SPECIAL INTEREST  2025 – 26

Questions: Contact Sandra Jung at (323) 691-7132 or life101.sandra@gmail.com. https://practicallifeskills101.org.

Target audience: High School

Cost:

10 1-hour sessions for 5 credits for one semester is $155 or $145/child in the same family ($150/$140 if you use Zelle).

Course description:

Many young people leave high school without the essential skills needed to navigate real-world challenges. Practical Life Skills 101 aims to bridge this gap by providing students and young adults with the knowledge and tools necessary for everyday success. This comprehensive curriculum covers critical topics such as goal setting, career planning, financial literacy, self-care, and effective communication, among others.

Materials:

You will need a laptop, tablet, or smartphone for research. 

Course Outline

1. Recharge & Thrive (Self-Care): Learn how to take care of your mind, body, and energy—because burnout isn’t a badge of honor.
2. What’s Your Type? (Enneagrams & Personality Tests): Discover what makes you you—and how to better understand others while you’re at it.
3. Goals that Glow (Goal Setting): Stop making goals that collect dust—create ones you’ll actually want to crush!
4. Find Your Future (Career Planning): Explore your passions, uncover your talents, and start building a career that fits you.
5. Passport to the World (Travel & Culture): Dive into cultures, customs, and travel tips that open your mind—and maybe even your next trip!
6. Design Your Life (Future & Life Planning): Plan like a boss—life doesn’t come with a manual, but this class might come close.
7. Money Smart, Not Broke (Money Management): From budgeting basics to beating financial stress—learn the money moves every adult should know.
8. Speak Up! (Professional & Personal Communication): Nail interviews, text messages, emails, and everything in between—confidence starts with communication.
9. Unlocking Success (The 8 Keys of Excellence): Discover the mindset secrets successful people swear by—and how to make them your own.
10. Bounce Back Stronger (Pursuing Excellence & Resilience): Life throws curveballs—learn how to turn setbacks into comebacks like a pro.

COST:  $40.00 per month (Use discount code “EIE” for a $5.00 discount.)

Jan’s online mat Pilates classes are accessible, effective, and designed for all fitness levels. They require minimal equipment, making them perfect for home workouts. Her sessions focus on core strength, posture alignment, and full-body conditioning while incorporating modifications for safety and individual needs. Whether you’re looking to enhance flexibility, improve balance, or relieve stress, Jan’s engaging teaching style ensures a transformative experience right from your living room.  To learn more, visit www.PilatesWholeBody.com

SUBJECT: Logic/Critical Thinking/Life Skills

TAUGHT BY: Ani Janbazian

VENDOR: We Spark Learning

WHERE: Excellence in Education Academy, Monrovia

TARGET: Grades 2-5, and Grades 3-6 (two timeslots)

COURSE DURATION: 1 year (two, 13 week semesters)

DATES:

Semester 1 runs Sept -Dec 2025

Semester 2 runs Jan-may 2026

COST PER SEMESTER :

$296 (discount given to those who pay for class in full on day of registration).

We are an approved vendor for most area Charter schools. If not, we’ll contact you to start the vendor process for your school!

Upon registration, you will be provided with a simple materials list of some basic school supplies that will be needed for class.

 You are invited to become a savvy problem solver as a member of our distinguished society where we treasure critical thinking  and out-of-the-box ideas.

 Your exclusive S.S.S. membership entitles you to solve exciting weekly challenges, that will stretch your brainpower, flex your reasoning, boot your creativity, and harness the power of teamwork!

 Your challenges will include:     

• Perplexing Puzzles
• Detective Mysteries
• S.T.E.M. Challenges
• Brain Games
• Treasure Hunts
• Escape Room Adventures
• And more!

Your success will merit awards, that could grant you a place in the Secret Solvers Society “Brain Hall of Fame”.

REGISTRATION: Opens on April 10th.  Simply complete the form for either private-payment or charter families at WeSparkLearning.com . Charter School students should follow up with a request a P.O./Enrichment Certificate to be issued as soon as possible to complete your registration with us.

 Questions? Call (626)482-8963 or email WeSparkLearning@yahoo.com

DATES:

• Semester 1 runs Sept -Dec 2025
• Semester 2 runs Jan-may 2026

TARGET: Grades 4th-7th

SUBJECT: Entrepreneurship/Business

VENDOR: We Spark Learning

COURSE DURATION: 1 year (two, 13 week semesters)

COST PER SEMESTER :

• $296 (discount given to those who pay for class in full on day of registration).
• We are an approved vendor for most area Charter schools. If not, we’ll contact you to start the vendor process for your school!
• Upon registration, you will be provided with a simple materials list of some basic school supplies that will be needed for class.

 As a classroom entrepreneur you will plan and create your own pizzeria and take care of the daily operations, learning dozens of practical concepts related to your new venture along the way. What will the week’s assignment be: Designing and naming your restaurant? Planning the Grand Opening? Calculating profit? Scripting a commercial? Making a brochure? Conducting an employee job interview?

