Hello DES Families!

The leaves are turning, pumpkin spice lattes are back in style, and that can only mean one thing - it's time for our thrilling Fall Afterschool Activities! Whether your child is a budding chess master, an aspiring veterinarian, or a pottery enthusiast, we have a diverse lineup to cater to every passion and interest.

Master the strategies of chess with the C&O Family Chess Center. 

Delve into the world of veterinary science and 'adopt' a plush pet. 

Unleash creativity with drama classes and literary exploration.

.. and that's just a sneak peek!

Check out the full list and register your child for their favorite sessions at DES PTA Activities.

Act fast as slots fill up quickly. Let's make this Fall memorable with enriching experiences and endless learning opportunities.

Warm regards, 

Candice Brown, DES PTA President

Note: Our activities are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Board of Education of Montgomery County, the superintendent, or Diamond elementary school.

Fall 2023 - Before and Afterschool Activities

Registration for all activities at https://www.despta.org/activities 

Mondays

Chess - C&O Family Chess Center 

This class is for all levels of students from New Players (just learning the Pieces) to Advanced Students who have previous experience and may have even played in organized competition. Class time will be divided between a lesson and a game play portion. Instruction for new students will include the basics of how the pieces move, board set up, simple opening strategy and checkmate skills.

Advanced students will cover tactics and strategy, more detailed openings and game

analysis. We will provide information and a location for practice outside of class including

access to weekly tournaments. We focus on sportsmanship and healthy competition and a

sense of teamwork while we work towards self-improvement.

Mondays at 8-915a

Dates: Sept. 11, 18, 25*, Oct. 02, 09*, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 06, 13, 27, Dec 04, 11. 

*(No school) = Online

Grades K-5

Cost: TBD based on number of classes

Little Veterinarians: Dogs - Little Medical School 

STEM activity-based classes to inspire the next generation of Healthcare Heroes! We hope to share a profession that students may not have considered before. 

After “adopting” their own plush animal, students will role play the key responsibilities of a vet, including how to perform a nose-to-tail exam, perform stitches, remove ticks and much more!

Mondays at 4-5p

Dates:  10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/27, 12/4 (no class 11/20)

Grades K-5 

Cost $199

Creative Kids Drama - Creative Enrichment 

An innovative and dynamic literature based drama program. A professional actor/teacher will lead the class in exploring and dramatizing specially selected children’s stories. The students then create and act out their own original stories based on these books. These stories come from all over the world and are carefully chosen for each age group.

Mondays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct. 2, 16, 23, 30 Nov. 6, 13, 27 Dec. 4 (Dec. 11)

Grades K-5

Cost: $225

Tuesdays

STEM Zoo Adventures - Whiz Kid Academy

Traverse tricky terrain, shake claws with lobsters, and design ecosystems in this life science enrichment program. Exploring the globe, learners discover the diversity of animal adaptations, habitat differences, and what’s necessary for each biome’s survival through hands-on STEM activities. They’ll travel from the Sahara's sands to the Himalayas' peaks, investigating complex creatures as they build models of each animal, focusing on the biological diversity that makes them unique. Through creative thinking, collaboration, and multi-subject integration, BrickLABZoofosters a unique bond to the Earth’s biospheres and the vital roles animals play in them.

Tuesdays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct 10 - Dec 5

Grades K-5

Cost: $199

My First Piggy Bank - Creative Enrichment

Earn, save, spend, donate! Through math games and hands-on activities, kids learn about these and other key financial concepts like money, budgeting, and saving. Students will also learn the basic concepts of philanthropy and donating to charity. Everyone will make their very own piggy bank to take home!

Tuesdays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 28 (Dec.5)

Grades K-2

Cost: $260

Karate - Kaizen Karate

Kaizen Karate's team of highly trained martial artists offer a number of programs for students. We focus on discipline and encouragement in a fun-loving environment.  The main goal is to help everyone progress, continually improve, and enjoy the process. Karate instruction is geared towards the students age and current belt rank.

Tuesdays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct 3,10,17,24,31, Nov 7,14,28, Dec 5,12 (no class: Nov 21)

Grades: K-5

Cost: $235

Wednesdays

Soccer (outdoors) - MSA Sports

MSA believes children should be equipped with the knowledge of learning the fundamentals of sports, but also about responsibility, leadership, and teamwork!  We want all children to learn the building blocks of the sport they want to play and to add to that foundation as they become more experienced in the sport.  Our coaches will inspire these characteristics into children as they learn their sport.

