The Village
Learning and growing
The Village is Walden’s extended day child care program. We are open every school day (and some non-school holidays) Monday through Friday from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Enrollment is open to all Walden School students.
We believe that children learn and grow though play. The Village offers a balance of structured activities and unstructured free play for cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. We also provide enrichment classes for special interests.
To reach the Village during after-school care, please call 626-792-6166 x 176.
Village Programs
K-6 Village
Faculty and staff at Walden understand that children who spend all day in an academic environment have differing needs in an after-school program. Being away from family for long hours can be difficult for both children and parents alike, so the Village is a program developed to allow children to participate in a variety of activities.
Some of our activities include arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor games, homework assistance, specialty classes, quiet time, and socializing with friends. Within the Walden spirit, children will be encouraged to try new activities but will not be pressured to participate if they choose not to. We strive to provide an assortment of activities to spark every child’s interest.
Please click here for more information and the 2023-2024 Village registration form.
Enrichment Classes
The Village offers various classes for student enrichment. These are taught by outside and in-house vendors that charge an additional fee. Some classes require attendance from the beginning while others have a drop-in policy. Village members (those with a 2, 3, or 5 day plans) have priority and pay a lesser fee.
The following classes will be offered in the second half of the 2023-2024 school year:
Mondays
Radical Cooks
Join us as we traipse around the globe in search of tasty treats from various countries. In each session we will "visit" a new country, making a dish from that country and sampling its sweet or savory delights. It's geography, cooking, and culture all in one class! (Note to prior registrants ~ all new recipes ~ different from last spring!)
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 11, 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23, November 6, 13
No class: October 30
Cost: $351
Please sign up through Whitney Matsuno.
Chinese
Grades 1-3
Mandarin or putonghua is the national language of China and Taiwan. China's large population makes Mandarin the most spoken language on the planet! Come join our Chinese language group, explore the culture and have fun!
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23, November 6, 13, 20, December 4, 11
No class: October 30
Cost: $330
Please find more information here, and sign up through Sophia Hamilton.
Tuesdays
Chess Wizards
Join Chess Wizards for challenging chess lessons, exciting tournaments, fun, team activities, and more! If you're brand-new to chess, we'll teach you the basics and get you playing right away, If you're a seasoned checkmate artist, we'll show you new ways to let your creativity show on the chess board.
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, November 7, 14, 21
No Class: October 31
Cost: $258
Please complete this form and return it to Whitney Matsuno to sign up.
Spanish
Let's dive into the Spanish world through fun conversational and hands on activities!
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, November 7, 14, 28, December 5
No Class: October 31
Cost: $480
Please sign up through Marinés Adrianza.
Chinese
Grades K/1
Mandarin or putonghua is the national language of China and Taiwan. China's large population makes Mandarin the most spoken language on the planet! Come join our Chinese language group, explore the culture and have fun!
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, November 7, 14, 28, December 5, 12
Cost: $330
Please find more information here, and sign up through Sophia Hamilton.
Wednesdays
Animal Invasion
Animal invasion is a class for all animal lovers! Your child will experience and interact with all kinds of amazing creatures including reptiles, Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Insects, and more! Don't miss out on all the fun games, and most importantly the animals!
Dates: September 20, 27, October 4, 11, 18, November 1, 8, 15, 29, December 6
No Class: October 25 and November 22
Cost: $208
Please register with Whitney Matsuno.
Thursdays
Code Ninjas
At Code Ninjas, our proprietary curriculum teaches kids to code through our engaging game-based curriculum that boosts self-confidence and teaches teamwork, logic, and problem solving. Our Code Ninjas gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. Our instructors are programmers, coders, gamers, and STEM instructors all of whom are dedicated to building strong engagement with our Code Ninjas.
Grades: K-2rd: Introduction to coding and STEM development.
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Grades: 3rd – 6th: Fun, challenging and flexible coding education for developing minds.
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Dates: September 21, 28, October 5, 12, 19, November 2, 9, 16, 30 December 7.
No Class: October 26 and November 23
Cost: $345
Please click here for more information and to register.
Ceramics
Students in grades 1st-6th will learn how to manipulate clay using pinch, coil, and slab methods to create pots and small sculptures. Students will work on multiple projects from start to finish. All tools, materials, glazes and firings are included.
Dates: September 21, 28, October 5, 12, 19, November 2, 9, 16, 30, December 7
No Class: October 26 and November 23
Cost: $650
Please register with Marinés Adrianza.
Fridays
Young Kings Basketball
Grades 3-6
Dates: September 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, November 10, 17, December 1, 8
No Class: October 27, November 3 and 24
Cost: $246
Contact Whitney Matsuno to register.
Young Ninjas
Martial Arts for K-3
Young Ninjas is a high-energy program introducing children to fundamental martial arts elements, like blocks, kicks, strikes, situation awareness, basic self-defense, and the all important KI-YAH! Through skill training, fun games, creative challenges, and Pad work on foam targets, children develop self-confidence and learn to enjoy being physically active in a non-competitive setting.
Dates: September 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, November 3, 10, 17, December 1, 8
No Class: October 27 and November 24
Cost: $250
Please register online.
Chinese
Grades 3-6
Mandarin or putonghua is the national language of China and Taiwan. China's large population makes Mandarin the most spoken language on the planet! Come join our Chinese language group, explore the culture and have fun!
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, November 10, 17, December 1, 8
Cost: $270
Please find more information here, and sign up through Sophia Hamilton.
Pre-K Village
The Village Pre-K program is committed to furthering the children’s experience with the Walden philosophy while meeting parents’ needs for quality childcare. We recognize the distinction between school hours and the after-school sessions; however, we strive for continuity.
As an extension of our day program, the Walden philosophy, policies, and expectations for behavior and staff excellence are in effect during The Village. Excellence, positive communication, caring, and conflict resolution are not just classroom catchwords. We encourage and support the practice of these principles during the after-school program, as well as at home and in the community.