didion Gym