+ Course Descriptions
We offer a diverse selection of courses each summer, each of which is listed below. Along with each course you will find its course description, details about the instructor and later a download with further class details.
ACT Test Prep
This two week ACT program will improve participants understanding and performance in the ACT college entrance test. The group course will be taught by Ricky Rosenberg and will meet two hours a day, during which there will be discussion of format and strategies of the test, followed by practice sections. Then, those sections will be analyzed, and the answers discussed. A full practice test will be administered each week 12pm - 4pm. See the sample schedule for further details.
Register for both an SAT and ACT course and receive a $200 discount.
Ricky Rosenberg, Instructor and co-owner of Test Masters
Test Masters is a nine-year old, locally owned test preparation and tutoring company. We have approximately 25 tutors who work for us. We are used by most of the private and parochial schools in the area. Ricky and Laurie Rosenberg, co-owners, both have extensive backgrounds in teaching and tutoring.
Click here to view a schedule of the course.
Fee: $600 per program | $1000 for both SAT and ACT | See Schedule for Dates/Times
Algebra IIa
This course can be taken for remediation or for original credit. If the course is being taken for original credit, the student must pass both Algebra IIa (first semester) and Algebra IIb (second semester). The amount of time needed for remediation will be determined by the student’s present school.
The first semester of the course will cover linear functions, absolute value functions, systems of equations, introduction to matrices, quadratic functions, and complex numbers. There is an emphasis on graphing and transformations of functions.
Although the course content will be that of a rigorous second course in algebra, the instruction will also focus on underlying concepts and computational accuracy in order to help students strengthen their skills.
Jerri Harbison, Newman Upper School Mathematics Instructor
Jerri Harbison has a master’s degree in mathematics from Southern Illinois University. She taught at a public high school in Illinois for 20 years and just completed her fourth year as a teacher at Isidore Newman. She has taught all levels of mathematics from general math to calculus, but admits that Algebra 2 is one of her favorite courses to teach.
Dates: Jun 4 – Jun 29 | Times: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades: rising 9th –12th | Fee: $808
Algebra IIb
This course can be taken for remediation or for original credit. If the course is being taken for original credit, the student must pass both Algebra IIa (first semester) and Algebra 2b (second semester). The amount of time needed for remediation will be determined by the student’s present school.
The second semester will cover integer and rational exponents, radical functions, circles, exponential and logarithmic functions, rational functions, and an introduction to probability.
Although the course content will be that of a rigorous second course in algebra, the instruction will also focus on underlying concepts and computational accuracy in order to help students strengthen their skills.
Jerri Harbison, Newman Upper School Mathematics Instructor
Jerri Harbison has a master’s degree in mathematics from Southern Illinois University. She taught at a public high school in Illinois for 20 years and just completed her fourth year as a teacher at Isidore Newman. She has taught all levels of mathematics from general math to calculus, but admits that Algebra 2 is one of her favorite courses to teach.
Dates: Jul 2 – Jul 27 | Times: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades: rising 9th – 12th | Fee: $808
Dance - Express Yourself!
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This course is for boys and girls who like to move and be in the physical groove. Students will spend a week exploring jazz, musical theater and a contemporary blend of Hip-Hop and improvisational dance! Get ready for the 2012-2013 school year with a spring in your step!
Liese Weber, Director of the Newman Dance Program
Ms. Weber is a seasoned concert dancer and musical theater performer, and has taught and choreographed youth through professional level dancers over the past two and a half decades in both the US and Europe. She teaches the core dance techniques and styles of ballet, modern, jazz, tap, musical theater and contemporary and is also a choreographer and costumer. She has also co-directed and choreographed seven student performance tours to Europe and Japan, and over 100 student, amateur and professional dance concerts and musical theater productions.
Click here to view a sample day of dance class!
Dates: Jul 30 – Aug 3 | Times: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Grades: rising 3rd – 5th | Fee: $253
Driver’s Education
This course consists of 2 weeks of classroom instruction followed by 8 hours of on-the-road driving instruction that meets all state requirements. Driving dates will be determined by enrollment order. Students must be 15 years old by June 4, 2012 to participate in this class.
Keefe Hecker, Newman Upper School Physical Education Instructor
Keefe Hecker earned a BA in Secondary Education from Loyola University and an MA in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. He has been a Newman physical education teacher for 33 years. In addition to teaching P.E. and driver’s education, he is the Boys’ Track and Field Head Coach.
