Summer in the City - Mustard Seed Summer Program

Introduction

Welcome to MSS Summer in the City! This pilot program is in response to years of inquiries from our parent community about summer offerings. From our conversations with you, we know that families want engaging summer experiences where students can discover and pursue new passions among familiar faces or jump start for the new year. Along with classes designed to challenge and stimulate young minds, you also told us that you would like to see the same MSS principles and values promoting social-emotional learning that our students enjoy throughout the school year. Join us this season! We can help you make 2023 the best summer ever!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is MSS summer camp available to students who do not attend Mustard Seed?

Yes! MSS Summer in the City is designed to spark student creativity and inspire learners from across the region. Led by Mustard Seed teachers, who in some cases will be instructing alongside Fulbright Scholars and Stanford & MIT AI researchers, our summer offerings incorporate Mustard Seed’s educational practices developed through our more than 40 years of experience teaching students in Hoboken.

2. Will the principles and values of Mustard Seed be expressed during the summer?

Mustard Seed attends to the whole child. Although we will not celebrate worship in the summer, we will continue to encourage and instill compassion for others, kindness, character, and integrity.

3. May I choose to attend only the weeks that fit my family’s schedule?

Yes, with the exception of AI Pioneers which run continually for two weeks, all programs are offered on a week-by-week basis, and families have full-day and halfday options. Students in Grades 2-5 enrolled in separate morning and afternoon classes may pack a lunch and eat in a faculty-supervised area between classes. Enroll in one week of enriching, hands-on activities, games, and learning, or join us for the entire program! Our selection of classes allows you to have a new experience each week.

4. What age does my child need to be to attend?

Classes are offered for students age 4 to 14. The admissions criteria for each class is based upon the grade your child will enter in fall 2023.

PreKGrade 1 12:30-3pm9am-12

2-3 12:30-3pm9am-12

Week 2 (July 31-August 4)

Sports Camp (no PreK) Crafts and Play

Week 3 (August 7-11)

Sports Camp (no PreK)

Grade 6-8 12:30-3pm9am-12

Sports Camp AI Adventurers Create the Rhythm

Camp

Engineering Design AI Adventurers Legendary Creatures

Engineering Design

Create the Rhythm

Engineering Design (Grade 6 only)

AI Pioneers

Engineering Design (Grade 6 only)

Surrealist Techniques

Engineering Design

Grades 4-6

9:00-11:30 AM and/or 12:30-3:00 PM on Campus + Field Trips, July 24-28

Instructor: Melissa McCallihan

Summer engineering camp is a place where children will experience wonder and discovery within an inquiry-based context. The lessons are prepared by the Engineering is Elementary program designed by the Museum of Science in Boston, MA, and follow the engineering design process of question, imagine, plan, create, and improve. Experiments and model building address real problems and students generate real solutions as responsible citizens in the world.

This summer, young engineers will be challenged with Avalanche Issues on a Mountainside and how best to protect the people and the spaces in the town at the bottom of the mountain.

The afternoon class, Shake It Up!, challenges students to design a structure to protect helpless stuffed animals in surviving an earthquake.

Sign up for the morning, afternoon, or BOTH of these experiences.

$250 Morning • Avalanche Issues on a Mountainside

$250 Afternoon • Shake It Up!

Crafts and Play

PreK4-Grade 1

9:00 AM-3:00 PM, July 31-August 4

Instructors: Becca Brasser, Mallory Curran

This retro-style day camp features everything you remember from your favorite MSS Field Day. Led by Ms. Brasser, who has taught first grade since 2002 and is the parent of two Mustard Seed students, Crafts and Play programming is designed with the PreK4 to Grade 1 child in mind. The full-day class is a great way for your child to develop new friendships, experience art, and enjoy guided play experiences!

“Children will experience MSS’ signature studio-style art activities with a summer twist.”

$495

Sports Camp

Kindergarten-Grade 3

9:00 AM-12:00 PM, July 31-August 4 and August 7-11

Instructors: Ryan Dominguez, Dorota Chester

Summer is the time to play and be creative. Rain or Shine: Campers will explore a new sport each day and learn basic skills, practice drills, and play fun games! Sports will include baseball, basketball, hockey (without the skates), gymnastics, and elements of track and field.

$250 • July 31-August 4

$250 • August 7-11

Create the Rhythm

Grades 2-5

12:30-3:00 PM, July 31-August 4 and August 7-11

Instructor: Aiko Mauldin

Have you ever played conga, djembe, xylophones, and boom pipes? In this instrumental-based class, campers will learn to use classroom instruments to prepare 2-3 pieces for performance at the end of the week. Join us for one OR BOTH weeks.

