After-School Class Options

Knitting (ages 5-8)

Craft your own cuddly companions with felt, fur, and fluff.

Miniature Clay Creations (ages 5-8)

Sculpt, mold, and model clay portraits, animals, and more.

Kids in the Kitchen (ages 7-10)

Chefs of all levels gain confidence in their kitchen skills while learning recipes to recreate at home.

Filmmaking (ages 9-14)

Lights, Camera, Action! Students will enhance their visual and auditory storytelling abilities by delving into production procedures.

Drama Club (ages 9-14)

Discover the art of acting in this immersive curriculum, with several opportunities for students to take the stage throughout the year.

The Art and Engineering of Structures (ages 10-14)

This project-based afterschool class will explore the art and engineering of structures, from spiderwebs to skyscrapers. Students will investigate the forces that act on structures, such as tension and compression, and will design, build, and test bridges, both hands-on and using an engineering simulation program, as well as powered structures such as Ferris wheels and small catapults. Students will design houses or other buildings using SketchUp, a 3D design program, and will then construct and frame physical models of what they have designed using post-and-beam framing. Finally, students can use Microbit microcontrollers to make ‘smart’ houses with interactive lights, fans, doors, and sounds.

LARP Games: A Fun Way to Foster Critical Thinking in Students (ages 9-14) *TRIMESTER 2 ONLY

LARP Games are a great way to improve your critical thinking skills while staying active. In these sessions, you’ll learn the basic rules of LARPing and explore aspects of game design. Our classes are held outdoors in a park-like setting to give you plenty of space to run around and develop your own strategies and tactics. Don’t worry if you’re new to LARPing – no prior experience, costumes, or characters are required!

If you’re interested in delving deeper into the world of LARPs, check out our LARP Foundations class. In this class, you’ll learn about character creation, costuming, and prop design.

Soccer @ Teamworks (ages 7-12) *TRIMESTER 3 ONLY

This will take place every Tuesday at the Winchester Community Park Grass Field. Acera will walk participants from school to the facility, which is 5 minutes away. The Teamworks Soccer Staff will lead the program and teach basic soccer skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting through various drills and games. By the end of the program, players will compete against each other in “small-sided” team games with the skills they’ve learned in the previous sessions! To participate, bring a snack, water, shin pads, and cleats.

Extraordinary Paper Creations (ages 5-8)

We will use an array of tools and techniques to transform various papers into unique 2D and 3D art, sculptures, and functional objects.

LEGO Spike Prime Robotics (ages 5-8)

The LEGO SPIKE Prime system is a fantastic way for students to delve into the basics of robotics and coding. They’ll learn how to control motors and sensors to create their own customized robots that can navigate mazes, travel over rough terrain, and transport a payload to a specific destination.

Game Design (ages 7-10)

Students will plan and build their own fantasy playland using our makerspace supplies to test and modify their creations while working both individually and as teams. Additionally, we will branch into vivid board game design, theory, and the pragmatics of storytelling and psychology through games- why and how things are made!

Digital Modeling, Simulation & Fabrication (ages 8-11)

In this exciting class, students will have the opportunity to experiment with and work with digital tools to design and construct 3D objects, such as toys, household products, and artwork.

Intro to Woodworking (ages 8-11)

Our woodshop at Acera welcomes you to learn the basics of woodworking, such as hammering, sawing, and building with hand tools. You’ll have the chance to create a toy airplane, pencil box, tool tote, and other fun projects!

Baking (ages 8-11)

From mixing and measuring ingredients to decorating mouthwatering treats, baking covers a wide range of recipes that will excite young taste buds. Whether crafting colorful cupcakes or baking delicious cookies, participants can unleash their imagination and create edible masterpieces to share with family and friends.

LARP: Live Action Role Play (ages 8-12) *TRIMESTER 2 ONLY

Have you ever wanted to seek treasure and unravel the universe’s secrets? Battle brutal bandits, gruesome goblins, unworldly undead, and deadly dragons? Find your way through the dungeon and claim the ancient treasure. Now, you can be armed with a sword and spell in an interactive theater world. Will you be a Hero or a Villain? Find the Philosopher’s Stone and save the world, or let the shadow of the Great Conjunction fall upon the land of Etheraz forever? *LARP Adventure Program’s Heroes Academy(R)

Digital Website Design & Creative Writing (ages 9-14)

In this dynamic course, students will learn the fundamentals of digital website design and create personalized websites without the need for complex coding languages. Your child can publish their projects on their websites, develop their portfolios, or construct platforms to showcase their unique content.

