Class Descriptions

The Woods Winter Wonders After-School Program strives to offer lots of variety in our after-school activities, 

with a goal of staying safe while providing a balance of structure and fun,

and having something to interest all our students.  

Email us via the "Contact Us" tab if you have any suggestions of  how we may improve out program!

Some scholarships may be available for families facing financial hardship.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

 
 

Mr. Bryan Reading Beowulf to a Pocket Fairy

 

T2 Before-School Program (Winter)

Last year we extended the hours of our before-school program to opening at 7:15 a.m, which we will continue this year.  All elementary and middle school students who arrive before 8:00 a.m., must either await the school's opening at 8, or be registered in the before-school program.

Cost:  $48/trimester

T2 Grades K-4 Full-Time After-School (Winter)

The daily schedule provides a framework for students which is safe, fun and productive.  We spend as much time out of doors as humanly possible.

Here is a sample of what the schedule may be:

2:50-3:15 Arrival and Check-In

3:15-3:30 Restroom & Snack, Introduction into Day's Activities

3:30-4:15 Outside Physical Activities

4:15-4:50 Homework Hub--Outdoors, weather-permitting

4:50-5:45 Art Project

5:45-6:00 Closing Circle- Cleaning up

We have special parties several times a year, to celebrate a holiday (like Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day), which just add to the "fun factor" of our after-school program.

Full-Time Cost:  $637/Trimester, $1,910 Annually.

Contact [email protected] with any questions you may have,

T2 Grades K-4 PT 3/days/week (Winter)

The Daily Schedule is the same as that shown for the Full-Time Program.  Please email [email protected], copying [email protected], to specficy which three days of the week your child will be attending.

Cost:  $382/Trimester, $1,146 Annually

Please note:  The default registration days are Monday/Wednesday/Friday, but after you register you may email [email protected] (copying [email protected]) to specify on which days your child will be in attendance, and we will make any necessary changes.

T2 Grades K-4 PT 2/days/week (Winter)

The program description is the same as that shown for the full-time program, but for two days a week.

Cost:  $254/Trimester, $763 Annually

Please note:  The default registration days are Tuesday/Thursday, but after you register you may email [email protected] (copying [email protected]) to specify on which days your child will be in attendance, and we will make any necessary changes.

T2 Full-Time MS Program grades 5-8 (Winter)

Special age-approriate activities, including most of those shown in the regular daily schedule, will be provided for the middle schoolers in our care, and additionally options such as quiet reading, homework completion and studying will be encouraged.

Hours:  3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Days:  Mon-Friday

The Middle School after-school program costs $382/Trimester, $1,146 Annually.  

Contact akaiyala/@ woodscharter.org to make a special arrangement as to the # of days/week your MS student will attend after-school if you don't need or want Full-Time.

T2 Middle School Part-Time 3/days/week (Winter)

Special age-approriate activities, including most of those shown in the regular daily schedule, will be provided for the middle schoolers in our care, and additionally options such as quiet reading, homework completion and studying will be encouraged.

Hours:  3:00 - 6:00 p.m. for three days a week

Days:  Any three days between Monday and Friday

The Part-time Middle School after-school program costs $229/trimester, $686 annually

T2 Middle School Part-Time 2/days/week (Winter)

Special age-approriate activities, including most of those shown in the regular daily schedule, will be provided for the middle schoolers in our care, and additionally options such as quiet reading, homework completion and studying will be encouraged.

Hours:  3:00 - 6:00 p.m. for two days a week

Days:  Any two days between Monday and Friday

The Part-time Middle School after-school program costs $152/trimester for attending 2/days/week. 

T2 Winter Drop-In Care (1 day, 3 hrs.)

The daily schedule is the same as that shown for full-time students.  Parents who are in need of some last-minute help with afterschool care may contact Jake Weaver, the Program Director, copying Ann Kaiyala, to request same.  Phone calls to the office are not recommended, but in cases of true emergency  -- defined as less than two hours' advance notice -- are acceptable.  Calls to the office: (919) 960-8353, Ext. 100.  You may email Jake at [email protected], copying Ann at [email protected], to notify us of your intent to use the drop-in option.

