Study a Novel in Depth (Grades 7–8) Preparation for Upper School ReadingWe read, discuss, and analyze the celebrated novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Our study includes watching the film and analyzing it through the lens of the novel; if time permits, we will also read a couple of short stories. This program is designed to prepare students for the kind of close reading and discussion they will meet in the Upper School. LED BY Nate Heppner, Grade 7 and 8 English Teacher. Contact: nheppner@ljcds.org Program highlights In-depth reading: a full-length novel studied closely over nine weeks. Film and text together: students analyze the film adaptation against the novel. Discussion-driven: a seminar-style hour rather than a lecture. Upper School preparation: the reading and analysis skills students will need in Grade 9.

EcoArts Kids: Build Foundational Art SkillsCreate something wild! Are you a kindergarten or Grade 1 student who loves drawing, building, exploring nature, or making things with your hands? In EcoArts, you’ll practice real art skills like sketching, painting, sculpting, and working with all kinds of creative materials while exploring ideas inspired by the natural world. You’ll experiment, solve creative challenges, and discover new ways to bring your ideas to life. Whether you already think of yourself as an artist or you’re just excited to try something new, this program is for you! Join Ashley Mazanec, founding EcoArts Kids educator and UCSD master’s graduate with more than 15 years of experience teaching art and environmental education to children. Ashley will guide young artists through hands-on exploration of art materials and techniques, building foundational skills and confidence as they bring their own creative ideas to life. Weekly creative sessions: Hands-on EcoArts classes designed especially for kindergarten and Grade 1. Get artist-level attention: Receive encouragement and one-on-one guidance from an experienced teaching artist who helps each child’s unique ideas grow. Real art skills: Learn techniques, tools, and creative processes that give young artists more ways to bring their imaginations to life. Create beyond the ordinary: Experiment with unexpected materials, natural elements, and inventive art-making techniques you won’t find in a typical craft project. Think like an artist: Make choices, solve creative problems, take risks, and discover what happens when there isn’t just one “right” answer. Develop your own style: Build confidence expressing your ideas and discovering what makes your artwork uniquely yours. A growing collection: Bring home original artwork that reflects new skills, techniques, and ideas developed throughout the program. No class on Sept. 21 and Nov. 9

DISCOVER THE JOY OF PLAYING CELLO! The Cello Lesson Program provides students with one-on-one instruction in a supportive and encouraging environment with Bing Yan. Lessons focus on building a strong foundation in technique, music reading, and tone production. The program welcomes students of all experience levels and supports steady musical growth through guided practice and instruction. Private, one-on-one ($60/30 mins lesson) or partner ($40/per student/30 mins) Strong Technical Foundation Music Reading & Musicianship Performance - Solo & Chamber recital Opportunities Individualized Progress All levels welcome To register and choose time slot, please email Bing Yan at celloyan60@gmail.com. The 3–5:30 p.m. window suggests individual lesson slots rather than a group class. Scheduling to be confirmed.

Kodely: Mix, Fizz, and Take the Lab HomeMIX. FIZZ. WOW. Are you a budding chemist who loves mixing, fizzing, color-changing potions and figuring out why they work? In this class, you’ll put on real safety gear and work like a lab scientist — measuring, mixing, observing and recording. Each week you’ll build a new take-home lab, from fizzy bath bombs to polymer slime to chromatography butterflies, while learning the science behind acids, bases and reactions. The session closes with a showcase where you demonstrate your favorite reaction for families. LED BY Kodely Academy. Kodely provides a trained studio lead plus all materials, devices and take-home kits; individual instructor names are assigned closer to the start date. Program highlights Real lab skills: measure, pour, observe and record, with safety first every time. Acid and base fizzology: engineer your own best fizzer and predict the pop. Chromatography art: separate colors to create butterflies you keep. Polymers lab: slime and putty with stretch tests and property cards. Crystal and bath bomb builds: grow and mold your own chemistry take-homes. A lab notebook habit: hypothesis, test, and result journaling built for Grades 2–4. Students leave with: a take-home build every week and a final demonstration for families. No class on Sept. 21 and Nov. 9