Click here to view a sample schedule for Drivers Education.
Dates: Jun 4 – Jun 15 | Times: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Ages: 15 years by 6/4/12 | Fee: $606
Eager Beavers
This one week enrichment program is designed to support learning and social skills through literature, art, music, games and hands-on activities. The focus will be on listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, math, following directions and cooperation. This is an opportunity for your child to experience an exciting and supportive bridge between the summer and a new school year.
Wanda Muhs, Newman Lower School 1st Grade Teacher
Wanda Muhs taught elementary school for 13 years in Charlotte, North Carolina before coming to New Orleans and Newman School. This is her second year working with Eager Beavers. She enjoys sharing her love of learning with students and helping them to prepare for first grade.
Sarah Oakes, Newman Lower School Kindergarten Teacher
Sarah Oakes has been a teacher at Newman for seven years. A native of New Orleans, Sarah received both a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree in early childhood development from Louisiana State University. She enjoys reading Harry Potter, traveling and spending time with her daughter.
Click here to view a sample day for rising kindergartners in Eager Beavers!
Click here to view a sample day for rising 1st graders in Eager Beavers!
Dates: Jul. 30 - Aug. 3 | Time: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Grades: Rising K -1st | Fee: $253
Film History (.5 credit earned)
This course will be an in-depth study of the breakout medium of the 20th century. We will begin over 100 years ago, when film evolved from an innovative novelty into a viable form of artistic expression. Through the lenses of aesthetic, ideology, and economics, students will explore the historical and cultural significance of distinct eras and styles. Topics of study will include (but are not limited to) early silent film, classical narrative style, Soviet Montage, the Studio System, genre conventions and revisions, realism versus formalism, the auteur theory, the French New Wave, the Hollywood Renaissance of the 1970s, the blockbuster, the rise of independent filmmaking, and the globalization of Hollywood.
Meghann Niehus, Newman Upper School Film History Instructor
A native of DC, Meghann Niehus earned a BA from Syracuse University in Television, Radio, and Film, and a master’s degree in education from UNO with a concentration in Media Language and Literacy. She currently teaches darkroom photography, photojournalism, film production, and film history in Newman’s upper school. She is also the yearbook advisor. She enjoys bicycling through City Park and riding her scooter to school.
Click here to view a sample schedule for Film History.
Dates: Jun 4 – Jun 29 | Times: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades: rising 10th – 12th | Fee: $808
French Language and Culture Immersion: Allons-y!
Immerse your child in French language and culture through hands-on enrichment activities in the fine arts, in culinary experiments, and interactive games and skits. This experience is designed to help give students an edge in developing their auditory and speaking skills while having fun in a foreign language!
Dr. Katherine Gracki, Newman World Languages Chair
Dr. Gracki earned a Master's of Arts. and a Ph.D. in French and Francophone Literature from Tulane University. She has ten years of middle school and high school teaching experience including one year in the south of France. She enjoys French film, cooking, art, and joie de vivre.
Click here to view a sample schedule for Allons-y!
Dates: Jul 30 – Aug 3 | Times: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Grades: rising 6th – 9th | Fee: $253
French Language and Francophone Culture Exploration: Bonjour Les Amis
Students will begin to learn French through a variety of activities designed to engage their minds and bodies. Music and movement form the foundation for the class as the children sing simple songs, dance, run, spin and jump around the room. The class is taught using fun activities and age-appropriate games. Students will have fun and learn a new language all at the same time.
Instructor – to be announced
Dates: Jul 30 – Aug 3 | Times: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Grades: rising 3rd – 5th | Fee: $253
SAT Test Prep
This two week SAT program will improve participants understanding and performance in the SAT college entrance test. The group course will be taught by Ricky Rosenberg and will meet two hours a day, during which there will be discussion of format and strategies of the test, followed by practice sections. Then, those sections will be analyzed, and the answers discussed. A full practice test will be administered each week 12pm - 4pm. See the sample schedule for further details.
Register for both an SAT and ACT course and receive a $200 discount.
Ricky Rosenberg, Instructor and co-owner of Test Masters
Test Masters is a nine-year old, locally owned test preparation and tutoring company. We have approximately 25 tutors who work for us. We are used by most of the private and parochial schools in the area. Ricky and Laurie Rosenberg, co-owners, both have extensive backgrounds in teaching and tutoring.
