Minicourses

After School

COVID-19 Update

As of fall 2020, all Minicourses will be offered virtually. An updated selection of courses will be posted on the Back to School resource board and Minicourse page in mid-August. We will re-evaluate mid-fall and will post any changes to our reopening plan here. We look forward to serving our students virtually now, and in-person again in the near future.

Minicourses

Minicourses are an extension of Lowell's After Care Program and are designed to compliment a rigours day of academic learning. By Providing students with invaluable opportunities to explore, Minicourses help sustain students' curiosity and creativity. There are courses for children of all ages, although most offerings are geared toward Pre-Primary and Primary School children. Five sessions of 6-week courses are offered each year, and selections vary from session to session.

Session IV Classes for Sept. 14-Oct. 23

List of 6 items.

  • **Special 3 Week Offering for 5th-8th Grades

    Tuesdays and Wednesdays

    Cyber Songwriting Studio
    Grades: 5-8
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

  • Monday

    Panda Programmers
    Grades: K-5
    Time: 3:45-5:45 pm
    Cost: $300

    Sing-Along Songs with Alex
    Grades: K-5
    Time: 3:45-5:45 pm
    Cost: $90

  • Tuesday

    Claymation with Alex
    Grades: 2-5
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

    PP-K Spanish clubhouse with Carolina
    Grades: PP-K
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

    Imagine That! Create, Explore, Discover
    Grades: 1-2
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

  • Wednesday

    Panda Programmers
    Grades: K-5
    Time: 2:45-4:45 pm
    Cost: $300

    Yoga Tales with Dehejia
    Grades: PP-1
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

    Paper Airplanes and Origami with Freddy
    Grades: K-2
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

  • Thursday

    Yoga and Meditation with Dehejia
    Grades: 2-5
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

    Rollers and Roleplayers with Amanda
    Grades: 3-5
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

  • Friday

    Animal Art with Dehejia
    Grades: 1-3
    Time: 4:30-5:15 pm
    Cost: $90

Minicourses Offered Throughout the Year

List of 1 items.

  • Minicourse Descriptions

    Aikido: Mindfulness and Movement Minicourse!
    Aikido is a harmonious and peaceful martial art form. This minicourse weaves together principles of Aikido and gross motor games in age-appropriate ways. Discovery Room teacher Philip Mallari is a Shodan in Aikido and studied at the Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington DC.

    Amanda’s Sensory Kitchen
    In this mini-course, friends will learn all about the 5 senses and how they relate to the experiences of cooking and baking. Each week, we will explore a different sense and work together on a related food project. We will learn about how staying in touch with our senses while making food can help us be mindful and make the process of cooking more enjoyable. Kids will get the sensory input and delicious food that they crave all in one course!

    Art and Storytelling with Drew!
    Students will explore five popular children’s stories and create storytelling props to retell their favorite fairytales. Join Pre-Primary teacher Drew for this exciting class that brings stories to life.
    Art and Science with Drew
    Students will explore art and science through various creative projects. Join Pre-Primary teacher Drew for this exciting STEAM class.
    Chess Beginning
    Chess strengthens strategy and critical thinking skills in children. In this introductory course, Liz Sadoff teaches students basic chess techniques and strategies.
    Chess Intermediate
    Chess strengthens strategy and critical thinking skills in children. In this beginner/low intermediate-level course, students will master basic chess techniques and strategies to increase their checkmating skills.
    Chess Advanced
    Chess strengthens strategy and critical thinking skills in children. Advanced students take their mastery of chess techniques and strategies to the competition level.
    The Glow Show/ Sign Language Performance
    Have you ever gone to a show and watched in awe as there was a sign language interpreter for your favorite artist? Now you can learn how to do it. In this fun class we will learn performance sign language and put on a Glow Show at the end of the session to songs of the students’ choice.

    Hot Chocolate and Dress UpTea Parties
    There is nothing better than having a real tea party. We’ll have a dress up trunk and you can invite your Teddy or favorite doll to attend this posh affair. Warm drinks will be served with sweet treats.

    Learn to Crochet
    Learn to crochet by mastering the basic stitch that all other stitches are built upon. Students can make dishrags, scarves and design their own projects.

    Lowell Leopard Cheerleading
    Let’s Go Lowell, Let’s Go!!! Join Lowell’s first-ever Cheerleading Squad. We will learn the levels of cheer, introduce the basics of team cheerleading and cheer at Lowell Sports Events.

