Enrichment Classes for Gifted and Talented Middle School Students

Schedules by grade and date are below,

Arcade Game Design

In this creative and fun-filled course, students will learn how to design and build their own 2D arcade-style games using MakeCode Arcade. Through guided tutorials and original projects, they’ll explore programming concepts like variables, loops, conditional logic, and game mechanics, all while customizing sprites, scenes, and gameplay. By the end of the course, students will have a playable game they can share—and the skills to keep building more on their own. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor, Maria DiGiovanni.

• Thursdays

• July 3 - August 21

• 9am PST

• $400 (8 sessions)

• Fridays

• July 4 - August 22

• 4pm PST

• $400 (8 sessions)

Creative Web Builders

Design your first website! Jump into the exciting world of web design in our Creative Web Builders class, specially designed for curious students! In this hands-on course, students will learn how to build and style their own websites using beginner-friendly tools and real coding languages like HTML and CSS. From creating colorful personal pages and digital postcards to designing interactive stories and pet profiles, each project sparks creativity while introducing key web development concepts. With plenty of room for self-expression and guided support, this class empowers young learners to become confident digital creators—one fun website at a time! All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. To register, complete the form below. Instructor: Maria DiGiovanni

• Thursdays

• July 3 - August 21

• 3pm PST

• $400 (8 sessions)

Animation & Storytelling with Scratch

Unleash your imagination in our fun and engaging *Animation & Storytelling with Scratch* class! Designed for creative minds, this course introduces the magic of coding through storytelling. Students will learn how to bring their own characters, worlds, and adventures to life using Scratch, a colorful and beginner-friendly programming platform. Along the way, they’ll discover key coding concepts like sequencing, loops, and events—all while crafting interactive stories and animations they can proudly share with friends and family. It’s the perfect blend of creativity and coding that keeps students excited to learn week after week! All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. To register, complete the form below. Instructor: Maria DiGiovanni

• Wednesdays

• July 2 - August 20

• 3pm PST

• $400 (8 sessions)

Reading Comprehension

Engage in discussion and activities that strengthen your critical thinking and reading comprehension skills. Through short stories, articles, writing exercises and discussion, we'll explore how authors convey deeper meaning for greater understanding. Preparatory work and homework provided. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Reading Comprehension: Non-Fiction

• July 28 - August 1

• 1pm PST

• $250

Reading Comprehension: Fiction

• July 21 - July 25

• 3pm PST

• $250

• August 18 - August 22

• 2pm PST

• $250

Passionate Writers

Engage in activities that hone your skills and foster your love of writing as storytelling. Areas of focus are Sentence Fluency and Word Choice with the goal of cultivating descriptive language, specifically in employing similes, metaphors and other literary devices. Optional homework activities are provided. All sessions are online, via Zoom. These are multi-age courses for middle and high school students. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Wednesday Writers (Waitlist)

• Wednesdays

• June 25 - August 27

• 7pm PST

• $500 (10 Sessions)

Passionate Writers: Plots & Characters incorporates big-picture concepts related to world-building, character development, as well as structuring plots and sub-plots to build suspense and engage the reader.

• August 11 - August 15

• 1pm PST

• $250

Passionate Writers: Descriptive Writing focuses on the details - including literary devices to paint a picture in the mind of the reader and how to implement dialogue in a way that propels the story forward or deepens the readers’ understanding of the characters.

• August 25 - August 29

• 5pm PST

• $250

Passionate Readers

Join our Passionate Readers Book Club, where students come together once a week to dive into the exciting world of literature! This club is a vibrant community for young book lovers to explore a wide range of genres, share their favorite reads, and discover new authors. Each week, we engage in lively discussions, participate in fun activities, and deepen our understanding of various themes and writing styles. Whether you're a devoted reader or just beginning your literary journey, this club welcomes all who share a love for books. Come and connect with fellow students, expand your reading horizons, and ignite your passion for storytelling! All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Stacia Bell

