This list is intended to give everyone an idea of what's coming next term! Classes are entered in the order they're received. The board will try to balance what is proposed across the periods. Being on this list doesn't indicate board approval, final approval of classes will happen after the proposals due date. If you see a need, please propose something or talk to friends about filling in the gap!
Fall 2026
| Class Name | Description | Ages | Teacher |
| All About Birds | We will learn about local and exotic birds through toys, books, and other activities. | 4 - 5 and 6 - 9 | Colleen Wedler and Kristen Tavenor |
| Board Games | We will play a variety of board games, everything from Mancala to Pass the Pigs to Chess. Kids are encouraged to bring games from home, but I will provide many games each week. | 6 - 9 | Colleen Wedler |
| I Love Jan Brett! | Each week we will read a picture book or two by Jan Brett and do a corresponding activity. Yes, there will be crafts, possibly some games, and of course lots of fun. | 4 - 5 | Kirstin Swenson |
| Let’s Learn Letters | Every week we will learn a new letter. We’ll do a letter craft, read some stories, and do a fun activity. Letters will be chosen based on kids’ names and the letters’ frequency in the English language. Students will be asked to bring an item from home to every class that starts with the letter of the week. | 4 - 5 | Kirstin Swenson |
| Let's get Moving! | We will get our bodies moving through song & dance, exercise, games, playing musical instruments, running obstacle courses, having scavenger hunts, & more! | 4 - 5 | Kirstin Swenson |
| Art Quilts | An art quilt is a quilted piece that is meant to hang on the wall. But first we get to do the magic of creating the top which, since it isn’t going to be washed, can be anything. In this class you will learn hand quilting. But you might also use machine piecing, printmaking, dyeing, embroidery, pencils, fabric pens, appliqué, reverse appliqué, oil pastels, and anything else that can make a mark on fabric. Please note that most of this class will be mixed media and hand sewing. Folks who sign up should know how to thread a needle and hand sew stitches. | 11 - 18 | Cosette Cornelius-Bates, Melissa Jennings |
| Craftivism and Patch Making | Do you like crafting? Are you interested in ways that artists use their art/craft as a form of political and social engagement? In this class we will explore Craftivism while also engaging in our own version. We will have materials to make printed, painted, or stitched patches but we are also open to other forms of craftivism if folks feel so inclined. | 11 - 18 | Cosette Cornelius-Bates, Mary Crago |
| Graphic novel/Comic/Manga club | Quiet club for reading and sharing about all the manga, comics and graphic novels you already love as well as get introduced to new books and styles of writing. Lotte and Sarah will bring in new books and you can bring in ones of your own. This will be a space to read silently, discuss in small groups, or share favorite books with the class. | 9 - 14 | Lotte Bell and Sarah Fawaz |
| Clay All Day | Build clay creations, paint and varnish. Mary and Sarah will provide ideas for each clay building day. | 8 - 12 | Mary Crago and Sarah Fawaz |
| Fun Science | This class is a hands on beginners science class with books, movement and lots of play. Introduction to key science ideas like weather and earth science using fun and imagination.We will use books, dancing videos and imaginative play. | 4 - 5 | Rae Garcia, Jess Pederson |
| In The Neighborhood: Helpers | Our neighborhood is full of helpers - people and organizations that work to improve the well-being of our community. In this class, we'll learn about the neighborhood where PALS located, and we'll learn about the work of various non-profits that are located in Wilkinsburg. We'll take walks to explore the neighborhood, and to visit some of the non-profit organizations. We hope to have a few visitors from organizations that we can't walk to, and we hope to complete a service project as well. Students should be prepared to walk up to 1.5 miles around the neighborhood, and should plan to come to class prepared to go outdoors. | 8 - 11 | Jaime Horst |
| Acting Study | This is a class that is 100% participation. Those in the Pals play are welcome to sign up for this class to practice their lines and get some advice on their acting choices and styles. Participation in the play is not a requirement however! We will be focusing each week on studying scenes and monologues and practicing with each other. The focus of the semester will be on being brave, trying new things, and portraying emotions "on stage." No experience necessary. | 11 - 18 | Abby Kuftic |
| Creative Studio Collective | Teens gather in a collaborative studio environment to work on self-directed art projects. The focus is on independence, creative risk-taking, and peer inspiration. Adults are present as mentors—offering suggestions, technical tips, or problem-solving support—but the direction and pace are led by each student. | 13 - 18 | Jess Pedersen, Rae Garcia |
| Dress Up! and Skits | Style: Tactile and Free! Requirements: Be you! | 5 - 10 | Brooke LaGrand |
| Understanding Crime | What is a crime? Is it always just something against the law? Who decides those laws? Who benefits and who is hurt by these ideas? Come discuss the criminal justice system and its effects on you and your community. | 14 - 18 | Michael Fawaz |
