Spring at EC@TGS

EC@TGS offers gifted students the opportunity to engage in high-level coursework with their intellectual peers outside of school. Courses are designed to be a short series of classes, focusing on a wide variety of topics that give students a chance to think critically, ask and answer difficult questions, solve problems, and stretch their minds. EC@TGS courses do not replace school curriculum, nor do they serve as a proxy for acceleration; their only mission is to provide students the chance to explore topics that interest them that they might not otherwise have exposure to at school. Our courses are for FUN, not curricular advancement.

(This must be turned in prior to the student beginning classes)

(This must be turned in prior to the student beginning classes)

During the 3,000 years of evolution and development of Chinese characters, people have aspired to learn to write characters beautifully. Thus, the writing of Chinese characters has developed into a visual art called Chinese calligraphy. Throughout Chinese history, many well-known calligraphers who represent various schools of writing have left us with numerous pieces of greatly varied calligraphy. Students will learn the history of this art form and will be introduced to techniques of writing Chinese calligraphy themselves.
Grades: 4th-8th

Instructor Keith Kline is a mathematician with over 25 years of experience in the world of finance.  The 21^st Century Mathematics program focuses on financial literacy and connecting math concepts to the real world through 3D printing. During the program, Keith will provide students with an opportunity to learn the critical math and strategy skills used by profitable lifelong investors.  Students will leave with a better understanding of the financial markets as well as their own 3D-printed project!

Grades: 4^th-8^th

Welcome to Geocaching! Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. Our Geocaching adventure will begin at Skunk Hollow Park, located at 600 Darby-Paoli Road in Villanova. Participants must bring their own GPS device or smart phone.

1^st grade and up
Dates: 4/23 & 4/30

Instructor Keith Kline is a mathematician with over 25 years of experience in the world of finance.  The 21^st Century Mathematics program focuses on financial literacy and connecting math concepts to the real world through 3D printing. During the program, Keith will provide students with an opportunity to learn the critical math and strategy skills used by profitable lifelong investors.  Students will leave with a better understanding of the financial markets as well as their own 3D-printed project!

Grades: 4^th-8^th
Dates: May 7 & 14

Enroll your child in beginning chess, the game of kings! We will begin each class with a lesson and end with a chess game. Your child will be able to test what they have learned on other classmates while being monitored by the instructor, who will give feedback. Chess is a fun way to enhance your child’s logic and patience skills.  This rewarding workshop will introduce students to the fundamentals of the game and its strategies.

Grades: K-8^th
Dates: April 16-May 21

Discover your inner Edison! We will learn the process of creating an invention from the perspective of the young inventor: learning just what an invention is, problem solving, ideation, design sketching, prototyping, and alpha and beta testing. We will also learn how to patent an invention! At the end of the program, each student will have at least one invention prototype. Mr. Brodine, our instructor, holds three patents and has helped many students turn their ideas into reality. Some of his students have gone on to patent their ideas, and some have even begun selling their products to major tech companies such as Apple.

Grades: K-6^th
Dates: April 16-May 21

Explore the mysteries of the universe that stumped Einstein.  We will learn about gravitational waves, light, radiation, entanglement, string theory, muons, leptons quarks, and so much more! Math problems and explanations will be incorporated to help in the understanding of concepts but will not be necessary for the class.

Grades: 2^nd and up
Dates: April 16-May 21

Chinese paper cutting, or Jianzhi (剪纸), has been a highly-valued art form for centuries.  As paper became more affordable, paper cutting became an important art style in Chinese folk culture, later spreading to other parts of the world, with different regions adopting their own cultural styles. Students will learn about the history of Chinese paper cutting while learning to make their own decorative and detailed paper cutting artworks.

Grades: 4^th and up
Dates: April 16-May 21

No, we welcome all gifted students to apply and take our courses. Part of our mission is to support the gifted community, both in our own school and in our community. We have envisioned EC@TGS as a place where both our students and gifted students from other schools or from a homeschool setting can come together to engage with intellectual peers who share their interests.

Yes. To ensure that all students get the most they can out of their experiences at EC@TGS, there is a brief application process. Application materials must include the application form and at least two pieces of supplementary material demonstrating giftedness. This may be satisfied by two of the following: school transcript, IQ test report, copies of achievement and/or above-level testing, academic recommendation, GIEP, GWR/RR, or student portfolio. We may contact you for more information if needed. If you do not have any of the above paperwork/tests, please contact our office to discuss alternative options for admission.

Sessions typically run six weeks, although some courses may be shorter; we also offer special one-day “crash courses” on a variety of topics throughout the year. Please check our spring session schedule for details.

Courses will meet at The Grayson School: 35 N. Malin Road in Broomall.

Most EC@TGS courses are six weeks long. However, we do offer some shorter courses—some just a day, some two or three Saturdays in a row—on topics of special interest. Six-week courses cost $250. Some courses may have a small fee to cover additional materials; any materials fees are posted in the course descriptions. Shorter courses cost $30 per day; for instance, if a course runs for three Saturdays, all three days cost $90. Students enrolled at The Grayson School receive a 10% discount on all EC@TGS courses.

Yes, some financial aid is available for students who could not otherwise afford to participate. Please email us to discuss your situation.

Should you have any questions regarding the courses and enrollment, please feel free to contact Jessica Curtiss, Director, at enrichment@thegraysonschool.org.