Description In this new electrifying STEM class, children dive headfirst into the world of circuit design and electricity, creating everything from their very own radio and magnetic switch to fused motors, sirens, music players, portable fans, and more. Kodely’s hands-on approach will spark children’s curiosity as they explore the fascinating world of hardware by building their very own contraptions.

Instructor PS 154 is thrilled to welcome Kodely to our program. Started by a mother-daughter duo with over 25+ years of experience in the tech industry, Kodely was founded with the goal of teaching students the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. The goal at Kodely is to provide students with not only career and academic skills, but soft skills that are needed for the modern workplace. Kodely strives to develop agile students that will be able to succeed through adversity.

Description There’s nothing like a standard deck of cards to bring people together on rainy days, vacations, and family game nights. But many of the classic games such as Hearts, Spades, Pinochle, and Bridge are becoming lost arts. Give your child the chance to unplug and unwind while learning classic card games with Ms. Ussery. Group card games sharpen focus, memory while promoting problem solving and strategic thinking and social interaction.

Claire Ussery Is a PS 154 5th grade teacher who grew up playing Bridge and Queen of Hearts on family holidays!

Description Build lasting friendships and nurture vital social skills with A Playdate Everyday! This program revolves around engaging in fun collaborative art projects, partner games, dynamic movement exercises, and interactive skits. The data-supported curriculum is laser-focused on fostering friendliness, teamwork, and inclusion. A Playdate Everyday is the perfect platform for your child to develop meaningful friendships and hone crucial interpersonal skills by creating a positive and inclusive environment for children's growth and development. 

 Instructor We are thrilled to welcome back Jennifer Hopkins, the founder, director, and driving force behind A Playdate Everyday! With an impressive track record of over 30 years in early childhood education, Jennifer conceived the Playdate program to empower young children with the essential abilities to initiate interactions, embrace others, and take responsibility for those who might feel on the outskirts. 

Description In this class, children will explore shape, pattern, texture and color with a variety of materials as they create cool collages. All the work will be done on two dimensional flat surfaces. Students will also have opportunities to discuss and explore composition and  similarities and differences in materials and subject matter.  Their hands will be busy!

Instructor Laurie Green’s first job at PS 154 was working as a Studio in a School Artist many years ago! Laurie then went on to teach Pre-K and Kindergarten at PS154 and various other public schools in New York City.  Throughout her teaching career, her classrooms were filled with paint, clay and drawing tools for children to use on a daily basis. Laurie’s work as an early childhood educator has deepened her commitment to the value of artistic exploration for young children as they learn to make independent choices and develop a visual vocabulary.  

NOTE: Winter Sports clubs will take place outdoors, weather permitting, so please dress your child in warm layers. During inclement weather, classes will move indoors.

Descriptions

Sportopia for K - 1 or 2 -3 Sportopia classes provide an excellent exploratory introduction to age appropriate games and sports. These clubs will provide students in K - 1 and 2 - 3 grade children time to learn new skills and build friendships while cultivating the concepts of fair play. Demario will introduce a variety of sports and conditioning exercises for children to build on throughout the year.

WNBA & NBA Basketball Demario’s basketball classes continue this winter with more skill development and scrimmage opportunities. Due to space constraints, weather concerns, and less light, the winter session will take place during our first club session and be limited to 3rd - 5th graders for each section. (Our 2-day per week programming will return in the spring!) The WNBA class is for any children who identify as girls. NBA welcomes all children who identify as boys.

Hockey Welcome winter with the ultimate cold-weather sport adapted to our PS 154 playground! Kids will learn street hockey skills. This fast-paced game teaches excellent hand-eye coordination, strategy, and teamwork! Your kids will keep warm while running off their after school steam in this fun new offering from Coach Demario!

Instructor Demario Jones is the new physical education instructor for the PS 154 After School. He brings with him 8 years of experience as a professional basketball player in the United States and Asia, a bachelors degree in Communications, as well as experience running sports camps for 8 to 15 year olds in Park Slope. Demario has a strong commitment to sharing his love of sports with children. When he is not doing that work, he continues his personal quest to become a better version of himself so he can be a greater help to the people of the universe. 

NOTE: Priority registration will be given to students on the fall waitlist.

Intro class  Photography is the art of capturing light and telling stories. It is a great way for kids to tap into their imaginations and get creative. In this introductory class, students will learn all about the camera, the different styles of photography, shutter speed, aperture (F-stop) and ISO, the 3 essentials of photography. The class will explore our beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood through the lens and apply all the cool techniques they can use to create dynamic images. Then, students will learn the post production process (editing), choose their favorite image to print, and frame it to take home. New and repeat students welcome.

Advanced Studio Photography will be back in the spring!

DSLR cameras (digital single lens reflex) are provided to the students for use during both of these classes.

