Enrichment Programs

Pre-K: Musiquita!

Kindergarten: Robopets with Snapology

Grade 1: Disney Songs with The Broadway Class

Grade 2: Dance Exploration with Studio E

Grade 3: Learning Through Art with the Guggenheim Musem

Grade 4: Mask Making with Smartworks

Grade 5: DNA Lab with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS OVERVIEW

Enrichment programs are in-class activities designed to give students the opportunity to try new things, explore, and develop interests outside of the standard curriculum. Activities can range from dance to engineering to musical theater to fine art.  Enrichment programs are a great way to encourage students to follow their passions, develop new interests, and build new skills. The Parents' Association funds several enrichment programs per grade, from Pre-K to 5th. Each program runs for 6-12 weeks and is taught by experts in the respective field.  Below are descriptions of the enrichment programs offered during the 2024-25 school year. Programming may vary from year to year. 

 

Program: Musical Theater

Vendor: The Broadway Class

Description: Former Broadway actress Leah Zepel and her music director husband, Rob Preuss, are thrilled to be teaching songs from Hairspray! Broadway is one of the few unique American art forms. By learning Broadway musicals, the students can experience music that truly comes from a place of storytelling, and each song furthers the dramatic development of characters in a show. They also learn stage etiquette and how to work together as a “cast”. https://www.TheBroadwayClass.com

 

Program: Biology

Vendor: DNA Learning

Description: This residency brings the excitement of molecular biology to P.S. 144 in partnership with the educational arm of famed Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, home of Dr. James Watson, the co-discoverer of DNA's double helix structure. The DNALC’s program of genetics laboratory experiences includes a variety of hands-on experiments to introduce students to the wonderful world of molecular biology.  https://www.dnalc.org

 

Program: Music History

Vendor: The Broadway Class

Description: The Broadway Class is led by Leah Zepel and Rob Preuss, local parents who have each spent over 25 years as theater professionals, with many of those years on Broadway. The Beatles Class is a celebration of the most influential band in recorded history. In this class students learn who The Beatles were (and are), who their influences were, and how they changed the landscape of music forever, through learning some of their most famous songs and the stories that go along with them. https://www.TheBroadwayClass.com

    

Program: Sculpture Through Mask-Making

Vendor: Smartworks

Description: Under the tutelage of Smartworks teaching artist and founder, Gustavo Asto, students will create an original mask using wire, papier mache, clay, and paint. They will learn how to use geometric shapes to reproduce the features of the face, how to mix and juxtapose colors, and how to stylize details for dramatic effect. The enrichment program will culminate in an exhibit for families where they can speak with the young artists and learn about their artistic process. https://www.smartworksnyc.com

 

Program: Learning Through Art

Vendor: Guggenheim Museum

Description: New York's famed Guggenheim Museum has created an innovative program focusing on the intersection of art and science. LTA cultivates student creativity by designing sustained, process-oriented art projects that support learning across the curriculum. Past years have featured Da Vinci inspired inventions, the science of color, and the artistic rendering of kinetic and mechanical energy. Prior to COVID, children made multiple visits to the museum, which offers new insights into art and challenges them to think critically about art and ideas. We hope these visits are able to resume soon. At the conclusion of the enrichment program there will be an in-school exhibition featuring the work of every child in the grade, and selected student works are exhibited in the annual A Year with Children exhibition held at the Guggenheim Museum. https://www.guggenheim.org/for-educators/learning-through-art

 

Program: Spanish Language

Vendor: ABC Languages

Description: ABC Languages provides Spanish language classes through the use of children’s language curriculum, applying games, songs and hands-on activities. ABC instructors customize a lesson plan for each age group and level to ensure a fun and engaging learning journey. ABC is one of the nation’s leading independent language schools, and has been the go-to language provider for a wide range of public and private schools in New York. Fun fact, they also regularly work with actors who need language or accent training such as Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves. https://www.abclang.com

 

Program: Dance Exploration

Vendor: Studio E

Description: Studio E has been a staple of the Queens community for over 50 years, creating a fun, safe and wholesome environment for their students, where they feel energized to dance with their friends while having fun and learning new things. By providing a sense of accomplishment and creative expression, their classes build the students’ confidence. Their Dance Exploration series is designed to introduce students to the excitement and variety of dance. This program provides a dynamic and engaging opportunity for students to explore three distinct dance styles (Hip Hop, Jazz/Musical Theater & Creative Movement,) develop foundational skills, and express themselves creatively in a supportive and fun environment. The session concludes with an interactive overview to celebrate their progress and achievements.

