Students

Grades: 7 and 8
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 6
Teachers: Arkadiy Frenkel 
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 40
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 two groups that alternate between 30 minutes of lessons and 30 minutes of friendly games. Beginners are welcome! All players train to compete in optional local tournaments held every other Saturday from September - June.

Arkadiy Frenkel is a US-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.

Grades: K to 4
Teacher: Jennifer Richter
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150
Supply Cost: $20

Welcome to the wonderful world of CRAFTING! Kids love to create and decorate…and this class will show them exactly how to do it! With an exciting selection of activities, 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 and techniques. We will craft eight exciting pieces during our sessions together. Explorations, creativity, and joy will be fostered as the children are encouraged to bring their own unique ‘selves’ to their crafty creations!

Grades: 1 to 6
Teacher: Gregg Kleiman
Day: Monday
Minimum Class Size: 6
Maximum Class Size: 15

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.

Grades: 3 to 5
Teacher: Rebecca Nickolaus
Day: Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 20
Class Cost: $150
Food Cost: $20

McDonogh Top Chef will introduce students to the foundational skills required for cooking. During each class, students will be taught about a specific cooking skill and "secret ingredient" that they must incorporate into their edible design. The goal of this class is to allow students to increase their culinary knowledge and skill, to use their imagination, and work as a team to design edible masterpieces.

Grades: 5 and 6
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: 3 to 5
Teacher: Margaret Bitz
Day: Wednesday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150

John McDonogh said, “Study in the course of life to do the greatest possible amount of good.” Service is at the center of our McDonogh compass and in the soul of our community. Join Lower School teacher and character and service liaison, Margaret Bitz, in an eight-week program focused on giving back to our Baltimore community.

Each week students will learn about organizations in need in Baltimore and do a project centered on that specific organization. Learning and doing will be at the heart of this club, which aims to inspire and excite children to “do the greatest possible amount of good” and truly become LifeReady.

Grades: K thru 6th
Teacher: Phil Turner
Day: Monday (First Day Tuesday, Sept. 3rd)
Cost: $50

Boys and girls from Kindergarten on up are invited to join the McDonogh Mini Milers, a youth running club, this Fall. Participants will learn stretching and conditioning techniques in a fun and friendly format and have the opportunity to run with their friends in cross country meets. The club is meant to be an introduction to running and an opportunity to grow in friendships and fitness. Practices will begin Tuesday, September 3 and will then be held every Monday thereafter from 4-5:15 with the last day being October 21. The lower and middle school students will get a chance to run on the track and learn the cross country course behind Roots as well!   

Runners who are interested can join Coach Turner, the varsity boys cross country and track coach, at the Charm City youth cross country meets held throughout the area on Sunday afternoons. The meets are not mandatory for participation in the club and runners can attend however many they want. More information on those meets and how to register can be found here: http://www.charmcityrun.com/kids   

Grades: 3 to 5
Day: Wednesday
Miminum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $200

Using Lego's Mindstorm Educational Kit, students will construct a series of smart bots such as a robotic arm, a color sorter, a puppy, and a gripper bot. The hands-on projects light up a student’s natural desire to explore and discover while developing their problem solving, collaboration, and communication skills.

Students will learn subjects like math, science, technology, and engineering more effectively while improving and developing their 21st-century skills, like problem solving, collaboration and communication.