After School

Grades: 7th and 8th
Teacher: Daryl Burch
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150

Daryl Burch, along with members of McDonogh's Upper School varsity debate team, will train and coach Middle School students in the skills of competitive debate. Participation in the program teaches public speaking, critical thinking, and research skills that are highly valuable in every facet of the school curriculum. Students will debate a current event controversy and prepare for a mini tournament in which all parents are invited to watch.

Grades: K to 6th
Teacher: Arkadiy Frenkel 
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 25
Class Cost: $150

Chess is a fun game that helps kids learn life skills: how to concentrate, recognize patterns, solve problems, think creatively, cultivate teamwork (among their pieces), execute short-term tactics, develop long-term strategies, manage time, and (most important!) exercise impulse control. When kids lose pieces and games because they moved their pieces impulsively, they learn to resist succumbing to the quick fix of instant gratification. When kids win pieces and games because they moved their pieces patiently, they learn to savor the enduring joy of delayed gratification.

Based on their skill level and age, players are divided into 2 groups that alternate between 30 minutes of lessons and 30 minutes of friendly games. Beginners are welcome! 

Arkadiy Frenkel is a U.S. Chess National Master and full-time chess coach. He also has directed the Chess Camp for McDonogh Summer Camps for the last eight summers. All chess supplies provided.

Grade: 2nd to 6th
Teacher: Aisha Bryant
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 6
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
Supply Cost: $20

Bring your ideas to life using digital fabrication! Students will discover how they can express their creativity using 3D printing, laser cutting, cardboard carpentry, and more. Each session will focus on a design skill and allow students a chance to try it out. Students will design something new each week and share design ideas with other group members.

Grades: 3rd and 4th
Teacher: Sydney Spiro
Day: Wednesday
Minimum Class Size: 6
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
Bienvenue à French Club! Third- and fourth-graders are invited to learn about French language and culture through games, songs, and hands-on activities. We will even try some French food together. Each week, we will focus on a different theme in order to build knowledge of basic vocabulary by the end of the club. Allons-y!

Grades: 2nd to 4th
Teachers: Jennifer Richter, Kate Hailstone
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
Supply Cost: $20

Does your child simply LOVE everything Harry Potter? If the answer is "YES!"... Please consider enrolling your child in our super special Harry Potter cooking club!  If your young reader cherishes Harry Potter books, enjoys book chats with friends, and would love to learn how to make some of the delicious, magical food mentioned in these incredible novels, this is the PERFECT club for your Harry Potter enthusiast. We will be making Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, and much, much more. In preparation for our sessions, we will have a new recipe to share with the class each week. Needless to say, we will definitely have fun while making these magical, mystical treats. This is going to be a tasty adventure that your child will definitely enjoy. We can't wait for our activities to begin!

Grades: K to 6th
Teacher: Gregg Kleiman
Day: Tuesday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 12
Class Cost: $150
Supply Cost: $20

If you like to build stuff, this class is for you.  Our new innovation center is a collaborative workshop where students will gain practical hands-on experience with new technologies and innovative processes. Students will tackle their imagination by designing projects, working in teams, and building some really cool stuff.  We will be using 3-D printers, the laser cutter, and even a t-shirt press!

The innovation center is a place to encourage hands-on, creative ways for students to design, experiment, build, and invent as they engage in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. (S.T.E.A.M.)  No experience is required, just a desire to have fun!

Grades: Pre-K to 4th
Teachers: Jennifer Richter, Kate Hailstone
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
Supply Cost: $20

Welcome to the wonderful world of CRAFTING! Kids love to construct, create, and decorate, and we'll show them exactly how to do it all. With an exciting selection of activities to enjoy, your child will love exploring something new. Embrace your child’s creativity with us. You’ll be amazed with our crafty masterpieces.

Your child will be introduced to a variety of tools, techniques, and mixed-media activities. We will craft eight exciting pieces during our sessions together. Exploration, creativity, and joy will be fostered as the children are encouraged to bring their own unique 'spin' to their crafty creations. Enroll and join our FUN! 

Grades: K to 4th
Teacher: Sierra Waldman
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
You know that Eagles can fly, but did you also know they can dance? Come join the brand new Lower School Dance Troupe on Thursdays after school with Ms. Waldman! We will learn different dance routines together to popular songs. Any student from Kindergarten to Grade 4 can sign up. Let’s get our Eagle wings flapping and toes tapping!

Grade:  2nd to 6th
Teacher: Aisha Bryant
Day: Tuesday
Minimum Class Size: 6
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
Supply Cost: $20

Are you ready to bring imagination, design, and creativity to life through LEGOs? Students will take on a challenge to design and build creatively, using LEGO bricks during each session. Students will learn new building techniques, put their builds to the test, and have fun sharing their ideas with other group members.

Grades: 7th and 8th
Teacher: Joe Thompson
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150

Taught by Upper School teacher Joe Thompson, students will Raspberry Pi  and BBC micro:bit single-board computers to illuminate lights, create noises, and design small robot cars, etc. Students will also learn about coding and spend some time working with electronics. All in the name of fun.

Grades: 5th and 6th
Teacher: Daryl Burch
Day: Wednesday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150

The number one fear most people have is speaking in public. This class will motivate and encourage students to speak in public. Students will work on understanding speech, invoking emotion and pathos in the delivery of the speech, conveying appropriate tone and sentiment in the speech content, and enunciating the speech. The goals are to help students become better orators and to create interest among Middle School students for the Upper School debate program.

Grades: 1st to 6th
Teacher: Gregg Kleiman
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 6
Maximum Class Size: 12
Class Cost: $150

Rock climbing is the perfect sport for kids. It increases self-confidence, teaches trust and builds stronger and healthy bodies. Come out and enjoy the eight different walls of increasing difficulty from beginner to advanced levels. All walls are equipped with automatic belay units for maximum safety.