37 Results
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Starting SoonArt Skills (K–Grade 1)Fall 2026 - ArtsEcoArts 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. 9Fall 2026 -
WaitlistBasketball (Grades 1–6)Fall 2026 - SportsBuild Your Basketball Game GROW YOUR GAME Are you a student who loves basketball, wants to get more confident with the ball, or has never really played and wants to give it a try? In this clinic, you’ll work on ball handling, shooting, passing, defense, and teamwork through a series of competitive games and drills. Beginners and experienced ballers are both welcome — whether you already play club ball or are picking up a basketball for the first time, this program is for you. LED BY Coach Adrian Hayes, Grade 4 Associate and youth basketball coach, through H.A.Y.E.S Academy Basketball — Helping Athletes Yield Elite Skills. Program highlights Eight Monday sessions: an hour on the court each week across the fall. Five fundamentals: ball handling, shooting, passing, defense and teamwork, taught in sequence. Learn by competing: skills are built through games and drills rather than drilling alone. All levels in one gym: complete beginners and experienced players train together. Small by design: capped at 15 so every player gets coached, not just supervised. Students leave with: a working set of fundamentals and eight weeks of live game repsFall 2026 -
Starting SoonCello Lessons (Grades 1–12)Fall 2026 - MusicDISCOVER 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.Fall 2026 -
WaitlistCeramics (Grades 5–8)Fall 2026 - ArtsShape something out of clay Are you a Middle School student who loves creating with your hands? Using clay as a medium, you’ll learn to shape functional and sculptural pieces with coils, slab construction, and pinching methods. Students create multiple pieces and learn how to glaze bisque ware to produce finished artwork. Projects change regularly, so students can return session after session to keep developing their skills. No prior experience is needed — just your hands, curiosity, and a willingness to play. LED BY Sani vanderSpek, LJCDS Ceramics Educator. Program highlights Weekly Monday sessions: an hour in the ceramics studio each week across the fall. One-on-one guidance in a group setting: individual attention on hand-building while working alongside classmates. Builds fine motor skills: strengthens hands and develops hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. Develops problem-solving: students experiment with different shapes, sizes, and forms of clay. Focus and concentration: molding and shaping clay to a desired form builds the ability to stay with a task. A social craft: opportunities to share ideas, collaborate, and learn from one another. A tool for self-expression: clay lets students communicate thoughts and ideas nonverbally. Students leave with: multiple finished, glazed artworks to take home. No class on Sept. 21 and Nov. 9Fall 2026 -
Starting SoonChemistry Lab (Grades 2–4)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentKodely: 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. 9Fall 2026 -
WaitlistChess Club (Grades 1–4)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentBuild 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.comFall 2026 -
Starting SoonChess Club (Kindergarten)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentLearn 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.comFall 2026 -
ECCExtended Day ChildcareThe Extended Day program provides daily, fee-based childcare for students in Tiny Torreys through Grade 4. Grades 5–6 students are supervised at no cost.Students in Tiny Torreys and Jr. Kindergarten spend their afternoons in the Early Childhood Center (ECC), while kindergarteners and 1st graders will stay comfortable in ther familiar kindergarten area. Students in Grades 2–4 split their time between the Lower School playground and the Lower school classroom 7. An afternoon snack is provided. Extended Day is available for: -ECC from 3 to 5:30 p.m.-K–Grade 4 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.-Grades 5–6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (Free of charge, no registration required)When registering, families have the option to pick their days or sign up for a consistent schedule. Drop-ins are welcome, however, we kindly request a 24-hour notice to help us plan the most engaging program possible. You can add a Drop-in day on the ARUX portal. Fees$19/hourOne-hour minimumSecond hour billed in 15-minute increments Pick Up: ECC families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the ECC area to check out their child. K-1st grade families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the Kindergarten area to check out their child. 2nd-4th grade families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the LS playground or LS 7 to check out their child. All families must check their student out with a staff member.School Year 2026-2027 Extended Day Childcare Site -
Essay Writing (Grades 6–8)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentSharpen 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.Fall 2026 -
Extended Day ChildcareThe Extended Day program provides daily, fee-based childcare for students in Tiny Torreys through Grade 4. Grades 5–6 students are supervised at no cost.Students in Tiny Torreys and Jr. Kindergarten spend their afternoons in the Early Childhood Center (ECC), while kindergarteners and 1st graders will stay comfortable in ther familiar kindergarten area. Students in Grades 2–4 split their time between the Lower School playground and the Lower school classroom 7. An afternoon snack is provided. Extended Day is available for: -ECC from 3 to 5:30 p.m.-K–Grade 4 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.-Grades 5–6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (Free of charge, no registration required)When registering, families have the option to pick their days or sign up for a consistent schedule. Drop-ins are welcome, however, we kindly request a 24-hour notice to help us plan the most engaging program possible. You can add a Drop-in day on the ARUX portal. Fees$19/hourOne-hour minimumSecond hour billed in 15-minute increments Pick Up: ECC families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the ECC area to check out their child. K-1st grade families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the Kindergarten area to check out their child. 2nd-4th grade families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the LS playground or LS 7 to check out their child. All families must check their student out with a staff member.Child Care Program
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Fall 2026 - Enrichment ProgramsFall is the perfect season to try something new! Our after-school enrichment programs for ECC–Grade 8 invite students to explore creativity, movement, and collaboration while building friendships and confidence along the way.Category
