After School

Grades: Seventh and Eighth
Teacher: Daryl Burch
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $180

Award-winning debate coach 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 to which all parents are invited.

Grades: Kindergarten to Sixth 
Teacher: Arkadiy Frenkel 
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 25
Class Cost: $180

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 two 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 are provided.

This program is no longer available.

Grades: Kindergarten to Second 
Teacher: SPARK Business Academy
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 8
Maximum Class Size: 16
Class Cost: $180

Earn, save, spend, donate!

Through math games and hands-on activities, kids learn about these and other key financial concepts like money, budgeting, and saving. Students will also learn the basic concepts of philanthropy and donating to charity. And everyone will make their very own piggy bank to take home!

This program is no longer available.

Grades: Third and Fourth 
Teacher: Black Rocket
Day: Tuesday
Minimum Class Size: 8
Maximum Class Size: 20
Class Cost: $180

Make your LEGOs come to life! Bring in your favorite action figures or LEGOs and create a short film with your friends. Whether you want to recreate a scene from Star Wars or design a world of your own, this class brings your dreams to the screen. Students will need to bring in LEGOs and/or action figures from home, but all other equipment is provided. Student-created films will be available on a password-protected website to share with friends and family. Participants will need to bring their school-issued Chrome Books each week.

Grades: Kindergarten to Second
Teacher: SPARK Business Academy
Day: Wednesday
Minimum Class Size: 8
Maximum Class Size: 16
Class Cost: $180

In this "inventive" program, students design and create solutions to problems, teaming up to identify the need for a new invention and producing real structures and solutions.

In one STEM challenge, students build bridges using a variety of materials and experiment with how much weight they can hold. Students will also learn about famous inventors and discuss how inventions improve our lives.

This program is no longer available.

Grades: Third to Fifth
Teacher: SPARK Business Academy
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 8
Maximum Class Size: 16
Class Cost: $180

Learn how to manage your money in this program promoting essential life skills!

Set your financial goals, develop a budget from scratch, shop for a credit card, and calculate the monthly cost of your dream car. Students also learn about mortgages, FICO scores, taxes, and the dangers of piling up debt.

This program is no longer available.

Grades: Third and Fourth
Teacher: Black Rocket
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 8
Maximum Class Size: 20
Class Cost: $180

Every child can code! Develop your skills as a young coder by exploring block coding, JavaScript, and Python concepts while making your own playable mini-games. This introductory coding course is designed to get elementary-aged students excited about technology through a series of hands-on and engaging learning challenges. Student-created games will be available on a password-protected Black Rocket website to share with friends and family. Participants will need to bring their school-issued Chrome Books each week.

Grades: First to Fourth
Teacher: Jonna Wahle
Day: Wednesday
Minimum Class Size: 6
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $180

Is your field hockey player looking for an opportunity to refine their skills? This after-school program is intended for players with prior field hockey experience to practice and polish their skills...indoors! Using indoor sticks, players will work on ball control, accuracy, and speed through drills, games, and team-building with Coach Wahle. Each player must have their own indoor stick, shinguards, and mouthguard, and be ready to have fun!