The school day does not have to end when the bell rings at 3 p.m. Bright Afternoons is an extended day program available to all grades. JPK and PK students begin Bright Afternoons at 1 p.m., and the other grades join after 3 p.m. Bright Afternoons lasts until 6 p.m. Special Bright Afternoons sessions are made available on selected half days throughout the year.
JPK and PK students have a nap or quiet time after 1 p.m. All students receive a snack when they arrive. Bright Afternoons staff oversee students in groups by grade.
Formerly known as Extended Care, Bright Afternoons is a structured program that extends the regular school day.
All fourth and fifth grade students who participate in Bright Afternoons will go to Homework Club in the library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Faculty from the Kilbride Enrichment Center will be on hand to help students. Third graders in Bright Afternoons will be given the opportunity to complete homework with their Bright Afternoons counselor.
To ensure proper planning and safety measures, we are asking all families to pre-register for a flat rate daily schedule that fits your family's needs. For JPK and PK students, the program costs $12 for participating between the hours of 1-3 p.m. It is $18 a day for the hours between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The program is $15 a day for grades K-5, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Invoices for Bright Afternoons will be emailed on the fifth of each month. In an effort to minimize check writing/processing, registered families are required to set up a FACTS account for monthly invoice payments. FACTS is a third-party company that allows you to designate an account for invoice payments to be automatically withdrawn when charges are accrued. If you pay Bright School tuition through a current FACTS account, no action is needed at this time. If you do not pay tuition with FACTS, please click here to create an account.
We will continue to use the iPads for daily sign-in and sign-out. Codes will remain the same for returning families and codes will be provided to new families. In addition to digital attendance, the Procare app (formally, Kinderlime) allows families to sign up for accessing daily sign-in records, viewing previous invoices, and printing end of year tax information. You will receive an email from Procare inviting you to sign up for access to your child's daily activity in Bright Afternoons.
Click below to register.
We are excited to safely bring back a few of our Bright Afterschool classes this Winter. To ensure the safest setting possible, we are hosting these sessions by grade-level groups only. All students will have their temperature check before entering their class.
Please see the registration form for times, dates and costs. Register here.
All classes have fees associated with registration. Payment will be due before your first class either through Venmo or check. Checks should be made payable to individual instructors (NOT Bright School). If you registered for Spanish, you will recieve an emailed invoice from Chattanooga School of Language. Please reach out to the teacher if you have partial credits from Spring 2020.
Each class has limited space and registration forms are time-stamped when submitted. Families with multiple children should complete a separate form for each child. If you have questions, contact Kendra Reasor: [email protected]
Monday
Second Grade: Bright Bistro with Ms. Susan Pesterfield - Bright Bistro is a fun, hands-on, practical introduction to kitchen skills for PreK - 1st grade students. Children will engage in following recipes, measuring ingredients, practicing basic skills such as stirring, whisking, and combining while baking and/or cooking. All ingredients will be pre-packaged and separated, ensuring each child only handles their own treat. Our workspaces and prep areas will be sanitized and cleaned in accordance with Bright School and CDC Guidelines.
Tuesday
JPK: Bright Bistro with Ms. Susan Pesterfield - Bright Bistro is a fun, hands-on, practical introduction to kitchen skills for PreK - 1st grade students. Children will engage in following recipes, measuring ingredients, practicing basic skills such as stirring, whisking, and combining while baking and/or cooking. All ingredients will be pre-packaged and separated, ensuring each child only handles their own treat. Our workspaces and prep areas will be sanitized and cleaned in accordance with Bright School and CDC Guidelines.
PK: Bright Bistro with Ms. Susan Pesterfield - Bright Bistro is a fun, hands-on, practical introduction to kitchen skills for PreK - 1st grade students. Children will engage in following recipes, measuring ingredients, practicing basic skills such as stirring, whisking, and combining while baking and/or cooking. All ingredients will be pre-packaged and separated, ensuring each child only handles their own treat. Our workspaces and prep areas will be sanitized and cleaned in accordance with Bright School and CDC Guidelines.
Third Grade: Lego League, JR. with Mrs. Rachel Blanton - Attention, 3rd Grade builders! We need you to help us imagine and build places to live and work for everyone. Combine your problem-solving skills and creativity to help shape a better future together! You and your team will use the engineering design process during each session as they work to explore a problem, create a solution, test the solution, and share what you have learned.
Fourth Grade: Bright School Art Club with Mrs. Thankful Davis - This Winter we are offering art sessions for 1st and 4th grade students. This will be an opportunity for students who enjoy art to dig a little deeper and express their creativity in exciting new projects. During each session, we will be working with sculpture, painting, drawing, and printmaking. Each project will complement the classroom experience and challenge our students to think outside of the box. We will look at creative ceramic techniques, layered mixed media projects, and innovative printing processes.
