After School
Greenwich Academy offers two after-school enrichment programs for girls in Lower School: Serendipity and Friday Afters. Additionally, LS students with older LS sisters may take part in Sisters, while girls with MS/US sisters and those who ride the bus may register for Study Hall. Finally, Homework Hall is open to Middle Schoolers who cannot be picked up at 3:30 PM. Please find more information as well as how to register for all these programs below.
Friday Afters (LS)
Friday Afters, sponsored by GAPA, is a supervised after-school program run on select Fridays throughout the school year. Participating PC/CC girls stay at King campus (lunch is included) and Group I-IV girls have lunch in the dining hall followed by one of the many fun and educational extracurricular Friday Afters offerings. The program for PC/CC runs from dismissal until 1:30 PM. The program for Groups I-IV runs from dismissal until 2:50 PM. Friday Afters offerings change mid-year. Costs for the program are charged to your school billing account. Details of the class offerings are sent home prior to the sessions and are posted here.
Please note: If a class is over-enrolled, there will be a lottery. To be included in a lottery, you must register anytime during the official registration period.
Questions? Contact GAPA Friday Afters Co-Chairs.
Registration for Friday Afters Session II has closed.
- Students will receive placement by Wed Jan 25.
- Questions? Contact co-chairs Kaitlin Gambrill, Stacy Grindal & Hanna Lamb.
Spring 2023
SCHEDULE & PRICING
King campus classes: $260
Main campus classes: $520
Please note: Lunch for all girls participating in Friday Afters is included.
If you have questions about financial assistance to participate, please reach out to Kate Collins, Director of Enrollment & Financial Aid.
Meeting times:
- February 3, 10, 24
- March 3, 31
- April 14, 21
- May 5, 12 (make-up date)
Pickup:
King campus: 1:30 PM
Main campus: 2:50 PM
PC & CC
Friday Friends at MHK
PC and CC friends are invited to meet members of the Greenwich community dedicated to helping them stay safe and strong. From Greenwich Police, Greenwich Fire, Greenwich EMS, and the Coast Guard to some familiar GA faces, our guests will share what they do, the equipment and skills they use, and more. We may even take a field trip or two to see these special friends on their turf! Each class will also include an activity related to the service the girls are learning about that week (i.e. timed gear changes and teddy bear clinics). Limit: 15 girls
Imagine Storytelling
Welcome to Storytelling 101! Your student will hone her public speaking skills and get ready to engage any audience with confidence, beginning with improvisation games, foundational debate exercises, acting lessons, and storytelling activities. The class culminates in a final performance of an original script, which will be edited by a professional cinematographer and made into our very own movie! Limit: 15 girls
Instructor: Bloom Performing Arts
Kindness Crafters
Let’s get crafty! PC and CC girls will explore a wide range of arts-focused activities, including beading canvas art, pottery, soap making, and more to bring their imagination to life. Each class will use the craft as a basis to discuss themes of kindness, confidence, and self-expression. Limit: 16 girls
Instructor: Sparklicious
White Tiger Taekwondo
Fitness, Focus, and Fun! Explore the excitement and fun of Tae Kwon Do. Get exercise while increasing listening skills, focus, and also developing balance and coordination. Additionally, TKD unites the body and spirit and also instills self confidence and respect for others. Your children will learn the basics of Tae Kwon Do with the area’s most sought-after martial arts instructors right here on our GA campus. Limit: 15 girls
Instructor: White Tiger TKD
GROUPS I-IV
- Girls Coding Club (Groups I & II)
- Fashion Club for Beginners (Groups I-III)
- Fencing Fun 101 (Groups I-III)
- Imagine Acting and Storytelling (Groups I-III)
- Hands On Pottery (Groups I-IV)
- LS Chess Club (Groups I-IV)
- Passport to Craft (Groups I-IV)
- Girls Circuit Adventures (II-IV)
- Waverly Girl Class (Groups III & IV)
Girls Coding Club (Groups I & II)
Girls Coding Club aims to empower our girls with an introduction to the language of programming. Students will learn how to create stories and games in Scratch and then advance into more traditional languages like HTML, Java, and Python. Coding allows girls to design a project and watch it come to life, developing an important skill that will serve them for a long time to come. Limit: 12 girls
Instructor: MakeInspires
Fashion Club for Beginners (Groups I-III)
