PM Classes

Students will learn how to ride tricycles around obstacles and how to share the “road” with others. This gross motor skills course will allow students to master steering, controlling speed and balance and provide a space for kids to have fun in a safe environment.

Instructor:   Celine Sonrel
Time: 3:45-4:30
Price: $150

Become an animal, a warrior, or a rainbow. This yoga class includes fun yoga poses, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness exercises. Students will participate in a 5-minute meditation exercise each week. Yoga helps children improve focus and concentration, gain confidence, and learn to express themselves.

Teacher Bio: FAIS parent Melissa Jaffe began practicing yoga when she studied ballet at the young age of 6. She continued her love of movement and gained her first yoga certification from the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. Her love of yoga grew and she then earned her Hatha certification from The Movement Center in Portland, OR. After her daughter was old enough, she also earned her certification in Wee Yogis so she could share her love of yoga and movement with family and friends.

Instructor:           Melissa Jaffe
Time:                     3:30-4:15
Price:                     $150

Learn healthy cooking skills with creative, easy, and fun recipes. The little chefs get to use kitchen tools and ingredients for plenty of recipes both savory and sweet. There will also be an opportunity for play time while things are cooking.

Instructor: Nadia Radji
Time: 3:30-4:30
Price: $200 + $25 material fee

Dig in and let your creativity loose with a fun, hands on art form. Working with clay, we will learn various techniques, design, create and build ceramic figures.

Instructor: Melanie Hindman
Time: 3:45-4:45
Price: $200 + $20 material fee

In this classic Engineering for Kids class, students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of engineering fields.

Time: 3:45-4:45
Price: $275

Come and explore the outdoors - and what a better place to start than the Oregon wilderness found right here at FAIS! Students will take walks through the forest, create nature art, and play outdoor games and activities together. Examples of activities include painting pictures using flowers or sticks as brushes, making flower pots, gardening, making prints on sun paper, scavenger hunts, and more.

Choose your own adventure in this LEGO® class. Students can either let their imaginations steer the way or they can choose to follow step by step instructions.

Let your imagination inspire your creations! This class is designed to let students develop their creativity and LEGO-building skills by giving them the freedom to collaborate on a theme of their choosing and develop intricate and wild worlds!

Using multiple LEGO® Creator sets, students will work on not only creativity, but also following step by step instructions and problem solving. We will learn the ins and outs of model building, cumulating in a collaborative effort to piece together an advanced model as a group. Level appropriate materials will be made available to all students.

Instructor: Cédric Strapart
Time: 3:45-4:45
Price: $200 + $10 material fee

Parkour is an art of movement where you learn how to navigate the world and your own body more efficiently. Skills this class will work on will be vaults, rolls, creating your own lines and movement style, adding speed to movement, and other fun challenges. 

• Instructor: Forge Parkour
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $225

Bring your own creative side and artistic talents outdoors. This is your time to express yourself to the max, inside and outside the classroom. You will learn about street art through various mediums and participate in activities to beautify your campus. Murals, stencils, landscape art, altering the “urban furniture” are ways in which you will both leave a mark on the school and develop your creative process. It’s going to be cool, colorful and fun!

Teacher Bio: Quinn is an artist, designer, teacher and 2018 FAIS summer camp instructor. He has experience in painting murals, skateboards, shoes and more and looks forward to beautifying FAIS with his street art.

• Instructor: Quinn Segal
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 + $25 or PM PASS

This class is designed for students who need some extra support with homework, organization, and study skills. Students will get help organizing their work, acquiring the tools to better interpret their assignments, and refining their reading and listening skills.

• Instructor: Aurore Morelus
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

"Countdown", also known as "Des Chiffres et des Lettres",  is the oldest game show in France. David has been using it with his students to develop math and vocabulary skills in a fun way.

The game has two parts:

1. With 10 letters randomly drawn, you have to find the longest word you can. For example, what is the longest word you can find with the letters D-R-I-P-E-S-E-S-T-N?
2. With 6 numbers randomly drawn, you have to find a mathematical way to reach (or get as close to) a randomly chosen number, using all common operations, while using each given number once only. For example, could you find 124 with 2-25-4-8-3-6? Did you find the solution?!

This game works just as well in English and French, come join us!

• Instructor: David Billeaud
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Unleash your child’s talent while sharing arts & craft activities together. Students will have the opportunity to try their hands in a variety of stations to explore various materials such as play doh, gak, paint, and collage. This class will allow students to experiment hands on with the many ways to create art while having fun, and making a mess!

