After-School Activities Program Fall & Winter 2020 by Maimonides School

ACTIVITIES

PROGRAM FALL INTO WINTER 2020

FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

MAIMONIDES SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PROGRAM THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FALL 2020 INTO WINTER

FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE

Fall into Winter

Registration

Welcome to our first virtual program, the Fall 2020 into Winter semester!

Please use the Maimonides After-School Registration Form, https://forms.gle/LSevXjbPvXUZ62MH9, to sign up for our wonderful after-school programs.

Due to the health and safety protocols necessitated by the pandemic, our wonderful programs are being offered on Zoom later in the afternoon. Bearing in mind the stress of these strange times, attention has been paid to activities that offer time to relax and unwind (Culinary Delights, Drawing 101, Mad Science, Recycling Program, Social Skills), exercise programs (All Sports, Yoga, Zumba), technology programs (Coding/Scratch Research Project, Digital Animation, TinkerCAD 3D), arts and other activities (Chess, field trips to Art Museums around the world, June’s Broadway Kids), and limudei kodesh programs (GrowTorah, Mishmar, Mishmar and Limudei Kodesh Homework Support, Parsha Kahoot!). There are several new activities, and some old favorites with a twist to accommodate being on Zoom (Zoomba!).

Because the After-School Program will be taking place at your home, we are able to add a marvelous “evening hour” for Grades 6-12. It is really exciting to be able to provide Yoga for Teens on Mondays, Drama/ Music on Tuesdays, and Advanced Chess on Wednesdays to our Middle and Upper School students. We hope students will take an hour once a week to “get away from it all.” In consideration of our students who have longer commutes, we are offering two choices for start and finish times for many of our courses. The final time for each of these courses will be determined by the choices of the people who sign up. You will be notified of the start time the week before programs begin. Please choose your preferred time on the Registration Form. Due to the restrictions imposed by needing to keep cohorts separate, at this time we are not able to offer sports programs in person. As soon as there is a way to safely bring sports programs to school, in accordance with state regulations, we will add them. The After-School Program extends many thanks and heartfelt appreciation to all our teachers who make it the wonderful program that it is. We also thank Mrs. Elka Tovah Davidoff and Mrs. Michele Snyder very much for all the help they give to make our marvelous brochure possible. I am so very excited to be able to offer these many fabulous activities. I hope you enroll your children, support our After-School Program, and ENJOY!

Registration closes Tuesday, October 13. Classes begin the week of October 19. Registration costs will be billed to your account on the Veracross Parent Portal. Please direct all inquiries to Deborah Mehl, dmehl@maimonides.org.

Classes MONDAYS

Dates

All Sports (Grades K-2)

MONDAYS

Coding/ScratchJr Research Project (Grades K-2) – Twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays

November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

October 19, 26

Coding with Scratch (Grades 2-8)

December 7, 21

Culinary Delights (Grades 3-5)

January 4, 11, 25

Drawing 101 (Grades 3-7) – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome

Make-up: February 1

Recycle (Grades K-2) Yoga (Grades 3-5) Yoga for Teens (Grades 6-8) – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome

(12 sessions)

TUESDAYS

October 20 November 3, 10, 24

TUESDAYS

December 1, 22

Animation: Digital & Stop Motion (Grades 2-8)

January 5, 12, 19

Drama/Music Program (Grades 6-12)

February 2

GrowTorah (Grades 3-5)

Make-up: February 23

Mad Science (Grades K-2)

(10 sessions)

Social Skills (Grades K-2) TinkerCAD 3D Design (Grades 2-8) Yoga (Grades K-2)

WEDNESDAYS

Chess (Grades 2-7) Advanced Chess (Grades 6-12) Coding/Scratch Research Project (Grades K-2) – Twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays Drawing 101 (Grades K-2) Mishmar (Grades K-2)* Parsha Kahoot! (Grades 3-5) Zoomba (Grades 5-7)

THURSDAYS

All Sports (Grades K-2) Art Appreciation: Museum Tours (Grades 3-5) – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome Hebrew Calligraphy (Grades 3-6) – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome June’s Broadway Kids (Grades K-3) Mishmar and Limudei Kodesh Homework Help (Grades 3-6) Social Skills (Grades 3-5)

ALL CLASSES WILL REQUIRE ACCESS TO ZOOM.

