SOAR Extended Care and Enrichment Programs

SOAR at Fort Worth Country Day offers students a series of engaging and unique scholastic, arts and recreation opportunities outside of the traditional school day schedule. On school days from 3:10 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 – 6, SOAR is led by a team of Fort Worth Country Day faculty and staff, accomplished educators and experienced childcare professionals.

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Enrichment Programs

Registration for these programs will open on Tuesday, August 20 at 12 noon.

Monday

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  • Glass Creations (Grades 4 - 6)

    Hosted by Dorrine DeChant, FWCD Visual Arts Teacher

    Grades 4 - 6
    Mondays, 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
    October 28 - November 18 Tuition: $125

    Through the use of glass, students will create expressive art objects. They will learn how fused glass is created in the kiln as well as the slump technique. The varied forms of glass materials used will include Glass Stringer; Glass Frit; and the instructor’s favorite, Dichroic Glass. For safety reasons, the students will need to wear sneakers/closed-toes shoes for every class. The students will create the pieces throughout the month, and the fired pieces can be picked up the week after the class.
     

  • Knight School Chess (Grades K - 4)

    Hosted by Jeff O’Shaunessey, The Knight School Fort Worth

    Grades K - 4
    Mondays, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
    September 16 - December 16 (no class on 10/14 and 11/25) Tuition: $295

    The Knight School curriculum is a multifaceted chess approach that uses super-fun teaching methods, such as chess games, zany chess videos, silicone wristbands for tactics mastery, chess puzzlers, driving music, hilarious tactics-lesson videos and Mardi-Gras bead tournaments. In this kid-centered classroom environment, Jeff teaches participants every cool trick, strategy, opening and tactic in “Chessdom!” Open to all skill levels!

  • Neon Art (Grades 1 - 4)

    Hosted by Dorrine DeChant, FWCD Visual Arts Teacher

    Grades 1 - 4
    Mondays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    September 9 - 30 Tuition: $100

    Using various 2D and 3D neon-colored art materials, the young artists will create a gallery of their own masterpieces. From painting to sculpture, the projects will be open-ended and fun. If you like things bright and creative, you will love this program!

  • Sew: A Needle Pulling Thread (Grades 2 - 4)

    Hosted by Jennifer Hannah, FWCD Third-Grade Teacher

    Grades 2 - 4
    Mondays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    September 23 - December 9 (no class on 10/14 and 11/25) Tuition: $200

    Sew: A Needle Pulling Thread is an introductory course to hand sewing. Students will learn basic hand-sewing skills, including how to thread a needle, how to begin and end your stitch and how to sew on a button. Cross-stitch, running stitches and a few fancy stitches will be taught during the program. Finally, students will work on a group sewing sampler project and individual small hand-sewn projects. Each participant will create a sewing kit that will be theirs to keep, along with a piece of handiwork showing off their skill from each day.

Tuesday

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  • Flag Football Skills Camp (Grades 1 - 4)

    Hosted by Joe Breedlove ’78, FWCD Basketball Program Director

    Grades 1 - 4
    Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. (plus two Thursday exhibitions) September 10 - October 22
    Tuition: $130

    These practice sessions are tailored for all skill levels, focusing on the basic fundamentals of the game. Your son/daughter will also develop balance and core strength through our daily agility exercises. Most importantly, we stress sportsmanship and character throughout the program. We expect our young athletes to have an inspiring time and learn the game. Along with the seven sessions, we will have two exhibition performances during halftime of a home FWCD Middle School football game (October 3 at 4:30 p.m.) and a home FWCD JV football game (October 17 at 5:30 p.m.). The program culminates with the “Flag Football Super Bowl” at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22!

  • Gettin’ Crafty (Grades 2 - 4)

    Hosted by Mandy Lofquist, Lower School Technology Specialist

    Grades 2 - 4
    Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    October 1 - 22 Tuition: $125

    Love to do crafts and make amazing things? Looking to develop your sense of creativity? Then join Mandy Lofquist for this four-week trip into the crafting world! Participants will explore mixed-media, work with cupcake liners and coffee filters, and make unicorn puppets in the Lower School Collaboratory!

  • Helping Hands (Grades 2 - 4)

    Hosted by Mandy Lofquist, Lower School Technology Specialist

    Grades 2 - 4
    Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    November 5 - December 3 (no class on 11/26) Tuition: $125

    This fun, new program creates a project each week that is focused on helping others in our community. Participants will have the opportunity to express their creativity and compassion through the creation of donatable items for wonderful organizations, such as Saving Hope and Renaissance Place!

  • Movin’ and Groovin’ (Grades JK - 4)

    Hosted by Natasha Hatcher & Gaby Booth, FWCD Lower School Spanish Teachers

    Grades JK - 4
    Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    September 17 - November 12 (no class on 10/29) Tuition: $225

    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 Natasha Hatcher. Gaby and Natasha teach weekly Zumba® classes at CERA and YMCA, respectively.

