CHECstra Day offers teens a mixture of academic development, social time, interest-led project work, and recreation. The program emphasizes choice in learning and teens are included in planning projects and rotating activites. Most days, our schedule is:

·10:30-11:00	Morning flex time	·optional social time
·11:00-12:15	In-depth study	·focus on academic development
·12:15-1:00	Lunch	·lunch
·1:00-2:00	Rotating period	·provides social opportunities and develops life skills
·2:15-3:30	Interest-led projects	·develops communication project management skills
·3:30-4:00	Afternoon flex time	·optional social time

In-depth Study

Our in-depth study this term is geography with a world domination-themed approach. Using game play as the engine, students will be engaged in learning locations and statistics for countries around the globe. The goal is for students to complete the course able to identify countries by continent, region and geographic location, with an awareness of a county's size, exports and neighbors.

Rotating Period

Lunch is followed by a rotating activity each week. Past activities have included Lego building challenges, cooking lunch, team Jeopardy, puzzle chess, visiting an escape room, and First Aid instruction. Potential activities for the fall may include book club and a ZenTangles activity. Current students have also expressed interest in more cooking projects. Activities will be finalized with input from enrolled teens.

Interest Led Projects

Last year we concluded the day with a project-based study where students work collaboratively on a project of their choosing. Projects included designing and building a board game, building a YouTube channel, building an escape room, designing a Roblox game, ticketing and prop construction for the spring play, building an indoor mini-golf game, and planning a market. Given feedback from current students, we are planning to produce a play, a murder mystery spoof, 'The Single Man', as the fall term project. Students will have the opportunity to participate as cast members and/or stage crew in this multi-term theater project. Students who do not wish to work with the theater group will work on a project of their choosing, with support from an adult project guide during this time.

Fall Term Dates

Please take note of the exact days for fall term CHECstra Teen Day. We will have class on the following WEDNESDAYS: September 11th, 18th, 25th October 2nd, 9th, 23rd, 30th and November 6th. November 13th is reserved as a make-up day if needed. CHECstra Day runs from 11-3:30, however, students are invited to arrive at 10:30am and/or stay until 4pm for optional extra social time.

Questions?

For further information, please contact the instructors at checstrateen@cvillechec.org.

Technology Use During Class Time

We have debated whether or not to have a no device rule at CHECstra in an effort to facilitate learning and connection. We are reluctant to issue a blanket rule as many of our students prefer to use computers for writing and other classroom activities. Our approach for the upcoming term is to request the following appropriate use of devices during CHECstra hours:

It is appropriate to use a device during class time to look up information related to the lecture or learning activity or as a learning aid (typing, calculator, etc.)

Student focus should be on teachers, peers, and learning during CHECstra hours. Please do not play games, engage in online conversations, or work on non-CHECstra projects during CHECstra time.

We recognize that students enjoy playing computer games together and this can be a fun, social, and engaging activity. That being said, most students have ample opportunity to play computer games outside of CHEC and we want to focus on in person activities during CHECstra time. We'd ask that students use time to chat in groups, play on the playground, work on cooking projects, play board or card games, or other non-computer game activities during social time.

Silence phones during CHECstra

We understand that students will want to check texts/email/social media during CHECstra. Out of respect for teachers and other students, do not check during class time (11-3:30). Checking during lunch or breaks is okay. Try to check a limited number of times (2 or 3) through out the day so you give your focus to your peers.

Some device use during morning and afternoon flex time is appropriate. It should not be the only thing you ever do during flex time. Our hope is that we can all voluntarily comply with these guidelines so we can benefit from the assistive aspects of technology without compromising our learning. Our intention is to speak with people individually if their technology use is an issue. In the event that many of us are over-using technology to the point of disrupting learning, we will change our policy to request that students do not bring devices to class, so students should be aware that this may become a requirement of CHECstra.