WEDNESDAYS October 21, 28

November 4, 18 December 2, 9, 23 January 6, 13, 20, 27 Make-up: February 3 (11 sessions)

THURSDAYS

October 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3 January 7, 14, 21, 28 Make-up: February 4 (10 sessions)

TIMES

In consideration of our students who have longer commutes, we are offering two choices of start and finish times for many of our courses (those marked with an asterisk *). The final time will be determined by the choices of the people who sign up. You will be notified of the start time the week before programs begin. Please choose your preferred time on the Registration Form (Option 1: 4:30-5:15 p.m.; Option 2: 5:15-6:00 p.m.)

COURSES WITH PRESET TIMES ARE NOTED IN BOLD.

Monday

ALL SPORTS Coach Adam

CODING WITH SCRATCH Empow Studio

Come and join us for a session of exercise on Zoom. We will get fit while learning various moves for various sports. We will learn certain moves using common household objects. Come and have fun while we move, move, move!

This is the ideal starting place for kids who want to code but don’t quite know where to start, or who have had some exposure to coding but are not yet ready to progress to more advanced languages. In this class, students will learn Scratch, a drag-and-drop coding system. Students will learn by initially building a small video game or cool animation, and then progressing to more complex projects. Along the way, they will learn universal coding concepts applicable to more advanced coding languages such as Python, Java, and C#. Students will produce a series of small video games or animations and at least one more complex project.

Requirements: A ball (a soccer ball is best); a stuffed animal; three pairs of socks (rolled into balls); four shoes; three hats; a trash bag. Grades K-2 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $165

CODING/SCRATCH JR RESEARCH PROJECT DevTech Research Group, Tufts University Program takes place Mondays and Wednesdays for 24 sessions The DevTech research group at Tufts University, led by Professor Marina Bers, will be conducting a virtual research project that seeks to evaluate children’s development of computational thinking and coding skills after participating in the Coding as Another Language (CAL) virtual curriculum that utilizes the free ScratchJr programming language. During the virtual program, children will be taught how to use ScratchJr and will create their own projects to share with their families. Children will need access to an iPad. At the beginning and end of the coding curriculum, researchers from Tufts will conduct an individual game-based coding assessment by meeting with each participating child via Zoom. This will allow them to understand the impact of the curriculum on children’s learning and to use that information to revise the curriculum. Requirements: iPad with Zoom installed (can be borrowed from school, subject to availability); Signed parental consent letter Grades K-2; LIMIT 10 Time: 5:15-6:00 p.m. MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS Cost: $480

Requirements: Scratch or Scratch account with supported browser; Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer Grades 2-8 Time: 5:15-6:15 p.m. Cost: $300

CULINARY DELIGHTS HaMorah Irene Blechner Join your friends and classmates for Maimo’s first ever Virtual Cooking Class! We will develop new cooking skills and indulge your culinary curiosity while building confidence in the kitchen. Join HaMorah Irene and learn how to make some delicious recipes, while having so much fun! Requirements: Every week a supply sheet will be e-mailed to students. Please make sure that you have all the necessary ingredients before each session. Students must have basic baking equipment (bowls, measuring cups and spoons, sifter, baking sheets, wooden spoons, etc.) Grades 3-5 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $200

Monday

DRAWING 101 Mr. Eli Portman

YOGA Artemis Yoga

Students will learn how to approach drawing different scenes and imagery. We will be learning techniques such as shading, coloring, detail line work, and how to break complicated images down into smaller shapes and steps. Your child will learn how to confidently approach all sorts of different drawings and pieces.

We know that school will surely look and feel different for our kids this year. It’s more important than ever to build strength, stamina, and selfconfidence in order to navigate it all. Yoga and mindfulness can help! From stretching poses to relaxing with breathwork, children enjoy how yoga makes them feel. Led by Tracy Affonso, an experienced yoga/mindfulness instructor and elementary school educator, this class will introduce students to yoga in a fun and engaging class that is both active and calm, and adapted by age group. By incorporating breath awareness and mindfulness activities, kids will notice how being quiet makes them feel more confident and resilient. Tracy creates a wonderful class experience for children, with a variety of themes and interactive components. Starting yoga now will build a lifelong awareness of its benefits to body and mind. We invite your child to join us!

Requirements: 8.5 x 11 sketchbook; pencils/sharpener; ruler; marker set of 16+ colors; eraser; colored pencils Grades 3-7 – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $150

RECYCLE Ms. Laura Bradford Come and understand the importance of respecting and caring for our natural world, and how every one of us plays an important role. Learn how to recycle and create your own compost. Composting can become a part of your daily routine. We will learn how to reduce waste by turning food scraps into fertilizer instead of sending them to a landfill. Learn what’s good to compost and what isn’t. We will step outside, look up at the clouds, look around at our surroundings, and learn about nature. We will learn how to respect our world by not littering and by protecting all living creatures. Join me in seeing the world through new colors!

