Posts Tagged "after-school clubs"
Learning Beyond the Classroom: The Power of Extracurriculars in our Lower School
November 20, 2025
Recently, I had the great joy of stepping back and watching as fourth and fifth-grade students respectfully shared their opinions, presented their research, and confidently addressed a packed room of peers and adults. It was the final session of Debate Club, and I couldn’t have been more proud of how much these courageous kids had grown over the past several weeks.
At Christian Heritage School, we believe that true education reaches beyond the classroom. Our goal is to nurture the whole child: academically, socially, spiritually, and emotionally. One of the most meaningful ways we do this is by giving students opportunities to learn in new environments, explore their interests, and grow through hands-on experiences. This begins with the “specials” woven into each school day and continues through a rich offering of extracurricular activities designed especially for our lower-school students.
Research has long shown that learning outside the classroom strengthens children’s social skills, emotional well-being, confidence, and creativity. This philosophy shapes our extracurricular programs. Students can choose from a growing menu of opportunities that allow them to explore new hobbies, strengthen existing passions, and develop character in a supportive, Christ-centered community. Taekwondo encourages discipline, respect, and focus. Strategic Games Club for grades K–2 fosters critical thinking and patience through games that challenge the mind. Our Science Club for grades 3–5 gives young explorers a chance to experiment, question, and discover the wonder of creation, and the Bee-Bots Coding Club introduces K–2 students to sequencing and problem-solving through playful robotics.
This year, we’re excited to introduce even more programs. Math Olympiad invites fourth and fifth-grade students into a nationally recognized problem-solving community where they can stretch their reasoning skills and learn to approach challenges with perseverance. The Spelling Bee offers students the chance to expand their vocabulary, strengthen their memory, and build confidence speaking in front of others. Our new Debate Club for 4th- and 5th-grade students teaches students how to listen carefully, articulate their ideas thoughtfully, and engage in respectful dialogue. And coming soon, our Baking and Books Club for K–1st graders will blend creativity in the kitchen with the joy of stories — nurturing both imagination and emerging literacy.
Whether students are building robots, solving math puzzles, stepping onto a debate stage, or discovering the beauty of music and art, we want to create a space for every student to steward their God-given gifts or challenge themselves by trying something new, growing in confidence and character in ways that will stay with them for life.
Beth Maree is our Lower School Principal. She received a Bachelors of Education at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and majored in English, History and Special Education. Beth began her career teaching 4th Grade and then discovered her love for teenagers when she transitioned to a High School English teacher. She is also experienced in school leadership, leading an English Department, overseeing Student Academic Services, and finally serving on the Senior Leadership Team of a busy, all-girls school in South Africa. Beth is now our Lower School Principal at Christian Heritage School and loves every minute of it!
Afternoon Adventures: Discovering New Interests Through Lower School Clubs
February 11, 2025
An exciting change to our Lower School program over the last couple of years has been the increase in the number and variety of after-school clubs known as Kingsmen Clubs. These after-school activities are offered to our Lower School students immediately following the school day in several locations on campus. Kingsmen Clubs offer a unique opportunity for elementary students to engage in activities outside the typical classroom setting. Research shows that children involved in extracurricular activities often perform better academically. These programs not only support academic growth, but can also foster important social, emotional, and physical development.
Clubs provide our students with an opportunity to explore topics such as Crafting, STEM, Coding, Martial Arts, Strategic Games and Sports in a safe after-school setting with classmates and students from other grades. They are held in a structured setting and run by our exceptional teaching staff.
These clubs give children the chance to discover their interests, talents, or passions for possible future fields of study or extracurricular activities at the High School level. Students are given an outlet and the chance to participate, create, and learn. Clubs also provide for a strengthening of social skills. These environments are often less competitive than the classroom, giving students a chance to develop a strong sense of identity outside their academic achievements. Important skills such as teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving are all reinforced when a child participates in a club. Many times students are engaging with a teacher and other students they might not otherwise interact with on a daily basis. This gives students the chance to feel connected to others with similar interests and skills. These newly forged relationships only help to strengthen us as a community.
Our Kingsmen Clubs offer a range of benefits to parents and students alike. From supporting academic achievement to promoting physical health and emotional growth, these programs help students develop into well-rounded individuals. It’s no wonder that our after-school clubs have become an important part of the elementary school experience here at CHS.
Lilian Mogle is the lower school principal at CHS. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Southern Ct. State University. She has over 30 years of experience in the classroom.