Wayland, MA STEM After-School Classes 2023-24
Three exceptionally convenient school-based locations: Claypit Hill Elementary School, Happy Hollow Elementary School, Loker Elementary School
Your child will have fun learning coding, robotics, digital design, Minecraft, engineering and more! Ages 7-15. Experience the magic that has made us the most trusted STEM program provider in Massachusetts.
Voted a #1 Best STEM Program in Massachusetts eight years running by thousands of local parents like you, and trusted by more than 100 elite private schools, diverse public school, and community education partners
- Exceptional Empow-trained staff
- Personalized learning in small classes
- Make new friends who share your passion for STEM
- Exceptionally convenient, safe, kid-appropriate locations
- More than 50% discount available (50% multi-session, 5% annual pre-pay, & 5% sibling discounts)
- Dozens of in-demand Empow-designed curriculum
- Fosters self-motivation, exploration, collaboration & deep learning
- Uncompromising quality without extravagant prices
In Partnership with Wayland School Community Programs
EXPLORE ALL THAT EMPOW HAS TO OFFER WITH OUR STEM SURVEY CLASS!
In this introductory class, students will explore a variety of STEM technologies in a rotating schedule. Every few weeks your student will learn something new, including 3D Modeling & Printing, Coding, Video Game Design, Minecraft, Movie Production, and more. This class is a great opportunity for your student to try new things, create wonderful projects, and discover the types of technology they would like to master.
FREE MODIFICATION TO YOUR EXISTING BASE ENROLLMENT
Already enrolled in BASE? BASE is encouraging families to reduce their days at BASE in order to take advantage of Empow and free up space for more families to enroll in BASE on at least some days. They are offering credits for the days you want to cut your BASE enrollment and switch to Empow instead, though two day minimums still apply. You can cut your BASE enrollment either before or after you enroll with Empow by contacting Patricia Keefe at 508-358-6871 or Patricia_Keefe@waylandps.org. Additional details are available during the Empow enrollment process.
CLASSES INCLUDE
• Exceptional Empow-trained staff passionate about STEM and adept at building mentor relationships
• Small classes offering personalized instruction
• Progress updates
• Student-led final project showcase 2-3x / year
• Distinct class design that fosters self-motivation, exploration, collaboration & deep learning
• Transition from school-to-class and check-out according to your authorization
CLASS BENEFITS
Students gain critical 21st century skills and so much more!
• Ignite their passions as they discover what parts of STEM they love most
• Build self-esteem and confidence as they complete ambitious projects
• Make new friends as they learn to collaborate with classmates
• Thrive in a community that embraces their unique talents and personality
• Flex their imagination and creativity whether they’re coding, designing video games, or sculpting in virtual 3D clay
• Develop valuable habits as they experiment, persist, and solve problems to complete their projects
HOW THIS PROGRAM FURTHERS YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
In this class, students build the strongest age-appropriate STEM learning foundations: they gain exposure to many facets of STEM, experiment and find their passions, and build a lifelong comfort with STEM. Students develop essential learning capabilities by working on projects that inspire them, overcoming obstacles, and seeing revisions as an essential part of the creative process. Fun is an integral part of class because continued learning starts with kids wanting to keep coming back. Empow classes are also about building lifelong friendships with like-minded kids, gaining the confidence to show off your work to your family and peers, and learning to work together.
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Location & Class
Wayland - Claypit Hill
Grades* 2-5
Level: All
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STEM Survey
Grades*: 2-5
Level: All
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2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
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3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
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2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
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3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
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1:15 - 2:45 PM ET
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2:45 - 4:15 PM ET
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2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
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3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
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2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
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3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
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Filter by Grade*
- All
- 2
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Filter by Day of the Week
- All Days
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
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- All Classes
- STEM Survey
Location & Class
Wayland - Loker
Grades* 2-5
Level: All
Description >
STEM Survey
Grades*: 2-5
Level: All
Description >
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
1:15 - 2:45 PM ET
ENROLL
2:45 - 4:15 PM ET
ENROLL
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
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Filter by Grade*
- All
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Filter by Day of the Week
- All Days
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
Filter by Class
- All Classes
- STEM Survey
Location & Class
Wayland - Happy Hollow
Grades* 2-5
Level: All
Description >
STEM Survey
Grades*: 2-5
Level: All
Description >
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
1:15 - 2:45 PM ET
ENROLL
2:45 - 4:15 PM ET
ENROLL
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
2:25 - 3:55 PM ET
ENROLL
3:55 - 5:25 PM ET
ENROLL
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Choose a category below to quickly find the help you need
Empow’s program will generally follow the same schedule as that for BASE. Classes will be offered on days when school is in session at the times listed with the following exceptions:
- Classes will be earlier on 9/13, 10/4, 11/15, 12/6, and 1/10. On those days start times will be 11:30am and 1pm.