$250 • July 31-August 4

$250 • August 7-11

(Students in Grades 2-5 who enroll in morning and afternoon classes may bring their lunch and eat in a faculty-supervised room/outdoor space between classes.)

Mustard Seed has enjoyed a renowned reputation for our music programming since our founding. Our AI classes are taught in partnership with educators from Inspirit’s team of Stanford, MIT, and top university AI specialists.

AI Adventurers

Grades 2-5

9:00 AM-12:00 PM, July 31-August 4

Instructor: Johari Stoudmire in partnership with Inspirit’s team of Stanford, MIT, and top university AI specialists

At Inspirit AI, we believe that computational thinking primes our youngest minds to learn the tools that designers, artists, engineers, and scientists use to build solutions for an increasingly complex world. Computational thinking doesn’t mean we’ll turn your child into a calculator, quite the opposite! Our classes encourage logic, creativity, pattern recognition, and abstraction along with an emphasis on mindfulness activities that promote social-emotional learning. Our personalized instruction ensures that your big kid can feel confident enough to tackle big kid challenges. The Zoom-enabled course is 100% synchronous and led by Inspirit’s team of Stanford, MIT, and top university AI specialists passionate about inspiring young students to apply artificial intelligence for social good.

The class will be facilitated in the classroom by Ms. Stoudmire, a familiar face to Mustard Seed students from Kindergarten to Middle School!

$350

AI Pioneers

Grades 6-8

9:00 AM-12:00 PM, July 31-August 11

Instructor: Johari Stoudmire in partnership with Inspirit’s team of Stanford, MIT, and top university AI specialists

In AI Pioneers, our emerging engineers will learn how to create projects for social good with Python programming language. Through hands-on coding, students will learn how computers can use data to solve complex problems like natural language processing and computer vision. Our students will explore the ways they can meaningfully use AI to predict heart disease, create social robots, assist with disaster relief, and navigate autonomous vehicles.

In this 100% synchronous, Zoom-enabled course, taught by Stanford & MIT AI researchers, we emphasize ethical responsibility, career paths in artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary applications! From beginner to advanced coders, we envision a future where students of all backgrounds can contribute towards a bright future of inclusivity and technological advancement.

The class will be facilitated in the classroom by Ms. Stoudmire, a familiar face to Mustard Seed students from Kindergarten to Middle School!

$650 for two weeks beginning July 31

Legendary Creatures

Grades 2-5

9:00 AM-12:00 PM, August 4 -11

Instructors: Clara Buckley, Jill Van Epps

Following a presentation of a book collection for reference, children will study fairy tales and myths for inspiration. They will choose a mythological creature to depict, and create masks, claws, wings, and other pieces out of paper maché. The class, integrating art and literature, will culminate in an immersive art installation at the end of the week showcasing the students’ characters.

This class is led by a powerhouse team of longtime MSS Art and STEAM teacher Ms. Buckley, with Ms. Van Epps, a Fulbright Scholar who has worked as an Executive Producer for Macy’s and Google.

$250 includes art supplies

Surrealist Techniques

Grades 6-8

12:30-3:00 PM, August 4 -11

Instructors: Clara Buckley, Jill Van Epps

This is a studio class combining writing and visual art. We will introduce surrealism and place it within the context of other twentieth century avant-garde movements. Students will mine their subconscious and their surroundings, using techniques of randomization such as collage, cut-ups, and automatic writing to expand the scope of their vocabulary and imagination. Work produced could be suitable for a portfolio for high school. Artwork will be showcased at the end of the week in a show on campus.

This class is led by a powerhouse team of long-time MSS Art and STEAM teacher

Ms. Buckley, with Ms. Van Epps, a Fulbright Scholar who has worked as an Executive Producer for Macy’s and Google.

$250 includes art supplies

Work produced in the Surrealist Techniques class will be portfolio-quality and suitable for high school applications.

Faculty

AIKO MAULDIN

Since our founding, Mustard Seed’s music department has enjoyed a distinguished reputation across the region with regular performances from Carnegie Hall to the Hoboken Public Library. As Director of the PROS (Percussion, Recorder, Orff, Servants) student group, and Coleman Fung Chair for Music, Ms. Mauldin is a frequent presenter at national conferences including most recently, OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators) and KONY (Kodaly New York).

