SOAR Aftercare and Enrichment
SOAR at Fort Worth Country Day offers grades JK-4 students a series of engaging and unique scholastic, arts and recreation opportunities outside of the traditional school day schedule.
On school days from dismissal until to 6 p.m., students in SOAR have the opportunity to spark new interests, build upon their existing passions and develop new peer relationships all without having to leave the FWCD campus! Available to students in grades JK-4, SOAR is led by a team of Fort Worth Country Day faculty and staff, accomplished educators and experienced childcare professionals.
Register for SOAR Extended Care
Register for SOAR Enrichment Programs
Downloads
Spring 2024 Enrichment Programs
Spring enrichment program enrollment opens Tuesday, December 5 at noon.
*Enrollment closes at 5 p.m. on the Friday before each program begins.
Monday - Spring
The Knight School Chess (Mondays)
The Knight School chess team is here! The Knight School is a beginner-friendly, high-energy, party-based, developmentally enriching chess academy. Our program is unique; each lesson is full of chess jokes, silly chess videos, and fun activities on top of chess tactics lessons and chess play! Classes are 75-minutes each, once a week after school, where we learn a new chess tactic in our lesson and then students strive to perform tactics and earn color-coded “tactixbands” (wristbands) during our Mardi-Gras bead tournaments.
Eligible Grades | K-4 |
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Tuition | $390 |
Days/Times | Mondays, 3:45-5 p.m. |
Dates | January 8-April 29 (no class January 15, February 19, March 11, and April 15) |
Instructor | Jeff O'Shaughnessy |
Art Club
Art Club will meet weekly and covers a wide variety of mediums, techniques, and skills through a combination of both guided and open-ended projects. Classes include lessons in art history and art appreciation, while cultivating creativity in each young artist. All artwork will be showcased during our last day of class at our Gallery Afternoon.
Eligible Grades | 1-4 |
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Tuition | $385 |
Days/Times | Mondays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | January 8-April 1 (no class January 15, February 19, and March 11) |
Instructor | Pamela Lancaster |
Exploring Textile Art
Come explore the world of textiles! Students will be introduced to variety of techniques and tools for working with and creating fabric. Over the course of 6 weeks, they will produce unique projects that can be worn, displayed, or gifted to others. Tuition covers the cost of materials that students will use in this class.
Eligible Grades | 3-4 |
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Tuition | $220 |
Days/Times | Mondays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | January 8-February 26 (no class January 15 and February 19) |
Instructor | Rachel Fineman |
Crafternoon
Crafters will have the opportunity to try out different materials and techniques while they have fun with their friends. Students will be encouraged to try new things and get creative. They will bring home projects made through explorations with color, material, and imagination.
Eligible Grades | 3-4 |
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Tuition | $200 |
Days/Times | Mondays, 3:30-4:15 p.m. |
Dates | March 4-April 29 (no class March 11, April 1, and April 15) |
Instructor | Rachel Fineman |
Junior Falcon Cheer (Session 1)
Have a blast stunting, tumbling, jumping, cheering, and dancing with Coach Krauss and some Varsity Cheerleaders! There will be a performance for family and friends during the final session! Each participant will receive a Jr. Cheerleader t-shirt and a pair of poms to keep!
Eligible Grades | K-2 |
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Tuition | $180 |
Days/Times | Mondays, 3:30-5 p.m. |
Dates | March 18-April 8 |
Instructor | Courtney Krauss |
Junior Falcon Cheer (Session 2)
Have a blast stunting, tumbling, jumping, cheering, and dancing with Coach Krauss and some Varsity Cheerleaders! There will be a performance for family and friends during the final session! Each participant will receive a Jr. Cheerleader t-shirt and a pair of poms to keep!
Eligible Grades | 2-4 |
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Tuition | $180 |
Days/Times | Mondays, 3:30-5 p.m. |
Dates | April 22-May 13 |
Instructor | Courtney Krauss |
Tuesday - Spring
Kindergarten Art Factory
The Art Factory is open for just the Kindergarten Grade. At dismissal, the students can easily skip carpool and make the short walk to the K-2 art room in the Kindergarten building. The class will help the students become comfortable using a wide variety of mediums, techniques, and skills through a combination of both guided and open-ended projects.
Eligible Grades | Kindergarten |
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Tuition | $385 |
Days/Times | Tuesdays, 3:15-4 p.m. |
Dates | January 23- April 9 (no class March 12 and March 26) |
Instructor | Pamela Lancaster |
Adventure Kids
Inspired by the beautiful FWCD campus, as well as a desire for outdoor activities and technology-free hobbies and skills, students at Adventure Kids will get the opportunity to explore various topics about animals, plants, outdoor hobbies, and simple life skills. Curiosity and an adventurous spirit are welcome as we tie knots, practice fishing, learn about constellations, and much, much more!