Fashion Club is for our aspiring designers, doctors, and more. Students will sketch, create mood boards, design, learn the early steps of patterns, get acquainted with simple hand sewing, and even start using a sewing machine. In keeping with GA’s commitment to sustainability, our Gator Girls will be using upcycled materials and discussing the importance of this practice to protect the environment. Girls will use new skills, their imagination, and vision to create original looks we can’t wait to see! Limit: 10 girls
Instructor: Sparklicious
Fencing Fun 101 (Groups I-III)
The No. 1 ranked youth fencing club in the country is coming to GA! The Tim Morehouse Fencing Club will help develop coordination, reflexes, balance, and strategic thinking. Fencing challenges players physically and mentally while building confidence and self-control. The girls will learn basic fencing footwork, blade work, and sports rules. Fencing equipment—which includes mask, plastic chest protector, jacket, glove, and a weapon—will be provided. Limit: 15 girls
Instructor: Tim Morehouse Fencing
Imagine Acting and Storytelling (Groups I-III)
This introductory acting and storytelling course will include storytelling activities, improvisation games and lessons in monologues, creative writing, improvisation, and acting for film and theater. Students will strengthen their comedic skills by performing in an adaptation of the popular Alice in Wonderland. Students will get the opportunity to be both actors and directors, by filming their final performance. The film will then be edited by a professional cinematographer and made into their very own movie! Limit: 15 girls
Instructor: Bloom Performing Arts
Hands On Pottery (Groups I-IV)
Darien’s premier pottery studio will be coming to YOU! The girls will paint with glazes on various bisque items to make beautiful hand-crafted pieces of art. Students will use various techniques, including sponge painting, pointillism, masking paper, and much more, to create a number of fun, beautiful, and useful projects! Limit: 15 girls
Instructor: Hands on Pottery
LS Chess Club (Groups I-IV)
Welcome to the wonderful world of chess! During each class, students will learn the basic strategies and tools used in playing chess by solving interactive, fun puzzles. Each class will also include student matchups to try out new strategies and master already-learned ones. All enrolled Chess Club students will get access to Chess Max Academy’s interactive app to play chess bots of varying strength and solve puzzles between classes, as desired.
Instructor: Chess Max Academy
Passport to Craft (Groups I-IV)
Have you ever wondered where your favorite art materials, textiles, and more come from? Join us as we explore travel through arts and crafts. Our Lower School Gator Girls will learn about travel destinations as they are introduced to a wide range of skill sets, craft types, and unique materials each week. Girls will also get a chance to look at and discuss unique items our instructors have collected through their own global crafting expeditions. Limit: 16 girls
Instructor: Make Modern
Girls Circuit Adventures (II-IV)
New and improved Circuit Adventures explores the world of electrons also known as electricity. This class will guide students through the specific elements of circuits to develop an understanding of key electricity concepts, such as voltage, positive and negative, batteries, LEDs and more. Create paper circuit art and watch the creation come to life with electricity and light! Build batteries out of lemons! Put together an electric vehicle, a fan propelled car, to take home! Circuit Adventures enlightens students about how all electronics work around us, providing a base knowledge for all technology. Limit: 12 girls
Instructor: MakeInspires
Waverly Girl Class (Groups III & IV)
The Friday Afters favorite is back! Inspire. Educate. Illuminate. In this special offering for Group III and IV girls only, the girls will be whisked away on “Waverly Tours,” exploring different cultures each week while participating in an experiential activity that allows them to explore, create, and learn about that culture. Limit: 15 girls
Instructor: Waverly Project
Serendipity (LS)
The Serendipity Program is available Mon-Thu to LS girls in Groups I-IV. The hourlong classes are mainly taught by GA teachers, with some outside instruction. There are three trimesters and options change each session. Courses range in cost and are charged to your school billing account. Serendipity instructors dismiss girls at 4:15 PM at the LS entrance. There is one pickup line for all groups. Prior to each session, information on Serendipity offerings and dates will be sent home, as well as posted here.