Requirements: Yoga mat or beach towel Grades 3-5 Minimum of 7 required Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $160

YOGA FOR TEENS Pretzel Kids

Requirements: Kitchen scraps; A container with a tight screw-on cap will be provided for you to use while composting in your own kitchen. This will be brought into school every week, where HaMorah Laura will collect it and add it to her backyard compost, which will become our group compost!

Covid -19 and back to school add to the challenges of being a teenager. Learn yoga flow breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation, while doing yoga stretches and poses. Build stamina and self-confidence and enjoy moving in a non-competitive way. Gain a sense of peace and calm, stay physically fit and deal more effectively with the pressures of school and peers as you learn a new tool, with our relaxation techniques, to navigate the stress of daily life.

Grades K-2

Requirements: Yoga mat

Time: 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Grades 6-8 – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome

Cost: $130

Minimum of 7 required Time: 7:00-7:45 p.m. Cost: $160

Tuesday ANIMATION: DIGITAL & STOP MOTION Empow Studio For students excited about making their own movie, or inspired by digitally animated movies such as Toy Story, Minions, and Frozen, this is a great place to start. Using Stykz – a program accessible to beginners – every student will design unique characters, storyboard a scene, map out the action, and create a complete digitally-animated movie. More advanced students can produce longer scenes with background music and sound effects. Most students will make two small movies that they can choose to upload to YouTube when they’re done! Requirements: Stykz Animation Windows or Mac computer (not Catalina) Webcam Grades 2-8 Time: 5:15-6:15 p.m. Cost: $250

DRAMA/MUSIC PROGRAM Mr. Cody Tracey Calling all creatives! Mr. Tracey is offering a virtual gathering space for thespians, instrumentalists, musicians, and singers to gather, improvise, and perform. Our sessions will be made up of opportunities to share our talents and develop as creative people, individually and as an ensemble. Depending on the make-up of the group, a final virtual production and performance could be in our future. Requirements: Creativity, enthusiasm, and energy! The instrument you play Grades 6-12 Time: 7:00- 8:00 p.m. Cost: $150

Tuesday GROWTORAH Yosef Gillers (Executive Director) Farmer Sara Just-Michael Come and plant a Torah garden with us! GrowTorah develops educational Torah garden programs for participants to explore relevant Jewish values and Torah lessons, and learn the fundamentals of planting and the environment. The Torah lessons interwoven with the educational garden experiences inspire participants to navigate the complex relationships between humans, their fellow creatures, and the earth, and encourage participants to connect with these values in powerful and personally meaningful ways. GrowTorah’s core values which are woven into their lessons, are: Incubating Emuah, Compassion for Creatures, Stewarding the Earth, and Living Tzedakah. This after-school program will give our students a virtual version of the GrowTorah experience. Each student will be starting their own small one-pot garden. Each participant will purchase a short list of materials for the program and will be guided on this journey to connect nature and the environment with Judaism in a hands-on and meaningful way. Requirements: Participants will be e-mailed a short list of materials for the program Grades 3-5 Minimum of 7 required Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $175

MAD SCIENCE Mad Science North Boston Become a Mad Scientist Apprentice and solve complex problems through observation and experimentation. Together we’ll discover the secrets of chemistry by testing chemical reactions, harness the power of electrons through a circuit-making project, and master physics with experiments that test velocity and force. We’ll also learn about architectural masonry through structural engineering, and solve mysteries with detective science. This class will include a combination of science demos by our mad scientist, virtual games, and at-home projects. Requirements: Materials for this class will be distributed at school or from a safe pick-up place. Grades K-2 Time: 5:00-5:45 p.m. Cost: $200

Tuesday

SOCIAL SKILLS Ms. Ali Gutermann

YOGA Pretzel Kids

This social skills group will be facilitated by Ms. Ali Gutermann, the Maimonides Elementary School social worker. The group will incorporate the core principles of the Social Thinking curriculum, a cognitive behavioral approach used to foster social learning. Students will be taught how to observe and think about their own and others’ thoughts and feelings and learn the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It’s an opportunity for our students to have fun while learning how to interact more effectively with their peers. Group size is limited to 6 participants to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be an active member.

