Fall 2025: Why WCDC’s Afterschool & Saturday Enrichment Is the Best Choice for K–5 Families in Westchester

At Westchester Child Development Center (WCDC) we design learning that matters. For Fall 2025 we’ve updated our handbook with several new offerings built around Project-Based Learning (PBL) and the IB mindset: an afterschool membership program starting at $199, a new Monday K–5 Spanish immersion class, Saturday coding tracks (Scratch & Python), expanded LEGO Explorer hours (now including Saturday afternoons with Anik), and brand-new writing, public speaking and debate classes taught by Mr. Lawrence. These additions close common gaps left by typical elementary programs and give kids real-world practice in communication, creativity and computational thinking.

New & Updated Programs — quick overview

1) Afterschool Membership Program — starting at $199

Flexible membership tiers give priority registration, discounted tuition on select workshops, and early access to holiday camps. Membership is designed for families who want an integrated afterschool plan with predictable costs and added perks.

2) Monday Afterschool — K–5 Spanish (Immersive, PBL-driven)

A full hour of weekly Spanish (3:30–4:30 PM) focused on conversational fluency, culture, and collaborative projects—far beyond the 20–40 minute vocabulary lessons typical in school. Students make projects such as a class recipe book, cultural fairs, and bilingual presentations.

3) Saturday: Writing, Public Speaking & Debate — led by Mr. LawrenceNew

Saturday tracks emphasize rhetorical structure, confidence on stage, and argumentation skills. Mr. Lawrence brings theatre and storytelling expertise to help children organize ideas, practice delivery, and perform—skills that improve grades and social confidence.

4) LEGO Explorer — added Saturday afternoon (2:30–4:00 PM) with Anik

LEGO Explorer now runs in additional time slots (in addition to Wednesday and Saturday morning). The Saturday afternoon class gives more families convenient access to hands-on STEAM challenges—building engineering intuition through iterative design.

5) Saturday Coding — Scratch (K–G3) & Python (G3+)

Two parallel coding tracks let younger students build logic and creativity with Scratch while older students transition into text-based Python projects. Both are project-based: games, interactive stories, and working mini-apps.

What makes WCDC different from school-based enrichment?

• PBL + IB approach: Our lessons center around meaningful projects—students use language, code, and design to create tangible outcomes (videos, prototypes, presentations), not just worksheets.

• Small classes, individualized growth: Max 8 students per class ensures teachers can scaffold, give targeted feedback, and track progress.

• Native / specialist instructors: Language immersion and specialist-led classes (coding, STEAM, and debate) accelerate real skill development compared with low-frequency school offerings.

• Continuity across formats: Afterschool, Saturday enrichment, day camps and summer camps share learning objectives so skills compound across the year.

Reserve your spot online: bit.ly/2025fallsignup or email admissions@nywcdc.com.

Call for questions or same-day assistance: 914-829-2694.