After School Enrichment Programs
Athletics
St Nicholas participates with 36 other schools in the competitive Valley Christian Athletic League. Each year Middle School students have the opportunity to try out for a variety of teams. Girl's sports include: basketball, softball and volleyball. Boy's sports include: flag football, basketball, and baseball. St Nicholas teams routinely make the play-offs and championships. Our student athletes practice four days a week and sign a contract on displaying good sportsmanship and keeping up with their academic requirements. Each season concludes with a special awards banquet and dinner for players and parents in the St. Nicholas auditorium.
Dance
Children are introduced to a variety of dance styles, including ballet, creative movement, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary. The year culminates with an on-stage production held at California State University, Northridge.
Greek
Greek Language Workshops are available to further enrich the Greek classes offered during the school day. Conversational Modern Greek, as well as, reading and writing using the Greek alphabet are stressed.
Art
The following Art Workshops are available to students in grades 1-8:
- Art Enrichment grades 1-8 includes: Blind contour line drawing and experimenting with multimedia such as clay, acrylic paint, watercolor, printing, collage, wood, paper mache, and more.
- Cartooning grades 4-8 includes: Drawing skills and learning to create original cartoon characters. Producing a comic strip sequence, anthropomorphic characters, and super heroes.
- Drawing Basics grades 2-4 includes: Individual development of student's skill with emphasis on blind contour drawing and shape drawing methods. Experimenting with various media, such as watercolor pencil, pastel. charcoal, ink and oil crayon resist
- Drawing II grades 5-8 includes: Individual development of student's drawing skills. Focus on realistic drawing and a variety of subject matter: still life, wild life, landscape, human form and perspective.
Academic Chess
Academic Chess is a non-profit organization that brings chess to students after school. Their mission is to bring the benefits of chess to children of all ages and skill levels. Children will develop patience, foster critical thinking skills and understand that decisions result in consequences. The Academic Chess program not only improves a child's chess game but also their focus and motivation in school.
Piano and Guitar
Piano lessons are offered to students ages 4 and up. Students will experience the basic dynamics of piano techniques, pitch matching, rhythm, and music appreciation. Classes are limited to 8 students per class and are 45 minutes long.
Group Guitar lessons are available for students ages 5 and up. Students will learn basic strumming and chords along with reading of music.
Tumblebees
Tumblebees brings gymnastics to our Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten students. The program offers basic tumbling and climbing skills to our students. It helps develop gross motor skills as it builds self-confidence in our young students. It is held once a week in the Tumblebee bus that arrives on campus after school.
Choir
Students in grades 5-8 may tryout for the St. Nicholas School choir. Choir members bring beautiful voices to our church services at certain liturgies that are held during the school day. They also prepare to perform in our Christmas Extravaganza.
Scouts
We sponsor a Girl Scout Brownies Troop and Cub Scout Bears and Webelos Troops. A minimum of five boys or girls is needed to start a den or troop, as well as, parents to volunteer for leadership positions within the Dens and Troops. Meetings will be held after school on campus.
- Girls 1st - 3rd Grades are Brownies
- Girls 3rd - 6th Grades are Juniors
- Boys 1st Grade are Tiger Cubs
- Boys 2nd Grade Wolves
- Boys 3rd Grade are Bears
- Boys 4th and 5th Grades are Webelos
Karate
Karate is offered to students in grades K and up. Two different sessions are provided meeting once a week after school. Karate teaches discipline, confidence, respect, self-defense and exercise.