| Basic Home Repair | Learn the methods behind a variety of simple home repairs, as well as identifying the correct tools and materials for a given job. The class may include measuring, drywalling, picture hanging, unclogging a drain, wall painting, wiring an outlet, and more. Come prepared to get your hands dirty, as each student will have an ongoing project to practice new skills on. Part of the class fee is for starter hand tool sets, which will be each student’s to keep at the end of the semester. (Please be aware that students will be working with tools, which includes a risk of injury if not paying attention.) | 13 - 18 | Becky Spevak |
| Kinusaiga Workshop | Kinusaiga is a contemporary Japanese textile craft that was originally developed as a creative method for recycling silk from old kimonos. Sometimes called "silk painting," this low-stakes handcraft is easy to learn, highly adaptable, and endlessly customizable. Kinusaiga does not involve any sewing or messy materials, and there is no prior knowledge or experience necessary to learn. Students will learn basic techniques, then will work on their own self-directed projects throughout the semester. | 11 - 18 | Allison Johnson and Abby Kuftic |
| Climate Justice Book Club | Is the world stressing you out? Me too. In this class we will read the book ‘How to Change Everything: The Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other’ by Naomi Klein. Join us for compelling conversation of how we got here and where we can go from where we are right now. There will be reading outside of class. | 11 - 18 | Cosette Cornelius-Bates |
| Bodies are Amazing | Using the Wearable Anatomy templates, we will explore the parts of the human body. We will read stories, do activities to explore things like hearing or measuring our heart rate, and create the wearable models of various body parts to demonstrate our knowledge of body systems. We will be using scissors and glue in this class. Families let us know if your child needs any accommodations. | 6 - 9 | Katy Frey |
| Two Shakespearean Comedies | Two comedies, both alike in dignity, in the fair Mediterranean where we lay our scene. We'll first visit Verona for The Taming of the Shrew, and then a remote island for The Tempest. Plan to read mostly in class, and occasionally at home, and to discuss in class. We are known to use props for reading in class when we can get our hands on them. | 13 - 18 | Jessica Rudmin and Allison Johnson |
| Gothic Short Fiction | Delve into classic works by some of the most famous masters of macabre. In this reader-response class, we will learn about the genre and read and discuss short stories by famous Gothic-style writers, including Poe, Hawthorne, Faulkner, Irving, and more. | 13 - 18 | Allison Johnson and Jessica Rudmin |
| Papercrafting Fun | Papercrafting will be a fun exploration of creating beautiful art from a very ordinary material! Projects may include decoupage, folded paper art, quilling, and collage. Students should be comfortable working with scissors and sharp tools. | 9 - 18 | Jaime Horst & Melissa Jennings |
| Chess Club | Do you like playing chess? Are you curious about chess? Then come join your friends for some friendly games of chess. No prior knowledge is required | 7 - 14 | Noel Medici |
| Mud pies to masterpieces | Do you love getting your hands dirty by playing in the mud? Don’t mind working with squishy squashy materials? Then welcome to our class with clay! We will be working on a new or existing project each week using a variety of air dry clays, tools, and extra fun bits! Be prepared to elevate your mud pie techniques to look like masterpieces to display at your home. | 6 - 9 | Jessica Kane-McMurray and Kristen Tavenor |
| Fall & Winter STEM challenges | Ready to build a mini pumpkin catapult, or engineer a mini hurricane proof house? Well, then this is the class for you! We will explore books (picture books and nonfiction texts) and then apply that theme to a challenge that will be completed in 40 minutes. One new challenge each week. | 6 - 9 | Jessica Kane-McMurray and Kristen Tavenor |
| PE for elementary kids | Let’s get moving and playing together in a gym class with fall and winter themes. From pumpkin bowling, stuff the turkey relay, to reindeer games…there will be plenty to keep you moving, laughing and having fun with friends. | 6 - 9 | Jessica Kane-McMurray |
| Anatomy and Dissection | We will be learning about the anatomy, biology, and histology of the heart, kidney, eye, and brain. We will then be dissecting each of these organs for hands on learning and deeper understanding. Apologies for the high class fee due to the price of the dissection kits. | 13 - 18 | Megan Tarchichi |
| Debate | A dynamic debate class that builds critical thinking, persuasive speaking, and respectful argument skills. Students will learn to analyze issues, construct strong arguments, and confidently defend their ideas. | 12 - 18 | Ben Meyers |
| PALS Play | The PALS Play is back! This class is for anyone interested in being in a full-length production (approximately 60 minutes): from those who love to be center stage to new actors who just want to try out a small part. | 10 - 18 | Holly Schnur, Abby Kuftic |
| Cozy Creative Writing | This class will be a chance each week to get cozy with with a warm drink and creative writing time. We will spend the first 10 minutes each week doing a game or activity to get the creative sparks flying, and then you will have time to write whatever you are excited about: a short story, a novel, a screenplay, poetry, etc. either individually or with others. If you are not sure what to write, optional prompts will be provided. This will be a supportive environment where you can share what you are working on, but only if you want. Feel free to bring whatever you prefer to use to write to class: a journal, notebook, laptop, or tablet. | 12 - 18 | Holly Schnur |