Continuing Education offers Adventures classes for students after school, in the evening and on the weekends. NOTE: Classes that start at 4:00 pm are scheduled for the convenience of West Des Moines Community School District students. Class times begin so children can attend after the end of district school days. There is no supervision before classes.

Adventures in Japanese, Grades 7-8

Are you interested in the Japanese language and culture? Would you like to learn about sushi, kimono, anime and Japanese martial arts? This is your chance to explore ‘ JAPAN ’!

Time: 2:45-4:45 pm 

Instructor: Kanai-Molloy

Fee: $29/session

Indian Hills - Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15-10/6   

Place: Room 423

Code: ADV01

Stilwell

Dates: Thursdays, 9/17-10/8          

Place: Room 142

Code: ADV02

Ballroom Dancing for Kids, Grades 1-5

Have you ever wanted to feel the excitement of learning how to dance like the stars? Get started with the basics of these dances and learn a fun social skill you can enjoy for the rest of your life! *Sign up for all three sessions and get a $10 discount.

Time: 6:00-7:00 pm

Place: Westridge Community Room

Instructor: Malcom-Brown

Fee: $20/session*

Foxtrot, Cha Cha, & Hustle

In this session you will learn to dance around the floor with the fun Foxtrot, enjoy the playfulness of the Cha Cha, and shake your groove thing with the Hustle.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/29-10/13  

Code: ADV03

Waltz, Merengue & Triple Time Swing

In this session you will glide gracefully with the Waltz, party hard with the Merengue, and be spinning with a smile dancing the widely used Triple Time Swing.

Dates: Tuesdays, 10/20-11/10

(no class 10/27) 

Code: ADV04

Tango, Rumba & Single Time Swing

In this session we get dramatic with the Tango, feel the musical romance of the Rumba, and get hopping with the Single Time Swing.  

Dates: Tuesdays, 12/1-12/15

Code: ADV05

Computer Club, Grades K-2

In this class we will have fun drawing, writing and recording on the computer, as well as discovering exciting sites on the Internet. Increase your technology skills in this fun afterschool class.

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Fee: $26/session

Clive Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15-10/13

Instructor: Rohr

Code: ADV06

Crossroads Park Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Mondays, 9/14-10/19 (no class 10/12)

Instructor: Brase

Code: ADV07

Fairmeadows - Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Mondays, 9/14-10/19 (no class 10/12)

Instructor: Schinzel

Code: ADV08

Hillside Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15-10/13

Instructor: Dietzenbach

Code: ADV09

Jordan Creek-Session 1 Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Mondays, 9/14-10/19 (no class 10/12)

Instructor: Freeman

Code: ADV10

Jordan Creek-Session 2 Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15-10/13

Instructor: Freeman

Code: ADV11

Western Hills Sorry, this session is full.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15-10/13

Instructor: Henderson

Code: ADV12

Computer Club, Grades 3-6

Join Computer Club and spend time exploring a multitude of programs involving math, social studies, writing and reading. Activity is self-directed and students have time to practice skills and play games.

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Fee: $26

Clive

Dates: Tuesdays, 10/20-11/17

Instructor: Rohr

Code: ADV13

Crossroads Park

Dates: Tuesdays, 10/6-11/3

Instructor: Jaramillo

Code: ADV14

Fairmeadows

Dates: Mondays, 10/26-11/23

Instructor: Schinzel

Code: ADV15

Western Hills

Dates: Tuesdays, 10/20-11/24 (no class 11/17)

Instructor: Henderson

Code: ADV16

Drama Club—The Great Kapok Tree, Grades 1-3

Drama is going green! Learn about the importance of taking care of our environment while exploring and dramatizing the story "The Great Kapok Tree". Using drama we will explore the world of a rainforest and present our creative discovery to our friends and family at the conclusion of the class. No supervision will be provided until 4:30 pm.

Dates: Thursdays, 10/22-11/12

Time: 4:30-5:30 pm

Place: Western Hills Music Room

Instructor: Noll-Wilson

Code: ADV17

Fee: $29

Exploring Disabilities Workshop

This course is for students who are interested in working with other students who have disabilities. Students are encouraged to use these skills to develop friendships with special needs students in their home schools.