Instructor  Kristen Markoplis is a professional photographer and author of the photobook "Water Towers New York City Style". She is a PS 154 alumni parent. When not taking pictures, she loves to teach art and digital photography to children.

Description In these small group classes (limited to 5 students), kids will develop foundational guitar skills, cultivate their musical potential, and discover the freedom of making the guitar sing. They will learn to play melodies, chords, solos, and full songs, while collaborating with peers to develop basic musical skills. The new students course is designed for beginners with little or no guitar playing experience. Kids in the returning students class will work on more advanced techniques and more challenging songs. Lessons are comprehensive and will cater to the individual needs and learning styles of each student. New and repeat students welcome.

NOTE: Students must provide their own guitar for this club. We recommend a 3/4 junior guitar with nylon strings.

Instructor Ty Chen is a multi-instrumentalist musician based in Brooklyn, New York. He has a passion for songwriting and musical arrangement, as well as anything guitar related. Ty’s expertise lies in guitar and bass, but he is also versed in drums and keyboards. He values passing on knowledge from his own guitar playing experience and embraces the oral tradition of teaching.       

Description This club is for all the Harry Potter fans of PS 154. Students will listen to Harry Potter books and do Harry Potter crafts, and play Harry Potter games. Children will have group discussions about the characters and the plots of the stories. If you have read all the books, or want to, this club is for you!

Instructor Ms. Donato has been running Harry Potter Club since she joined PS 154 as the gym instructor in September 2018.

Description Children will concentrate on 2D and 3D traditional Japanese arts and crafts techniques to create their own original works using paper, ink, cardboard, clay, paint, and decorative materials such as kitsune masks, manekineko lucky cat sculptures, sumi-e black ink caligraphy, and more! New and repeat students welcome.

Instructor Miyu Asakawa is a ceramicist, sculptor, and hair stylist from Japan.

Description Each JuliArt class begins with free drawing time to settle into the space. We then move on to a discussion based on an art genre, theme or specific artist, then to a structured project and creating! Students will be introduced to color theory, artist themed lessons, and projects centered around sensory development. We will cover different movements and mediums including but not limited to painting, drawing, mixed-media, printmaking, classical art, decorative art and so on. Students are encouraged to talk about their art and experiment with materials throughout each lesson as a way to build confidence and find their own inner artist. New and repeat student welcome!

Instructor Julia Norris is a multi-disciplinary artist living and working in Brooklyn. She holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and has been making art in NYC for over 10 years. She is passionate about early childhood arts education and strives to create an environment for children to experiment and find their own inner artist.

Description Learn the traditional Japanese martial art from a master teacher! Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do means “Profound Reflections for Growth.” This ancient martial art provides physical fitness and self-defense in a fun and disciplined way. Each class focuses on strength, stamina, balance, and speed. Children build confidence, discipline, and self respect. Most importantly, students will use karate-do as a platform for personal growth and development. New and repeat students are welcome!

Instructor All Classes taught by 6th Degree Black Belt and 2012 Martial Arts Hall of Fame SEI SHIHAN (Senior Master) Mel Ramsey.

Descriptions

Camp Koko It’s summertime year-round in this workshop, specifically designed for kids in grades Kindergarten and 1st grade! In Camp KoKo, kids engage in hands-on material exploration and building activities. Using recycled and found objects as inspiration, our Teaching Artists bring in project themes that work with kids imagination and allow them to to build based on their own creative interpretations.

Extraordinary Machines Based on knowledge of the six simple machines, students take tinkering and experimentation to the next level, combining simple machines to build more complex projects. Students are presented with challenges and then work together to design inventions that solve real-life problems. For example, they may combine pulleys, levers and cranks to construct a crane that moves heavy materials with ease.

Toy Making Kids are naturally curious and creative. Toy making taps into that intuitive imagination to help little ones give form to their ideas. Kids begin to experiment with looking at how things work by repurposing toys and pieces of toys to create new ones. Toy making also lends itself to telling stories and creating environments or context for what the kids create. Based on a theme introduced by the KoKo teaching artist, kids will use recyclables to create a “home” or imaginary land for their inventions. This class is ever-evolving and based on the ideas and interests of the student.

Wearable Machines In this workshop kids will get creative, cutting apart repurposed clothes and fabrics and combining them with recyclables to design wearable inventions. A variety of construction methods will be used in this creative reuse workshop including gluing, taping, and sewing. Koko teaching artists will introduce a “theme of the day” and the kids will use recycled materials and textiles to build inventions that they can wear based on their creative interpretation of the theme.

Instructor Koko Open Source Gallery is a Brooklyn-based organization that brings imaginative programming to children so they can explore the intersection of tech, art, and environment.

