Clubs & Activities Registration

Band (3 Levels)

Date: September 20, 2021 - early Spring 2022
Who: Students in Grades 2 -8
Fee: $460
Contact: Derek McIntyre
How to Join:  Registration is now closed.

Kicks off the week of September 20, 2021 and runs until early Spring.

Band, led by Modern Minded, doesn't just teach how to play an instrument and read music. Playing music increases student's memory while helping to improve coordination, math, reading, and comprehension skills. 

Students in grades 2-8: Do you want to learn to play an instrument, want to play music with others, and/or want to practice performing live? There are three levels of Band available. 

Levels Explained:

1. Beginners: Anyone just starting on their instrument or a student who played last year and felt they struggled and want to start over with the basics. (Practices on Wednesdays)

2. Intermediate: 2nd and 3rd year players. Must be able to play up to #39 in the Essential Elements book. (Practices on Thursdays) 

3. Advanced/PEP: Must be able to play ALL numbers up to #49 in the book at a fast pace. This group is for middle school students, but 5th graders who are interested can test into this group on the first day of their intermediate practice. (Practices on Thursdays) 

• Throughout the year, students are allowed to test into the other groups as their skill level grows.
• All band students are encouraged to practice a minimum of 60 minutes outside of class per week. 5-10 minutes a day or 20 minutes 3 days a week outside of class will help your student's skill level grow. 
• As is typical, in band, we would often spend 2-3 sessions reviewing some of the same songs, so now, we will be sending out weekly Band video classes to students, which can be used throughout the week. We would love to see students practice with these videos 3 times a week, if not more. The majority of videos will be around the 30 minute mark, with plenty for them to practice afterwards. Some weeks, we will also be sending shorter videos as well to ensure the kids are getting a rounded musical educational experience

Students are able to choose to play the flute*, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, or percussion. No experience is necessary. An experienced Band Director will lead the band and students support each other in their musical development. The fee for ACDS Band is $460. For more information, please contact Derek McIntyre.

*Flute is considered the most difficult to get started on for beginners but those interested should not be discouraged to try it.

When:  Fridays (online)
Who: Students in Grades 1-8
How to Join: Please contact the Student Life Office

Love to play chess? Join the ACDS Chess Club run by Success Chess on Fridays online. The club involves students learning and playing chess at one of three different levels. Students in grades 1-8 can participate. Get more information by visiting the Success Chess website. 

Clay Club 

Session 1: Thursdays beginning on September 30 through November 18, 2021 (no club meeting 11/11 Veterans Day)
Time: 3:15-4:15 pm
Who: Students in grades 3-8 (or permission of the instructor for younger students); 16 students maximum
Cost: $210 for 7 sessions
Location: Art Studio
How to Join: Session 1 has ended.

Session 2: Thursdays beginning on January 6 through February 17, 2022
Time: 3:15-4:15 pm
Who: Students in grades 3-8 (or permission of the instructor for younger students); 16 students maximum
Cost: $210 for 7 sessions
Location: Art Studio
How to Join: Session 3 is full. 

Session 3: Thursdays beginning on March 17 through May 12 (no class on April 14 - Spring Break) 
Time: 3:15-4:15 pm
Who: Students in grades 3-8 (or permission of the instructor for younger students); 20 students maximum
Cost: $240 for 8 sessions
Location: Art Studio
How to Join: Session 3 is full. Please contact Ms. Weronika Zaluska if you are interested in future sessions.

Students will explore clay modeling techniques and develop their ideas into finished works of art, such as animal figurines and pots. Participants will also decorate factory-made ceramics with glazes. Finished projects will be fired in the kiln. All levels welcome! 

Students who miss Clay Club due to COVID-19 quarantine will be provided with take-home clay kits.

Please contact Ms. Weronika Zaluska if you have any questions.

Session 1: Fridays starting September 24 through November 19, 2021
Time: 3:15-4:30 pm
Who: Students in grades 3-8
Cost: $235 for 9 sessions
How to Register: This club has ended.

Session 2: Fridays starting January 7 through March 18, 2022 (no club meetings 2/4/22; 2/25/22)
Time: 3:05-4:30 pm
Who: Students in grades 3-8
Cost: $235 for 9 sessions
How to Register: This club has ended.

Session 3: Fridays starting March 25 through May 27, 2022 (no club on 4/15)
Time: 3:05-4:30 pm
Who: Students in grades 3-8
Cost: $235 for 9 sessions
How to Register:  This club has ended.