Instructor: Underfer

Fee: $10/session

Grades 5-6/Session 1 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Date: Monday, 9/21

Time: 4:00-5:30 pm

Place: Westridge Music Room

Code: ADV18

Grades 5-6/Session 2 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Date: Thursday, 9/24

Time: 4:00-5:30 pm

Place: Jordan Creek Music Room

Code: ADV19

Grades 7-8/Session 3 - Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Date: Monday, 9/14

Time: 5:00-6:30 pm

Place: Stilwell Cafeteria

Code: ADV20

Grades 7-8/Session 4 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Date: Thursday, 9/17

Time: 5:00-6:30 pm

Place: Indian Hills Media Center

Code: ADV21

Grades 9-12/Session 5 - Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Date: Thursday, 9/10 Please note the new date - October 5, 2009.

Time: 3:30-5:30 pm

Place: Valley, Room 403

Code: ADV22

Holiday Pottery Painting, Grades K-6

In this fun class you will paint a snowman mug with dishwasher-safe, washable glazes! Give your personalized treasure as a special holiday gift or keep it for yourself to enjoy. The finished projects will be taken to Whatta’ Dish, 509 Elm St. in Valley Junction, to be fired and can be picked up one week after class. Co-Sponsored by Whatta’ Dish.

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Instructor: MacKay

Fee: $20

Clive

Date: Tuesday, 12/1

Place: Art Room

Code: ADV23

Phenix

Date: Thursday, 12/3

Place: Art Room

Code: ADV24

I’m Taking Care, Grades 5-6

Learn skills needed to be a good baby-sitter. We’ll cover child play, emergencies, feeding, diapering and more. Students will receive a booklet and a certificate at completion. Co-sponsored by Camp Fire USA .

Time: 9:00 am-noon

Instructor: Campfire USA

Fee: $21

Session 1

Dates: Saturday, 11/7-11/14

Place: Jordan Creek Community Room

Code: ADV25

Session 2

Dates: Saturday, 12/5-12/12

Place: Clive Community Room

Code: ADV26

Kids in the Kitchen, Grades 4-6 Sorry this class is full.

In this fun, instructional cooking class, we will work on accurately measuring ingredients, following recipes, cooking a variety of delicious treats, and making a simple meal.

Dates: Tuesdays, 9/22-11/3 (no class 10/20)

Time: 4:30-5:30 pm

Place: Stilwell, Room 142

Instructor: Halma

Code: ADV27

Fee: $38

Little Legends Golf, Grades K-6 - Sorry this class is full.

Students are introduced to competitive golf and are prepared and trained to play golf both recreationally and competitively. Class includes hands on practice, rules and etiquette, and promotes life values including respect, honesty, integrity, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Each student will get a Little Legends t-shirt, contest medals, and more prizes. The classes are instructed by a PGA professional or Little Legends representative with extensive junior golf experience. Class will meet in the gym and then go outside, weather permitting. All equipment is provided. Class is open to new and returning students. No supervision will be provided until 4:30 pm. Offered in collaboration with Little Legends Golf.

Dates: Thursdays, 9/10-10/15 (no class 10/8)

Time: 4:30-5:30 pm

Place: Western Hills Gym

Instructor: Little Legends Golf

Code: ADV28

Fee: $65

Making Stuff Up! The Art of Improv, Grades 4-8

Improvisation is the art of creating character, dialogue, and situations without a script. Ever watched ‘Who’s Line Is It Anyway?’ and thought it looked fun? Come play and learn with one of Des Moines ’ premier improvisation artists. Learn warm-ups, games and other fun exercises!

Dates: Mondays, 11/2-12/7 Time: 5:30-7:00 pm

Place: Stilwell Auditorium

Instructor: Noll-Wilson

Code: ADV29

Fee: $42

PowerPoint Basics, Grades 3-6

Learn how to create your own presentations or electronic books using Microsoft PowerPoint. You will learn the basics of the program: how to make slides, insert pictures and add audio. Students will be able to print their presentations and write them to a CD. Join us for this fun experience!

Dates: Thursdays, 9/17-10/15

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Hillside Computer Lab

Instructor: Dietzenbach

Code: ADV30

Fee: $31

Spanish Club

Come explore the Spanish language by learning songs, playing games, doing crafts, and speaking Spanish! Basic conversational and cultural information will be introduced.