- Classes will not run on 11/22 and 6/14.
Yes. Many students sign up for 2 classes per day and the program is designed to support that.
Each class will cover a different technology for about six weeks, at which time the curriculum will rotate among classes, providing students with a breadth of technologies to try. There’s more than enough depth and variety to keep students engaged all year even if taking many classes concurrently.
One of the technologies we will explore together is Coding with Scratch. A few weeks of instruction is enough to gain exposure, learn some coding fundamentals, build a small project and ignite a student’s interest in coding. Students who are already familiar with Scratch or interested in beginning with text-based coding will have the option of exploring Python instead. Our video game design courses also offer an entry point into coding!
Minecraft can be a powerful way to teach students video game design, coding, architecture, animation, and electronics! It’s a great way to develop divergent-thinking creativity because the game offers many different ways to accomplish the same goal. Collaborative builds in a supportive context, like at Empow classes, are a great way to learn to work together. Plus, kids’ learning is propelled forward by their joy of the game, and their innate desire to learn all that being a great Minecraft designer involves.
In each 90-minute class, your child will focus on developing their projects and engaging in self-directed learning using our Learning Management System complemented by hands-on instructor support. Students are encouraged to take short breaks as part of practicing healthy self-regulation. Students are encouraged to work together through collaborative projects, product testing, and providing feedback to one another.
Using our proprietary Learning Management System, TalentBox, students explore the class’s selected curriculum in a semi-independent, self-directed manner. TalentBox guides students to select a project within defined rubrics, and provides just-in-time support to complete that project. Instructors are available to help answer questions, guide students to select suitable projects, support students to work together and assist each other, and provide additional targeted coaching and instruction. You will rarely see an Empow instructor standing in front of the classroom lecturing.
Many students will thrive taking 4-6 classes per week; others will just want two or three. We do not recommend enrolling in 10 sessions per week unless your students is unusually focused on STEM and will not will miss the variety and physical exercise that other after-school options can provide.
Empow offers instruction in more than 20 different topics, but for this particular program we envision students will have opportunities to explore:
- 3D Architecture with Sweet Home 3D
- 3D Design with Tinkercad
- 3D Sculpting with SculptGL
- Digital Animation with Stykz
- Minecraft: Art & Architecture
- Minecraft: Modding with MCreator
- Minecraft: Redstone & Commands
- Programming with Scratch and Python
- Video Game Design with Flowlab
- Video Game Design with Roblox
Wayland Independent Program Acknowledgement
As part of their commitment to providing enriching and educational experiences for their students, Wayland School Community Programs (WSCP) has partnered with Empow Studios, an independent company that has won widespread accolades for its STEM program, to offer a STEM-focused after school program. Wayland Public Schools’ role has been to find a partner they believe will best meet the needs of you and your family and to coordinate with Empow as needed.
Additional details of how Empow operates independently are available during registration.
Rock Star Teachers That Inspire and Teach With Fun, Creativity, and Technical Experience
We Are Delighted to Announce That Empow Studios Has Been Chosen as a Family Favorite for the Eighth Consecutive Year!
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Need help choosing the perfect classes and other STEM programs?
Our advisors make personalized recommendations based on your child’s interests, your learning goals, and your family’s schedule. With summer Camps, after-school Classes, after-school STEM Care, STEM Private Classes, STEM Vacation Camps and more, Empow is your family’s local, year-found STEM enrichment partner.
