MONDAYS 

-Dungeons and Dragons (all skill levels): Been playing for years or want to start learning? This is a welcoming class for all skill levels of Dungeon & Dragons. Students will be taught how to make characters, what each dice do, teamwork skills and go through adventures with other students! 

-Refuel and Ride: Designed for participants in sports, musical or other events that keep you after school, this club offers a post-school snack and convenient transportation home for those whose activities or practices have concluded. Stay energized and worry-free as you balance academics, extracurriculars and athletics. *Students must check in to A-14 after school, and meet Site Coordinator in the lobby by 4:30pm for Franklin bussing and 4:45pm for Swanton and Highgate bussing.* 

-BTB Drop-In  Mondays: Sign up for Mondays and you can choose from the following drop in classes each week:

Quilting with Ms. Kolk: Get ready for the cold months by learning how to make your very own cozy quilt! Whether you have no idea where to start, or are a seasoned pro, this club is the place for you to learn new skills and make a quilt of your very own to take home!

STEM Fair Prep/Homework Club: Students will receive support and a dedicated space to develop and work on their STEM Fair projects and/or other assignments they need to complete.

Teen Empowerment Advocates (TEA): Formerly known as Youth Council, Teen Empowerment Advocates is a group of MVU students who are dedicated to helping their fellow students and community and working to make it a better place! Whether you have a specific goal in mind, or yearn for more ways to let your voice be heard in your community, join this club and spill the TEA!

Winter Sports & Activities: Students will engage in various winter outdoor activities ranging from snowshoeing, to cross country skiing, and even building winter forts. This program is designed to get students moving even in the colder months.

TUESDAYS

-Refuel and Ride: See Description Above

-BTB Drop-In Tuesdays: Sign up for Tuesdays and you can choose from the following drop in classes each week:

Creative Writing: The Plot Thickens: Join two teen leaders to explore the love of writing! Each day students will meet and create short stories, and various writing exercises. Writer’s block? Don’t worry, we have prompts available!

Quilting with Ms. Kolk: Students will learn the basics of quilting, and will spend the weeks making their own homemade quilt. This cozy, calm program combines the love of crafting, with the creativity of designing your own masterpiece and ending with a finished product to take home and cherish forever. 

Strategy Games/Homework Club: Students will have the options to come in to do homework or partake in real time strategy games like Risk, Catan, Chess, or BattleTech. Students will have fun going head to head to see who can outsmart each other.

Thunderbird Strength and Fitness: Want to build some muscle over the winter? Thunderbird Strength and Fitness does it all! Partake in muscle building activities in the MVU weightroom and get access to all of the fitness equipment to keep that heart pumping.

WEDNESDAYS

-eSports TEAM: (CONTINUED FROM FALL SESSION - RETURNING TEAM ONLY)

-Refuel and Ride: See Description Above

-BTB Drop-In Wednesdays: Sign up for Wednesdays and you can choose from the following drop in classes each week:

Creative Expressions: Join one of our teen leaders to sample various artistic mediums to both discover new talents, and express yourself through the arts!

Get up and Move!: Have a lot of built up energy after a long day of schoolwork? Join us at Get up and Move to burn some of that off! While we don’t have access to the gym, this program will make you move and have fun after school. Think ping pong, Just Dance, hallway hockey, and more!

WEDNESDAYS (continued)

Homework Club: Have a lot of homework and don’t know where to start? Need a quiet place to get through your necessary materials? Join us for homework club! We will have teen leaders and adult staff available to support you in getting your work completed and on those tough problems!

Magic: The Gathering: Students will learn how to play Magic The Gathering and be taught the basics in deck building, game actions, turns and more! This is one of our most action-packed classes! Do you have what it takes to be a planeswalker?

THURSDAYS

-Dungeons & Dragons (Advanced): This is a class for our most advanced players for Dungeons & Dragons. Players who take this class have a fair understanding of the game rules of Dungeons and Dragons. Players will be taken on harder quests that test their knowledge of the game and their trust in their teammates. Please note this specific course of D&D is designed for players who have proven to have foundational knowledge already of the game shown in Fall’s Intro to D&D, and has limited space (10 students). Students will know if they qualify for this particular program by the end of Fall session. This means that not every student may qualify for this program.