Build your chess skills while having fun with friends! In this hour-long class, students in Grades 1–4 will learn strategies, practice problem-solving, and develop their game through instruction, puzzles, and friendly matches. Whether you’re brand new to chess or already know your way around the board, all skill levels are welcome.Led by Tricia Hedman and Michael Hedman Contact: tricia@excelsiorchess.com

Learn the game of chess in a fun, welcoming environment designed just for kindergarteners! In this 30 minute class, students will discover how each piece moves, practice simple strategies, and build problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through games and hands-on play. No chess experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to learn!Led by Tricia Hedman and Michael Hedman Contact: tricia@excelsiorchess.com

Kodely: Arduino Physical ComputingCode You Can Touch Are you a creator who loves coding that lights up, buzzes, moves and reacts to you? In this class, your code leaves the screen — you’ll wire LEDs, buzzers, buttons and sensors to an Arduino, then program it to respond to touch, light and motion. Build a take-home light sculpture, a sound machine and a motion alarm, and show off your interactive invention at the final demo night. It is real engineering, designed for Middle School hands. LED BY Kodely Academy. Kodely provides a trained Studio lead plus all materials, devices and take-home kits; individual instructor names are assigned closer to the start date.Contact: Sri Narayanan · sri@kodely.io Program highlights Arduino basics: breadboard, pins and safe wiring habits. Inputs and outputs: buttons, light sensors, buzzers and LED arrays. From blocks to text: start in block code, then look at real Arduino C. Three take-home builds: light sculpture, tune machine and motion alarm. Debug like an engineer: troubleshoot circuits and code systematically. Kits provided: Kodely brings the Arduino kits and laptops if needed. Students leave with: three working inventions and a demo night walkthrough of their own code. *Devices required for coding: students bring their personal device

Write Poetry and Short Fiction This class is for Grades 6–8 students interested in creative writing enrichment. We focus on writing different forms of poetry and short stories, and on reading one another’s work with a careful, generous eye. Students gain experience both as writers and as editors of poetry and fiction. LED BY Nate Heppner, LJCDS Grade 7 and 8 English Teacher. Program highlights Weekly Monday sessions: a dedicated hour for sustained creative work. Two genres in depth: students write across several forms of poetry and short fiction. Experience as an editor: students learn to give and receive useful feedback on creative work. Small by design: capped at 20 so every student gets attention.

Sharpen Their Essay Writing EXPOSITORY, PERSUASIVE, AND PERSONAL ESSAYS This class is for middle school students interested in expanding their essay-writing skills. We focus on a range of essay styles, as well as the logical development of ideas, thesis development, and personal voice. Students write a wide range of essays varying in style and length, and take part in peer editing throughout. LED BY LJCDS Nate Heppner, Grades 7 and 8 English Teacher. Program highlights Weekly Tuesday sessions: nine meetings across the fall. A range of essay forms: expository, persuasive, and personal essays of varying length. Craft fundamentals: thesis creation, logical development of ideas, and personal voice. Peer editing and feedback: students learn to revise their own work and respond usefully to others.

THE ULTIMATE AFTER-SCHOOL POWER HOUR Are you a Grades 3–4 student who loves getting a jump on your assignments, diving into fun creative projects, or simply finishing your work so your evenings are totally free? In Homework Club, you’ll tackle your weekly assignments with hands-on support, master game-changing organization habits, and even take on optional cross-disciplinary design challenges when your work is done. Whether you’re an ambitious learner aiming to crush your study goals or just looking for a focused, quiet space to get things done before playtime, this program is for you! LED BY Beth Levin, LJCDS Grade 3 Lead Teacher, and Conor Foley, LJCDS Grade 1 Associate. Program highlights Faculty-led expertise and continuity: led by current Lower School educators who already know the curriculum and expectations, so students move seamlessly from the school day into focused study time. Dedicated venue and routine: held in LS 17 with direct access to the Lower School Playground for Extended Day — a structured academic space with immediate outdoor play once work is finished. Bonus enrichment: optional cross-disciplinary, project-based activities for students who finish their assignments early. Students leave with: completed homework assignments and stronger organization habits.

