Important Dates (please access Seesaw for more information)
- 8/22/23 — PTO Breakfast Club @ Brasil (2604 Dunlavy St)
- 8/23/23 — All School Chapel: Convocation and Installation of Troy P. Roddy, Ph.D., as Head of School
- 8/31/23 — New Family Welcome
August 18, 2023
Dear SSESH Families,
As we near the end of the first week of the school year, I want to thank you for your cooperation and flexibility as we adapt to the road construction taking place adjacent to the school. Safety and security are of the utmost priority here at St. Stephen’s. This message concerns not only carpool but also COVID.
To ensure the continued success of carpool, please follow the guidance below.
- Please move swiftly, but safely, through carpool.
- Please do not drive around parked cars.
- Please display your child’s carpool sign in your car window.
- If you have more than one child, please utilize the pick-up time for the eldest sibling.
- Please watch for instructions as to which way to turn on Woodhead; due to construction, the exit route is in flux.
- Please continue to watch for messages via The Hallway and text messages regarding any updates to the carpool route.
I would also like to lift up our community of care at St. Stephen’s. Please note that families must notify [email protected] if their child is exposed to or tests positive for any communicable disease, including COVID-19. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, Houston, follows CDC Guidance on COVID-19, including the guidance accessible via the links below.
- What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html
- Please utilize the CDC’s Isolation and Exposure Calculator (available via the link above) to help you determine if your child needs to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.
- Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
Thank you for your partnership. It’s a great day to be a Bulldog!
With Gratitude,
Troy Roddy, Ph.D.
BULLDOG 360 – Fall Semester
Registration will go live on Monday, August 21 at 9 am at https://ssesh.org/bulldog-360-after-school-enrichment/
Classes will commence during the week of September 11
Classes are 12 weeks in duration
Questions? Please contact Liz Newchurch, Enrichment Coordinator ([email protected])
Terms and Conditions
By enrolling your child in Bulldog 360, families acknowledge and agree to the following:
- The fee for any Late Pick Ups is $20 plus $1 per minute. Invoices will be issued via FACTS.
- Refunds will be issued after the first class only. St. Stephen’s does not prorate or refund for partial attendance, with the exception of refunds based on COVID-19 protocols.
- Bulldog 360 will not be offered during school holidays, conferences, and in-service dates.
- All registration is first come, first served.
- The student and family will abide by all rules and policies of St. Stephen’s as outlined in the Student and Family Handbook and the school’s website. If, in the sole determination of St. Stephen’s, the student’s behavior or the behavior of anyone in my family seriously interferes with the school’s accomplishment of its educational purpose, the student may be asked to leave Bulldog 360.
Joy of Art (Orientation)
Teacher: Erika Ramirez
Class Day/Time:
- Tuesdays 2:45-3:15 (30 min.) (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, 1 week break for Thanksgiving*
- Thursdays 2:45-3:15 (30 min.) (9/14-12/7) *12 classes, 1 week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $240/student ($20 materials fee)
Class Max: 5 students
Class Description: Joy of Art explores the art process. It is a self-directed class with little direction from the teacher. Instead, the child is free to choose what to do with the materials presented to them. It is an open-ended art experience. Engaging children in the art process encourages experimentation and imaginative thinking and motivates children to question and seek answers. Through trial and error, students learn to embrace making mistakes as part of the learning process. They gain the confidence to develop their ideas and express themselves. Children learn to think creatively and independently of others and develop critical thinking skills.
Art Exploration (Primary)
Teacher: Alyssa Brown
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 3:00-3:45 (45 min.) (9/14-12/8) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student ($50 materials fee)
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: In Art Exploration, we will take a journey around the world and explore the artwork of Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Roy Lichtenstein, Yayoi Kusama, Piet Mondrian, Faith Ringgold, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, and Keith Haring. For each class, we will create our masterpieces inspired by these artists and learn age-appropriate art history. Students will work with different art mediums and skills, including painting, drawing, sculpture, watercolor, collaging, oil pastels, cutting, gluing, and more! Students will typically be able to take their masterpieces home the following class. These make great decor or presents. The goal of this class is to have fun, create art, and keep those hands busy!