Questions? Contact LS librarian Leesa Singleton.
Registration for Winter Serendipity has closed.
Winter 2023
All classes are one hour 3:15-4:15 PM. Please pick up your daughter(s) promptly. Since the bus leaves at 3:45 PM, parents of bus-riders must arrange for alternate transportation on Serendipity days. The Winter session starts Tuesday, January 3 and runs through March 9.
INFO
- All charges will be billed to your school billing account.
- If there are classes for which there are more registrations than we have places, we hold a lottery to decide which children may attend. If your child is placed on the waitlist for a class, she will have priority the next time the class is offered.
- Your daughter may register for more than one class. Please be sure that the class is offered to her grade level.
- We reserve the right to modify classes or change faculty assignments when necessary. Classes with insufficient enrollment will be canceled.
- There are no Serendipity classes on half days or holidays.
- If your daughter drops out of a Serendipity class after the first week and her spot cannot be filled, you will be charged for the entire session.
LATER GATORS
MON
Classes begin Monday, January 9, 2023.
Art Exploration - Groups I-IV
Art Exploration will introduce the girls to a variety of art forms and materials. From acrylics, beads, crayons, and decoupage to water colors, yarn and zippers, students will create unique projects while manipulating a variety of art mediums. A fun and creative class for all art lovers!
Teacher: Ms. Ayrolo
Fee: $190
Homework Club - Groups I-IV
Looking for some extra assistance or just a quiet place to settle in and get homework done? Join the Homework Club with Ms. La Rose after school! Homework Club is a supervised time to work on assignments with the assistance of one of our wonderful teachers. If your daughter does not have homework, class time will be used to play educational games, such as math BINGO, Lexia, or Cimo spelling.
Teacher: Ms. La Rose
Fee: $140
The Room of Untold Stories - Groups II-IV
Do you like creative writing? Well this is the class for you! In this class you will focus on writing short stories and/or fairy tales. We will start off by reading a variety of short stories and fairytales and learn from these examples to get our creative juices flowing. You will then write and edit until you have a composed story. The final classes will be dedicated to reading the stories aloud to perfect fluency and expression before officially presenting the stories to family and friends.
Teacher: Ms. Carbino
Fee: $140
TUE
Classes begin Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
Brushes & Beyond - Groups I-IV
Me and My Doll Sewing - Groups I-IV
Join Sew Happy to hand sew clothes and accessories for an 18" doll. Projects will include fleece pajama pants and matching slippers, a cozy poncho and pillow. Kids are welcome to bring their dolls to this class! You will learn many sewing skills such as how to thread a needle, tie a knot, straight stitch, whipstitch, lock stitch, cutting skills, and project construction.
Teacher: Sew Happy
Fee: $300
Sweet Cooking - Groups II-IV*
It might be scary and stressful to imagine your kids in the kitchen. Yet cooking can teach important life skills. Following a recipe builds on literacy, math, time management abilities, and even cleaning skills! Sweet Cooking is intended to be a fun and interactive after school class that will mainly focus on teaching young girls the basics of baking! We will be making everything from sugar cookies, to cupcakes to larger and more complex sweets by the end of the session.
*NOTE: This class is for new students only. Please register only if you have NOT taken this class before.