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LS Homework Club (Grades 3–4)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentTHE 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.Fall 2026 -
Starting SoonLS Musical: K-Pop Demon Hunters (Grades 1–4)Fall 2026 - MusicSeaside 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. 9Fall 2026
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Starting SoonLittle Torrey Cheer (K–Grade 4)Fall 2026 - MovementShow 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.Fall 2026 -
Lower SchoolExtended Day ChildcareThe Extended Day program provides daily, fee-based childcare for students in Tiny Torreys through Grade 4. Grades 5–6 students are supervised at no cost.Students in Tiny Torreys and Jr. Kindergarten spend their afternoons in the Early Childhood Center (ECC), while kindergarteners and 1st graders will stay comfortable in ther familiar kindergarten area. Students in Grades 2–4 split their time between the Lower School playground and the Lower school classroom 7. An afternoon snack is provided. Extended Day is available for: -ECC from 3 to 5:30 p.m.-K–Grade 4 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.-Grades 5–6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (Free of charge, no registration required)When registering, families have the option to pick their days or sign up for a consistent schedule. Drop-ins are welcome, however, we kindly request a 24-hour notice to help us plan the most engaging program possible. You can add a Drop-in day on the ARUX portal. Fees$19/hourOne-hour minimumSecond hour billed in 15-minute increments Pick Up: ECC families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the ECC area to check out their child. K-1st grade families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the Kindergarten area to check out their child. 2nd-4th grade families park in the Genesee lot and walk to the LS playground or LS 7 to check out their child. All families must check their student out with a staff member.School Year 2026-2027 Extended Day Childcare Site
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MS Homework Club (Grades 5–6)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentGrades 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.Fall 2026
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MS Musical: SpongeBob SquarePants (Grades 5–8)Fall 2026 - EnrichmentGrades 5–8: Take the Stage in SpongeBob SquarePants The Musical, Jr. GET READY TO DIVE INTO BIKINI BOTTOM Join SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Squidward, and all your favorite characters on an unforgettable adventure packed with show-stopping songs and dances, and nonstop fun. Featuring music by incredible artists like Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Panic! At the Disco, John Legend, and more. As Bikini Bottom faces its biggest challenge yet, SpongeBob and friends discover that courage, teamwork, and the power of optimism really can save the world. LED BY LJCDS Christy Yin, Dance and Musical Theater Educator; Liesl Hansen, Middle School Music Educator; and Wendy Clemente, Lower School Music Educator and theater costumer. Program highlights Rehearsals twice a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m. in the Dance Studio, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1. A full production arc: 32 meetings from the first rehearsal in August through the December performances — the longest-running program in this catalog. Auditions for those who want them: Tuesday, September 1 and Thursday, September 3, with a place in the ensemble for everyone. Three educators, three specialties: dance and staging, music, and costuming, so students get coached by someone who knows each craft. Two public performances: Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3 at 5 p.m. in the Four Flowers Theater, plus a preview for Lower School and ECC. Students leave with: a fully staged musical under their belt — songs learned, choreography performed, and a role they owned in front of a live audience. Ways to take part Ensemble — sing and dance as part of the company: no audition required and no prior experience needed. Named roles — audition for a larger part with more speaking, singing, and dancing. Expect more lines to learn and more rehearsal focus.Key dates for families Tue, Sep 1: First rehearsal · Dance StudioThu, Sep 3: Rehearsal, followed by the All Hands On Deck parent meeting, 4:30–5:15 p.m. · Dance StudioSep 8–Nov 12: September 8 and 10, Auditions, 3:30–4:30 p.m. · Dance StudioRehearsals continue Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m. (No class on Oct. 1 or Oct. 29)Nov 16-Nov 19: Rehearsals Monday through Thursday, from 3:30–5:30 p.m.Nov 23–27: Fall Break — no rehearsalsMon, Nov 30 and Tue, Dec 1: Dress rehearsals 3:30–5:30 p.m.Tue, Dec 1: Lower School and ECC preview · time to be confirmedWed, Dec 2 and Thu, Dec 3: Performances, 5 p.m. · Four Flowers TheaterThis program runs past the fall session and finishes with the December performances. Attendance builds toward a live show, so consistent rehearsal attendance matters.Fall 2026 -
Starting SoonMartial Arts: Cool Cats (Kindergarten)Fall 2026 - MovementLEARN MARTIAL ARTS! Are you a kindergartner who likes to move, wants to feel braver, or has always wanted to try martial arts? In Cool Cats you’ll learn the fundamentals—awareness, traditional karate, kicking, and boxing—while building focus, self-control, and respect for yourself and the people around you. Whether you are already dreaming of a black belt or just want to try something new alongside your classmates, this program is for you. LED BY: Maia Hayden, a black belt with more than twenty years of martial arts practice, who came up through the Freestyle Martial Arts program herself. Program highlights Weekly Monday sessions: forty-five minutes of martial arts every Monday afternoon. Fundamentals from the ground up: awareness, traditional karate, kicking, and boxing, taught for complete beginners. Character before technique: focus, self-control, discipline, and respect are the point of every class. A small group: capped at 12 so every kindergartner gets hands-on correction. Taught by a lifelong practitioner: an instructor who trained through the same program she now teaches. Students leave with: the chance to test for their first belt at the Freestyle dojo in Point Loma. No class on Sept. 21 and Nov. 9Fall 2026
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Starting SoonMartial Arts: Karate Kids (Grades 1–4)Fall 2026 - MovementFreestyle Martial Arts: Karate KidsGet moving, build confidence, and learn the fundamentals of martial arts! Students in Grades 1–4 will practice karate techniques, movement, coordination, and self-defense skills in a fun, active environment. Classes emphasize focus, discipline, respect, and perseverance while helping students grow stronger in both body and mind. No prior experience is needed.Contact: Maia Hayden · maiaehayden22@gmail.comNo class on Sept. 25, Oct. 2 and 23, Nov. 6Fall 2026