    New Dance Institute I: (two-semester program)
    Elly Porter will teach ballet and modern dance while encouraging children to express themselves through dance. Loose-fitting clothes are required. This course concludes with a spring recital in the dance studio.
    New Dance Institute II: (two-semester program)
    Elly Porter will teach ballet and modern dance while encouraging children to express themselves through dance. Loose-fitting clothes are required. This course concludes with a spring recital in the dance studio.
     
    Outdoor Adventures with Mario
    Are you ready to go on an off-the-beaten path adventure through Rock Creek Park? Building structures, making tools and finding treasures are a part of this adventurous and fun outdoor program.

    Panda Programmer
    A two-hour, weekly afterschool program which teaches students coding and robotics! The instructors work closely with the students to build off of their knowledge with each class, creating a progressive and sustainable learning environment. Their students explore a variety of computer programming languages such as Scratch Jr, Scratch, Python, and Javascript.
     
    Rollers & Roleplayers (R&R Club)
    Maximum 7 kids: $20 materials fee (dice sets, figurines, graph paper, pencils, puzzles, other materials as needed) 

    Does your child enjoy the fantasy genre, use their imagination while with friends, or enjoy riddles, puzzles, and other minder-bending activities? Rollers & Roleplayers may be the perfect after-school activity for them! Half board game and half elaborate game of pretend, in this minicourse kids will create original characters and use their imagination to explore a fantasy world.

    Guided by Gamemaster Amanda Magnavita, children will roleplay their characters with their friends, work together to find solutions to a variety of different challenges, and save the day! In this minicourse, kids will get the opportunity to work on public speaking skills, acting, communication, teamwork, creative problem-solving, and math.
    Spanish Clubhouse I
    Students will learn a mix of Latinx culture and language lessons from various countries within the Spanish-speaking world. Children will learn country-specific cultural aspects of people, places, and things during each class week. All classes are taught in 100% Spanish and incorporate art and other fine-motor skills and activities.
     
    Spanish Clubhouse II
    Students will build on lessons from Spanish Clubhouse I of various countries within the Spanish-speaking world. Children will learn country-specific cultural aspects of people, places, and things during each class week. All classes are taught in 100% Spanish and incorporate art and other fine-motor skills and activities.

    Yoga with Nuria
    Yoga at an early age promotes self-esteem and body awareness. Children derive enormous benefits from this non-competitive physical activity. It enhances their flexibility, strength, and coordination. Also, it improves concentration and encourages calmness and relaxation.

FAQs

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Are there any discounts?

    Students currently enrolled in After Care on the beginning day of their minicourse will receive a $19 discount.

    Students not enrolled in After Care may use our drop-in services following the dismissal of their minicourse up until 6:00 pm for the current drop-in fee of $15.

  • How do students find their Minicourse?

    After dismissal, K-5th grade minicourse students gather in the After Care office. At 3:30 pm instructors escort their students to the minicourse location. Pre-Primary School students are picked up from their classrooms.

  • What happens after Minicourse dismissal?

    Pre-Primary School children stay in the Pre-Primary School building for pick-up. Minicourse instructors or an After Care staff person will escort Kindergarten-5th grade students to the After Care office at the end of their classes.

    All minicourse participants should be picked up and signed out within 15 minutes after their course ends.

    Pick-up later than 15 minutes will result in a drop-in fee of $15 billed to the student's parents.

  • What happens if a class needs to be canceled?

    Every effort will be made to give advance notice regarding class cancelations. In the event of individual canceled classes due to inclement weather or otherwise, an additional make-up class will be added.

For More Information Contact

List of 1 members.

  • Dehejia Butler 

    Director of After Care
    202-577-2024

Registration and Session Dates

List of 5 events.

  • Oct
    12

    Minicourse Session 2 Registration

  • Oct
    12

    No Minicourses

  • Oct
    23

    Minicourse Session 1 Ends

  • Oct
    26

    Minicourse Session 1 Make Up Week

  • Nov
    2

    Minicourse Session 2 Begins

View More
1640 Kalmia Road NW
Washington, DC
20012 202-577-2000

For The Community

Current Families

Quick Links

Lowell School is a private PK-8th grade school located in NW Washington, DC. At Lowell students gain the knowledge, skills, and social-emotional literacy to be the bold leaders and creative problem solvers our world needs.