Cost:  $16.50/day

T2 Winter Session Wrap-Around After-School Care

We want to afford every student the opportunity to attend our after-school classes and participate in sports activities, which may mean that they are unable to catch the bus home that day or otherwise need some supervision between 3:00 and 6:00 for that reason.  We've developed a special "one day" wrap-around care option which enables students not otherwise registered in our after-school program to attend it on the afternoons s/he has a class to attend or some time to fill before or after participating in a sports activity, or are awaiting their sibs to be done with theirs.  These students will be able to hang out with Mr. Jake and Crew during this gap time and receive the proper supervision they need, rather than being at loose ends!

Instructor: Mr. Jake and His Team of Counselors

Times:  A maximum of 1-1/2 hours anytime between dismissal and 6:00 p.m. 

Cost:  $8.25

Rhythm in the Woods Session II Summary Description

     

Casting Call!!!

"Spring in the Woods


Grades K-5 Welcome! 

All three classes will work together to create the “Spring in the Woods” recital!

Ballet Winter/Spring Session 2025

Designed to build a strong foundation in classical ballet technique while nurturing a love for movement and music. Young dancers will learn basic ballet vocabulary, proper body placement, and studio etiquette in a fun and supportive environment. Through creative exercises, storytelling, and imaginative themes, students will develop coordination, musicality, and self-confidence. 

Instructor:  Jessi Knight

Dates:  January 5th through March 23rd (10 classes) (PLEASE NOTE:  no class on January 18th and February 16th due to school holidays)

Day of the Week:  Monday

Time:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Grades:  K-5

Registration Fee:  $250

Supply Fee:  $35

Recital Fee:  $25

 

Circus Arts

Get ready to flip, dance, and fly! This high-energy class combines the best of circus arts with dance and acrobatics. Students will explore juggling, plate spinning, hooping, and various dance styles while building strength through tumbling skills like handstands and cartwheels. We'll also dive into partner acrobatics—think human pyramids and dynamic lifts! Each session blends creativity with physical challenge in a supportive, fun environment. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm and a willingness to try something new! The class will perform in the Spring in Woods recital in March. 

Instructor:  Jill Amber Chafin

Dates:  January 13th through March 24th (11 classes)

Day of the Week:  Tuesday

Time:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Grades:  K-5

Registration Fee:  $275

Supply Fee:  $35

Recital Fee:  $25

Ninja Warriors

Are you ready to unleash your inner warrior? Join the Warrior Club, an action-packed adventure class! This  is all about building confidence and having a blast through movement and play. Each session is a new challenge with dynamic obstacle courses designed to get kids running, climbing, and problem-solving. These warriors will be developing core skills like balance and coordination in a fun, supportive environment. Your child will master exciting warrior moves, from powerful high kicks and daring jumps to stealthy crawling and ninja rolls. Whether your child is a natural athlete or just loves to be active, they will find their place and thrive here. Sign up today and let your young warrior discover their strength, agility, and courage! 

Ninjas will show off their obstacle courses abilities, powerful kicks and punches, as well as their improved agility and balance during a ninja warrior demonstration at the “Spring in the Woods” recital!

Instructor:  Sara Fields

Dates:  January 14th through March 25th (11 classes)

Day of the Week:  Wednesday

Time:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Grades:  K-5

Registration Fee:  $275

Supply Fee:  $35

Recital Fee:  $25

 
Door Decorators - Session I

Tired of the same old classroom doors? So are we! Join the Woods Secret School Spirit Society (W.S.S.S.S.)—our after-school mission is to transform our wonderful teachers' classroom entrances into dazzling, frosty masterpieces. We'll be using the incredible Cricut—a cutting tool so precise, it makes scissors look like ancient history.  Toss out the old scissors! The Cricut Machine is a precision-cutting powerhouse that turns student designs to custom-made, school decor.  We will work together to conceptualize and design each classroom door. Then, with stealthy flair, as the WCSSSS (Woods Charter School Secret Spirit Squad) we will “spirit bomb” the classroom doors, surprising the teachers!  You'll learn how to take a digital design and turn it into perfect snowflakes, sophisticated snowscapes, and adorable arctic animals. Our goal is to turn our hallways into a beautiful  Winter Wonderland! While sharing school spirit, we will surprise our teachers and get to see their faces light up when they find their door transformed overnight! Let's make this winter memorable together!

