Our Enrichment Programs
Technology
Our students get the most out of our Technology program when they are actually using technology in a hands-on, engaging way.
Students interact with various digital tools and applications including film and video editing, productivity software, 3D modeling, web design, and programming. Students use the Engineering Design Process to build digital and physical artifacts, such as circuits and simulations. They then test those artifacts and build upon them in an iterative way. Students also learn the fundamentals around computer science to understand what makes computers work and the functions they perform. Through it all, they are gaining digital, real-world skills that can be used throughout their education and lives.
Athletics
West End Day School’s athletic program is more than a Physical Education program.
Sports, games, skills, balance, hand-eye coordination, gross motor movements, cooperation, sportsmanship, self-control, and healthy behavior are just some of the important areas our students learn about. Our Physical Education team has a dual focus on both physical and emotional development. In order to address the full range of our student’s goals, the Physical Education program is staffed by both a Physical Education teacher and a counselor. Students are given opportunities to expand on their daily learning through regularly scheduled Physical Education classes, as well as in-school enrichment and afterschool programs.
Art
Once a week, our students have Art class with our Art Specialist in our Science and Art Center - a beautiful and thoughtfully designed space that allows for larger scale, long-term projects.
The art curriculum is cross-curricular, integrating concepts from the students’ social studies and science units. Art lessons incorporate a variety of art mediums, including painting and drawings, sculpting, collage, and much more. Every year, students have the opportunity to showcase their work in the annual Art Show - a school-wide event that is anchored by a central theme in which the students can be inspired by.
Music
Our Music program isn’t just about learning musical skills - it’s also about music appreciation.
Music is taught once a week in each of our classes, with chorus also meeting weekly to expand on our in-class music curriculum. Various concepts are taught, including music history, world music, musical styles, and music theory. There are two musically-focused performances throughout the year: the mid-year Winter Sing and year-end June Performance.
Drama
Our Drama program enriches our arts curriculum using a cross-curriculum learning approach.
Students work together to frame their knowledge of different story genres, poetry, history, and science to make the spoken story come to life. Students are involved in acting, writing scenes, monologues, and performing improv. Additionally, drama helps students to build on creativity, confidence, and communication. At the end of each year, our drama program collaborates with our art and music program for our June Performance, which showcases our student’s strengths in these areas while celebrating the arts.