Ms. Tamboury leads this crafting adventure each quarter for children with all sorts of hands-on right-brained projects such as fabric, yarn, and papercrafts.  No sewing experience required but admired!  We will be making creative pieces such as duck tape bookmarks, keyrings, friendship pins, handmade journals, personal artwork on canvas, shrinky dinks, and more!  Club majority depends on what we make next!  Come join happy crafty kidz like yourself! 

When:  Fall 2021 with a weekend competition in November
Who: 4th-8th Grade Students
How to Register:  Registration is now closed.

FLL Robotics is an after-school parent-led activity for 4th-8th grade students who are interested in computer programming, Lego robotics, and competing with a team. The FLL season is during the Fall with a competition on a weekend in November. Generally, teams get together twice a week after school to work on their robot and research project/presentation.

ACDS will provide space for practices and meetings. We also have NXT Lego sets for teams to borrow if needed. If you're interested in volunteering to lead a group, please email Derek McIntyre.

Who: Daisy troop for K-1st Grade Girls, Cadette troop for 8th Grade Girls
How to Register:  If you are interested in Girl Scouts, please join us Sunday, September 19, 2021, 2:30pm at Greystone park for a Meet & Greet. 

The Girl Scouts have been an after school presence at ACDS for many years. This year there is a Cadette troop for eighth grade girls, and a Daisy troop for K-1st grade girls. All girls are welcome to participate even if they have not in the past. 

Troops usually meet 1-2 times a month (depending on each troop’s schedule) and participate in community service projects and events throughout the school year.
 

When: Mondays beginning September 20, 2021
Time: 3:30-5:00pm
Who: Girls in 5th-8th Grade
How to Register:  Registration is now closed.

Girls Who Code is designed to nurture and support an interest in engineering and computer science that often exists in middle school, but too often fades in high school. By focusing on real-life problems and on-screen role models, Girls Who Code aims to help ensure that this interest will continue to grow in high school and beyond.

Our own chapter of Girls Who Code is open to girls in grades 5-8 and no experience is necessary. Girls will have opportunities to explore and work in pairs or individually, in a supportive, inclusive, interactive and collaborative environment. Depending on their interests, girls will learn to code in a few popular programming languages, practice logical thinking and problem-solving and build projects that entertains, educates or solves a real world problem. Some programs that GWC will explore are, “Art & Math with Python,” “Games with JavaScript,” “Apps with JavaScript,” and “Web Programming.” Girls Who Code will meet Mondays from 3:30-5:00pm beginning September 20. For more information, contact Anupama Natarajan.

To learn more about this national club, visit their website.

When:  Every Tuesday starting September 28, 2021
Time:  3:15-4:15 pm
Who:  Students in grades 4-8
How to Register:  Registration is now closed.

The Math Club uses materials from the California Math League, as well as plays games and engages in activities that involve number strategy and math facility. The club will be run by Dr. Xin Ai.  Please contact Student Life Coordinator, Activities, Mr. Derek McIntyre for any questions.

Who: Students in grades 5-8 who enjoy art, crafting, math, or all three! This club is reserved for students in grades 5-8 due to the level of the projects and developmental skills required. If you have a student in grades 3-4 and are interested in Ms. Trudeau offering the Math Art Club, please email her directly for consideration at dtrudeau@almadencountryday.org.
Date: Wednesdays, 01/05/22 to 03/09/22 (no session on 02/23/22)
Time: 3:15-4:30 pm
Cost: $225 for 9 sessions
Location: ACDS
Instructor: Danelle Trudeau has been teaching and tutoring elementary and secondary mathematics for over 20 years. She specializes in manipulative-based mathematics instruction and hands-on learning, utilizing methods developed by renowned mathematics educator Mary Laycock. Danelle believes all students possess innate mathematical sense and ability, and that math art activities can spark a deep interest in the wonder and beauty of mathematics.
How to Join:  Registration is now closed.

The Math Art Club will introduce students to techniques and construction of some 1, 2, and 3 dimensional forms of mathematical art. Students will experience how mathematical processes not only have practical applications but can produce beautiful and intriguing art.

When: 2021-22 School Year
Who: Students in Grades 6-8
Contact: Coach Chris Wardner
How to Join:  The 2022-23 school year will include a middle school speech and debate team. Students interested in joining the Middle School Speech & Debate team must take the Competition Speech elective during the first trimester. Returning team members can request permission to be on the team without taking the elective.  Not everyone will be able to exercise this option and it is handled on a case by case basis. For more information, please contact Coach Chris Wardner.

For more information on our speech and debate program, please visit this page. Do you have questions about competition Speech and Debate Team? We hope we answered them here.