**Please note: Art-friendly clothing is recommended. I will also have kid smocks available.
Creative Dance (Primary)
Teacher: Jaquel Charlesworth
Class Day/Time: Wednesdays 3:00-3:30 (30 min) (9/13-12/6) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $240/student ($20 materials fee)
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Creative Dance will introduce the child to the joy and excitement of dance. The class will focus on basic concepts such as balance, strength, flexibility, and body awareness. All activities are designed to allow the child to express their feelings, interact with their environment, and work with others to bring favorite stories to life. Creative Dance will start with a teacher-directed warm-up, followed by the introduction of the reading inspiration. The teacher will then softly direct the child to create movement based on their questions and feelings. The dancers will be guided to explore their ideas through a range of movements and space. The dancers will be introduced to space, patterns, and rhythm through the process. The child will take the newly learned skill and create their own dance. The class will end with a creative procession of what brought the most joy to the child.
Karate (Primary)
Teacher: Sensei Anthony Tupper
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 3:00-3:30 (30 min.) (9/14-12/8) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $240/student
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Our martial arts program is designed to instill confidence and a growth mindset that focuses on improving your mind, body, and spirit. Classes begin with an age-appropriate class discussion (called a “Mat Chat”) about a variety of topics such as respect, courtesy, discipline, courage, integrity, responsibility, and kindness. Then, we focus on building flexibility, strength, and endurance as we teach and cover a mix of striking, kicking, Kata, self-defense scenario training, and sparring application. Students will earn belts in class and can progress to Black Belt and beyond with us.
Little Geniuses Chess (3.5-5 years old)
Teacher: The Knight School
Class Day/Time: Tuesdays 2:45-3:30 (45 min) (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $350/student
Class Max: 16 students
Class Description: Little Geniuses is a chess-song singing, laughing, chess tourney, dancing, clock-slapping, zany video, puppet show introduction to chess, and being the smart kid in the room. Kids report Little Geniuses to be the favorite part of their week because kids love our infectiously-fun thinking activities, which are developmentally targeted to be compelling, exhilarating, and gratifying. Guaranteed to delight, Little Geniuses is the perfect way to instill enthusiasm for chess and help your child gain academic confidence while learning the basics of the game and having a blast. Upon enrollment, new students receive a TKS T-Shirt, chess set, chess bag, and all the colorful SillyBands they can earn! Class meets weekly at your school for 45 minutes.
Group Piano Class (Primary ages 4 and 5)
Teacher: Grace Sung
Class Day/Time: Wednesday 3:00-3:45 (45 min.) (9/13-12/6) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student ($50 materials fee)
Class Max: 8 students
Class Description: Open to Primary students ages 4-5. Class size is limited to only eight students for 45 minutes weekly. The small-class instruction focuses on the essential elements of piano music—pulse, rhythm, musical alphabet, and keyboard topography—through activities designed for pre-reading students. We make music with various musical instruments in addition to the piano. All materials will be provided.
Science Expedition (Primary)
Teachers: Devin Kinsella and Alyssa Brown
Class Day/Time: Tuesdays 3:00-3:45 (45 min) (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student ($50 materials fee)
Class Max: 20 students
Class Description: Join Mr. Devin and Ms. Alyssa for Primary Science Expedition during Bulldog 360! Students will be enriched with educational, hands-on, and entertaining science experiments. Fun(damental) science concepts will be presented in a visual, interactive, and age-appropriate manner. Students will be taught the process of observation, questioning, experimentation, and recording their work. Our fun science experiments will be pulled from a variety of science fields, such as chemistry, physics, paleontology, botany, and more. We will explore mixing chemicals, reactions, making volcanoes, learning about the three states of matter, understanding physical laws, making simple machines, digging for dinosaur bones, making sun prints, learning how plants grow and transport water, and more! We look forward to bringing STEM enrichment to our growing junior scientists after school. Join us on a series of science adventures like no other!
Soccer Skills (Primary)
Teacher: Coach Tony Tran
Class Day/Time: Mondays 3:00-3:30 (30 min.) (9/11-12/11) *12 classes, no class on 10/9 (Indigenous People’s Day), one week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $240/student
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Soccer is often called “the beautiful game,” but before it can be played beautifully, students must understand and learn basic soccer skills. The students will work on passing, dribbling, trapping/receiving, and shooting. Soccer, along with other sports, is a game used to teach children teamwork and competition and to build a healthy, active life.
Spanish Immersion (Primary)
Teacher: Gisella Nader
Class Day/Time: Mondays 3:00-3:30 (30 min) (9/11-12/11) *12 classes, no class on 10/9 (Indigenous People’s Day), 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $240/student ($20 materials fee)
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Our Spanish Immersion program for primary students offers a combination of game-based and academically focused methods to teach the language in a natural way. Through fun and interactive activities conducted exclusively in Spanish, children will maintain their interest in the language and will learn to associate words and sounds with specific actions. The more sounds they hear in Spanish, the easier the journey to fluency is.