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ms. Mauldin started her musical training at the age of three when her mother enrolled her at a piano studio next door so that she could have peace and quiet for 30 minutes a week. Ms. Mauldin soon fell in love with Beethoven, Mozart, Debussy, Liszt, and especially Bach. She had her first official debut performance at the age of 11 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England.

BECCA BRASSER

Ms. Brasser has taught first grade at Mustard Seed since 2003. She was one of the school’s initial visitors to Reggio Emilia, Italy to observe and study their approach in person and share her findings with her fellow teachers. Ms. Brasser holds a Master of Arts degree from New Jersey City University in literacy education.

Although she lives in the city, Ms. Brasser loves escaping to nature and discovering it in her everyday life as well. She loves to explore rivers and lakes, woods and mountains with her husband Matt, and their daughter and son, who are both students at Mustard Seed.

Faculty

CLARA BUCKLEY

PreK and Middle School Art teacher as well as STEAM team member, Ms. Buckley earned her degrees at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of London. Ms. Buckley utilized her background in art, math, and physics to collaborate in the creation and implementation of a STEAM curriculum in the 4th and 5th grade program at Mustard Seed. This innovative work was shared and presented locally and nationally at conferences for the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and at the National Science Teachers Association. Ms. Buckley has over 15 years experience teaching in both the UK and USA.

Clara Buckley’s teaching expertise spans the ages at Mustard Seed School, from the youngest students in the preschool to students in the graduating class. She has found many similarities between teaching three-year-olds and thirteen-year-olds!

DOROTA CHESTER

Ms. Chester has been a member of the Mustard Seed School community for almost two decades: first as the parent of three boys and a volunteer, and then as a staff member. Her love for education started when she was a child in Poland participating in the national scout organization,where she quickly gained a leadership position. After earning an education degree at the University of Warsaw over 30 years ago, she has taught children from PreK to Third Grade. Ms. Chester is currently the beloved Assistant Teacher in Mustard Seed’s Kindergarten class.

Faculty

MALLORY CURRAN

Ms. Curran earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education & Psychology and M.S. in Early Childhood Eduction from New Jersey City University. After student teaching in the Jersey City Public School District, Ms. Curran has worked as a Paraprofessional and an Assistant Teacher at Mustard Seed for four years. For the 2022-23 school year, she is serving as the Assistant Teacher in our First Grade classroom with an emphasis on foundational skills in literacy and math.

RYAN DOMINGUEZ

After earning his B.S. in psychology and B.A. in music theory and composition, Mr. Dominguez received a Masters Degree in Urban Ministry from Alliance Theological Seminary. Currently the Assistant Teacher in the Preschool, Mr. Dominguez has also taught art and beginning gymnastics at My Gym and Kidville, and has experience instructing children from 6 weeks to 13 years-old.

Faculty

MELISSA M c CALLIHAN

After earning her B.A. from the University of Arizona with further education at the University of Idaho, Ms. McCallihan has taught elementary school students for more than 30 years. In collaboration with the MS director, art teacher, and other fourth and fifth grade teachers, she was instrumental in developing the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program, an extension of the Lower School’s Shared Space model.

“STEAM is where students solve problems and sometimes get it wrong,” says Ms. McCallihan when asked about risks and failing well. “Students need to learn how to do that with grace, and to try again with grit and determination.”

JOHARI STOUDMIRE

A familiar and welcoming face to Mustard Seed students from Kindergarten to eighth grade for the past five years, Ms. Stoudmire is pursuing a degree in child development at Grand Canyon University. Ms. Stoudmire has played specialty roles in several classrooms as well as in our Extended Day program.

“I love my job and the children at Mustard Seed,” says Ms. Stoudmire,“and I like that the school philosophy is faith-based.”

Faculty

JILL VAN EPPS

Jill Van Epps is a writer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. She studied film in Berlin on a Fulbright Fellowship, was the recipient of the Margaret C. Annan Award in writing while an undergrad at University of Chicago, and has had several poems published in literary journals. She received her M.F.A. in visual art from Goldsmiths College in London. Her video installations have been shown at galleries including the Flat Time House, Guest Projects, Foodface Projects, New London Gallery, and the Swiss Church, and she has been interviewed about her work for 1883 Magazine.

More recently, she has worked as an Executive Producer for Macy’s and Google in Manhattan.

We’re looking forward to seeing all of our friends this summer! For more information and online registration for classes, see bit.ly/MSS_SummerintheCity

Summer in the City Adventure Offerings by Week