Description

Lego Machine Magic In this LEGO workshop,students will delve into the exciting world of engineering and mechanics. They'll discover the secrets of axles, cams, cranks, and much more, unlocking essential skills that spark their creativity and problem-solving abilities.Through hands-on design thinking projects, they'll build machines that showcase their newfound knowledge. In each class children will share their latest creations and explain the engineering principles they've discovered.

Lego Design Thinkers In this imaginative LEGO journey, children will engage in the art of design thinking, crafting adorable robots, bringing friendly farm animals to life, and designing fantastic buildings. As they dive into brainstorming their own LEGO creations, they'll develop critical design thinking skills. The grand finale? They proudly showcase their work to their fellow explorers, fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

Instructor PS 154 is thrilled to welcome Kodely to our program. Started by a mother-daughter duo with over 25+ years of experience in the tech industry, Kodely was founded with the goal of teaching students the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. The goal at Kodely is to provide students with not only career and academic skills, but soft skills that are needed for the modern workplace. Kodely strives to develop agile students that will be able to succeed through adversity.

Description In this 3D art class, children will learn the Japanese art of paper folding to create their own origami projects. They will also use a variety of materials (such as paper, cardboard, and clay) to create original sculptures and design projects.

Instructor Miyu Asakawa is a ceramicist, sculptor, and hair stylist from Japan.

Description Calling all party people! In this fun club, Ms. Ussery will teach kids the finer points of party planning and hosting. Students will start with the behind-the-scenes work of picking a theme, making a budget and designing invitations. They will then explore life skills such working as a team to make and execute a plan, how to decorate a space, and options for preparing food and party favors. Next, they’ll be introduced to the social skills and etiquette necessary to host a successful event. Best of all, their hard work will culminate in hosting a real party for friends and family!

Instructor PS 154’s own Ms. Ussery will lead this club.

NOTE: Registration is by grade level.

Description These weekly small group help sessions are divided by grade level. Students improve reading skills and stamina by play learning games and engaging in activities that support their language-based classwork.

Instructor Laurie has spent almost thirty years teaching young children in private and public schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn, developing curriculum for young children and mentoring and supervising teachers. She maintains a private practice tutoring children with an emphasis on young learners. Her experience ranges from a Coordinator in the Pre-K for All Program for the NYC Department of Education to the Director of Education at a private school to staff developer at Bank Street College of Education.

Description Rock on & rock steady with the PS 154 Rock Band. Students will work on the rudiments of rock in a group setting. Drummers, percussionists, electric bass players, guitarists, keyboard players, and of course singers are welcome! Experience and your own instrument are a plus, but new players are welcome, too. If your child would like to join the band but does not have their own instrument, please email Barbara McGouran bmcgouranps154@gmail.com before registering. New and repeat students welcome.

Instructors Max Beirne-Shafer and Justin Fossella are both assistant instructors at PS 154 After School.

NOTE: Priority registration will be given to students on the fall waitlist.

Description In this basic sewing and design class, each student will design and create a mini-me doll! Using fabric, hand sewing needles, cotton, buttons, zippers, scissors, yarn, pattern paper, and sewing machines kids will learn how to make a pattern, hand sew, and use the machine. They will combine these skills to create an original project to take home. New and repeat students welcome!

Instructor  Deishanell Quiros is an imaginative teaching artist with The Children's Institute of Fashion Arts. For the past four years, Deishanell has specialized in teaching design within fashion and mixed media for elementary age children.

Registration Note Thanks to a generous grant written by Ms. Rached, Story Pirates will offer 4 free clubs to PS 154 families! There are 15 seats in each grade section on a first-come, first-served basis. Kindergarten, 4th & 5th graders will have the opportunity to participate in this free program during our spring session.

Description Students will create their own fantasy world, and fill it with imaginary creatures, monsters, magic, heroes, villains, and of course...daring quests to save the world! Expect your kids to stretch their imaginations to the limit, as they think up the weirdest, funniest, most mind-bending fantasy tales that have ever been conceived.

Instructor The Story Pirates are a nationally respected arts and creative writing organization founded in 2003 to celebrate the words and ideas of young people, to promote literacy as a vital part of early childhood education, and to preserve the spark of youthful creativity often lost in the transition to adulthood. Based in New York and Los Angeles, the company has grown to reach hundreds of thousands of children in over 300 schools across the country.

Description Yoga and Poetry with Ms. Deb contains all the main ingredients of yoga — breath awareness, mind-body fitness, and a chance to experience the "self-within". This class will offer children an opportunity to create imaginative poems based on postures drawn from the natural world that they'll learn through active play. Every class will include time to rest and sing. This class will take place at PS 154 and is limited to 1st & 2nd grade students. New and repeat students welcome!

Instructor Deborah Clapp is a PS 154 After School instructor and a published poet. She is also certified through Kundalini Yoga Radiant Child program and has taught yoga through the after school programs at The Greenwich School and at Harlem Children's Zone.