  • Tinker Tuesdays (Grades 2 - 4)

    Hosted by Mandy Lofquist, Lower School Technology Specialist

    Grades 2 - 4
    Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    September 3 - 24 Tuition: $100

    Join Mandy Lofquist, Lower School Technology Specialist, for one of FWCD’s all-time favorite enrichment programs! Participants will tinker with robots, build miniature tree houses, deconstruct old electronics and work through LEGO challenges in the Lower School Collaboratory!

Wednesday

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  • Bridge Engineers (Grades 3 - 6)

    Hosted by Dr. Steve Uhr, FWCD Director of Technology

    Grades 3 - 6
    Wednesdays, 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
    September 18 - November 13 (no class 10/30) Tuition: $225

    Utilizing all of the amazing tools and technology in the TEAM Room (the state-of-the-art makerspace environment at FWCD), participants will learn about bridges by building models and testing their strength. Students will work with household materials to make simple bridges before eventually graduating to more complex designs produced with cutting-edge technology. The individualized instruction in this program makes it great for beginners as well as for students who have previously worked with Dr. Uhr!

  • Intro to Boys Lacrosse (Grades 3 - 6)

    Hosted by Gary Dennington, FWCD Lacrosse Program Director

    Grades 3 - 6
    Wednesdays, 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
    September 18 - October 16 Tuition: $150

    This introductory program is the perfect platform for your student to get a feel for the basics of boys lacrosse! Participants will become acquainted with the basics of passing, catching, ground balls and shooting. Of course, having fun will be a major focus in this program that is designed to help new players fall in love with the game! Participants will need to bring their own lacrosse sticks (”beginner sticks” are fine). Helmets are not necessary, as this is a non-contact program that utilizes sponge safety balls.

Thursday

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  • CrossFit Kids (Grades K - 4)

    Hosted by Dabney Poorter, CrossFit Panther City

    Grades K - 4
    Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    September 12 - December 19 (no class 10/31, 11/21 and 11/28)
    Tuition: $195

    Awaken your child’s love for fitness, enhance his/her cognitive skills and promote working in teams. Partcipants will learn CrossFit skills/movements and nutrition education through daily lessons and interactive activities. Each day, kids will break a sweat during their daily WOD (Workout of the Day), yoga, agility work, and other fun and challenging games and physical activities. All classes are under the guidance of Dabney Poorter, a CrossFit Kids Certified Coach, Registered Nurse and Nutritionist. Dabney coaches at CrossFit Panther City and owns Engage Your Wellness.

  • Disney Cooking (Grades 1 - 2)

    Hosted by Whitney White, SAGE Dining Services at FWCD
    Grades 1 - 2
    Thursdays, 3:30 - 5 p.m.
    October 3 - 24 Tuition: $160

    Whitney White, Senior Food Service Director at SAGE Dining Services, brings participants into the Fischer Dining Pavilion and teaches them the essentials to becoming the next great chef ... with a Disney spin! Participants will learn how to safely and effectively navigate the kitchen while creating the delicious meals that were served in various Disney movies, from the broccoli pizza in “Inside Out” to Elsa’s minty white hot chocolate & “Frozen” cupcakes!

  • Soccer Shots (Grades K - 2)

    Hosted by Chad Wubbena, Soccer Shots

    Grades K - 2
    Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
    September 19 - November 14 Tuition: $200

    Soccer Shots focuses on individual skill, fitness and sportsmanship, providing an opportunity for children to be challenged through fun games and team interaction. Through the activities and games we play, your child’s character and attitude will be challenged and molded positively, and they will be taught elements of teamwork, sharing, communication and respect. Most importantly, Soccer Shots will familiarize your child with the game of soccer, preparing them for an active childhood. Children will also be introduced to competition in a developmentally appropriate manner. All sessions will take place on-site at FWCD. Soccer balls and goals are provided; students are invited to wear their own shinguards and cleats.

Policies & Procedures

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  • Policies and Procedures

    • To register for Fall 2019 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.

    • Programs are subject to change.

Extended Care

Grades JK - 4

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  • Full-Year Enrollment (Grades JK - 4): $2,995

    • Average price-per-day: $17.11
    • 3:10 to 6 p.m., every school day (expanded hours on Early Dismissal Days)
    • Each Full-Year Enrollment includes a personalized 10% discount code that can be applied to SOAR Enrichment Program tuition throughout the 2019-20 academic year.
    • Includes daily snack.

  • Single-Day/Drop-In Enrollment (Grades JK - 4): $25

    • 3:10 to 6:00 p.m., every school day (expanded hours on Early Dismissal Days)
    • Includes daily snack.

Grades 5 - 6

List of 2 items.

  • Full-Year Enrollment (Grades 5 - 6): $2,395

    • Average price-per-day: $13.68
    • Each Full-Year Enrollment includes a personalized 10% discount code that can be applied to SOAR Enrichment Program tuition throughout the 2019-20 academic year.
    • 3:20 to 6 p.m., every school day (expanded hours on Early Dismissal Days)
    • Includes daily snack.

  • Single-Day/Drop-In Enrollment (Grades 5 - 6): $20

    • 3:20 to 6 p.m., every school day (expanded hours on Early Dismissal Days)
    • Includes daily snack.