Band (ages 10-14)

This class focuses on building a strong musical foundation through ensemble playing, understanding music composition and theory, and performance opportunities. Students will explore a variety of musical styles, improve their technical abilities, and develop a deeper appreciation for the art of music. To participate in this class, students must have basic competence in playing an instrument and the ability to read music, but ALL LEVELS ARE WELCOME!

Beginner’s Spanish (ages 10+)

The Global Child Program emphasizes listening and speaking skills with theme-based movement and manipulatives. **Must sign up for Wednesday as well

Enchanted Electronics (ages 5-8)

By combining tactile materials like playdough, stuffed animals, art materials, and more with electronic components, students will have the chance to explore electricity and magnetism in a unique way.

Stop Motion Animation (ages 7-10)

In this imaginative camp, participants can craft and share a story of their own invention using stop-motion animation.

Engineering Challenges (ages 8-10)

In Engineering Challenges, participants will embark on exhilarating engineering challenges designed to ignite their passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Intermediate & Advanced Woodworking (ages 10+)

Join our class and gain access to the materials, tools, and expert coaching that you need to bring your wooden creations to life! This class is designed for students who already have woodworking experience and want to design and build their own projects with support and guidance from Mr. Josh. Projects are typically desktop scale or smaller, and the emphasis is on quality.

Model UN Club (ages 10+)

Engage in deep discussions about current events. Get exposure to primary sources and formative ideas in the political science, governmental, historical and philosophical landscape. Each trimester, participate in Model UN conferences (costs included in registration fee) in which you take on the perspective and voice of different countries, focusing on current issues.

Sewing Arts (ages 9-12)

We’ll help you select or create a project, cut out the pieces, and guide you through the sewing process. Our projects range from pillowcases, pajama shorts, bags, quilts, and more!

LEGO Spike Prime Robotics: Solving Real-world Problems (ages 9-14)

The LEGO SPIKE Prime system is a fantastic way for students to explore robotics and coding. They’ll learn how to control motors and sensors to create customized robots to solve real-world problems. Projects include Greeting/Joy Robot, Morning Helper, Future Furniture, Community Garden, Disability Assistant, and Future City.

LEGO Spike Prime Robotics: Solving Real-world Problems (ages 9-14)

The LEGO SPIKE Prime system is a fantastic way for students to explore robotics and coding. They’ll learn how to control motors and sensors to create customized robots to solve real-world problems. Projects include Greeting/Joy Robot, Morning Helper, Future Furniture, Community Garden, Disability Assistant, and Future City.

Study Hall & Screen-Free Hangout (ages 10+)

Upper School students now have access to a peaceful environment where they can work on homework, high school applications, or engage in another quiet activity like reading. Ms. Jamie, an experienced social science and math teacher, is present to offer writing support. This is a perfect space for students who need extra help with their homework to work with a knowledgeable teacher in a stress-free environment. In addition, students can enjoy supervised screen-free downtime with their peers after school.

Python Programming (ages 11-14)

Embark on a fun and interactive journey into the world of coding with this hands-on Python course! Students will master programming fundamentals using Python and the VSCode editor to create meaningful projects and solve real-world problems. Each session introduces key programming concepts through engaging lessons and interactive exercises, reinforced by optional weekly challenges to enhance learning.

Instructor Manisha, a seasoned Cloud Solutions Architect with Microsoft, brings over 15 years of industry experience in Computer Science Engineering. Her expertise lies in Data and Artificial Intelligence, and her passion for teaching inspires young minds to excel in technology. Manisha enjoys painting and gardening outside of work, blending creativity with her technical acumen.

By the end of the course, students will have the confidence to create their own Python projects. This culminates in a two-part data visualization project that highlights their progress. The final session includes a student-led project presentation, celebrating their achievements and showcasing their skills.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to Python and VSCode
• Data Types, Variables, Lists, and Tuples
• Conditional Statements and Loops
• Functions, Dictionaries, and File Handling
• Object-Oriented Programming: Classes and Methods
• Testing and Debugging Code
• Hands-on Project: Data Visualization

Electronic Arts (ages 7-10)

Join us for a unique and exciting class experience that unites art and electronics. We’ll utilize arts and crafts materials to delve into storytelling and visual elements such as line, texture, contrast, transparency, and composition. With the addition of paper circuitry, we’ll bring light and interactivity to our projects.

LARP Quests (ages 9-14)

Our immersive narrative adventure events occur in LARP’s original world, Etheraz 2, and it’s open to new and seasoned adventurers. All participants will create an Etheraz 2 character or bring their existing character on board. Throughout the program, players will learn new character skills and feats of the Etheraz 2 game in points and powers setting.

Hack Toys (ages 5-8)

Partnering with Acera Education Innovation in a new twist on old toys, students will incorporate electronic art and functional circuitry into figures to give them a new life. Classes also include using electronics as an art