Teacher: Ms. Alcantara
Fee: $300
WED
Classes begin Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
Crafty Hands - Groups I-IV
Mall Madness - Groups III & IV
Unlock the Box - Groups III & IV
Unlock The Box is an adapted version of an Escape Room. A series of clues are hidden in locked boxes and kids have to solve puzzles as a big red clock counts down the minutes before they run out of time. The clues are often in code, requiring they first 'discover' the clue. These codes are a mixture of visual skills, physical tasks, mathematical problems and language type challenges. They often require the use of tools students may not have used before (for example compasses and protractors). The clues themselves will then require that the kids examine the materials or props in the room, digging for answers, or sometimes may be just general knowledge or some logical reasoning.
Teacher: Sew Happy
Fee: $250
THU
Classes begin Thursday, January 5, 2023.
- Craft City - Groups I-IV
- On stage! - Groups I-IV
- Sculptey-licious - Groups II-IV
- Sensible Scribers - Groups I-III
Craft City - Groups I-IV
On stage! - Groups I-IV
Come explore the world of the theater with us. We will work on all of the different aspects of performing a Broadway show, including scenes, theater games and songs. At the end of the session the girls will perform for friends and family in the new Young Auditorium.
Teacher: Mrs. Kelley-Young & Mr. Young
Fee: $160
Sculptey-licious - Groups II-IV
Use your hands to mold beautiful miniature creations! Use soft, colorful polymer clay to create mini food, unique jewelry, fantastic creatures, and much more. It’s a great opportunity to exercise your fine motor skills, expand your creativity, and have fun at the same time.
Teacher: Ms. Ayrolo
Fee: $210
Sensible Scribers - Groups I-III
Sisters (LS)
Study Hall (LS)
Eligibility
Study Hall is a supervised study time for students in Groups I-IV who are waiting to leave on a bus, waiting to be picked up by a MS or US
sister. Only these students may attend. (Exceptions are sometimes made for families who have a pickup time that is in conflict with another area school. In this instance, please email LS head Jon Ross-Wiley for approval.)
Meeting Times
Study Hall commences the first day of school and continues throughout the year Mon-Thu. (Due to the much later MS dismissal and lack of a noon bus, there is no Study Hall on Fri.) Study Hall runs from dismissal to 3:45 PM, at which time bus-riders are brought to the Upper School Circle to meet the bus. All other students must be picked up from Study Hall by 3:45 PM.
Guidelines & Procedures
Although the time is brief, we hope students will use Study Hall to start their homework, so they have less to do when they get home. Girls should:
- Tell their teacher they’ll be going to Study Hall that day—no signup!
- Bring all materials and books required for that day’s homework.
- Snack is not provided. If your daughter would like a snack, please pack one in her backpack.
- Find a seat on the gathering stairs or in the LS science room and begin.
- Straighten up and check out with Mr. Ross-Wiley or Mrs. Schneider when it’s time to leave.
Questions?
Contact Colleen Schneider in the LS office.
Homework Hall (MS)
Eligibility
Homework Hall is a supervised study hall held after school for Middle School students who cannot be picked up by 3:30 PM. Students are expected to be picked up promptly after school or under the supervision of a faculty member after 3:45 PM. Students may not wait in the MS or US building unattended at any time.
Meeting Times
Homework Hall meets Mon-Thu 3:35-5:00 PM. There is no Homework Hall on Fridays.
Guidelines & Procedures
Students who are not picked up by 3:45 PM are required to check into HW Hall in the MS collaborative learning center. Parents or guardians may call the supervisor to request their child meet them outside at a pickup location (LS entrance or US circle). There is no need to sign up in advance.
The supervisor can be reached during HW Hall hours at 203.485.4058.
Fee
There is no fee for students waiting to board a 4:00 PM bus. All other students who attend HW Hall will be charged $15 per session. Anyone with questions about financial assistance should contact Kate Collins, Director of Enrollment & Financial Aid.
Questions?
Contact Sarah Barringer in the MS Office; she can also be reached by phone at 203.625.8905.