• Instructor: Micheline Manival
• Time: 3:30-4:30
• Price: $200 + $15

In this parcours class, your child will take an active role in inventing each week's obstacle course. We will all collaborate to maximize the fun by finding the coolest ways to walk, run, jump, crawl, roll and climb with beams, tunnels, blocks, and mats. Come burn your excess energy and have fun in this Maternelle parcours activity!

• Instructor:   Delphine Latham & Davy Berruyer
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $150

The little thespians will explore theater through creative drama, games, song, movement, improvisation and storytelling. Through imaginative play the little actors will discover theater while learning and having fun.

Teacher Bio: FAIS parent Anna Xenokrati is a teacher and an actor with a Masters degree in Theater and a BA in French Language & Literature. After her studies, Anna taught workshops on French theater at the University of Bristol in England before relocating to Portland. Since then, she has focused her energy on stage acting and has collaborated with diverse theater companies playing roles in classical and contemporary productions.

• Instructor: Anna Xenokrati
• Time: 3:30-4:15
• Price: $150

Hone your skills in this arts and crafts class that will allow students to express themselves and be creative in a casual environment. Students will make a variety of crafts including seasonal and holiday themed activities, cards, flowers, and animals.

Instructor: Mina Badereddine
Time: 3:30-4:30
Price: $200 + $25 material fee

In this hands-on class, students will play games and do projects to learn how math is used every day. Concepts include counting, addition, subtraction, money, time, measuring, fractions, graphing, multiplication, and division. Class projects might include: making play dough and dividing it and measuring and building with it; graphing with M&Ms or Legos to enforce counting, sorting, and percentages; measuring with our bodies and other tools; practicing using money with a shopping game; planning a pretend trip to better understand calendars, distances, and time.

Teacher Bio: Amy Bailey is an FAIS parent with a background in metallurgical and process engineering with a passion for math, games, and kids. Her work experience included teaching basic statistics and excel to adults and multiple volunteer assistance with kids including pm class assistant, Girl Scouts, and Sunday school. 

Instructor: Amy Bailey
Time: 3:45-4:45
Price: $200

This class is an entry into organized soccer. Players of all levels are provided the opportunity to work on skills while having fun.  

• Instructor: Daniel Gomis
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Your kids have always dreamt of becoming a pilot?  This class if for them! In this hands-on class, students will learn how the basics on how drones/ remote control vehicles function and how to operate them correctly and safely. Students will get introduced to the drone/Remote Control world through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education, while keeping some fun and entertaining activities! Weekly workshops will revolve around obstacle courses, racing and integrating aerial videography. The students will even develop first-person-view piloting skills thanks to their own set of Virtual Reality goggles. 

Students will take home their own personal drone at the end of the semester.

• Instructor: Sylvain Chancel
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $300 + $100 material fee

Software Engineering: Phone App Lab (10 weeks)

Create apps for your phone on day 1! We will be using App Lab, an in-browser Javascript programming environment specially designed to ease those totally new to computer science into programming by dragging and dropping both design elements and even blocks of code. Got an idea for the next killer app? Here’s your chance to make it a reality.

LittleBits Laboratory: Mechatronic Masterminds (5 weeks)

Explore the basics of mechatronics engineering and logic based programming as students use LittleBits and work together to design gadgets, tools, and machines such as an articulated hand!

Instructor: Engineering for Kids
Time: 3:45-5:15
Price: $410

Let your imagination inspire your creations! This class is designed to let students develop their creativity and LEGO-building skills by giving them the freedom to collaborate on a theme of their choosing and develop intricate and wild worlds! This is a great entry in LEGO® classes, with a focus on free play, an essential way to develop important social & emotional skills.

Students who wish for a more project driven type of Lego class are encouraged to sign up for Thursdays ‘”LEt’s GO Classic’ class instead.

• Instructor: Cédric Strapart
• Time: 3:30-4:30
• Price: $200 + $10 material fee

In this class students will learn develop the basic technical and tactical skills. We will focus on ball handling activities appropriate to young players. Each class will finish with a fun scrimmage.

• Instructor: Daniel Gomis
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

This class is set to play and cooperate with old and new classic board games including Uno, Mille Bornes, Sorry, Parcheesi, Trouble, and Cranium.  The semester will conclude with students designing their own board games.

• Instructor: Stephanie Martin-Sewall
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 + $15

Students will do more than just learn a recipe or two, here they will make something that can then be taken home and shared with the family. Some days this may be a side dish that can be incorporated into dinner, other days it might be a tiramisu that can be served for dessert.