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Crossroads Park Media Center

Instructor: Quanbeck

Fee: $31

Grades 1-3

Dates: Thursdays, 9/17-10/15

Instructor: Quanbeck

Code: ADV31

Grades 4-6

Dates: Mondays, 9/14-10/19 (no class 10/12)

Code: ADV32

World of Difference Workshops

World of Difference is an Iowa-based non-profit who works to nurture youth by developing skill, readiness and grace in intercultural relations. Their cultural ambassadors represent more than 30 cultures and will allow students to experience what text books and research projects cannot: sights, sounds, smells, tastes and hands-on interactions that allow students to experiment with their own feelings and attitudes towards other cultures.

A Meal in the Middle East — Grades 4-6 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Kristie Burns lived in the Middle East for sixteen years. She starts this workshop with a few hilarious tales about food from the Middle East and then gets out rugs, pillows and dishes from the Middle East and helps students set up a traditional "meal". Students participate in a mock meal and participate in an "original audience participation story (by Kristie)" about the meal using Middle Eastern drums and other props. Students will learn the names of basic foods and phrases used during a meal in Arabic. They are given the opportunity to dress up and may even try a couple Middle Eastern treats.

Date: Tuesday, 9/22

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Fairmeadows Music Room

Instructor: Burns

Code: ADV33

Fee: $12

Around the World in Eighty Tales — Grades K-3 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Professional storyteller Maureen Korte will delight students with stories from around the world. Engaging students through sign language, puppets, pantomime, dialect and costumes, Ms. Korte is especially adept at encouraging each student to discover, believe in, and share his/her own story worth telling.

Date: Monday, 10/26

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Western Hills Music Room

Instructor: Korte

Code: ADV34

Fee: $12

Indian Classical Dance — Grades 4-6 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Falguni Shukla is a Bharata Natyam dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She began learning the dance at age ten, and her mentor was Mrs. Tani Desai, the foremost figure in Bharata Natyam in Gujarat . In this workshop, Falguni will educate students about the seven types of Indian Classical Dance, known as Bharata Natyam. She will explain the Meaning of Namaskar, teach Hand Gestures, Head Gestures, and a couple Basic Steps. Students will learn about the costume and ornaments of Bharata Natyam and see photos of authentic Indian Classical Dances.

Date: Thursday, 11/5

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Jordan Creek Music Room

Instructor: Shukla

Code: ADV35

Fee: $12

Music in Kenya — Grades K-3

Ruth Mwangangi, a native of Nairobi , Kenya , and an employee of The Principal Financial Group will delight students with this workshop. Music is a key component of the African culture and especially so in Kenya . In this session, students will learn the different aspects of Kenyan music and dance as parts of the culture. Students will listen to a variety of Kenyan musicians, dress in dance attire and experience such instruments as a kayamba, tambourine and drums.

Date: Thursday, 9/24

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Westridge Music Room

Instructor: Mwangangi

Code: ADV36

Fee: $12

Tonalpohualli–The Significance of the Aztec Calendar — Grades K-3 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Through this interactive workshop, Dawn (Xochiquetzalli) Martinez Oropeza and Juan Carlos Romero will enlighten students about the contributions of the Aztec/Mexica people, including the Aztec Calendar. Dawn and Juan Carlos will focus on the elements of the four directions represented. These teachings will be reinforced by dancing and drumming. Students will also learn several words in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs which is still spoken by 1.4 million people in Mexico . Students will experience the wholeness of the Mexica society as they experience the teachings of the calendar through learning a traditional blessings dance.

Date: Tuesday, 11/10

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Hillside Music Room

Instructor: Oropeza & Romero

Code: ADV37

Fee: $12

Welcome to Russia — Grades 4-6 Sorry this class has been cancelled.

Dmitry Yarushkin, a native of Russia and an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Grand View College, shares Russian history, geography and culture. In this workshop, students engage in interactive exercises and food preparation activities. Students will learn some of the most common Russian words and phrases which they demonstrate while enjoying a tea ceremony with a samovar (special kettle used to prepare tea) and typical Russian desserts.

Date: Thursday, 10/1

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm

Place: Clive Music Room

Instructor: Yarushkin

Code: ADV38

Fee: $12