• Tuesdays

• July 8 - August 5

• 11am PST

• $250

• Saturdays

• July 12 - August 9

• 3pm PST

• $250

Project

Presentations

Examine successful presentations and develop one on a topic of your passion! You will learn how to structure your work, create engaging slides, present in a compelling way and field questions from the audience. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• Tuesdays

• July 29 - August 26

• 7pm PST

• $250

• July 14 - July 18

• 3pm PST

• $250

Essay Writing

Read sample essays and identify effective/ineffective elements. Explore editorials, personal narratives and persuasive rhetorical devices. Formulate a claim and write essays using details and textual evidence to substantiate your ideas. Receive feedback and revise your essays. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Informative

• June 30 - July 4

• 3pm PST

• $250

Argumentative

• July 7 - July 11

• 3pm PST

• $250

Personal Narratives

• August 4 - August 8

• 2pm PST

• $250

Vocabulary Maximizer

Vocabulary knowledge is central to reading and writing outcomes. This course uses etymology (history of words) and word sums (prefixes, bases, and suffixes) to maximize student vocabulary. Students will walk away with a web of new high usage academic vocabulary they learned in the class that they can actively recall and use for continued practice. Students will need materials for mapping and drawing (a notebook and multicolored pens/ pencils). This is a multi-age course for middle and high school students. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Ben Morgan

• Thursdays

• July 3 - July 31

• 11am PST

• $250

Playwriting & Performing

Unleash your creativity in this engaging course designed for middle and high school students! This hands-on course will guide you through the fundamentals of crafting compelling characters, dynamic dialogue, and captivating plots. You'll explore various genres and styles, participate in fun writing exercises, and collaborate with peers to develop your unique voice as a playwright. By the end of the course, you'll have completed a one-act play that showcases your talent and imagination. The course will culminate in a virtual production. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• Saturdays

• June 28 - August 30

• 11am PST

• $500 (10 Sessions)

The Art of Memory

Do you have a desire to know something deeply? This class is for you. Bring whatever you want to truly know--poems, the periodic table of elements, the US presidents, Taylor Swift's discography etc.-- and you will commit it to memory. You will learn the most tried and true memory technique (the method of loci) that contemporary mnemonists, ancient Greek rhetoricians, and aboriginal Australians all have used to know something profoundly. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Ben Morgan

• Thursdays

• July 3 - July 31

• 10am PST

• $250

Public Speaking Salons

Being comfortable in front of an audience and able to express your ideas concisely are valuable skills to possess. Being able to capture the undivided attention of your audience and keep them in the palm of your hand as you rally them to action are skills that can transform both the audience and the speaker. Learn how to project your voice, gesticulate effectively, end your sentences definitively and engage your audience. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Public Speaking: Persuasive

• July 21 - July 25

• 5pm PST

• $250

Public Speaking: Informative

• Wednesdays

• July 30 - August 27

• 11am PST

• $250

• August 18 - 22

• 5pm PST

• $250

Grammar Instruction

Join us for an engaging and interactive course designed for language enthusiasts and reluctant scholars. Participants will explore complex sentence structures (phrases and clauses), the intricacies of punctuation, and the subtleties of style and tone. All sessions are online, via Zoom. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Grammar Fundamentals

• June 23 - June 27

• 5pm PST

• $250

Advanced Grammar

This is a multi-age course for middle and high school students.

• August 25 - August 29

• 2pm PST

• $250

Diagramming Sentences

Unlock the secrets of syntax and enhance your writing skills through our engaging course on sentence diagramming. This course will introduce participants to the fundamentals of diagramming sentences, providing a visual framework to understand the relationships between words and phrases. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, learners will develop the ability to dissect complex sentences, identify parts of speech, and improve their grammar proficiency. This course will make sentence structure more clear and accessible. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age course for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• August 11 - August 15

• 2pm PST

• $250

Writing Clinic

Individualized Support

Participate in guided writing exercises with a focus on syntax, vocabulary and grammar. Both creative and essay prompts are presented. Individualized feedback is provided in real time. All sessions are online, via Zoom.  This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• Thursdays

• June 26 - July 24

• 7pm PST

• $250

Summer 2025 Registration

Note: If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your Junk Mail.