Avoca West Extracurricular Opportunities
2021-2022 School Year
What & Why (Name of club & blurb) | Who (Grade, Open to All or Select Enrollment) | When (Day(s) of week, Time, & General Date Range) | Contact Name |
Over the course of 10-12 weeks, GOTR coaches will lead the group in a structured curriculum "designed to enhance girls’ social, emotional and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities." We will build the physical endurance of our girls to tackle a 5K, but the growth in their sense of self and how to tackle interacting with others and their community is the REAL strength of the time together.. | Open to 3rd-5th grade girls, limited to 16 girls | Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00-4:30 Ends Thanksgiving | Ms. Abrams Mrs. Hutchison |
Chess-Ed (remote) A unique, exciting, and dynamic chess instruction class which lifts each student to a new level of expertise. Each week students will enjoy an engaging lesson with supervised time to play with classmates. Students will grow their knowledge of the game - from the basics through opening theory, middle game tactics and end game combinations. | Open to grades K-5 | Tuesdays 2-3 pm (Kindergarten) Tuesdays 3-4 pm | |
Concert Choir: A performing ensemble, the Concert Choir participates in the District Choral Concert and the Avoca West Spring Choral Concert. This group is for students who love singing with others and wish to experience advanced choral ensemble skills. Rehearsals are fast-paced and focus on beautiful and healthy singing, musicianship, artistry, and choral reading skills. | Open to students grades 3-5 by invitation | Tuesdays 7:30 a.m. and continues through the spring concert. | Ms. Weismehl |
Gioso: Gioso (pronounced “joy-OH-zoh, Italian for “joyful”) is a performance-based choral ensemble that serves as a preparatory experience for the Concert Choir. Students need to participate in Gioso or demonstrate advanced music and singing skills to be considered for participation in Concert Choir.Gioso is for students who love singing with others and are interested in beginning choral ensemble skills and performing. Rehearsals focus on beautiful and healthy singing, musicianship, artistry and choral reading skills. Gioso performs in the Avoca West Spring Choral Concert. | Open to all students grades 1-5 | Fridays 7:30 a.m. beginning October 8 through the spring concert. | Ms. Weismehl |
Comunità: Comunità (pronounced “co-mu-ni-TA”, Italian for “community”) is open to students of all abilities. An inclusive choir, Comunità is modeled after the High Five Choir at New Trier. Emphasis is on building a strong community of joyful voices where everyone is welcome. Students will sing and use movement, instruments, and other materials to work together towards a common goal. Students take ownership by helping to decide which songs will be performed in concert. Comunità performs at the Avoca West Spring Concert and at the New Trier High Five Spring Sing. This ensemble is a great option for students who wish to participate in other morning activities. | Open to all students grades 1-5 | Mondays 7:30 beginning October 2t and continues through the New Trier High Five Concert Spring Sing. | Ms. Weismehl |
Boys Running Club: The goal is to help participants appreciate improvements in fitness through the joy of running and exercising. Activities include long, med. & short runs, hurdles, relays, long jump, high jump, etc. Participants are required to support everyone, regardless of ability. | 4th & 5th Grade Boys | Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-4PM Through Oct 21st. | Mr. Brennan |
Viking Club: Vikings club is our before school intramural sports program for fourth and fifth graders. It is held in the Fall and Spring. During vikings club we play a variety of sports including but not limited to soccer, football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. This is a great opportunity to play organized games with your friends and have a fun safe time doing so. | 4th and 5th graders | Boys- Mondays thru Oct 18th, Girls -Fridays thru Oct 22, Time 7:40am-8:10 | Mr. Brennan |
TOYS: An opportunity to explore different tech, TOYS (Technology outside Your School day) will sample different types of coding. *Limited number of participants per session. Students will be chosen by lottery.* | 4th/5th graders | Session 1: Mar 6-13 Session 2: May 1-8 Sessions will run 6 school days in a row (Friday - Friday) | Mrs. Lane |
Taste of Tech | 3, 4 and 5 | One day a week (TBD); sessions will be in January and February | Mrs. Lane Mr. Erf |
Breakout EDU | Open to students grades 1-5 | Mrs. Lane | |
Assembly Ensemble The Assembly Ensemble helps create and present our school Spirit Assemblies around themes that make Avoca a great place to learn. Students write scripts, be part of a performance cast, tech crew or set design team. Look for the sign-up in early December. *Limited number of participants per session. | Grades 3, 4, and 5. | Wednesdays after school from 3:00-4:15pm Session 1: January 10-March 16 Session 2: April 14-June 8 | Ms. Abrams Mrs. Bowman |
Yoga & Mindfulness Our morning yoga class will help students start the day with a calm and focused energy. Through breathing exercises, yoga postures, and playful collaborative activities, students will learn to strengthen their minds and bodies. Yoga can teach healthy habits for reducing stress and worry, focusing attention, and building self-confidence in addition to developing strength, balance, and flexibility. The benefits of yoga can stay with you for a lifetime...and it is FUN! | Students in grades 3-5 *Note that sessions are available for grade levels | Fridays from 7:30-8:15 October 8 - December 10 January 14 - March 4 March 11 - May 20 | Mrs. Bowman Mrs. Raczyla |
Amplify Avoca | We meet on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3:05-4:00. Students may sign up for one or more days. | Ms. Michael | |
Multicultural Club Each week, we meet after school to “travel” to another country. We learn about geography, culture, customs, and fun facts. Through this we build global awareness and understanding, as well as increase opportunities for education about the many cultures of our students and around the world. Exploring cultures allows us to organically come to the awareness that we are more alike than different, while fostering acceptance, tolerance, and empathy. | Grades 4, 5 Limited to 20 Students | Mondays 3:00-4:00 Starts October 4 | Ms Cross Mrs. Lin |