 

Program: Disney Music

Vendor: The Broadway Class

Description: The Disney Music program will introduce some of our younger students to music appreciation through learning timeless songs. The Broadway Class hopes to impart the love of creating music with our voices and bodies and also teach our students how to be engaging on stage. https://www.TheBroadwayClass.com

 

Program: ABCs of Creative Movement

Vendor: Together In Dance

Description: This program is designed to provide high quality dance education to early learners, while providing teachers with skills and knowledge in order to integrate movement into their daily activities. Students learn to deepen connections between arts learning and cognitive, social and personal development. They are taught discipline and how to foster self-expression thereby developing communications skills – both verbally and kinesthetically. The classes help students create strategies to work cooperatively and collaboratively while engaging them in the creative process of dance making. https://www.togetherindance.org

 

Program: Spanish Language and Music

Vendor: Musiquita

Description: Musiquita offers a playful exploration of music in Spanish and English for pre-school aged children. Combining music with language and culture, Musiquita! builds and strengthens Spanish and English language skills through vibrant and approachable songs. Instructors Blanca and Jesse use violin, piano, ukulele, melodica, voice, percussion and movement to engage young learners in a mix of traditional, modern, and original musical compositions. https://www.musiquita.nyc

 

Program: Animals Alive

Vendor: Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC)

Description: APEC’s outreach program aims to educate children about the wonders of our natural environment. It seeks to augment core curriculum and state standards by providing safe and quality inquiry based science lessons. The APEC program also brings stimulating materials to enhance understanding and promote critical thinking skills among students. Each grade will receive an interactive lesson that offers observation and inquiry of live animals to help students understand animal classifications (mammal, bird, reptile, and more) and address predator/prey relationships and animal adaptations. https://www.apec.org

 

Program: Cumbia for Kids

Vendor: Folklore Urbano 

Description: The program takes students on a journey through the four main geographical regions of Colombia, teaching its diverse traditions from the cowboy music of the Llanos Orientales to the African rhythms of the Pacific Coast. Pablo and Anna Mayor lead original songs in Spanish, teach Afro-Latino rhythms on the traditional drums and basic melodies on the gaita flutes from Indigenous communities. Daniel Fetecua leads students in dance and creative movement inspired by Colombia’s diverse dance traditions. The comprehensive curriculum includes lessons on culture, geography and language, and celebrates diversity as it highlights the Spanish, Indigenous, and African roots of Latin America. The program concludes with a performance for families. To learn more, please visit https://flushingtownhall.org/folklore-urbano-nyc

 

Program: RoboPets

Vendor: Snapology

Description: In this program, your little builders will begin their exploration into the world of robotics by building simple, animal-inspired machines that are controlled by icon-based program codes. They will learn some fundamental engineering and programming concepts as they build goofy animals and design perfect habitats to protect their new robotic friends. Maybe you can't have an alligator as a pet at home, but you can definitely build one in the classroom with Snapology!

 

Program: Robotics

Vendor: Snapology

In this game-focused robotics program, the students explore the basics of robotics while playing some really awesome games with and against their classmates! While working with a partner to complete various challenges, the young engineers will be taught how to effectively utilize sensors, how different mechanical components work in their robots, and how programming is a challenging but rewarding skill that they can master with just a little practice. The students will develop their coding and building skills and be inspired with creative building challenges and awesome games! To learn more, please visit https://www.snapology.com/classes/gamebots-robotics