Bilingual Cooking Club (4th-8th grade)
Teacher: Gisella Nader
Class Day/Time: Wednesday 3:45-4:45 (1 hour.) (9/13-12/6) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $360/student ($40 materials fee)
Class Max: 10
Class Description: In the Bilingual Cooking Club, students will learn an important life skill, regardless of their previous knowledge of cooking. Children will understand the importance of a balanced and healthy diet. They will also learn manual skills such as cutting, kneading, measuring, and mixing. They will learn to be responsible by following guidelines and carefully using kitchen utensils and appliances. They will stimulate their senses by tasting, smelling, touching, and seeing different foods. In addition, students will reinforce their Spanish language skills in each class with hands-on experiences and will strengthen their social skills. The materials fee will cover everything they need (kitchen apron, utensils, and ingredients).
Bulldog Fit SSESH (4th-8th grade)
Teacher: Celia Hughes
Class Day/Time: Tuesdays 3:45-4:30 (45 min) (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $360/student
Class Max: 10
Class Description: Through Bulldog Fit SSESH, students will learn technically sound athletic movements, increase body awareness, control, speed, and strength, and fine-tune their mental acuity through structured drills and games. Each class will begin with a dynamic warmup and flexibility drills. The students will also be introduced to bodyweight exercises and other weight-free strength movements. Intermediate and middle school is the ideal time for children to engage in safe weight-free physical movement to prepare their bodies for weight training and increased athletic pressures. This class is great for students looking to supplement their athletic endeavors. It is also ideal for students that may be just starting their physical fitness journey.
Elementary Basketball (1st-6th grade)
Teacher: Coach Tony
Class Day/Time: Wednesday 3:45-4:30 (45 min.) (9/13-12/6) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Basketball is one of the world’s most popular sports, but before it can be played, students will need to learn and understand fundamental basketball skills. Skills that students will work on are Dribbling, Passing, and Shooting. Basketball, along with other sports, is a game used to teach children teamwork and competition and to build a healthy, active life.
Elementary Chess (1st-6th grade)
Teacher: The Knight School
Class Day/Time: Tuesdays 3:45-5:00 (75 min) (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $450/student
Class Max: 16 students
Class Description: The Knight School has finally perfected the chess class and is sweeping the nation with this hilarious, kid-focused, amazingly cool approach to a big, fun, and genuinely thrilling experience. Grandpa’s boring chess class has now evolved into The Knight School’s chess parties! TKS is the perfect way for kids of all levels (from brand-new beginners to highly advanced players) to learn to love learning, learn that they are unspeakably smart, and learn how to absolutely demolish their parents in chess! In this kid-centered classroom environment, we teach our kids every cool trick, strategy, opening, and tactic in chessdom, and our kids soon learn to love and master chess and masterfully control their classrooms, sports fields, and home lives!
Elementary Karate (1st-6th grade)
Teacher: Sensei Anthony Tupper
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 3:45-4:30 (45 min.) (9/14-12/8) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Our martial arts program is designed to instill confidence and a growth mindset that focuses on improving your mind, body, and spirit. Classes begin with an age-appropriate class discussion (called a “Mat Chat”) about a variety of topics such as respect, courtesy, discipline, courage, integrity, responsibility, and kindness. Then, we focus on building flexibility, strength, and endurance as we teach and cover a mix of striking, kicking, Kata, self-defense scenario training, and sparring application. Students will earn belts in class and can progress to Black Belt and beyond with us.
Fiber Arts (1st-6th grade)
Teacher: Alyssa Brown
Class Day/Time: CORRECTION >> Wednesdays 3:45-4:30 (9/11-12/11) *12 classes, no class on 10/9 (Indigenous People’s Day), 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student ($75 materials fee)
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: In Fiber Arts, we will be exploring the basics of weaving, macrame, embroidery, fiber sculpture, felt, and fabric dyeing! We will be working on each of these topics over two classes. The first class is to introduce fiber art, learn the fundamentals, and begin our lovely project. The second class is for working on/completing our project and reviewing what we learned. Then we repeat all over again with the next fiber art project! If time allows, I will also have extra fiber art projects to work on. The students will also work on a large community weaving piece that will be displayed and shared with our SSESH community.
The goal is to have fun, create fiber art, and keep those hands busy!
