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: 1 to 4
Day: Wednesday
Miminum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Cost: $150

Join IDEA Lab STEAM as we explore circuitry, Lego, robotics, the human brain, programming, stop motion animation, and chemically explosive projects. We’ll tackle a different area of STEAM each week! 

IDEA Lab Kids is designed to help build critical-thinking skills and Build Better Brains. Each program is developed to provide FUN and engaging After-School programs.

Grades: K to 4
Teacher: Jennifer Richter
Day: Wednesday
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: 3 to 5
Teacher: Rebecca Nickolaus
Day: Wednesday and Thursday
Minimum Class Size: 5
Maximum Class Size: 20
Class Cost: $150
Food Cost: $20
(Students may only register for one day of Top Chef.)

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.