 In the exciting world of business, there is so much you can learn:

• Writing a Simple Business Plan
• Basic Economics
• Money Matters
• Math
• Problem Solving
• Marketing
• Customer Service
• Management
• Nutrition
• and Design

You will dream up pizza specials to test the market as you look for successful dishes to grow your permanent menu. Will your new recipe be a hit? Find out the following week, through a Consumer Report showing customer sales and reviews.  We will track the collective profits of all class Pizzerias to earn real prizes throughout the year.

We will celebrate classroom “sales” milestones with prize boxes and a real-life Pizza Party when students collectively reach a million dollars in pizza profit!

 REGISTRATION: Opens on April 10th.  Simply complete the form for either private-payment or charter families at WeSparkLearning.com .  Charter School students should follow up with a request a P.O./Enrichment Certificate to be issued as soon as possible to complete your registration with us.

 Questions? Call (626)482-8963 or email WeSparkLearning@yahoo.com

START DATE:  September 10, 2025 

COST:  $50.00 per family per semester

• Yes, the cost is per family, not student.  We feel this would be a great family style class for high school and older.  Parents and siblings are encouraged to attend at no additional cost.

AGE TARGET:  High School and higher.

Course description:

This course will introduce the science topics most relevant to the study of Biblical Creationism.  There will be a video each week from Educate for Life with Kevin Conover followed by a discussion and relevant activities.

Topics covered include:

•             Fossil record vs. evolution
•             Evidence for a world-wide flood
•             Did man walk with dinosaurs?
•             Age of the earth
•             Genetic mutations and Intelligent Design
•             Irreducible complexity  and thermodynamics
•             The Big Bang and the anthropic principle
•             Scientific hoaxes
•             Evolutionary ethics
•             Answering atheism

STARTING DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2025

COST:  $50.00 per family per semester

• Yes, the cost is per family, not student.  We feel this would be a great family style class for high school and older.  Parents and siblings are encouraged to attend at no additional cost.

AGE TARGET:  High School and higher.

In Apologetics I we covered science and Christianity as well as some other religions.

With Apologetics II we will investigate the various major religions of the world and do a side by side comparison to Christianity.  At the end of the class you will be equiped to handle any discussion between the various major religions of the world.

COST:  $30.00 per class plus $10.00 material fee.

AGE TARGET:  12 and up.

One of the great benefits of homeschooling is to explore and experience different types of classes and activities.  Now, with our woodworking class, you can experience the wonders of converting raw wood into some fantastics items.  Start out with making simple toys and depending on your dedication create some awesome wooden projects.  In fact we have one family that actually took the information they learned in this class and created their own businesses.  This class is taught by a professional high end cabinet and furniture maker in his shop.  The students will work with real woodworking equiptment under the supervision of a craftsman.

CONTACT:  Jeff Krieger   (626) 695-5688

Grades: 2nd – 6th 

Cost: $180 PER SEMESTER

Class Description:

 Geography

 Engineering

 Creativity

 Socializing

Enrollment:

• Call Carolyn at EIE (626) 821-0025
• Visit the class for a free session.

Cost:         $175.00

Recommended   ages:   5  to    13   or   grades   K  to   8.

Open  to  beginners  and  advanced   students

Students  will learn to play the game of Chess and learn winning strategies.  They will become prepared for tournament  play which is organized  by  Coach  Jeff.  Tournament  play  is not required but is an added bonus.

Chess  is  a  wonderful  game that helps children develop mental discipline, analytical  skills, strategic  thinking, and  do  better academically.  Studies  have shown that   students   studying   Chess    demonstrated    a  marked   development   of  their  verbal    and math  aptitudes.  This  class  is  a great way for kids to have fun, improve  in  Chess, and  make  new  friends.

Added  bonus:   As  Coach  Jeff’s    program    is  in  twenty-one    elementary   schools   in   the  San  Gabriel   Valley,  Coach  Jeff organizes    three   tournaments   per  semester.

About  Coach  Jeff:   Jeff  Schwartz  has  played   tournament  chess    from  the  time  he  was  a  freshman   in  college.   Coach  Jeff  is a  Life  Member    of  the  United  States   Chess  Federation,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Arcadia  Chess   Club. Coach  Jeff  has taught  Chess   since   2007,   helping  hundreds   of   students  mature  in  the  world  of  Chess,  even  while  he   uses  an individualized  approach   for  each  student.

Contact:    chesscoachjeff@live.com or (626) 545-8457

Class Starts:                                     January 8, 2025

Cost                                                       $150.00 materials included

Inquires & Information               cindrabarnes@yahoo.com or TEXT ONLY 909-993-2203

Register                                               At the above contact info

Class Description                  Students will learn the basics of Biology, Herbology and Farming. They will develop skills in co-operation and the use of tools while working together for a common goal. The class will focus on the preparing, maintenance, harvesting and reaping of the garden and use fun activities such as, bird feeders, steppingstones, and gnome painting to enhance their communal space.