ARTS ALIVE!
Arts Alive is an after-school arts enrichment program that grew out of parents coming together with a shared interest in enhancing the arts at Happy Valley School. This volunteer-run program depends on your support.
Each session is 11 weeks and is held on Friday afternoons from 12:50 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. and is for grades 1 - 6 only. The dates for the Fall 2019 session are September 20 through December 13 (no class on either November 1 or 29).
Classes are offered on a fee for service basis and efforts have been made to keep the fees as low as possible. Tuition is due at the time of registration, and placement in the program is not guaranteed until payment has been made. Class placements are on a first come, first served basis when both the registration form and payment have been completed. If you indicate a preference for a class that is full at the time of registering, your child will be placed on a waiting list for that class. Please note that final class assignments are not made until after the registration period closes. To make any changes after you have submitted your registration form, please contact the registration coordinator directly.
FREE TUITION FOR CLASS VOLUNTEERS
There will be one tuition-waived spot in selected classrooms available for any parent who commits to serving as an in-class aid (from 12:45-2:45 PM) for the duration of the 11-week course. In addition, you will need to provide pick-up supervision for that class.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available to families in the free and reduced lunch program. Reduced tuition cost is available for one student per family please.
PLAYGROUND AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
Our main objective is to create an inspiring and exciting environment where children engage with the arts in a more in-depth way than can be achieved during the school day. To achieve this, the students involved must be committed to learning about art. Please don’t use this program as mere childcare. We must be able to provide a safe environment and this requires the full cooperation of every student enrolled in the Arts Alive program. All school rules do apply during the Arts Alive Program. If these rules are not followed, parents will be contacted and participation in the program will be jeopardized.
FALL 2019 CLASSES
Dig It Garden Arts (Grades 1-6)
Dig it! kids will plant, harvest, cook (with the solar oven!) and enjoy the fall bounty of our amazing Happy Valley School garden. We’ll work with paint, cloth, yarn, bamboo, ceramic, rock & wood to decorate, sew, weave, build and landscape. We’ll make scarecrows, hobbit houses, a bug hotel, pendant flags and nature art. Get ready to be muddy and creative in your beautiful living laboratory!
About the Instructor:
Deborah McArthur has been teaching outdoor and environmental education for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor degree in Biology, Masters in Environmental Studies and is credentialed in science education. Deborah has coordinated education programs in science centers, museums, and camps and designed curricula, exhibits, and interpretive panels. She is a lifelong homecrafter (cooking, knitting, weaving, sewing, painting, building) and an avid gardener. Deborah has taught Life Lab at outdoor science school, camps and at HVS. Her favorite place to teach is outdoors, getting feet muddy with multi-sensory, hands-on and collaborative activities. Mother of one Happy Valley kid (and one alumna), Deborah is excited to cultivate the student’s connection to this important part of their school.
Theater Arts (Grades 1-3)
Join us for an incredibly fun and fast-paced theatre class that develops personal confidence and foundational tools for performance AND will deliver a one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life THEATRE EXTRAVAGANZA! What makes a great story? In trying to define what makes a great adventure, our actors jump into an epic journey like no other. We may time travel to ancient Greece, journey to outer space, visit middle earth, or enter new dimensions through an ordinary wardrobe and defeat a White Witch—the possibilities are endless and many more. Our time together will encompass imagination and creativity. Using the framework of theater productions, students will explore the process of translating stories into scenes and one acts and finally into an original theater performance.
About the Instructor:
Mr. Jaxson from WEST Performing Arts will be leading the theater program for the fall session. The mission of WEST Performing Arts is to provide youth and families a creative outlet and training ground that cultivates the imaginative process. We provide educational experiences in literature, performing, expressive and creative arts through classes and productions. We give young artists and audiences the invaluable knowledge that their imaginations have had a positive and profound impact on their world. All of our classes, training programs and productions are process-driven, believing that the creative journey is what matters. Using integrated art forms as our tools, we build confidence, communication and community.
Sticks and Stones Crafting Art (Grades 3-6)
It is so rewarding to have a pile of materials (rocks, sticks, yarn, beads, buttons, soil, paints and pots) that you turn into your own unique creations. You may want to keep what you make, or you may want to give as gifts. We’ll design, draw and execute our plans while having a blast together! A few of the things we're going to explore: basic weaving, making button flowers and jewelry, friendship bracelets, rock painting and mini succulent gardens. But that’s just the beginning; creativity will be encouraged so we can take this where you want to!