Program Descriptions

Junior Kindergarten-Fourth Grade

Starting at 3:10 p.m. every school day, students in junior kindergarten through fourth grade who are enrolled in SOAR are taken to the SOAR Creative Space in the Lower School Atrium to check-in.  From there, participants can spend their time in the SOAR Creative Space (engaging in open or guided arts and crafts activities), the SOAR Study Space (a quiet zone dedicated to reading and homework) or the SOAR Play Space (featuring free-play and structured games at the Lower School Playground).  Students who are enrolled in a SOAR Enrichment Program that day will receive a snack upon check-in and will be taken to their enrichment location by their course instructor. SOAR Extended Care participants who are not registered in a SOAR Enrichment Program that day will receive a snack at 4 p.m.  Parents and registered guardians can pick up their SOAR participants any time between 3:10 and 6 p.m. by checking them out with a designated SOAR staff member at the Lower School Atrium.

Fifth and Sixth Grade

Starting at 3:20 p.m. every school day, fifth- and sixth-graders who are enrolled in SOAR will meet in Middle School Room 303 and will get a start on their homework.  At 3:45 p.m., participants will be taken to the Moncrief Library for a supervised study hall, and they will receive a complimentary snack at 4 p.m  The SOAR Study Hall Program does not offer educational tutoring or support, but it does offer a productive, focused time and place for interested students to complete academic work.  For the safety and accountability of students, participants must remain in the Moncrief Library unless they are participating in a SOAR Enrichment Program that day.  Parents and registered guardians can pick up their SOAR participants any time between 3:20 and 6 p.m. by checking them out with the study hall attendant in the Moncrief Library.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Who are the members of the SOAR Extended Day staff?

    SOAR Extended Day 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, Monthly 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. 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 SOAR Extended Care). Simply select the “Yes, I receive tuition assistance on my FWCD tuition” option in your enrollment registration, and we will automatically deduct the appropriate amount from your bill. Please note: tuition assistance is not available for enrichment programs.

  • Are payment plans available for SOAR programs?

    Payment plans are available for SOAR Full-Year Extended Day Enrollment. When completing your online registration, you will have the option to pay in two installments (due September 20, 2019, and January 20, 2020), or in monthly payments (September through May, a total of nine payments). Payment plans are not available for Single-Day Enrollment Plans and Enrichment Programs.

  • What does SOAR do on early dismissal days?

    SOAR Extended Day programs are available on early dismissal days at FWCD, beginning at the conclusion of the abbreviated school day and ending at 6 p.m. There is no change to the enrollment rate for early dismissal days.

  • 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 SOAR Extended Care Manager Caleb Parker (caleb.parker@fwcd.com) 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, please 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 him/her for SOAR Extended Care on that day? Do I have to escort him/her to the SOAR Enrichment Program?

    Students who are 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 their respective SOAR check-in stations (the Lower School Atrium for students in grades JK through 4, and the Moncrief Library for students in grades 5 and 6). 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 their respective SOAR check-out locations (the Lower School Atrium for students in grades JK through 4, and the Moncrief Library for students in grades 5 and 6).

  • My student has special dietary needs. Will you have a special snack to accommodate his/her situation?

    While we can’t accommodate all dietary requests as they pertain to daily snack, the SOAR staff works closely with Nurse Lori McCormack 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.

Terms and Conditions

  • The SOAR Extended Care program is available to all Fort Worth Country Day JK-6 students from normal dismissal until 6 pm.
  • Students in grades JK-6 who are not picked up by 4 p.m. will automatically be brought to SOAR Extended Care.
  • 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 sign their children out at the end of the day, indicating the time 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 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.

Contact Us

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Michael Carmody

    Michael Carmody 

    Director of Auxiliary Programs
    817.302.3271
    The Wright Institute - Psy.D.
    The Wright Institute - M.A.
    Washington University in St. Louis - B.A.
  • Photo of Caleb Parker

    Caleb Parker 

    Auxiliary Programs Manager
    817-302-3200 EXT 8855
    Holy Names University - B.A.
4200 Country Day Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76109
Phone: 817.732.7718
Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) is a JK-12 private, independent, coeducational, nondenominational college-preparatory school located on approximately 100 acres in Fort Worth, Texas. The mission of Fort Worth Country Day School is to foster the intellectual, physical, emotional, and ethical development of capable students through an academically rigorous college preparatory program that integrates the arts and athletics.

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  • Website Accessibility Statement

    Fort Worth Country Day is committed to understanding and respecting differences. To further support that initiative, FWCD is focused on making the information on our website accessible to all students, parents, and other members of the community. Achieving our goal of making the FWCD website fully accessible requires auditing numerous sections and correcting elements with minimal disruption for daily users.

    We appreciate your patience as we transition our content to a format that more closely adheres to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Additionally, some pages of the FWCD website may contain links to third party sites that do not comply with accessibility standards and not within the range of the School’s control.

    For questions about the FWCD website, please contact Web Content Manager, Tiffini Crum at  tiffini.crum@fwcd.com.

    Learn more about Fort Worth Country Day’s Mission, Philosophy, Core Values and Commitment to Inclusivity.