Wednesdays at 3:50-5p

Dates: Oct 4 - Nov 29

Grades K-5

Cost: $175

Anatomy: Featured Creatures - Big Learning

Explore anatomy by examining the function of skin, hair, feathers, skeletons, and exoskeletons. Discover unique ways animals survive and protect themselves through experimentation and

exploration. Learn about habitats by making an edible gummi worm farm and studying what brine shrimp need to survive. How do the shapes of teeth and beaks give you clues about what each animal eats? Explore camouflage and bioluminescence and how animals protect

themselves. 

Wednesdays at 4-5p 

Dates: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 8, 15, 29, Dec. 6

Grades K-2

Cost: $180

Anatomy: Biological Clues - Big Learning

In this exploration of biology and anatomy students will investigate bacteria and fungi that

live on classroom surfaces by growing them in a Petri dish and then try to identify them. Then

explore the role of genes in dominant and recessive traits. Learn about DNA and extract it

from cells! Try to identify birds and marine mammals by their calls. Is it a humpback whale or

an orca? Examine an owl pellet and try to identify the owl's major food sources from the 

bones in the pellet and compare homologous bones across species. 

Wednesdays at 4-5p 

Dates: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 8, 15, 29, Dec. 6

Grades 3-5

Cost: $180

Music Lessons: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Drum - Learn Now Music

Students will participate in an ensemble music group. They may choose which instrument to play during the session. Piano, guitar, violin or drums. Students will learn about the instruments as well as how to play in a music group. *FREE Rental Instruments included.

Wednesdays at 4-5p

Dates: Weekly Sept 27- June 12

Grades K-5

Cost: $89 x 10 payments

Thursdays

Basketball (indoors) - MSA Sports

MSA is known for improving each athlete's skills and tremendously enhancing their ability to perform newly acquired skills while having FUN! Through fundamentally sound drills, games and innovative visualization techniques, we help the athlete not only to improve their skills, but also allows them to gain confidence, build up their self-esteem and overall attitude for life and the game itself.

Thursdays at 3:50-5p

Dates: Oct 5 - Nov 30

Grades K-5

Cost: $175

Fall Spanish Introductory - Big Learning

Let’s speak Spanish! This story-based program provides a fun introduction to Spanish where children learn and practice speaking the language through storytelling, games, songs, puppets, and hands-on activities. Join us for the story of La Caperucita Roja, or The Little Red Riding Hood, all in Spanish! Appropriate for children who may not yet be reading or writing in English. Thursdays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 30

Grades K-1

Cost: $180

Fall Spanish Beginner - Big Learning 

Open a window to another culture, communicate in Spanish, and make discoveries!

Children will build practical Spanish skills in a fun, small-group, immersion setting with lively

games and activities. We explore customs and traditions, greetings and expressions, numbers,

calendar, weather, colors and shapes, body parts, favorite pets, the family, and a birthday party.

Appropriate for beginners who are reading and writing in English. 

Thursdays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 30

Grades 2-5

Cost: $180

Fall Spanish Intermediate - Big Learning

Learning another language and about another culture is an enduring and powerful life skill that

allows us to communicate and make meaningful connections with others. This level introduces a

broad variety of topics and cultural notes that allow children to explore customs and traditions,

geography, history, and practical use of the language as they practice reading and writing in Spanish. Intermediate level is a full-year program offered over two sessions during the school year. Prerequisite is at least one 12-wk or two 8-wk sessions of Beginner level or equivalent experience. 

Thursdays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16, 30

Grades 3-5

Cost: $180

Coding - Panda Programmer

Learn about Scratch JavaScript. Created by MIT, Scratch is a program that allows students to create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. Python - from web development to

data science, machine learning, and more, Python’s real-world applications are limitless. 

JavaScript is the language that powers your favorite websites and online applications. Students learn HTML and CSS as well!

Thursdays at 4-6p

Dates: Sept 14 (for 6 weeks)

Grades K-5

Cost: $239

Fridays

Pottery - Mudskippers Pottery

Join Mudskippers Pottery this session as we explore all things Fall! Get ready to get your hands dirty and tackle NEW projects that are sure to keep you entertained. You will work on pinch pots, coil pots and slab hand built pottery as you take your pottery from start to finish even glazing your own work! You don’t want to miss this chance to create memorable masterpieces you can cherish all year round! Come on and let’s get muddy!

Fridays at 4-5p

Dates: Oct 6 - Dec 1

Grades: K-5

Cost: $203

*These classes are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Board of Education of Montgomery County, the superintendent, or Diamond elementary school.