About the Instructor:
Gail Ruwe calls herself a Crafting Grandma! She is excited and eager to share her love of crafting and making things from scratch. She's looking forward to having a ton of fun with Arts Alive!
Cartooning (Grades 4-6)
He's Back!! Student Favorite Jon Hastings returns to teach a class all about the art of Cartoons!
Basic cartooning, covering front, side, and 3/4 views of the head, bodies, character creation, perspective, shading, texture and more! Each lesson is designed in two parts; first, a how-to walk-through where the students and Jon draw a together. Then, the students use what they learned to create their own cartoons. Final class will include a display of students work.
About the Instructor:
Jon Hastings has been a professional cartoonist for nearly 25 years and has been teaching for 28. He has written and drawn comics and kids books for SLG Publishing, the Cartoon Art Museum, and Disney, among others. Its been a pleasure to teach cartooning at Happy Valley, Gateway, Mar Vista, Rio Del Mar, Santa Cruz Gardens, the Cartoon Art Museum, the Charles M. Schulz Museum, and in many civic arts programs and comic book stores.
Magical Arts (Grade 4-6)
Stan Stan the Magic Man is coming to Arts Alive to teach you all about the Magical Arts. In addition to learning slight of hand tricks you'll learn the secrets of the Magic Rope, Magical Rubber Bands and all sorts of card tricks. Bring your Rubik's Cube in and we'll make magic with that as well. Share your magic! Learn how to handle playing cards better—find card in middle of deck, make a fan, make cards go blank, false shuffle! With help, create your own stories with character voices. If you are focused & love having fun—from complete beginner to more advanced, YOU can learn great magic!
About the Instructor:
Stan Grindstaff: You call him Stan Stan the Magic Man! He’s been seen on TV, in Mr G’s Magic Academy, in your classroom as a guest teacher, and now on stage as a comedy magician in ‘Razzle Dazzle.’
Arts Alive is an after-school arts enrichment program that grew out of parents coming together with a shared interest in enhancing the arts at Happy Valley School. This volunteer-run program depends on your support.
Each session is 11 weeks and is held on Friday afternoons from 12:50 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. and is for grades 1 - 6 only. The dates for the Fall 2019 session are September 20 through December 13 (no class on either November 1 or 29).
Classes are offered on a fee for service basis and efforts have been made to keep the fees as low as possible. Tuition is due at the time of registration, and placement in the program is not guaranteed until payment has been made. Class placements are on a first come, first served basis when both the registration form and payment have been completed. If you indicate a preference for a class that is full at the time of registering, your child will be placed on a waiting list for that class. Please note that final class assignments are not made until after the registration period closes. To make any changes after you have submitted your registration form, please contact the registration coordinator directly.
FREE TUITION FOR CLASS VOLUNTEERS
There will be one tuition-waived spot in selected classrooms available for any parent who commits to serving as an in-class aid (from 12:45-2:45 PM) for the duration of the 11-week course. In addition, you will need to provide pick-up supervision for that class.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available to families in the free and reduced lunch program. Reduced tuition cost is available for one student per family please.
PLAYGROUND AND SAFETY GUIDELINES
Our main objective is to create an inspiring and exciting environment where children engage with the arts in a more in-depth way than can be achieved during the school day. To achieve this, the students involved must be committed to learning about art. Please don’t use this program as mere childcare. We must be able to provide a safe environment and this requires the full cooperation of every student enrolled in the Arts Alive program. All school rules do apply during the Arts Alive Program. If these rules are not followed, parents will be contacted and participation in the program will be jeopardized.
FALL 2019 CLASSES
Dig It Garden Arts (Grades 1-6)
Dig it! kids will plant, harvest, cook (with the solar oven!) and enjoy the fall bounty of our amazing Happy Valley School garden. We’ll work with paint, cloth, yarn, bamboo, ceramic, rock & wood to decorate, sew, weave, build and landscape. We’ll make scarecrows, hobbit houses, a bug hotel, pendant flags and nature art. Get ready to be muddy and creative in your beautiful living laboratory!