Seaside Arts Center: K-Pop Demon Hunters Musical Theater Sing, Dance & Slay! Get ready to sing, dance, act, and slay the stage! Inspired by the high-energy world of K-Pop Demon Hunters, this exciting musical theater class combines singing, choreography, acting, and storytelling. Students will explore character, performance skills, and teamwork while learning songs and scenes inspired by the hit film. Perfect for young performers who love K-pop, musical theater, and big stage energy! Program Highlights High-energy fun — Meeting once a week from September 14 - November 16, students will build skills through singing, dancing, acting, and performance. Individual coaching and encouragement — Every student gets opportunities to shine, with personalized feedback that builds confidence and supports their growth. Triple-threat training — Students develop foundational skills in singing, dancing, and acting, as well as character development, and building confidence and stage presence. Inspired by KPop Demon Hunters — Familiar music, characters, and themes give young performers an exciting entry point into musical theater. Create and collaborate — Students will work together to develop scenes, choreography, and storytelling while learning what it means to be part of an ensemble. Culminating performance — The program ends on November 16 with a fun showcase where students share what they’ve created and learned. Skills that last beyond the stage — Students will leave with greater creativity, teamwork skills, and the confidence to stand before others and speak, sing, and dance proudly. Led by: Elyssa Rosenberg is the Founder and Executive & Artistic Director of Seaside Arts Center, a dance and theater educator with more than 25 years of teaching experience, and a world-renowned expert in the legacy of Isadora Duncan. A lifelong dancer and “theater kid” with an M.A. in Dance and Dance Education from NYU, she has directed and choreographed numerous musical theater productions and produced countless dance performances for children and adults. Through Seaside, Elyssa works to ensure that young people have the exposure, resources, and opportunities to discover where they belong within the arts, develop their individual artistry, and see themselves as artists—often before they have even thought to see themselves that way.No class on Sept. 21 and Nov. 9

Show Your School Spirit! Are you interested in becoming a cheerleader? Little Torrey Cheerleaders build strength, confidence, and skill as they work together on a routine that lifts the whole LJCDS community during Homecoming Week. Students develop motions, jumps, kicks, tumbling, stunting, cheer, and dance, then showcase everything they have learned at halftime of the Homecoming varsity football game and at the Lower School pep rally.This program is cumulative and attendance at every session matters. Call time on Homecoming night is approximately 5:30 p.m.; cheerleaders warm up and stay together until they perform at halftime, then are released to their parents. Please do not sign up if you have planned absences or cannot make the performances. LED BY LJCDS Christine Mitchell, Varsity Cheer Coach cmitchell@ljcds.org Program highlights Stunting and tumbling: students learn to build stunts safely as a group. Jumps, cheer, and dance: the full range of sideline and performance skills. Teamwork above all: cheer is a group sport, and athletes rely on one another to build stunts and visuals. Two performances: halftime of the Homecoming varsity football game and the Lower School pep rally. Students leave with: a team T-shirt, poms, a bow, and a backpack keychain.

Grades 5–6: Homework Club FINISH STRONG! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to get ahead on homework, develop strong organization strategies, and receive personalized support. We help with all subjects, provide extension activities, and support executive functioning. It is a great way to start the year with strong study habits and free up your evenings. LED BY LJCDS Emmy Gilliam and Stephanie Heinrich. Program highlights Weekly Tuesday sessions: a consistent, predictable time set aside for focused work. Individual academic help: support across all subjects, not just supervision. Build executive functioning: time management, organization, and planning skills that transfer to every class. Peer-to-peer support: students work alongside classmates tackling the same material. A genuine time saver: work finished at school is work not carried home.