SOAR Aftercare and Enrichment

Art Club

Art Club will meet weekly and covers a wide variety of mediums, techniques, and skills through a combination of both guided and open-ended projects. Classes include lessons in art history and art appreciation, while cultivating creativity in each young artist. All artwork will be showcased during our last day of class at our Gallery Afternoon.

The Knight School Chess 

The Knight School chess team is here! The Knight School is a beginner-friendly, high-energy, party-based, developmentally enriching chess academy. The program is unique; each lesson is full of chess jokes, silly chess videos, and fun activities on top of chess tactics, lessons and chess play! Classes are 75 minutes each, once a week after school, where we learn a new chess tactic in our lesson and then students strive to perform tactics and earn color-coded “tactixbands” (wristbands) during our Mardi-Gras bead tournaments.

Join varsity cheerleaders and Coach Corbeille Krauss '06 for four sessions of high-flying fun! Junior cheerleaders will learn motions, tumbling, stunts, cheers, chants, jumps, dances, and a routine to perform during the final session!

French Rhythm and Rhymes Session 1

French Rhythm and Rhymes is an engaging enrichment program designed to provide students with a unique and immersive learning experience that combines the beauty of the French language with the universal appeal and joy of music. This program aims to enhance students' linguistic abilities and musical skills while combining fun activities and fostering a deeper appreciation for both disciplines in an effective learning environment. No previous French is required. All are welcome!

Mandarin Moves 360!

Ready, set, … goals! Does your child’s brain learn better while moving? Mandarin Moves 360 is a run club program for kids designed to be a fun, challenging, and rewarding experience for the whole body. Through warm-up routines, sprints, relays, games and stretches, students will develop their speed, endurance and agility while building their Mandarin Chinese language skills. Reach mileage goals and earn prizes! Customized dry-fit shirts are included for this extended 15-week session.

Adult Pottery Class

This class will instruct students in hand-building and throwing on the potter's wheel. Various glazing and firing techniques will be explored. Beginners, as well as experienced potters and clay artists, are welcome. Students need only come to class prepared to work. Clay, tools, and all other supplies will be provided. 

Kindergarten Art Factory

The Art Factory is open for just the kindergarten grade. This class will help students become comfortable using a wide variety of mediums, techniques, and skills through a combination of both guided and open-ended projects.

French Rhythm and Rhymes Session 2

French Rhythm and Rhymes is an engaging enrichment program designed to provide students with a unique and immersive learning experience that combines the beauty of the French language with the universal appeal and joy of music. This program aims to enhance students' linguistic abilities and musical skills while combining fun activities and fostering a deeper appreciation for both disciplines in an effective learning environment. No previous French is required. All are welcome!

Junior Falcon Cheer 

Join varsity cheerleaders and Coach Corbeille Krauss '06 for four sessions of high-flying fun! Junio cheerleaders will learn motions, tumbling, stunts, cheers, chants, jumps, dances, and a routine to perform during the final session!

The Knight School Chess

The Knight School chess team is here! The Knight School is a beginner-friendly, high-energy, party-based, developmentally enriching chess academy. Our program is unique; each lesson is full of chess jokes, silly chess videos, and fun activities on top of chess tactics lessons and chess play! Classes are 75 minutes each, once a week after school, where we learn a new chess tactic in our lesson and then students strive to perform tactics and earn color-coded “tactixbands” (wristbands) during our Mardi-Gras bead tournaments.

FWCD Basketball Skills Camp

This co-ed program helps young basketball players understand the fundamentals and learn to enjoy the game. Participants work on ball-handling, shooting, rebounding and passing. Emphasis is placed on defense, conditioning, teamwork and sportsmanship. This skills camp is hosted by Joe Breedlove '78, FWCD Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, and a team of experienced coaches and players.

Field Hockey Fun!

Come play field hockey on our state-of-the-art turf. Students will learn how to play field hockey and have fun while doing it. This session is led by Coach Paige Farris Chisholm '87, Field Hockey Program Director and Varsity Coach, and players in the program.

Movin’ and Groovin’ Session I

Bring your energy and your smile and get ready to party at Movin’ & Groovin’, the Zumba® Kids enrichment class! Zumba® Kids classes are rocking, high-energy dance parties packed with kid-friendly routines. We break down steps and add games, activities and cultural elements into the class structure. This program helps participants develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural part of their lives. All classes are under the guidance of licensed Zumba® Instructors Gaby Booth and Natasha Hatcher. Gaby and Natasha teach weekly Zumba® classes at CERA and YMCA, respectively.

The Knight School Chess: Middle School Version

The Knight School chess team is here! The Knight School is a beginner-friendly, high-energy, party-based, developmentally enriching chess academy. Our program is unique; each lesson is full of chess jokes, silly chess videos, and fun activities on top of chess tactics lessons and chess play! Classes are 75 minutes each, once a week after school, where we learn a new chess tactic in our lesson and then students strive to perform tactics and earn color-coded “tactixbands” (wristbands) during our Mardi-Gras bead tournaments.