Learn yoga stretches, poses, activities, breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Students will strengthen their bodies’ stamina and selfconfidence and enjoy moving in a non-competitive way. They will play imaginative yoga games and practice relaxation techniques. Stay physically fit and learn to manage any stresses. This series is fun and engaging!

Grades K-2 MAXIMUM 6 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $120

TINKERCAD 3D DESIGN Empow Studio This course is for students at a beginner level who have a budding interest in computer art and design and want to explore the range of options that Computer Aided Design has to offer. Tinkercad is the industry leader in 3D design and engineering software, and an easy and intuitive first entry point for emerging designers. Students will engineer 3D objects which can be printed on a 3D printer and learn the important concept of Constructive Solid Geometry. They will gain an understanding of how to work digitally in 3D. Requirements: TinkerCAD account with Chrome-based browser Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer Grades 2-8 Time: 5:15-6:15 p.m. Cost: $250

Requirements: Yoga mat Grades K-2 Minimum of 7 required Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $150

Wednesday

CHESS Grandmaster Eduard Duchovny Play one of the world’s oldest and greatest games! Chess is an ancient game of skill and intellect. It helps children develop discipline and analytical and strategic thinking skills, promoting a higher rate of cognitive development. Chess has been proven to improve logical-mathematical and visual-spatial intelligence, self-control, and patience. Requirements: Ability to read and write Basic knowledge of how to play chess A full chess set – a board and all the pieces Grades 2-7 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $180

ADVANCED CHESS Grandmaster Eduard Duchovny Come and join a group of advanced chess players for a wonderful hour of learning strategies, positional tactics, and advanced moves. Play one of the world’s oldest games against formidable opponents! Requirements: Ability to play advanced chess A full chess set – a board and all the pieces Grades 6-12 Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. Cost: $180

Wednesday

allow them to understand the impact of the curriculum on children’s learning and to use that information to revise the curriculum. Requirements: iPad with Zoom installed (can be borrowed from school, subject to availability) Signed parental consent letter Grades K-2; LIMIT 10 Time: 5:15-6:00 p.m. MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS Cost: $480

DRAWING 101 Mr. Eli Portman Students will learn how to approach drawing different scenes and imagery. We will be learning techniques such as shading, coloring, detail line work, and how to break complicated images down into smaller shapes and steps. Your child will learn how to confidently approach all sorts of different drawings and pieces. Requirements: 8.5 x 11 sketchbook; pencils/sharpener; ruler; marker set of 16+ colors; eraser; Grades K-2 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $150

MISHMAR HaMorah Irene Blechner Learn about chagim, middot, and other Torah topics without the pressure of grades and assessments. The relaxed learning environment is proven to be effective for students, and they will get to interact with other students outside their classroom setting. Grades K-2 Time: 5:00-5:30 p.m. or 5:15-5:45 p.m. Cost: $85

Wednesday

PARSHA KAHOOT! Mr. Sam Tarlin Learn details of, and midrashim on, the weekly parsha through the engaging and exciting format of a Kahoot! Each week students will play an online quiz game with questions derived from that weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Torah portion. Questions will be explained and discussed throughout to create an interactive learning environment. Requirements: Computer, Chromebook, iPad. A second device might be preferable but is not necessary. Grades 3-5 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $135

ZOOMBA Mrs. Zippy Portman Want to shake off the stress of the school day? Come relax your body and mind with this fast-paced class. Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance fitness program that blends popular music with fun dance steps to create a great workout. Requirements: Comfortable clothes (T-shirt, leggings); sneakers; a water bottle Grades 5-7 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $150

Thursday ALL SPORTS Coach Adam Come and join us for a session of exercise on Zoom. We will get fit while learning various moves for various sports. We will learn certain moves using common household objects. Come and have fun while we move, move, move! Requirements: A ball (a soccer ball is best); a stuffed animal; three pairs of socks (rolled into balls); four shoes; three hats; a trash bag. Grades K-2 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $140

ART APPRECIATION: MUSEUM TOURS Ms. Tina Klarakis Join Ms. K on an art museum adventure that will take us both to faroff places and near to home. We will look at individual art and collections in virtual museum tours. While having fun, we will plunge into our personal creativity and make art inspired by our travels and love of art. Requirements: Pencils and big erasers; white and colored paper; Sharpies (at least one black and other colors); crayons; markers; colored pencils; watercolors; tempera or other paints Grades 3-5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome MINIMUM 5 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $125