**Please note: All materials are included, and any material your child brings home is theirs to keep.
Musical Theatre Workshop (1st-8th grade)
Teacher: Liz Newchurch
Class Day/Time: Mondays 3:45-4:45 (1 hr)
- Semester 1: (9/11-12/11) *12 classes, no class on 10/9 (Indigenous People’s Day), 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
- Semester 2 (1/22-4/22) *12 classes, no class on 2/19 (President’s Day), 1-week break for Spring Break*
Class Cost: $720/student ($360/semester) *This class is a year commitment*
Class Max: 20 students
Class Description: Calling all performers from 1st-8th grade! This year in Musical Theatre Workshop, we will be tackling the wonderful songs of Disney musicals throughout the years. Students will learn songs and choreography from many beloved Disney movies and write a script. The class will culminate in a showstopping performance for the SSESH community!
Newspaper Club (6th-8th grade)
Teacher: Meredith Guerrero
Class Day/Time: Mondays 3:45-4:30 (45 min) (9/11-12/11) *12 classes, no class on 10/9 (Indigenous People’s Day), 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Welcome to “The Bulldog’s Bark” Newspaper Club, an exciting after-school opportunity for those interested in creative writing and journalism. As a platform to illuminate the many facets of St. Stephen’s, “The Bulldog’s Bark” aims to empower young minds to design and curate every newspaper component, reflecting our school community’s unique spirit. From captivating articles on Montessori-inspired learning to in-depth coverage of school events, student accomplishments, and global issues, “The Bulldog’s Bark” will showcase the diverse talents and perspectives of our St. Stephen’s students. If you’re interested in celebrating our school’s values, highlighting the achievements of your peers, and uniting our community through a student-led newspaper, then this club is for you!
Science Odyssey (1st-8th grade)
Teacher: Meredith Guerrero
Class Day/Time: Tuesdays 3:45-4:30 (45 min) (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student ($40 materials fee)
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Welcome to Science Odyssey – where young minds become problem-solving heroes! This innovative approach to S.T.E.A.M. is designed to ignite students’ curiosity and passion for science as they embark on thrilling team challenges that build over time. Working together, students are given a prompt that resembles a relevant, real-life issue and will then be charged with solving the prompted problem to the best of their creative ability within a set of parameters and with access to an obscure set of materials. Fostering an environment of collaboration and support, Odyssey offers students an opportunity to unleash their creativity and critical thinking skills as they delve into hands-on experiments, conduct research, and develop solutions.
SSESH Film Club (4th-8th grade)
Teachers: Anita Long and Stefan Blozinski
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 3:45-5:30 (1 hr 45 min.) (9/14-12/8) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $480/student
Class Max: 20
Class Description: In SSESH Film Club, groups will be formed to write, film, and edit their own films for the end-of-session film fest! Following the 5-part filmmaking model, we work on storytelling and structure in the beginning and work our way through camera operation, sound, lighting, and editing. For those familiar with the summer film camp, it will be a similar experience, but with more time, which means we can make even more films! Each day will start with a snack session and check-in while we plan our time, after which we will break into teams.
Zumba (1st-8th grade)
Teacher: Gissela Nader
Class Day/Time: Thursdays 3:45-4:30 (45 min) (9/14-12/8) *12 classes, 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
Class Cost: $300/student ($20 materials fee)
Class Max: 10 students
Class Description: Zumba classes with Ms. Gi are designed to combine movement, music, and a healthy lifestyle for students. These fitness classes are high-energy workouts with all the music kids love, like hip-hop, reggaeton, cumbia, and more, in English and Spanish. Zumba with Mrs. Gi inspires children to express themselves through movement, increasing concentration and self-confidence, stimulating coordination, flexibility, and balance, improving metabolism, and strengthening different muscle groups.
Students will receive a t-shirt with the class logo.
Private Piano Lesson (Kindergarten through 8th grade)
Teacher: Grace Sung
Class Day/Time:
- Mondays (9/11-12/11) *12 classes, no class on 10/9 (Indigenous People’s Day), 1-week break for Thanksgiving*
- 3:00-3:30 Kindergarten Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 3:40-4:10 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 4:20-4:50 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 5:00-5:30 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
- Tuesdays (9/12-12/5) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
- 3:00-3:30 Kindergarten Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 3:40-4:10 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 4:20-4:50 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 5:00-5:30 K-8th Private Lesson(1 slot)
- Wednesdays (9/13-12/6) *12 classes, one week break for Thanksgiving*
- 4:00-4:30 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
- 4:40-5:10 K-8th Private Lesson (1 slot)
Class Cost: $600/student ($40 materials fee)
Class Description: Piano lessons are a great way for a child to develop a strong musical foundation. Lessons focus on piano technique, general musicianship, music reading fluency, and exploration of diverse repertoire. Customized lessons for each child will be provided after the initial assessment. This is a great opportunity for Kindergarten through 8th-grade students.