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10 Steps to Applying Early to CollegeHigh School & College PlanningAre there pros and cons to applying Early Decision, Early Action, or Restricted Early Action? And what’s the difference between all the options? Spring is the perfect time to start planning to meet the November 1, 2023 deadline. This workshop offers concrete steps including: finalizing college lists, visiting (or revisiting) top choice colleges, finishing the personal statement, and advice for completing the supplemental essays. Preparing in the spring and summer will make applying early a lot less stressful. Open to families of juniors.Winter 2023
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Actor’s ToolboxDance, Music & TheaterExperiment with games, improv, voice, and movement to learn basic acting skills and build confidence, all while having fun. Each class begins with warm-up games followed by acting exercises—ranging from silly to serious—that build focus, confidence, and communication skills.Winter 2023
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WaitlistAnts in Your Pants Yoga & DanceDance, Music & TheaterBend, balance, strengthen, shimmy, and shake. Work out your wiggles in a calm and creative atmosphere as we flow through mindful yoga dance moves. Learn yoga poses and dance expression as we cooperatively get into the groove.Winter 2023
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WaitlistApp InventorsSTEMLearn both the programming and design aspects of creating great apps, and build an app of your own. In this no-experience-required course, we use MIT App Inventor software to make fun, creative apps for Android phones and tablets. We will also explore wireless communication by building custom Bluetooth hardware controllers and readouts for our apps.Winter 2023
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Babysitting BasicsLife SkillsThis program is designed to better prepare you to become a capable, caring, and responsible babysitter. Understand the responsibilities and skills—including basic first aid and what to do in an emergency—and develop confidence in handling situations you may encounter when caring for young children. Upon completion, your services will be in high demand in the neighborhood! Please note: the printed schedule for this class has changed. It will now run in March as listed.Winter 2023
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WaitlistBeing Newton: Fun with PhysicsSTEMJoin in entertaining and educational science experiments to gain an understanding of physics including Newton’s first, second, and third laws of motion, Newton’s law of gravity, and more. We'll make boats and rockets, make and play with marble runs and catapults, and experiment with many other fun physics projects.Winter 2023
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Chess WizardsFantasy & GamesConsidered one of the greatest games ever invented, chess teaches many important life concepts such as how to win graciously, how to accept defeat with dignity, concentration, and sportsmanship. Learn chess rules, positional tactics, and basics to more advanced moves with the guidance of an experienced chess master. We will divide into groups according to experience and end the program with a mini chess tournament. All levels welcome.Winter 2023
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WaitlistClay Creations: Sculpture and FormArts & CraftsExperiment with clay to create a variety of imaginative and useful objects. We will discuss form and function and practice different hand-building techniques (pinching, coiling, and slab building) as well as surface decoration as we build sculptural, functional, and fantastical pieces of art.Winter 2023
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Coding with Scratch & PythonSTEMBegin by learning Scratch, a block-based programming language, where you will learn key coding concepts and build a small video game or a cool animation. As you advance, you can begin to apply these same coding concepts in Python. You will experiment with variables, conditionals, and loops, and combine these elements to create a second video game. Advanced students will be given the chance to tackle additional challenges.Winter 2023
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College Athletic RecruitingHigh School & College PlanningDATE CHANGE: Please note that this class has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 9. Get a general overview of the college athletic recruitment process for qualified student-athletes. Although each sport has its own nuances, there are some recruitment standards that apply across the spectrum of collegiate sports. From honest self-assessment and discerning the appropriate level of competition, to the preferred timeline for outreach and ultimately making a commitment to a college coach and program, we will guide interested families through the ins and outs, as well as the dos and don’ts, of this significant element of the college admission landscape. We’ll dispense knowledge and dispel myths at this insightful, informative program, including ample time for Q&A.Winter 2023
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Computer Art & Making ThingsArts & CraftsTest your art-making talent as you learn to use detailed computer art programs. You’ll learn how to make awesome images, and then we’ll show you how to modify them so that they can be turned from 2D art into 3D sculptures. Using laser and vinyl cutters, you’ll make cool and useful objects to take home.Winter 2023
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Creative DanceDance, Music & TheaterIncrease your flexibility and strength as we explore movement, body awareness, and space. You’ll be introduced to foundational dancer skills and use them to build improvised routines. Together, we’ll choose music that moves us, learn from each other, and choreograph a final class dance.Winter 2023
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Drawing DragonsArts & CraftsAre you a fan of mythological creatures, such as dragons, unicorns, and hippogriffs? These fantastical creatures have details and textures that can make them challenging for even the most experienced of illustrators. We’ll draw our own versions of these ancient and elusive creatures, learning more about their legends and fascinating histories while exploring techniques to make the illustration process easier.Winter 2023
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Driver's Education through CS Driving School (Note - Information Only)High School & College Planning(Note - Information only) All Driver’s Ed registrations must be done online through CS Driving School. To Register, please visit CS Driving School. Select Locations then click Enroll under Arlington Community Ed. $799 This class is for students who have reached the minimum age of 15 years, nine months by the first day of class. Fee covers online classroom hours and in person Behind-the-Wheel instruction. All Driver’s Ed registrations must be done online through CS Driving School at csdriving.com. Online | $799 Two-Week Sessions: Monday–Friday | 5:00–8:00 pm Nov. 7–18 *Please note this class will meet on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 December 5–16 January 16–27 Vacation Session: Monday–Friday | 10:00 am–4:30 pm December 26–30 February 20–24 April 17–21 Location of classes (online vs. in person) may be subject to change based on requirements of the Registry of Motor Vehicles.Ongoing Programs 22-26