• Instructor: Nadia Radji
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 + $60 material fee

This class is designed for students who need some extra support with homework, organization, and study skills. Students will get help organizing their work, acquiring the tools to better interpret their assignments, and refining their reading and listening skills.

• Instructor: Camille Rueff
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Chess and Go are among the oldest strategy games in the world, which originated in India and China. Go and Chess are fun games that improve memory, cognitive abilities, strategic thinking as well as the capacity to predict and foresee the consequences of actions. It never gets boring, you have so much to look forward to. and there are infinite numbers of combinations to construct.

• Instructor: Thierry Anne
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 or PM PASS

Students participating in this class will take part in a variety of engaging drills on basic fundamentals, while focusing on an in-depth study of shooting mechanics. Sessions will end in a fun scrimmage. 3rd-4th graders participating in this class will have the opportunity to participate in a month long league in March.

• Instructor: Ron Thomas
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Hone your skills in this arts and crafts class that will allow students to express themselves and be creative in a casual environment. Students will make a variety of crafts including seasonal and holiday themed activities, cards, flowers, and animals.

Instructor: Mina Badereddine
Time: 3:30-4:30
Price: $200 + $25 material fee

Using multiple LEGO® Classic sets will afford students the opportunity to develop their imagination and creativity while also following step by step instructions and problem solving. We will learn the ins and outs of model building. This class focuses on creating easy building model and developing strategies to solve a problem using Lego®.

This is a more guided class designed for students who have participated in ‘Discover the LEGO® World’ class.

• Instructor: Cédric Strapart
• Time: 3:30-4:30
• Price: $200 + $10 material fee

Students will have the opportunity to focus on the process of making art rather than the product. This class will focus on step by step drawings as well as still lives. Students will learn how to use mediums such as graphite, charcoal, colored pencils and watercolor pencils. Painting mediums will include watercolor, acrylic, and tempera. Come create artwork and express yourself freely while having fun.

• Instructor: Stephanie Martin-Sewall
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 + $15 material fee

This class is designed to provide students with the basic tumbling skills needed for Aerial Movement, such as cartwheels, rolls, walk-overs, and handstands. Students will also learn proper stretching and conditioning.

• Instructor: Pendulum
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $225

Students will design and create their own puppets with papier mache in this hands on imaginative puppeteering class. Once the puppets are designed, students will chose a story, build props and backgrounds, and prepare a little show to close the semester. 

• Instructor: Véronique Pain
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 + $10

This class will teach the basic skills of sewing and knitting, and offer support for students completing their own exciting projects and creations. All skill levels welcome.

• Instructor: Nadia Radji
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 + $20 material fee

Come rock your body in this Urban Dance class! Dance, sweat, jump and be creative in this movement based French fitness class. This class will help develop a healthy lifestyle. Students will learn routines to modern and vibrant music from a variety of cultures from Hip Hop to African, Latin and Pop. Students will then create their own routines that lead up to a special performance they will put together to share at the end of the semester. 

• Instructor: Micheline Manival
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200 or PM PASS

If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that we all love food. In this class, students will cook and eat tasty street foods found all over the world. Come join in on food adventures through delicious street foods of America, Mexico, Poland, India and many other places! Students will learn how to make a variety of foods, including champurrado, sweet breads, potato pancakes, and pani puri.

Teacher Bio: Annette Guzik is from Chicago, Illinois. She is a current aide at FAIS. In 2016 she earned her degree in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She loves to travel and enjoy food. Her time in India inspired her to further expand her love for cooking and to share it with others.

Instructor: Annette Guzik
Time: 3:45-4:45             
Price: $200 + $50 material fee

Join your colleagues in the newsroom to create FAIS’s first student led newspaper. Students will share events and stories about their school, community, city and more, in both French and English. Students will explore different forms of journalism, will discuss contents, choose their assignments, and have their own material edited during the class and investigate their subjects during the week. This project will be defined by the students and grow with them while structured by the teacher.

• Instructor: Aurore Morelus
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Do you have a flair for drama? Are you interested in current events? Do you find yourself debating over the dinner table? Come channel that energy with speech and debate! In this class, you'll learn valuable skills that will last you a lifetime. Students will learn to appreciate the art of argument, have fun finding their voice, work to understand one's audience, and practice "individual events" using OSAA competition guidelines. If you're considering joining a competitive speech and debate team in high school, this class is a great introduction to the sport.