Thursday HEBREW CALLIGRAPHY Ms. Rebecca Jacobs (HaMorah Rivka) Join us for a course on Hebrew calligraphy. Equipment will be provided and step-by-step instruction on Hebrew lettering will introduce you to this traditional Jewish art form. Requirements: Calligraphy pen (supplied by school) Lined paper Grades 3-6 – This is a guideline only; other grades are welcome MINIMUM 5 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $120

JUNE’S BROADWAY KIDS Mrs. June Gerrie Come and join June’s Broadway Kids as we sing, dance, and act our way through numerous journeys. Students will use their imaginations to build characters and become storytellers. Using improv games and physical movement, we will have fun creating characters and stories. Areas of focus will include concentration, memory, eye contact, improvisation, public speaking, singing, dancing, and acting games. Students will build confidence by working on their stage presentation and having fun with the group. A possible Zoom presentation may conclude the program, depending on number of actors.

Thursday kodesh study hall. Students will have the opportunity to work on their homework or study for an upcoming test, either individually or with partners (using breakout rooms), and Rabbi Beker will be available to facilitate, answer any questions, and provide assistance as needed. Rabbi Beker would also be happy to e-mail a teacher to confirm that an assignment was completed, if that would be helpful. It is our hope that this format will provide our students with an extra Torah learning opportunity, yet not overburden them at this difficult time. Grades 3-6 Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.* Cost: $85

SOCIAL SKILLS Ms. Ali Gutermann This social skills group will be facilitated by Ms. Ali Gutermann, the Maimonides Elementary School social worker. The group will incorporate the core principles of the Social Thinking curriculum, a cognitive behavioral approach used to foster social learning. Students will be taught how to observe and think about their own and others’ thoughts and feelings and learn the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It’s an opportunity for our students to have fun while learning how to interact more effectively with their peers. Group size is limited to 6 participants to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be an active member. Grades 3-5

Grades K-3

MAXIMUM 6

Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m. or 5:15-6:00 p.m.*

Cost: $160

Cost: $120

MISHMAR & LIMUDEI KODESH HOMEWORK HELP Rabbi Yaakov Beker Due to the current situation, our popular after-school Mishmar program will meet over Zoom. We will begin with a short d’var Torah from Rabbi Beker on the Parshat HaShavua, and the rest of the time will be used as a supervised limudei

Private Lessons

PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS Music teacher Mr. Cody Tracey offers private and group lessons in ukulele, voice, and guitar at all levels. He also offers introductory piano lessons. Zoom lessons are preferred but he is open to discussing in-person socially distanced lessons. e-mail: ctracey@maimonides.org

PIANO Mrs. Gerrie offers private piano lessons at all levels, both in-person and via Zoom. Phone: (617) 719-4936 e-mail: junegerrie1@gmail.com

VIOLIN Amos Lawrence offers private lessons encouraging the mastery of violin, from beginners to advanced level, both in-person and via Zoom. Phone: (617) 505-6412 e-mail: amoslawrence1@gmail.com

About the Faculty

ARTEMIS YOGA (Yoga, Grades 3-5) instructor Tracy Affonso is a yoga and mindfulness instructor for children, teens, and families with Artemis Yoga. She was a successful elementary school teacher in the public schools of Newton and Fall River for 17 years. Tracy is certified at the 500 hour level to teach children, teens, and adults. She is sought after for her expertise in bringing mindfulness into the classroom, and participates in school panels and leads workshops for Kripalu and continuing education for the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Tracy is a graduate of Boston University with a degree in Elementary Education and holds a Master’s Degree in Education, Integrated Teaching through the Arts from Lesley University RABBI YAAKOV BEKER (Mishmar and Limudei Kodesh Homework Help) is our Sixth Grade Limudei Kodesh teacher. He received Smicha from the Ner Israel Rabbinical College. HAMORAH IRENE BLECHNER (Culinary Delights, Mishmar) is our Limudei Kodesh Kindergarten teacher. She has taught at Maimo for many years. Irene has built her culinary expertise by working under numerous caterers in her early years and planning menus and cooking for her family of six. Her favorite hobbies include reading cookbooks for fun and working in her backyard garden. MS. LAURA BRADFORD (Recycling) has taught in Maimo’s ECC and Kindergarten. She facilitates our Maimo MateS program. Laura has been an educator for most of her life. She has always loved photography, drawing, painting, baking, nature, and growing things. DEVTECH (Coding/Scratch Jr. Research Project) The Developmental Technologies Research Group, directed by Professor Marina Umaschi Bers at the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University, aims to understand how new technologies that engage in coding, robotics, and making can play a positive role in children’s development and learning. Their research involves three dimensions: theoretical contributions, design of new technologies, and empirical work to test and evaluate the theory and technologies. They create programming languages such as KIBO and ScratchJr, as well as teaching materials and pedagogical strategies for the professional development of early childhood educators and community engagement. Their long-time commitment is to inspire sustainable and scalable evidence-based programs for young children that promote the learning of programming and computational thinking with a playful, developmentally appropriate approach. MR. ADAM DiTULLIO/COACH ADAM SPORTS (All Sports) is a professional coach. He has a BA in sports management, concentrated in coaching. He has more than 5 years’ experience coaching children, and runs his own company.