About the Instructor:
Deborah McArthur has been teaching outdoor and environmental education for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor degree in Biology, Masters in Environmental Studies and is credentialed in science education. Deborah has coordinated education programs in science centers, museums, and camps and designed curricula, exhibits, and interpretive panels. She is a lifelong homecrafter (cooking, knitting, weaving, sewing, painting, building) and an avid gardener. Deborah has taught Life Lab at outdoor science school, camps and at HVS. Her favorite place to teach is outdoors, getting feet muddy with multi-sensory, hands-on and collaborative activities. Mother of one Happy Valley kid (and one alumna), Deborah is excited to cultivate the student’s connection to this important part of their school.
Theater Arts (Grades 1-3)
Join us for an incredibly fun and fast-paced theatre class that develops personal confidence and foundational tools for performance AND will deliver a one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life THEATRE EXTRAVAGANZA! What makes a great story? In trying to define what makes a great adventure, our actors jump into an epic journey like no other. We may time travel to ancient Greece, journey to outer space, visit middle earth, or enter new dimensions through an ordinary wardrobe and defeat a White Witch—the possibilities are endless and many more. Our time together will encompass imagination and creativity. Using the framework of theater productions, students will explore the process of translating stories into scenes and one acts and finally into an original theater performance.
About the Instructor:
Mr. Jaxson from WEST Performing Arts will be leading the theater program for the fall session. The mission of WEST Performing Arts is to provide youth and families a creative outlet and training ground that cultivates the imaginative process. We provide educational experiences in literature, performing, expressive and creative arts through classes and productions. We give young artists and audiences the invaluable knowledge that their imaginations have had a positive and profound impact on their world. All of our classes, training programs and productions are process-driven, believing that the creative journey is what matters. Using integrated art forms as our tools, we build confidence, communication and community.
Sticks and Stones Crafting Art (Grades 3-6)
It is so rewarding to have a pile of materials (rocks, sticks, yarn, beads, buttons, soil, paints and pots) that you turn into your own unique creations. You may want to keep what you make, or you may want to give as gifts. We’ll design, draw and execute our plans while having a blast together! A few of the things we're going to explore: basic weaving, making button flowers and jewelry, friendship bracelets, rock painting and mini succulent gardens. But that’s just the beginning; creativity will be encouraged so we can take this where you want to!
About the Instructor:
Gail Ruwe calls herself a Crafting Grandma! She is excited and eager to share her love of crafting and making things from scratch. She's looking forward to having a ton of fun with Arts Alive!
Cartooning (Grades 4-6)
He's Back!! Student Favorite Jon Hastings returns to teach a class all about the art of Cartoons!
Basic cartooning, covering front, side, and 3/4 views of the head, bodies, character creation, perspective, shading, texture and more! Each lesson is designed in two parts; first, a how-to walk-through where the students and Jon draw a together. Then, the students use what they learned to create their own cartoons. Final class will include a display of students work.
About the Instructor:
Jon Hastings has been a professional cartoonist for nearly 25 years and has been teaching for 28. He has written and drawn comics and kids books for SLG Publishing, the Cartoon Art Museum, and Disney, among others. Its been a pleasure to teach cartooning at Happy Valley, Gateway, Mar Vista, Rio Del Mar, Santa Cruz Gardens, the Cartoon Art Museum, the Charles M. Schulz Museum, and in many civic arts programs and comic book stores.
Magical Arts (Grade 4-6)
Stan Stan the Magic Man is coming to Arts Alive to teach you all about the Magical Arts. In addition to learning slight of hand tricks you'll learn the secrets of the Magic Rope, Magical Rubber Bands and all sorts of card tricks. Bring your Rubik's Cube in and we'll make magic with that as well. Share your magic! Learn how to handle playing cards better—find card in middle of deck, make a fan, make cards go blank, false shuffle! With help, create your own stories with character voices. If you are focused & love having fun—from complete beginner to more advanced, YOU can learn great magic!
About the Instructor:
Stan Grindstaff: You call him Stan Stan the Magic Man! He’s been seen on TV, in Mr G’s Magic Academy, in your classroom as a guest teacher, and now on stage as a comedy magician in ‘Razzle Dazzle.’
FALL 2019 FEES
$200 per student, $100 per student on free and reduced lunch (only one reduced tuition per family, please). Please note that your registration is not considered complete until payment has been made.
$200 per student, $100 per student on free and reduced lunch (only one reduced tuition per family, please). Please note that your registration is not considered complete until payment has been made.