The Big City Montessori School after school program follows the same principles as the Montessori classroom: Respect for each other, for one’s self, and for the environment. The after school program is run by our Co-Director, Miss Hilma, and it offers age-appropriate activities for all children. After school care is an opportunity for open-ended activities such as thematic and dramatic play. The program also offers specialized enrichment classes including Spanish, Music, Art, Soccer and Dance. All of these classes are available to each of our students and is included in the tuition. The after school program starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m. Healthy snacks are also provided.

Music Enrichment

Teacher – Mr. Alexei

Schedule:

After school enrichment – Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Morning Circle Lesson – Thursdays 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Biography:

Alexei Wajchman grew up in San Francisco’s Mission District and attended SF School of the Arts high school. After learning to play clarinet and saxophone, he taught himself to play guitar and began writing songs at 15. He was part of SF Community Music Center’s scholarship program for 10 years and he also won a scholarship to the Blue Bear School of American Music. He has performed for the past 5 years with his own group, Blind Willies. They’ve released three albums of Alexei’s original music and played at venues such as Great American Music Hall and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. His songs have also been played on hundreds of radio stations around the world. In addition to performing original music, Alexei has worked with local children’s performer Enzo Garcia as an assistant in Enzo’s LMNO music classes for preschoolers at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center.

Curriculum:

Mr. Alexei is teaching a program of folk and popular music, presenting varied artists and genres, as well as exploring instruments, hands on, and song writing together with the children. Mr. Alexei brings his own style and breadth of experience to the program and we enjoy having him with us!

Art Enrichment

Art Teacher – Miss Angela

Schedule:

Morning Circle Lesson + Creative Work Time – Fridays 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

(rotating to each classroom weekly)

Biography:

A native of Philadelphia, Angela Baker received her art education in Columbus, OH, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Columbus College of Art and Design in 1993 with an emphasis in painting and drawing. Since 2002 Angela has been teaching both in-school and after school visual art classes with established San Francisco arts organizations such as Leap…Imagination in Learning, ArtSpan and the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Since 2006 Angela has been Artist in Residence at Sunnyside Elementary in San Francisco. During the 2008-09 school year she worked with the students, teachers and staff there to create a large, ceramic Peace Wall mural.

Angela strives to spark imaginations and develop critical thinking skills by encouraging students to explore a variety of art mediums such as painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture while occasionally making connections to art history as well.

Angela is also an exhibiting painter whose work has been showcased in both group and solo shows in the U.S. and Hungary at the George Lawson Gallery in Los Angeles, Alpan Gallery in New York, and Vizivarosi Gallery in Budapest, Hungary.

Curriculum:

Paint Exploration

• Dip dyed paper – free form mixing of primary colors to secondary colors
• Abstract painting – mixing 2 primary colors plus white using tempera paints (inspired by the paintings of Sonia Delaunay)
• Crayon and watercolor resist painting
• Pointillism inspired painting with tempera paints
• Paper marbling

Drawing

• Gesture drawing warm up with markers
• Invented animals (inspired by mythological creatures) using colored pencil
• Relief printmaking inspired by pattern

Paper Arts/Collage

• Collage of food using various textures of paper (inspired by Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings)
• Tissue paper and tin foil collage
• Felt collage inspired by the work of Faith Ringgold
• Group paper collage of ocean creatures

3-D Exploration

• Clay exploration
• Pinch pots
• Papier mache

Fitness Enrichment

Soccer Skills – Coach Lou

Schedule:

On the Playground – Thursdays 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Biography:

Coach Lou Rosales grew up in South San Francisco, CA and has played competitive soccer for over 18 years. From ages 16-18, he played for Marin United where he was awarded a State Cup Championship and a Regional Championship. He grew up playing club soccer all around the bay area and was recruited to play at Washington & Jefferson College on the East Coast.

Since college, Coach Lou has been instructing youth soccer for over 6 years. He is an “E’ & “D” level licensed coach, licensed referee, and has a passion for teaching soccer to today’s youth.

Curriculum:

Children learn how to kick, dribble, pass and score goals. These activities will help with your child’s balance, fluidity and coordination on and off the field. Children learn how to work in groups and maintain positive sportsmanship, while still engaging in an exciting sport.

Dance Enrichment

Dance Teacher – Shireen Knopoff

Schedule:

Thursdays 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Biography:

Shireen Knopoff trained in jazz, ballet, and tap at the Dancer’s Synetic Group studio in San Francisco, while earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Russian Literature at San Francisco State University. Since earning her degree, she has continued to share her passion and love of dance by teaching children’s dance classes at various preschools throughout San Francisco, and at Sunset Movement Arts dance studio in the Sunset District.

Curriculum:

Children learn and explore various styles of dance and movement such as ballet, tango, jazz, jive, and free dance while moving to fun children’s songs and music. These activities help your child’s balance and coordination.