About the Faculty

MR. EDUARD DUCHOVNY (Chess) is a FIDE Master of Chess, FIDE Trainer of Chess, and International Arbiter of Chess, and has coached champions from the USA, Israel, and Ukraine. He has been an instructor of junior players from beginners to senior candidates. He travels extensively, both in the USA and abroad, as a sought-after arbiter in world chess tournaments. Mr. Duchovny has represented the USA as an International Arbiter for the World Chess Olympiad all over the world.

MAD SCIENCE OF NORTH BOSTON (Mad Science) has been serving the greater Boston area since 1995 and provides an entertaining approach to STEM topics. Their Mad Scientists encourage scientific thinking and methods by using learning through play. Instructors have classroom teaching experience as well as lab safety training. Parents and schools are impressed with their curriculum, but children are mesmerized by the engaging experience.

EMPOW STUDIO (Coding with Scratch; Animation: Digital & Stop Motion; TinkerCad 3D Design) brings technology, arts, and play together to help young learners build their creative talents. They use project-based STEM programs to help kids make fun things such as playable video games, digitally-animated movies, 3D prints of original designs or houses, and robots. Students learn to design, build, and code projects they are proud to share with family and friends, while learning the critical fundamentals of technology. MRS. JUNE GERRIE (June’s Broadway Kids, Piano) is an accomplished pianist, singer, actress, and dancer. She studied music theory at Brandeis. Mrs. Gerrie has taught piano for many years across several age groups GROWTORAH (GrowTorah) Farmer Sara Just-Michael has been a GrowTorah educator for two years, blending Torah learning with nature. Sara has worked in experiential education for ten years and has taught virtually throughout the past few months. In her free time, she has led six Birthright trips and loves learning how things are grown differently in Israel. Farmer Sara now lives in Manhattan and is excited to be sharing this experience with us. MS. ALISON GUTERMANN (Social Skills) is the Elementary School social worker at Maimonides School. She graduated from Trinity College with a degree in Political Science and holds a Master’s Degree in school-based social work from Columbia University . MS. REBECCA JACOBS/ HAMORAH RIVKA (Hebrew Calligraphy) first began studying calligraphy as a tenth grader at Maimonides School. Over the years she has undertaken many calligraphy projects in both Hebrew and English, from greeting cards to ketubot. MS. TINA KLARAKIS (Art Appreciation: Museum Tours) has been busy teaching art to Maimonides students for three years. When she is not teaching and is able to travel, she likes to visit museums. She currently has been to museums on four continents. Her love of art has led her to pursue two art degrees, one from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and a graduate degree from Parsons New School University in New York. MR. AMOS LAWRENCE (Violin) has a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory. He studied with Ivan Galamian, Itzhak Perlman’s teacher.

PRETZEL KIDS (Yoga, K-2; Yoga for Teens) is a yoga studio which offers curriculum-based, structured, engaging, playful, and fun yoga classes created by school teachers. Kids learn important yoga and mindfulness skills that they can carry through their lives. All teachers are certified in the Pretzel Kids method. MR. ELI PORTMAN (Drawing 101) graduated Maimo in 2010 and studied art at SUNY Binghamton. He now teaches art to all ages, displays his work in galleries, and creates custom paintings and murals. MRS. ZIPPY PORTMAN (Zoomba) is our beloved 5th Grade General Studies teacher, as well as being Eli Portman’s mother. She is beginning her 29th year of teaching at Maimo! She loves to Zumba! MR. SAM TARLIN is in his 10th year teaching in the Elementary School at Maimonides. He runs the school’s annual National Geographic Geography Bee and currently teaches 4th Grade General Studies. He cherishes opportunities to teach and learn Torah, both in the classroom and out! MR. CODY TRACEY (Drama/Music Program, Private & group ukulele, voice, guitar and piano lessons) is our Maimo music teacher. He has worked as a K-12 music educator in a variety of settings, including private lessons, schools, and community choirs.