Movin’ and Groovin’ Session II

Bring your energy and your smile and get ready to party at Movin’ & Groovin’, the Zumba® Kids enrichment class! Zumba® Kids classes are rocking, high-energy dance parties packed with kid-friendly routines. We break down steps and add games, activities and cultural elements into the class structure. This program helps participants develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural part of their lives. All classes are under the guidance of licensed Zumba® Instructors Gaby Booth and Natasha Hatcher. Gaby and Natasha teach weekly Zumba® classes at CERA and YMCA, respectively.

Bucket Drumming

Get ready to drum up some fun with our after-school Bucket Drumming Program! This high-energy class introduces kids to the basics of rhythm, coordination and teamwork through hands-on drumming using simple, everyday buckets. Students will explore rhythms, learn cool patterns, and work together to create exciting group performances. No prior experience is needed.

• To register for Fall 2024 SOAR Enrichment Programs, please visit www.fwcd.org/SOAR.
• Lower School AND Middle School students who are participating in a SOAR Enrichment Program will meet in the Fischer Dining Pavilion immediately after school, where they will be provided with a complimentary snack.
• Instructors for enrichment programs will lead participants from the Fischer Dining Pavilion to their enrichment site.
• Upon conclusion of each enrichment program, students will be brought back to the Fischer Dining Pavilion for pick-up.
• In the interest of student accountability and to create the safest environment possible, we ask that parents come into the Fischer Dining Pavilion to sign out their student at the end of each enrichment session.
• We ask that students are signed out within 10 minutes of the conclusion of their program. Students who are not signed out within 10 minutes of the conclusion of their program will be automatically enrolled in SOAR Extended Care for that day, and your student account will be charged accordingly.
• No refunds will be provided, and fees cannot be prorated if a student’s registration is canceled or if classes are missed due to illness, injury, or any other event out of the control of FWCD.
• Enrichment programs are subject to a mandatory minimum enrollment number in order for a program to make. A full refund will be provided if a program is canceled by FWCD due to the mandatory minimum enrollment not being reached.
• Programs are subject to change.
• Tuition assistance is not available for SOAR Enrichment Programs.
• Enrollment closes 48 hours before the start of each program. 
• Enrollments processed less than 48 hours before the start of a program are subject to a $50 late enrollment fee. 

SOAR Extended Care and Enrichment Programs are led by FWCD staff, professional educators, and experienced childcare professionals who have completed thorough background checks and training procedures.

Due to the fixed costs and planning involved in executing this type of program, we are unable to provide refunds for any annual or daily SOAR Extended Care purchases. There is no discount, refund, or other allowance due to absence or illness.

We are unable to adjust or prorate the cost of any SOAR Extended Care programs.

Tuition assistance is available for qualified families toward full-year enrollments. (Tuition assistance is not available for single-day/drop-in enrollments). Award amounts are determined by a family’s current tuition assistance award for their School tuition, up to a maximum of 75% (e.g., a 25% tuition assistance award for School tuition = a 25% tuition assistance award for your SOAR Extended Care full-year enrollment). We will automatically deduct the appropriate amount from your bill. Please note: Tuition assistance is not available for SOAR Enrichment Programs.

SOAR full-year extended care enrollment tuition is automatically broken into nine monthly payment installments (applied to your October 1-June 1 billing cycles). Payment plans are not available for single-day enrollment plans and SOAR Enrichment Programs.

SOAR Extended Care programs are available on early dismissal days at FWCD, beginning at the conclusion of the abbreviated school day and ending at 6 p.m. The single-day enrollment plan fees are $35/day for early dismissal days. Coverage on all early dismissal days is included in the full-year enrollment plan.

SOAR Extended Care and Enrichment Programs are not available on FWCD holidays.

When you would like to utilize the single-day/drop-in option, please email SOAR ([email protected]) with your student’s name, grade, and day(s) you would like your student to attend SOAR Extended Care. To ensure a smooth transition for your child at the end of the academic day, email your requests prior to 2 p.m. on the days that your student will be utilizing the program.

Students participating in a SOAR Enrichment Program are not required to register for SOAR Extended Care. At the end of the school day, students enrolled in a SOAR Enrichment Program will be taken to the SOAR check-in station in the Fischer Dining Pavilion. Students will receive a snack and will then be picked up by their Enrichment Program Instructor, who will walk students to the Enrichment Program location. At the end of the Enrichment Program session, students will then be taken back to the Fischer Dining Pavilion for check-out.

While we can’t accommodate all dietary requests as they pertain to daily snacks, the SOAR staff works closely with Director of School Health Services Lori McCormack, RN, to ensure that no SOAR participants are exposed to dangerous allergens. We also make sure that none of our snacks contain nuts (nor are they produced in facilities that process nuts). Please be sure to complete the “allergy and other medical concerns” section of the SOAR application to further ensure that the SOAR staff is aware of your student’s dietary and medical needs.