HOST (Husky Out of School Time) is offering a great Spring 2021 lineup of free enrichment and recreation classes to support students in their growth mindset. Due to COVID-19, HOST again will be virtual this semester, but some programs will get students moving, and away from their screens!
HOST is coordinated by Seattle Parks & Recreation in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, with primary funding support from the City of Seattle taxpayer-approved Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy. WMS PTSA provides additional support.
- START and END DATES: Week of March 8 (except Purple Reign) through Week of May 24
- WHEN: Mon, Tues, Thurs: 4-5 pm; Wed: 3-4:15 pm
—> Classes meet once per week. (Two of the classes can be taken twice a week – see descriptions.)
—> No meetings during Spring Break (April 12-16). - COST: Free!
- TO ENROLL: Fill out this online form. Once enrolled, students will see a Schoology Course called “Washington HOST – Recreation/Enrichment.”
- MORE INFO: Contact Won Choi at 206-849-9203; wkchoi@seattleschools.org
Mondays
Purple Reign (Starts March 15)
Purple Reign, the official Washington Middle School Dance Team, will begin meeting each Monday during the HOST Program. Led by a professional Hip-hop dance teaching artist, participants will learn foundation styles of Hip-Hop dance, including house, street, and funk. Purple Reign activities promote multiple positive outcomes relevant to youth development, including positive recognition and empowerment, dance skills, teamwork, and community contribution.
Life Skills and Mindfulness
This class will focus on expanding knowledge outside of the “school” academia. A few examples are cooking, volunteerism, study habits, being a self-starter, opening a bank account, learning how to apologize (mindfulness) and more. Students will have a chance to input topics that they would like to learn as well. The hope of this class is to show students that there is so much more to learn than what’s taught traditionally at school and to have an open mind.
Computer Science Club
Students will learn Computer Science using Code.org’s CS Discoveries Curriculum and game lab. This will be student-guided and self-paced. Students will also work together in small groups to support each other learning programming, interactive animations, and games.
Pottery/Among Us
Students will be learning clay pottery, specifically pinch pots and creating animals out of clay from start to finish. This class will teach different techniques every week and students will have to practice and create their own creations. Every other week the class will play “Among Us.” The App-based game will give students the chance to have fun and debate with each other.
Tuesdays
Change Makers (also available on Thurs)
The Change Makers Cohort prepares transitioning 8th-graders to be active leaders for their future. Seattle University student mentors support scholar preparation and transition for middle school to high school through academic support and personal awareness. The program centers scholar voice and choice by engaging in project-based learning, focusing on scholar identity, and exploring topics that are of interest to the cohort. Projects piloted this summer included creation of a resume, learning about club creation and membership, and discussing organization strategies.
Smartphone Photography
The class will focus on developing critical creative and technical skills in Smartphone Photography. Students will learn the fundamentals of composition, lighting, and editing. Through free phone editing apps students will learn to enhance, manipulate, overlay, crop, rotate, resize, and edit their shots. Classes will include discussions where students will be asked to look at images carefully, developing their eye for story and narrative. By the end of the class students will have the language and tools to discuss images critically as well as identifying unique photographic qualities that make their work stand out from the crowd.
My Sister’s Keeper (also available on Thurs)
“My Sister’s Keeper” will be geared toward students of African descent who need academic support as well as social emotional support grade 6-8. Students will be paired with professional mentors that look and identify with their cultural group. Mentors will assist in promoting self-esteem, boosting confidence, and maintaining academic benchmarks. The facilitators will lead students through a Seattle Parks specific curriculum. This curriculum will include everything from advocating for yourself, speaking to adults, interviewing, college readiness, speaking in front of groups, and book club sharing.
My Brother’s Keeper
“My Brother’s Keeper” will be geared toward students of African descent who need academic support as well as social emotional support grade 6-8. Students will be paired with professional mentors that look and identify with their cultural group. Mentors will assist in promoting self-esteem, boosting confidence, and maintaining academic benchmarks. The facilitators will lead students through a Seattle Parks specific curriculum. This curriculum will include everything from advocating for yourself, speaking to adults, interviewing, college readiness, speaking in front of groups, and book club sharing.
Comics
We will enter the world of graphic novels. Together we’ll explore the magic of words and pictures and see what amazing things happen when you put them together. We will drive into drawing expressively, creating characters and telling stories. Make sure to bring your humor and your sense of adventure. In the conclusion of the course students will understand the basics of composition, portrait vs. landscape, wide angle, regular and close-up framing. They will be able to develop the arch of a story and use foundational strategies to convey emotion.
Ukulele and Songwriting
Students in this class learn introductory ukulele and songwriting. Students will learn basic strumming patterns, several chords and basic song structure. We will also learn how to play a few popular songs in the process.
Wednesdays
Newspaper
This class is for students who enjoy writing and wish to produce a school newspaper. It will mimic a professional newsroom, with brainstorming, researching/interviewing, writing, copy editing and deadlines. Discussions will include: the importance of a newspaper in a community; the parts of a newspaper; the staff and its jobs; the responsibilities of a newspaper; and the power of words. Students will come up with the newspaper’s name and appropriate hard news and feature story ideas geared to their target audience. After we discuss how to critique and question one another in a friendly, respectful manner, the students will review the ideas and vote on the final lineup.
Jazz (Music Theory and Performance)
This class will focus on creativity, expression, communication, leadership and independence. The goal of the class by the end of the session is general improvement in performance and theory, but more specifically to have 1 or 2 jazz standards melody and chords memorized, for the group to have written a simple jazz song, and for the students to record themselves playing an improvised or self-composed solo over one of the songs. This class will focus on pitched-instruments ONLY. Unfortunately this means the drum set is not an option for this class. Percussion students are welcome to join on piano, keyboard, or a pitched mallet instrument.
Thursdays
Change Makers (also available on Tues)
[See description for Tuesday.]
My Sister’s Keeper (also available on Tues)
[See description for Tuesday.]
Get REAL
In Get REAL students will be learning about and discussing healthy friendships and relationships. We will incorporate fun activities and encourage the students to share and discuss their own opinions. We will cover topics such as Stress, Negative and Positive Emotions, Stereotypes, Choosing a Friend, Communication Skills, Choosing a Dating Partner, Healthy Relationships, Breaking Up, Rights and Responsibilities in Relationships, Boundaries, Making Apologies and warning Signs of Abuse. Through the Get REAL program, youth can actively practice social and life skills in order to make healthier choices for themselves and provide opportunities to model that behavior and be positive leaders and role models for their peers.
Filmmaking Beginners!
The class will focus on the basics of capturing and editing movies with a smartphone. No prior experience is needed! You will learn from professional examples to begin to storyboard compose, and light your work. Through free editing apps you will learn to enhance and manipulate your film. You will be challenged with exciting assignments and create work you can share with an audience afterwards. This is your chance to tell the stories inside your head!
Strong and Fit!
This class seeks to develop physical abilities, social skills and self-confidence by way of fitness. It can prepare students for sports, making them fitter and more coordinated, or provide an alternative for students who are not interested in competitive sports or traditional team sports. It’s also great for developing good motor patterns, balance, and a positive attitude toward challenges. At the very least, we keep things fun and the students moving.
Rain City Rock
We’re going to rock it out band formation, song creation, dance parties and workshops to help keep students engaged and connected to each other! Students will engage one another through creative songwriting and empowerment through musical expression. The first 2 weeks will be individual projects in “Soundtrap” and then come together in bands. Additionally, we will have one or two guest performers featured throughout the program.
Washington Middle School PTSA 