Afterschool Classes

Afterschool classes are open to all children, including children from other schools and the homeschool community.

The Winter 2024 session runs from January-March. Please pack a snack for students attending Afterschool classes.

For HMS families, play-based Aftercare for N-8th Grade is also available from 3-5PM.

WINTER 2024 SESSION

REGISTER

Dates: January 08 - March 04 (makeup games March 7th) Time: 3:15-4:45 Total number of Practices/Games: 8 Cost: $250.00 Grades: 6-8 Practice: Mondays in the PAC High Meadow School is excited to announce that we will be offering an interscholastic basketball team this Year. For grades 6-8, Chris Bottomley will coach. Players will meet for practice every Monday from 3:15-4:45pm in the PAC. Games will be held throughout the week and information on the schedule can be found by clicking here or contacting either Gordon or Chris directly.

Teacher: Chris Bottomley

Mad Science (Grades 1-4)

Teacher: James Meyers

Dates: January 8 - March 11 Time: 3:15-4:45 Total number of Classes: 8 Cost: $300.00 Grades: 1-4 Meet: Mondays in the Science Lab

This afterschool class for students in grades 1-4 will introduce essential scientific concepts in a fun and exciting way. The students will be so entertained they might not realize they’re gaining knowledge that will enable them to more easily succeed in their future scientific studies. Students will experience chemistry and lab science lessons, and observe both chemical and physical changes to name a few.

Instructor Bio: James Meyers is currently a primary guest teacher and aftercare instructor at High Meadow School, James has been an educator in the Hudson Valley for almost 20 years. Following his time in public schools James was the Senior Instructor for Mad Science of the Hudson Valley for 10 years leading after school enrichment programs, performing assemblies, and leading summer camps throughout the region. He most recently taught at Primrose Hill School in Rhinebeck where he introduced a science program for grades 1-4. James is passionate about teaching science and is a firm believer that children best learn in a hands-on, experiment-driven environment. A life long voracious appetite for knowledge led to him being a contestant on Jeopardy. A devoted musicologist, he has a collection of over 10,000 records. He lives in Kingston with his wife and three cats.

Dance (Grades N3-PK)

Teacher: Jerylann Warner

Dates: January 22 - March 18 Time: 3:15-4:00 Total number of Classes: 8 Cost: $250.00 Grades: NS3-PK Meet: Mondays in the Dance Studio High Meadow School is excited to announce that we will be offering a dance program for the littles. Ignite the joy in movement discovery while students become familiar with the structure of a dance class. A creative thread delivered in song and verse accompanies all physical activity. The NS3-PK program is a joyous exploration in creative movement that supports the introduction of ballet basics. A true beginning exposure to dance.

Teacher Bio: Jerylann Warner is a seasoned dance educator with a celebrated sensibility in her approach to inspiring, engaging, developing and training dance artists. Her choreographic contributions are vast and acclaimed.

Dance (Grades KG-2nd)

Dates: January 22 - March 18 Time: 4:00-4:45 Total number of Classes: 8 Cost: $250.00 Grades: KG-2 Meet: Mondays in the Dance Studio High Meadow School is excited to announce that we will be offering a dance program for the littles. Ignite the joy in movement discovery while students become familiar with the structure of a dance class. A creative thread delivered in song and verse accompanies all physical activity. The KG-2 program is a joyous exploration in creative movement that supports the introduction of ballet basics. A true beginning exposure to dance.

Teacher: Jerylann Warner

Teacher Bio: Jerylann Warner is a seasoned dance educator with a celebrated sensibility in her approach to inspiring, engaging, developing and training dance artists. Her choreographic contributions are vast and acclaimed.

TUESDAY CLASSES

High Meadow Chess Club (Grades K-8)

Teacher: Coach D

Dates: January 16 - March 05 Time: 3:15-4:45 Number of classes: 8 Cost: $200 Grades: KG-8th Meet: Tuesdays, Room TBD

Classes with Coach D are focused on learning the fundamentals of how to play chess... and having fun! Her assistant, Cathy Young, teaches new beginners (and those students who need a refresher) how the pieces move and capture, how to correctly set up the board, and the very basics of game play, check, and checkmate. Once students have learned the basics, Coach D teaches openings, strategies, and tactics, as well as checkmate patterns that are more advanced. By the end of the semester (depending on individual abilities and motivation) beginners will be able to play a simple game from start to finish. The goals for intermediate players are to learn opening principles, defenses (usually for black,) en passant, how to shepherd a pawn to the opposite side, and advanced checkmating patterns (endgame.)

Teacher Bio: Coach D. Suris has been teaching children how to play chess for over 20 years. She began with teaching after school chess programs in the Rhinebeck school district (where she still teaches) and has led programs in Tivoli, Saugerties, and most recently in Accord at Inness. For the last 2 summers, she has worked with Camp Ramapo for Children in Rhinebeck, as their day camp chess program instructor. She works together with her assistant, Cathy Young, who teaches the beginners, while Coach D works with the intermediate and advanced students. They have worked with children of all ages and abilities, including children with learning disabilities and children on the spectrum. In addition, Coach D and Cathy run the Rockin’ Rooks Chess Team, a competitive chess club based in Rhinecliff at the Morton Memorial Library. For over 15 years, they have instructed students grades K-12 accompanied them to tournaments, including the NY State championships in Saratoga. The Rockin’ Rooks team has been the subject of a number of newspaper articles and has won numerous 1st place trophies and awards.

WEDNESDAY CLASSES

Wayfinder Wednesdays (Grades 1-8)

Teacher: The Wayfinder Experience

Dates: January 10 - March 13

Time: 3-5

Number of classes: 8

Cost: $400

Grades: 1st-8th

Meet: Wednesdays in the PAC

Class Description: The Wayfinder Experience is a live-action role-playing company based in Kingston, New York. Wayfinder runs summer camps, events, school programs and workshops for teens, children and adults. The centerpiece of our programs is the Adventure Game, a transformative experience that challenges players physically, mentally and emotionally, while immersing them in an exciting world of fantasy. This program will feature the fun building blocks that have made Wayfinder a staple in the Hudson Valley for 20 years. Come and join us for improv theater games, foam swordplay, and fun crafting projects!

Teacher Bio: The Wayfinder Experience is a live-action role-playing company, based in Kingston, New York. We run summer camps, events, school programs and workshops for teens, children and adults. The centerpiece of our programs is the Adventure Game, a transformative experience that challenges players physically, mentally and emotionally, while immersing them in an exciting world of fantasy. Read all about the Wayfinder Experience at wayfinderexperience.com.

THURSDAY CLASSES

JV Basketball (Grades 4-5)

Teacher: Matt Wenzel

Dates: January 08 - February 29 (makeup games March 7th) Time: 3:15-4:45 Total number of Practices/Games: 8 Cost: $250.00 Grades: 4-5 Practice: Thursdays in the PAC High Meadow School is excited to announce that we will be offering an interscholastic basketball team this Year. For grades 6-8, Chris Bottomley will coach. Players will meet for practice every Monday from 3:15-4:45pm in the PAC. Games will be held throughout the week and information on the schedule can be found by clicking here or contacting either Gordon or Chris directly.

Teacher Bio: Matt Wenzel is an aspiring early childhood educator who looks forward to giving 4th and 5th grade the opportunity to improve their basketball skills and have fun! He has had experience working with young children at a basketball clinic in the past and will translate that experience to the team practices. He also works in our after-school care program, subs for staff throughout the school year and has worked with many of our students in the summer camp program here at High Meadow School.