Eligible Grades | 2-4 |
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Tuition | $300 |
Days/Times | Tuesdays, 3:45-4:45 p.m. |
Dates | January 9-April 2 (no class March 12) |
Instructor | Kelly Tierce and Luke Tierce (Class of 2024) |
Game Maker
From concept to completion, you will create your own game board using a variety of art materials. Not only will you create the board, but also the game pieces, game cards, spinner and dice. The last day of class, we will have a “BOARD-NOT-BORED!” party and play all of the games!
Eligible Grades | 1-4 |
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Tuition | $150 |
Days/Times | Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m. |
Dates | February 6-27 |
Instructor | Dorrine H. DeChant |
Falcon Co-Ed Volleyball Camp #1
Students will get to improve on their volleyball skills through technique & fundamentals breakdowns. They will also play a number of games to help solidify and encourage the use of their improved skills! We will work on a new skill every week, building on the skills learned the previous week. Our final day will be a super fun game day!
Eligible Grades | 5-7 |
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Tuition | $250 |
Days/Times | Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | February 13-March 19 (no class March 12) |
Instructor | Akia Warrior |
Falcon Co-Ed Volleyball Camp #2
Students will get to improve on their volleyball skills through technique & fundamentals breakdowns. They will also play a number of games to help solidify and encourage the use of their improved skills! We will work on a new skill every week, building on the skills learned the previous week. Our final day will be a super fun game day!
Eligible Grades | 5-7 |
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Tuition | $250 |
Days/Times | Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | March 26-April 23 |
Instructor | Akia Warrior |
Adult Pottery Class
This class will instruct the students in hand building and throwing on the potter's wheel. Various glazing and firing techniques will be explored. Beginners as well as experienced potters and clay artists are welcome. Students need only come to class prepared to work. Clay, tools, and all other supplies will be provided. The instructor is Jerry B Mahle. The location is VAC Rm. 113 Ceramics studio, Fort Worth Country Day School campus.
Eligible Grades | Adult Faculty, Staff, and Parents |
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Tuition | $275 |
Days/Times | Tuesdays, 4:30-6 p.m. |
Dates | January 9-February 27 |
Instructor | Jerry Mahle |
Wednesday - Spring
The Knight School Chess (Wednesdays)
The Knight School chess team is here! The Knight School is a beginner-friendly, high-energy, party-based, developmentally enriching chess academy. Our program is unique; each lesson is full of chess jokes, silly chess videos, and fun activities on top of chess tactics lessons and chess play! Classes are 75-minutes each, once a week after school, where we learn a new chess tactic in our lesson and then students strive to perform tactics and earn color-coded “tactixbands” (wristbands) during our Mardi-Gras bead tournaments.
Eligible Grades | K-4 |
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Tuition | $390 |
Days/Times | Wednesdays, 3:45-5 p.m. |
Dates | January 10-May 1 (no class February 7, March 13, March 27, and April 24) |
Instructor | Jeff O'Shaughnessy |
SOAR with Mandarin Chinese
你好! Ni hao, y’all! Expose your children to a new language and culture through movement, games, and silly dramatic play. Studies show that speaking Mandarin can help process musical pitch. Also, learning to count and write can deepen their understanding of the number system and place value. By the end of the year, students will be able to distinguish the four tones, count and write to 20, answer questions, and recognize basic greetings and commands. Join us for an extended 12-week session series as we celebrate the 2024 Lunar Chinese New Year of the Dragon! Tuition includes supplies and a t-shirt!
Eligible Grades | K-2 |
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Tuition | $360 |
Days/Times | Wednesdays, 3:30-4:15 p.m. |
Dates | January 17-May 1 (no class February 7, March 13, March 27, and April 24) |
Instructor | Sabrina Lou |
Field Hockey
Come learn field hockey on our state of the art turf. Coach Chisholm along with some Upper School players will teach you how to play. We will learn skills and play lots of fun games.
Eligible Grades | K-4 |
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Tuition | $175 |
Days/Times | Wednesday, 3:45-5 p.m. |
Dates | March 20-May 8 (no class March 27 and April 24) |
Instructor | Paige Chisholm |
FWCD Basketball Skills Camp
This co-ed program helps young basketball players understand the fundamentals and learn enjoyment of the game. Learn the finer points of basketball; this camp is for veteran and novice players. Participants work on ball handling, footwork, shooting other important parts of the game. Emphasis is placed on skill, conditioning, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Basketball Skills Camp is hosted by a team of experienced FWCD varsity coaches, led by Joe Breedlove.