Instructor:  Tess O'Nolan

Dates:  January 14th through February 18th (six sessions) 

Day of the Week:  Wednesday

Times:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Grades:  K-8

Registration Fee:   $150

Supply Fee:  $15

 

Learn Guitar & Make the World a Better Place 2026

Getting to know the guitar is so much fun! We'll learn the names of the parts of the guitar and how to tune it. We’ll dig into basic open chords, strums and fingerpicking patterns. We'll listen to and talk about our favorite music and why we like it. And, of course, we’ll learn to play some songs and make the world a better place!
 
Students must bring their own instrument. If your student is smaller, we recommend that your student have a 3/4 size guitar with nylon strings for this class. If you already have a guitar, that will work too. Contact the instructors at [email protected] or [email protected] for recommendations on an affordable (and playable!) instrument for your child or other questions. Also, if you do not have the book from last spring's session, you will need to purchase that, contact Joey for the Amazon link.
 
Instructors: Joey Howell and Debbie Hoodiman
 
Grades: 4 - 6
 
Day of the Week: Monday
 
Dates: January 12th through March 16th (except no class on 1/19 & 2/16 (MLK & Presidents Day), 8 sessions
 
Times: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
 
Registration Cost: $175
Winter Session After-School Chess Club

       

Chess is a magnificent game that teaches many skills such as patience, discipline, logic, and planning.  Life-long chess player and Woods parent Kevin Mahoney would like to bring the joy and the challenge of this game to Woods Charter in the form of Chess Club, open to aspiring players who know the basics of the game.

In this class, students will build the skills it takes to play this royal game of Kings and Queens including:

  • Setting up the board
  • Learning all the pieces and how they move
  • Discovering the special rules
  • Studying basic strategies 
  • Getting the chance to play others with similar skills level

Chess is a great way to develop cognitive skills such as attention, memory, decision-making and creativity. Playing the computer can be fun, but there is something about sitting across the board in real time that makes it so much more exciting. 

Instructor:  Kevin Mahoney

Day:  Thursday

Dates: January 22nd through February 26th (six classes)

Time:  3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Ages:  Open to students in grades K-8

Registration fee:  $110.00

Crochet 101

This one-week class will prepare students to make a granny square winter cardigan by learning the basics of crochet, including how to hold the yarn and hook, maintain proper tension, make a slip knot, and create a starting chain.

Instructor:  Jamie Horil

Date: January 15th (1 session)

Day of the Week:  Thursday

Time:  3:30-4:30 p.m.

Ages:  9+

Registration Fee:  $25 (all students will receive their own crochet hook!)

Cozy Up & Crochet: Granny Square Winter Cardigan

Calling all crochet kids!  Let's go crazy with granny squares.  Possibilities are endless but the end goal is to create something fun and unique that says Wow!    Prerequisites:  Class participants should know how to: hold the yarn and hook, maintain proper tension, make a slip knot, and create a starting chain.  Not required but helpful to know:  make chain (ch), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc) , double crochet (dc), slip stitch(sl), and turn their work.  Skills Learned: ribbing, magic ring, working in the round, increasing & decreasing stitches, changing colors, weaving in ends, counting stitches, following a pattern and seaming granny squares together. 

PLEASE NOTE that if you child does not already knew the prerequisites s/he may take Crochet 101 -- which meets once the week preceding this offering -- and will prepare your child for Cozy Up & Crochet.  See that class desription above this one.

Instructor:  Jamie Horil

Dates:  January 22nd through February 26th (six classes)

Day of the Week:  Thursday

Time:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Ages:  9+

Registration Fee:  $160

Supply Fee:  $20