Click here to view a schedule of the course.
Fee: $600 per program | $1000 for both SAT and ACT | See Schedule for Dates/Times
Spanish Language and Culture Immersion: Vamos a Explorar!
Immerse your child in Spanish language and culture through hands-on enrichment activities in the fine arts, in culinary experiments, and interactive games and skits. This experience is designed to help give students an edge in developing their auditory and speaking skills while having fun in a foreign language!
Stephanie Davis, Newman Upper School World Languages Instructor
Stephanie Ensenat Davis is currently the Upper School Spanish IV, VI, AP Spanish Language and Latin American Culture and Civilization teacher at Newman. She was born in Switzerland where she lived for seven years before relocating to Panama where she attended primary and secondary school. Ms. Davis has a Master’s Degree in French from Middlebury College. She taught Vamos a Explorar last summer and is looking forward to another fun, dynamic and intensive week of Spanish this coming summer.
Click here to view a sample course schedule.
Dates: Jul 30 – Aug 3 | Times: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Grades: rising 6th – 9th | Fee: $253
Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture Exploration: Hola Amigos
“Hola Amigos” is a Spanish language course for both beginners and intermediate students who are rising 3rd - 5th grade. This class is intended to awaken the senses to the sounds, sights, and smells of Spanish through music, art projects, and culinary adventures. While moving their bodies and engaging their minds, students will strengthen their ear for the language and build self-confidence in the learning of a second language. “Hola Amigos” is highly recommended for students who either struggle in a language or who have already discovered their passion for Spanish.
Kerry Vallejos, Newman Lower School World Languages Instructor
Kerry Vallejos has been the 3rd - 5th grade Spanish teacher at Newman for the past four years. Prior to working as a Spanish teacher, Kerry was an art teacher in the American School system in Costa Rica for two years and in Mexico for one year. Kerry believes in the ability of every child to speak a second language. She and her husband speak Spanish at home with their daughter.
Click here to view a sample day of Hola Amigos!
Dates: Jul 30 – Aug 3 | Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Grades: rising 3rd – 5th | Fee: $253
Spotlight on Learning
A two week program designed to help students learn to manage their learning in the classroom. This program focuses on developing skills and strategies around organization, time management, and attention. Students will become better aware of their learning needs and learn language to advocate for themselves. In addition, students may begin to regulate their emotions around learning and focus in the classroom.
Sheila Gold, Newman Lower School Guidance Counselor
Sheila Korones Gold is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in New Orleans. She is currently the Lower School counselor at Isidore Newman School. In addition to teaching proactive guidance classes, based on play therapy techniques, Mrs. Gold runs divorce groups and friendship groups with play therapy activities as the cornerstone of the curriculum. Mrs. Gold has developed, and is publishing in 2012, a unique character education curriculum, incorporating play therapy lessons for the elementary aged classroom. Mrs. Gold has also designed a 10-session, play-based course designed to focus on ADHD and executive functioning issues in the classroom. She also serves as a consultant for the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education and advises various independent schools throughout the country on matters of character education and guidance curriculums.
Sarah Clifford, Newman Lower School Learning Specialist
Sarah Clifford is a licensed, highly qualified special education teacher who presently serves as the Learning Specialist for grades three-through-five at the Isidore Newman School. Ms. Clifford has experience working with learners across a wide spectrum of abilities, ages, communities and needs and in this work has been formally trained in many programs designed to help even the most struggling learners. She received her MSEd in Special Education from the City University of New York where she was honored for her thesis research on the behavior of students with special needs. She has worked as a classroom teacher for students with learning disabilities, emotional disabilities and children on the Autism spectrum. Sarah’s interests now focus additionally on the impact of the brain and brain development on the manifestation and presence of learning difficulties and executive malfunctions.
Dates: Jul 30 – Aug 10 | Times: 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | Grades: rising 3rd – 5th | Fee: $600
Questions?
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Find it Quick
- ACT Test Prep
- Algebra IIa
- Algebra IIb
- Dance - Express Yourself!
- Driver’s Education
- Eager Beavers
- Film History (.5 credit earned)
- French Language and Culture Immersion: Allons-y!
- French Language and Francophone Culture Exploration: Bonjour Les Amis
- SAT Test Prep
- Spanish Language and Culture Immersion: Vamos a Explorar!
- Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture Exploration: Hola Amigos
- Spotlight on Learning