-eSports TEAM: (CONTINUED FROM FALL SESSION - RETURNING TEAM ONLY)

-eSports Rocket League @Northwest Access: Students will learn the fundamentals of Rocket League and compete amongst one another and other schools. This is held virtually and in St. Albans at Northwest Access TV,  NOT at MVU. No transportation provided.

-Refuel and Ride: See Description Above

-BTB Drop-In Thursdays: Sign up for Thursdays and you can choose from the following drop in classes each week:

CATALYST: Need help navigating the job market? MVU’s Career Center is your one-stop shop for advice on resumes, cover letters, and college applications. Drop in any day after school to pick up resume templates and local job applications, or stop by Thursdays to ask questions, attend resume building workshops, job application workshops and mock interviews. Once a month we will host guest speakers from various professions to speak with students about their career, and journey to get there. This is a drop in program, no sign up required.

Cooking & Baking Around the World: Learn about cultures and countries around the world through the love of food! Two teen leaders will lead students through a journey around the world through baking and cooking delicious treats!

Homework Club: Have a lot of homework and don’t know where to start? Need a quiet place to get through your necessary materials? Join us for homework club! We will have teen leaders and adult staff available to support you in getting your work completed and on those tough problems!

Movie & Culture Club: Join a Teen Leader for a chill afternoon of watching movies and discussing how they relate to cultures and places around the world!

Thunderbird Strength and Fitness: Get ready to sweat it out, feel the adrenaline, and enjoy an invigorating workout that not only challenges your body but also sharpens your mind. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just beginning your health journey, Thunderbird Strength and Fitness is here to help you reach your full potential. Elevate your strength, expand your fitness knowledge, and experience the thrill of achieving a healthier, stronger you in the MVU Weight Room!

FRIDAYS

Fun Fridays at Beyond the Bell: Students will gather in the Beyond the Bell space for an extra day of relaxed fun! From casual Dungeons and Dragon campaigns, to set art activities each week, this is the space for you! Space is limited- we only have 15 spots available for this program! Please note: While this is at MVU, there is no transportation home on Fridays. Students must be picked up at the front no later than 5:00pm. 

FAQs

• What is drop in? Where is the class I want to sign my student up for? 

  • Drop in style works for many of our classes and gives the opportunity for students to try a variety of programs without being locked into one. For example, a student may have lots of energy one day and want to go to the weight room, but the next week they are tired and would like to join an art class. Please look carefully at class offerings under the drop in class as many classes that we get questions about are there!

• “When/where should my student meet for the bus for refuel and ride?” 

  • Your student should first check in to A-14 after the bell rings at 2:35 to ensure Beyond the Bell staff know they are taking the bus that day. Students should meet BTB staff in the front lobby @ 4:30 for Franklin bussing, and 4:45 at the latest for Swanton and Highgate bussing. 

• Why is Youth Council not listed? 

  • Youth Council has been rebranded and is now Teen Empowerment Advocates (TEA) 

• Why is there no Swanton Recreation or Swanton Library Programs? What do Fridays look like now? 

  • For the remainder of this year, Beyond the Bell is sticking to onsite programming. This means that we will not be offering programs off the MVU campus for the time being. We love our work with our local partners, but this makes sense for our program at this time. Beyond the Bell will be hosting an onsite program on Fridays in the Beyond the Bell space. Families need to arrange their own transportation home from these programs. 

• “Is there transportation to offsite programs?” 

  • We do not offer transportation to offsite programming. 

• “What do I do if my student plays sports and their attendance will be spotty?” 

  • Please reach out to Taylor AlKassir to arrange for alternative scheduling- students no longer need to join a specific class during refuel and ride, and can have free time in A-14 until their practice/ class. 

• “Why are there only 10 spots for Advanced D&D?”

  • This section of D&D is an advanced class, meaning that all students accepted must be proficient in D&D and have the foundational skills to play through the game. The small class size allows players to be able to focus on the story line. There is a larger section of D&D for all skill levels available on Mondays. 

• “I have more questions or concerns, who do I contact?” 

  • You can reach out to Beyond the Bell’s Site Coordinator, Taylor AlKassir @mvu.afterschool@mvsdschools.org or call 802-868-0507. 

  • Taylor AlKassir will be going out on Maternity Leave around early-mid January. You will receive a ParentSquare notification of this change, and given contact information for the Interim Site Coordinator until she returns this spring.