For Kyrene parents still deciding what to do with their children during fall break, Oct. 10-14, there are options at both the elementary and middle school levels.
Middle school students in the Fall Break Academy can select one or two four-hour classes, which include chess and LEGO classes, where they will learn to do stop-motion animation and storytelling.
The chess classes are run by Phoenix-based Chess Emporium and the coaches come from around the U.S. The founder of the company said that having coaches with strong backgrounds in chess will further develop the kids' passion for the game.
"I try to train my coaches to teach like it was to their own kids, and show them why we love chess," said Scott Freneaux. "They think they are playing a game, but they are adding and subtracting and critical thinking and using creative skills that can come from working on this game. This spills over into their academic studies."
The students who are currently enrolled in the after-school class agreed.
"They teach us strategy," Kyrene de la Colina student Owen Foster, 8, said. "They showed us castling, and dancing with the queen. It's fun."
Fall Break Academy classes at Kyrene Akimel A-al, 2720 E. Liberty Lane, run in two blocks, from 8 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. There is a half hour lunch break in between. Each week-long four-hour class costs between $135 and $162.
For elementary students, Kids Club is being offered from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Kyrene de la Colina, 13612 S. 36th St. The After Hours Camp for Tweens, sixth- through eighth-graders, also runs all day and takes place at Akimel A-al. The cost for either is $35 per day.
To find out more, visit www.kyrene.org/commedfhb/FallBreakOptions.html.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-4903 or troemhild@ahwatukee.com