Fifth Grade: Bright School Robotics Club with Mrs. Renee' Kropff - The Bright School Robotics Club is comprised of 5th grade students who have a passion and affinity for designing and coding robots. This club will utilize the curriculum and challenges from the First Lego League. All skill levels are welcomed and needed, technical or non-technical. There is a job for everyone on this team! The First Lego League is built around a theme-based challenge which involves research, problem solving, coding, and engineering. The foundation of the program is the FIRST Core Values, which emphasize teamwork, discovery, and innovation.
Wednesday
First Grade: Bright School Art Club with Mrs. Thankful Davis - This Winter we are offering art sessions for 1st and 4th grade students. This will be an opportunity for students who enjoy art to dig a little deeper and express their creativity in exciting new projects. During each session, we will be working with sculpture, painting, drawing, and printmaking. Each project will complement the classroom experience and challenge our students to think outside of the box. We will look at creative ceramic techniques, layered mixed media projects, and innovative printing processes.
Third Grade: Bright School Technology Club with Mrs. Renee' Kropff - The Bright School Technology Club is a group of 3rd grade students who meet on Wednesdays and 4th grade students who meet on Thursdays to create projects that utilize a variety of technology tools and resources. Project ideas will include: green-screen films, coding, 3-d design & printing, and STEM challenges.
Fourth Grade: Bright Bistro with Ms. Susan Pesterfield - Bright Bistro is a fun, hands-on, practical introduction to kitchen skills for PreK - 1st grade students. Children will engage in following recipes, measuring ingredients, practicing basic skills such as stirring, whisking, and combining while baking and/or cooking. All ingredients will be pre-packaged and separated, ensuring each child only handles their own treat. Our workspaces and prep areas will be sanitized and cleaned in accordance with Bright School and CDC Guidelines.
Fifth Grade: Bright Bistro with Ms. Susan Pesterfield - Bright Bistro is a fun, hands-on, practical introduction to kitchen skills for PreK - 1st grade students. Children will engage in following recipes, measuring ingredients, practicing basic skills such as stirring, whisking, and combining while baking and/or cooking. All ingredients will be pre-packaged and separated, ensuring each child only handles their own treat. Our workspaces and prep areas will be sanitized and cleaned in accordance with Bright School and CDC Guidelines.
Thursday
JPK: Chattanooga Ballet: An introduction to the world of dance designed for 3 & 4 year olds. Students will work to develop balance, coordination, and rhythm. Through the use of structured games and activities, each class will allow students to explore different ways of moving. A $25 performance fee for the end of year recital is included in the tuition price.
PK: Chattanooga Ballet: Designed for 4 & 5 year olds who have some dance experience or are new to ballet. Students will begin to explore basic ballet steps and terminology while continuing to develop balance, coordination, flexibility, and rhythm. A $25 performance fee for the end of year recital is included in the tuition price.
Kindergarten: Chattanooga Ballet: Designed for 5 & 6 year olds who have some dance experience or are new to ballet. Students will learn basic ballet steps and terminology with an emphasis on proper alignment and technique. This class will help a student develop the skills necessary to progress easily into Level 1. A $25 performance fee for the end of year recital is included in the tuition price.
PK, Kindergarten and First Grade (separate times): Chattanooga School of Language Fun with Spanish: Through this class, children will develop a connection and basic understanding of the language and culture through play and interaction. Classes will be conducted primarily in Spanish, and the children will be given the tools to start and continue developing their Spanish vocabulary and knowledge of Spanish culture. Through storytelling and play, they will expand on their current knowledge of high-frequency words and vocabulary that will enable them to develop their communication skills in Spanish. The class will provide a holistic approach to learning a language by focusing on body-kinesthetic, student-driven, and fun activities that make the language come alive.
Third Grade: Bright Bistro with Ms. Susan Pesterfield - Bright Bistro is a fun, hands-on, practical introduction to kitchen skills for PreK - 1st grade students. Children will engage in following recipes, measuring ingredients, practicing basic skills such as stirring, whisking, and combining while baking and/or cooking. All ingredients will be pre-packaged and separated, ensuring each child only handles their own treat. Our workspaces and prep areas will be sanitized and cleaned in accordance with Bright School and CDC Guidelines.
Fourth Grade: Bright School Technology Club with Mrs. Renee' Kropff - The Bright School Technology Club is a group of 3rd grade students who meet on Wednesdays and 4th grade students who meet on Thursdays to create projects that utilize a variety of technology tools and resources. Project ideas will include green-screen films, coding, 3-d design & printing, and STEM challenges.
Fifth Grade Gym-Sports with Mr. Richard Parks and Mr. Bill Greene - 5th grade students will have an opportunity to participate in team-led activities in the Bright School gym. From wiffle ball to dodge ball, the children will have fun while focusing on good sportsmanship, improving self-esteem and confidence, building relationships, and accepting defeat while also celebrating victory.
Joined Bright faculty in 2017
B.S., University of West Georgia