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Dungeons & Dragons: The Giant’s TableFantasy & GamesWaitlistBecome a hero and embark on an adventure in Dungeons & Dragons, the world’s oldest and best roleplaying game. Trouble is brewing in the small farming town of Pellaford, as a courier sent to fetch a valuable item has vanished and strange mishaps have started to plague the town. As heroes, you have been hired to find the missing man and uncover the mystery that waits at the nearby wooded plateau called the Giant’s Table. We will play through the entire adventure together using an assortment of Level 1 pre-generated characters so we can jump right in and start playing. Both first-time players and D&D veterans are welcome.Winter 2023
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WaitlistEngineering & ElectricitySTEMLearn about the engineering and design process to build a sail car that rides the wind. Take the survivor engineering challenge and design a system to protect a passenger from flying out of a car when it crashes. Build basic circuits and experiment with insulators and conductors as we shift our focus to electricity. Make a light circuit and experiment with LED mini lights.Winter 2023
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French ClubLanguagesLearn French vocabulary and sentence building skills, while smiling your way through oh-la-la vocabulary challenges, creative conversations, and lots of interactive games, crafts, and musical moments. Cet hiver (this winter) we will focus on la vie à la maison (life at home). Instruction is adapted for a variety of levels, making this an excellent introduction for beginners as well as an opportunity for more fluent students to expand their proficiency. Classes include a weekly take-home book to help students remember what they’ve practiced in class.Winter 2023
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WaitlistFunDrumzDance, Music & TheaterFunDrumz is a full body and brain workout designed to give you a physical, mental, and social experience through basic drumming and movement. We will use exercise balls, buckets, and drum sticks to rock out and jam to our favorite tunes with movement routines that combine cardio, rhythm drumming, age appropriate learning activities, and lots of fun!Winter 2023
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Heroes Academy®: An Introduction to LARP GamesFantasy & GamesOur Live Action Role Play (LARP) games class is an introduction to LARPing and is perfect for beginners and casual players. Each week you will be led through tournaments and mock combat challenges using padded foam props. These games encourage critical thinking skills in addition to being a fun way to exercise. Prior experience is not required, nor are costumes or characters, so it’s easy to jump right in and give LARPing a try. LARP Adventure Program’s Heroes Academy® is a combination of theater, martial arts, and costume/prop/stage design. We combine these arts with critical thinking, creative problem solving, and community leadership skills. For more information about our curriculum please visit our website: https://www.larpadventureprogram.com/curriculumWinter 2023
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Heroes Academy®: Dungeons & DragonsFantasy & GamesRole playing games give players experience with a variety of skills including improvisation, critical thinking, math, and public speaking. We will use Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules to create characters and then test their might through an interactive story. Everyone will be taught—at a comfortable skill level—how to make characters and even run their own games as dungeon masters. Please note: We discourage students from creating characters before the first day of class. Instructors and students will collaborate to determine what kind of story they will create and in the past, students who arrived with a character in hand have been disappointed if their character doesn't fit the group decision.Winter 2023
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WaitlistHeroes Academy®: LARP DiscoveryFantasy & GamesLive Action Role Play (LARP) allows you to participate in an interactive narrative, similar to the “choose your own adventure” books. In this class, which is more than just games, you will learn about each aspect of LARPing: game rules, mock combat techniques, and character development. As you gamefully combine theater, martial arts, and costume/prop/stage design, you will practice critical thinking, problem solving, and community leadership skills. For more information about LARP Adventure Program’s Heroes Academy® and our curriculum, please visit our website: https://www.larpadventureprogram.com/curriculum Note for Ottoson students only: This class includes short games, but also complements the Heroes Academy: LARP Games class, so you may take both if you wish.Winter 2023
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WaitlistHip Hop DanceDance, Music & TheaterJoin this weekly dance party as we get into the groove and gain strength. We’ll learn hip hop steps, play dance games, and work on confidence, creativity, and musicality. We’ll also freestyle to music of your choice! Using your new skills, we will work together to create a class routine.Winter 2023
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Home Alone SafetyLife SkillsKnowing when a child is ready to stay home alone is a challenging decision, but preparation can make this milestone much easier for your family. Home Alone Safety is a readiness program that builds self-confidence, a sense of responsibility, and stronger decision-making abilities through a variety of fun, interactive activities, discussions, and situational role-playing. It is a stepping stone for younger grades as they explore and become comfortable with the idea of being home, and for older grades to better understand and gain confidence with being home alone. Topics include: ● Confidence & Readiness Strategies ● Trust, Communication, & Good Decision Making ● Creating a Safe and Positive Environment ● Checking-In with Parents ● Walking Home & Arriving Home Safely ● Securing Your Home ● Someone is at the Door ● Handling Real-Life Situations and Emergencies ● Safe Snacks & Activities ● Taking Care of Siblings & Pets ● Creating an Emergency Contact List ● Creating Action Plans Guidebooks and parent handouts will be provided via PDF attachment prior to the course. Materials will be included for parents and guardians to create safe environments and family emergency action plans. "Frank was an excellent instructor. He responded well to children's questions and comments, was inclusive of different home situations and made sure that children were prepared but not anxious. It was awesome that he laid out various situations in such a clear way. I definitely recommend this class for other children in our community!" –Fall 2021 parentWinter 2023
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Starting SoonJoin the Circus!Dance, Music & TheaterAspiring circus artists, learn amazing tricks that will wow your friends and family. We’ll use peacock feathers, scarves, hula hoops, and juggling balls for our high energy circus antics. Fun games will include balancing, bending, spinning, rolling, and catching skills. Younger students will spend time mastering agility basics, and older students will try tricks and acts that require a bit more focus. The last class will feature a student performance for one another.Winter 2023