Eligible Grades | 1-6 |
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Tuition | $175 |
Days/Times | Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. |
Dates | January 10-February 21 (no class February 7) |
Instructor | Joe Breedlove |
Thursday - Spring
Movin’ and Groovin’
Bring your energy and your smile and get ready to party at Movin’ & Groovin’, the Zumba® Kids enrichment class! Zumba® Kids classes are rocking, high-energy dance parties packed with kid-friendly routines. We break down steps and add games, activities, and cultural elements into the class structure. This program helps participants to develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural part of their lives. All classes are under the guidance of licensed Zumba® Instructors Gaby Booth and Michelle Price. Gaby and Michelle teach weekly Zumba® classes at CERA and YMCA, respectively.
Eligible Grades | JK-4 |
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Tuition | $210 |
Days/Times | Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | February 1-March 7 |
Instructor | Gaby Booth and Michelle Price |
Study Skills & Time Management
A time for your child to learn study skills and executive functioning skills. We will help students learn how to use their planners to manage and plan for long-term projects. We will also teach students how to study for upcoming tests and classroom assignments.
Eligible Grades | 4 |
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Tuition | $200 |
Days/Times | Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | February 8-March 21 (no class February 15, March 7, and March 14) |
Instructor | Sara McCullough and Kelly Jenkins |
Weeklong Intensive (Monday-Friday)
Falcon Co-Ed Volleyball Tune-Up
Students will get to improve on their volleyball skills through technique & fundamentals breakdowns. They will also play a number of games to help solidify and encourage the use of their improved skills! We will work on a new skill every day, building on the skills learned the previous day. Our final day will be a super fun game day!
Eligible Grades | 5-8 |
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Tuition | $250 |
Days/Times | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (week-long intensive), 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Dates | May 6-10 |
Instructor | Akia Warrior |
Policies and Procedures
- To register for Fall 2023 SOAR Enrichment Programs, please visit www.fwcd.org/SOAR
- Lower School AND Middle School students who are participating in a SOAR Enrichment Program will meet in the Lower School Atrium immediately after school, where they will be provided with a complimentary snack.
- Instructors for enrichment programs will lead participants from the Lower School Atrium to their enrichment site.
- Upon conclusion of each enrichment program, students will be brought back to the Lower School Atrium for pick-up.
- In the interest of student accountability and to create the safest environment possible, we ask that parents come into the Lower School Atrium to sign out their student at the end of each enrichment session.
- We ask that students are signed out within 10 minutes of the conclusion of their program. Students who are not signed out within 10 minutes of the conclusion of their program will be automatically enrolled in SOAR Extended Care for that day, and your student account will be charged accordingly.
- No refunds will be provided and fees cannot be prorated if a student’s registration is canceled or if classes are missed due to illness, injury, or any other event out of the control of FWCD.
- Enrichment programs are subject to a mandatory minimum enrollment number in order for a program to make. A full refund will be provided if a program is canceled by FWCD due to the mandatory minimum enrollment not being reached.
- Programs are subject to change.
- Tuition assistance is not available for SOAR Enrichment Programs.
- Enrollment closes 48 hours before the start of each program.
- Enrollments processed less than 48 hours before the start of a program are subject to a $50 late enrollment fee.
Extended Care
Full-Year Enrollment Plan
- $3,495 per student for the entire 2023-24 academic year
- Average price-per-day: $19.97
- Includes SOAR Extended Care coverage on all regular and early dismissal days until 6 p.m.
- Students enrolled in the Full-Year Enrollment plan are eligible for tuition assistance, automatically applied to your monthly bill (please see 2023-24 SOAR Extended Care Information Packet for details).
- Payments divided equally over 9 monthly payments (October-June), charged to your student account each month
- Includes daily snack served at 4 p.m.
- Open to students in grades JK-4
Single-Day Enrollment Plan
- $25/day for regular days (3:10 p.m. dismissal)
- $35/day for early dismissal days (10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. dismissals)
- Includes SOAR Extended Care coverage until 6 p.m. on the days in which you choose to enroll your student
- Fees are billed to student accounts each month based on the days you utilize SOAR Extended Care
- Includes daily snack served at 4 p.m.
- Open to students in grades JK-4
Program Description
Upon dismissal every school day, students in JK-4 who are enrolled in SOAR are taken to the Fischer Dining Pavilion (FDP) to check-in. There, participants will have the opportunity to work on their homework and/or engage in games, arts and crafts, and recess activities. Participants will receive a daily snack at 4 p.m.. Parents and registered guardians can pick-up their participants any time before 6 p.m. by checking them out via a designated SOAR staff member in the FDP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the members of the SOAR Extended Care and Enrichment Programs staff?
