ALBANY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

Welcome to the 2010-11 school year, and our second year of enrichment classes.  The first trimester will have classes beginning September 13 and ending December 16 (no regular classes during the conference schedule-- a modified program may be available).  MTThF classes will cost $7 per class meeting, while W classes will be $10 per class meeting.  Our Spanish classes will cost $11 per meeting and occur twice a week.   Scholarships are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You can either pay in full for the entire trimester or make two payments—one due on September 13 and one due on November 5. Please let us know when you enroll if you are interested in a scholarship.

If your child is an Early Bird, s/he will enroll for a class from 2:05-3:05pm. If your child is a Late Bird, s/he will enroll for a class from 8:30-9:30am. We are also offering Wednesday classes from 1:45-3:00pm.  Cornell will have two Wednesday classes, while Ocean View and Marin are limited to one because of space.  The attached schedule will show you which classes will be offered at your site during the first trimester.  Most classes meet once a week.  Spanish will meet twice a week, as will Yoga (which will be a year-long program at Ocean View this year). There will be no classes when schools are not on a split schedule (i.e. parent conferences, early dismissal, etc.).  You will receive a trimester calendar when you enroll.

In order to enroll, please send an e-mail to albany@eastbaycenter.org and include your child’s name, school, Early/Late bird status, grade level, room number, teacher, your name, address, phones, email and class preferences. You can also call (510) 323-4494.   We will do our best to accommodate all requests; however, due to space limitations at the school sites, some popular classes may fill. If we receive more requests for a particular class than we can enroll, we will hold a lottery on September 3. All families will be notified by September  7 as to their enrollment status. At that point, full classes will be considered closed and no further lotteries will take place. Once you are notified of your child’s enrollment, you will be asked to submit a payment. If we have not received your first payment we reserve the right to offer your spot to another family.

If you reserved a spot in the spring, you will still need to send the information listed above.  While we have secured a spot for your child on the requested days, there is no guarantee that we can give you your first choice classes.

Any student in an existing time slot will be given the option to continue in that time slot for the next trimester. There will be a process similar to the open enrollment process listed above to fill the remaining spots.

The Enrichment Program is managed by Jennifer Gripman, former SFUSD and AMS teacher and supervised by Dr. Eric Engdahl, Director of Art & Public Education at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts and faculty in Teacher Education at CSU East Bay. If you have questions, please email albany@eastbaycenter.org or call (510) 323-4494. We look forward to working with you and your children this fall.

Pricing
The trimester is approximately 12 weeks long.  Some classes meet few times, due to holidays or early dismissal days.  When you enroll, we will calculate your trimester fees based on the following prices:
 MTThF - $7 per class (except Spanish)
 W - $10 per class
 Spanish - $11 per class

Class Descriptions

 Guitar:  Young musicians explore the world of guitar in a fun, nurturing group environment. Students will learn songs and guitar basics through puzzles and games as well as more traditional technique studies. Ideal for beginners.  Guitars NOT provided.

 Poetry Workshop:  In this class, students are encouraged to play with language and explore their own voice in a supportive environment.  Poetry, art and music will jumpstart our creativity, and theater and movement will enliven each class. We’ll also make a handmade book of the poems students have written over the trimester.

 Music Appreciation:Children experience the joy of singing (and moving!) while discovering fundamental musical concepts through traditional American (North and South) singing games, rhymes and folk songs.

 Drama:  Students will learn the basic elements of drama, culminating in a theatrical performance.

 Spanish:  Lango instructors utilize a highly effective immersion program. Classes are fun and interactive. For more information see www.lango.com.  Returning students are welcome to register.  Students will be challenged at the appropriate level.

 Vocal Music:  In this class students will learn songs from many genres, from jazz to folk to hip hop. They will also be covering the very basics of music theory and harmony and learn how to sing together and perform in a group.

 Chess:  Students will learn the fundamentals of the game and improve their playing. They will develop their abilities in concentration, attention, imagination, logic, and problem-solving, all while having fun in an interactive environment.

 Improvisation:  Students will learn the basic elements of theater performance through improvisation and classic theater games.  This class does not work toward a performance, but rather encourages students to gain confidence through a variety of dramatic exercises.

 Storytelling:  Students will learn how to create and tell stories. A wonderful fusion of literature and self-expression.

 Hip Hop:  Students are introduced to different styles of Hip Hop. Students refine their sense of rhythm, expand their knowledge of repertoire and gain enhanced control of their movements.

 Outdoor Art:  Students will explore the beautiful and exciting world of the garden, the creatures that live there, and the plants that grow there through art activities and drawing. As a group we will then create large two-dimensional outdoor sculptures based on our favorite animals and plants. We will likewise explore basic ideas relating to public art and the mural. These colorful wooden panels will then be painted and hung outside around the garden for the whole school to enjoy!

 Poekoelan:  Poekoelan is a martial art that promotes confidence, coordination and discipline in a safe - FUN! - and caring environment.  This class focuses on Poekoelan basics, including animal style movements, physical and verbal self-defense, and conditioning. Each child is encouraged to reach his or her limitless potential.

 World Percussion:  In this class students will learn both basic concepts of rhythm from a variety of cultural sources. The students will learn about the cultural significance that music and particular instruments have within certain cultures. Instruments provided.

 Clay/Sculpture:  Students will have the opportunity to explore and create with various types of clay materials.

 Dance Theater:  Beginning dance theater introduces students to the world of musical theater. The class has heavy emphasis on movement and acting.  

Yoga:  A fun, creative class for kids to enjoy, explore and learn yoga, developing flexibility, strength, breathing, and body awareness.  As students stretch their bodies, they will also stretch their imaginations, cooperation and focus skills in a playful, safe environment.Students can choose to come 1x or 2x per week  for 1-3 trimesters.

 Video/Digital Media:  This class will focus on exploring the possibilities of moving images. With hands-on projects, students learn the fundamental skills at the heart of filmmaking with various styles, including poetic documentary, animation, and creative storytelling. Camera provided.

 Visual Arts:  Students in the morning class will explore mixed media art making using different creative reuse materials.  Students in the afternoon class will be working on designing and painting colorful wooden panels that will be used to beautify the school.

 Capoeira:  A vigorous art form that originated in Brazil, Capoeira has elements of ritualized combat, dance, music and song. It is practiced as a means of self-defense, personal development, social integration, and cultural awareness.

Schedule of Classes (as of 8/20/10 - subject to change)

Marin
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday (Classes meet 1:45 – 3 pm only)	Thursday	Friday
Spanish	Guitar	Drama	Spanish	Chess
Vocal Music	World Percussion		Poekoelan	Improv
Cornell
Poetry Workshop	Spanish	Outdoor Art	Vocal Music	Spanish
Storytelling	Hip Hop	Drama	World Percussion	Clay
Ocean View
Spanish	Music Appreciation	Video/Digital Media	Spanish	Visual Arts
Dance Theater	Yoga		Yoga	Capoeira

If you have questions please email