• Instructor: Lauren Yamasaki
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Students will practice their cooking skills with a variety of fun and easy recipes, including everything from breakfast to dinner to desserts. Students will be able to practice their fine motor skills as well while they roll, stir, and use kitchen tools. There will be plenty of opportunities to get creative with our cooking when decorating, choosing ingredients, and playing when our food is cooking.

Instructor: Kellie Jordan
Time: 3:30-4:30
Price: $200 + $25 material fee

Time to get a movin' and a shakin'! We'll combine singing, dancing and musical instruments with choreographed and free form movements then cool it all down with some quiet "inner-peacing". This class will be a great way to release all that energy left over from the day through wiggles and giggles and at the end of the semester you'll get a little music video in your email highlighting what we've been accomplished. Join us!

• Instructor: Dave Yeager
• Time: 3:30-4:30
• Price: $200

Engineering, art, and fun collide in this imagination filled K’nex class. This class is perfect for students who love finding solutions and tinkering with building toys. Students will develop their construction and math skills by working both independently and in small groups on various projects during the semester. Students will have the opportunity to construct real world 3-D models and develop key science, technology, engineering, and math concepts with hands-on step by step activities.

• Instructor: Camille Crampsey
• Time: 3:30-4:30
• Price: $200 + $20 material fee

In this class, students will practice their French skills and develop their vocabulary, within a philosophical frame, in various oral discussions based on a new theme each week proposed by the teacher or students. The various objectives of this class are to learn to expand on a theme, an idea, how to develop and structure your thoughts, and learn to listen, respect and take into account other's point of view.

Through all of this, students will get to actively practice their French vocally.

• Instructor: Sebastian Arial
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

Note: If you are only interested in participating in one part of this class please contact lbirshan@faispdx.org for more information.

Lightsaber Choreography – 7 weeks

Students will learn the choreography of a lightsaber duel in this brand new class at FAIS. Lightsaber skills will be taught using stage combat techniques and the final class will be a fight performance. Stunt grade lightsabers provided by Northwest Fencing Center.

Fencing – 8 weeks

Match wits and cross blades! Learn the basics of fencing from a professional fencing coach. The class covers fencing footwork, the basics of offense and defense, and fencing strategy. We finish every class with a group battle! Emphasis is on fun and safety. Everyone wears full protective safety gear, chest plate, jacket, gloves, and mask, provided by NW Fencing Center. En garde. Prêt? Allez!

• Instructor: NW Fencing Center
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $225

This is an aerial dance class for students with beginning to intermediate skill levels. Students will work on various aerial disciplines such as aerial hoop, dance trapeze, and silks. The goal of the class is to improve strength, flexibility, and to provide students with a solid foundation of skills to build and expand upon. Students' individual skill levels will be accommodated and allowed to progress at a rate that is appropriate for them. Students are encouraged to register for the spring term as well.

Teacher Bio: Sydney Nagy has been an aerialist and contortionist with Pendulum Aerial Arts since 2013 where she graduated from the Professional Training Program. Prior to training in the circus arts, Sydney was a competitive rhythmic gymnast for seven years. She is a five-time Junior Olympics competitor and a four-time member of the National Future Stars team. She is a part of Twisted Sisters Circus, competing in Circus Star USA, placing in the top three, as well as in the international circus competition Viva Fest 2018 taking home 1st place in their category. Recently the duo also performed on The Ellen Show and The Gong Show. Sydney has trained exclusively with world renowned Mongolian contortionist Tsengee Byambadorj and has had the honor of working with many cast members of Cirque du Soleil and the most prestigious circus school, École Nationale de Cirque.

Sydney is very excited to bring her passion and experience to the next generation of budding artists at the French American International School. She has experienced so many lovely coaches and wants to give back to the community from which she has benefited immensely to give these kids the same opportunity as she had.

• Instructor: Pendulum
• Time: 3:45-5:00
• Price: $280

Read more in French and share your love of reading by joining this book club. Students will read different genres, create a book journal and discuss different topics while developing their own creativity.

• Instructor: Aurore Molerus
• Time: 3:45-4:45
• Price: $200

T.I.M.E Stories is a cooperative, mystery, roleplaying board game that requires critical thinking and discussion among players. The challenges are great and peril is boundless. T.I.M.E Agents must employ all of their cognitive abilities to abate temporal collapses before time runs out! Are you ready to accept the challenge and help save your universe before it ceases to exist? We need YOU, today!

This game is rated for teens ages 12+. We request any 6th graders who have not yet turned 12 to please refrain from signing up, as suggestive themes may be part of the missions.

Instructor: Jackson Jarman-Miller
Time: 3:45-4:45
Price: $200 + $20 material fee