SOAR Extended Care and Enrichment Programs are led by FWCD staff, professional educators, and experienced childcare professionals who have completed thorough background checks and training procedures.
Can I get a refund for my unused days in my annual SOAR Extended Care package?
Due to the fixed costs and planning involved in executing this type of program, we are unable to provide refunds for any annual or daily SOAR Extended Care purchases. There is no discount, refund, or other allowance due to absence or illness.
I only plan on using SOAR Extended Care a few days per week; can you adjust the cost of the annual enrollment package accordingly?
We are unable to adjust or prorate the cost of any SOAR Extended Care programs.
Is tuition assistance available?
Tuition assistance is available for qualified families towards Full-Year Enrollments (tuition assistance is not available for Single-Day/Drop-In Enrollments). Award amounts are determined by a family’s current tuition assistance award for their School tuition, up to a maximum of 75% (example: a 25% tuition assistance award for School tuition = a 25% tuition assistance award for your SOAR Extended Care Full-Year Enrollment). We will automatically deduct the appropriate amount from your bill. Please note: Tuition assistance is not available for SOAR Enrichment Programs.
Are payment plans available for SOAR programs?
SOAR Full-Year Extended Care enrollment tuition is automatically broken into nine monthly payment installments (Applied to your October 1 - June 1 billing cycles). Payment plans are not available for single-day enrollment plans and SOAR Enrichment Programs.
What does SOAR do on early dismissal days?
SOAR Extended Care programs are available on early dismissal days at FWCD, beginning at the conclusion of the abbreviated school day and ending at 6 p.m. The Single-Day Enrollment Plan fees are $35/day for early dismissal days. Coverage on all early dismissal days are included in the Full-Year Enrollment Plan.
Does SOAR operate on School holidays?
SOAR Extended Care and Enrichment Programs are not available on FWCD holidays.
What do I do when I would like to utilize the single-day/drop-in option for my student on a particular day?
When you would like to utilize the single-day/drop-in option, please email the SOAR inbox ([email protected]) with your student’s name, grade and the day(s) that you would like your student to attend SOAR Extended Care. To ensure a smooth transition for your child at the end of the academic day, email your requests prior to 2 p.m. on the days that your student will be utilizing the program.
If my student is participating in a SOAR Enrichment Program, do I have to register them for SOAR Extended Care on that day? Do I have to escort them to the SOAR Enrichment Program?
Students participating in a SOAR Enrichment Program are not required to register for SOAR Extended Care. At the end of the school day, students enrolled in a SOAR Enrichment Program will be taken to the SOAR check-in station in the Fischer Dining Pavilion. Students will receive a snack and will then be picked up by their Enrichment Program Instructor, who will walk students to the Enrichment Program location. At the end of the Enrichment Program session, students will then be taken back to the Fischer Dining Pavilion for check-out.
My student has special dietary needs. Will you have a special snack to accommodate their situation?
While we can’t accommodate all dietary requests as they pertain to daily snack, the SOAR staff works closely with Director of School Health Services Lori McCormack, RN, to ensure that no SOAR participants are exposed to dangerous allergens. We also make sure that none of our snacks contain nuts (nor are they produced in facilities that process nuts). Please be sure to complete the “allergy and other medical concerns” section of the SOAR application to further ensure that the SOAR staff is aware of your student’s dietary and medical needs.
SOAR Extended Care Terms & Conditions
- The SOAR Extended Care program is available to all Fort Worth Country Day students in Junior Kindergarten through Fourth Grade from normal dismissal until 6 p.m.
- Students in grades JK-4 who are not picked up by 3:30 p.m. will automatically be brought to SOAR Extended Care and charged at the Single-Day rate.
- All fees will be applied to student accounts. Bills are assessed on the first of each month, and payments are due on the 20th of the month.
- If a family is late on payments, the child(ren) will not be allowed to participate in the Extended Care program until the account is paid in full.
- Parents must park and escort their child(ren) out of the building after signing them out with the SOAR personnel in the afternoon.
- Parents must enter the Fischer Dining Pavilion to sign-out their children, indicating the time of pick-up and their signature.
- A photo ID may be required at times by SOAR personnel for student dismissal.
- Children will only be released to those listed on the authorized grown-up list for that student.
- Late pickup fees are applied at the rate of $2 per minute after 6 pm.
- Parents that are late picking up their child(ren) more than three times during one month may be terminated from the SOAR program.
- The SOAR Extended Care contract covers the entire academic year.
- There is no discount, refund or other allowance due to absence or illness.
- Enrollment rates are fixed and do not vary based on the number of hours a student is present for SOAR Extended Care.
- Single-Day Enrollment fees cannot be applied toward the purchase of a Full-Year Enrollment plan.