2-4-6-8… Cheer is Great!  

Area of Interest:  Physical Education, Team Building

This is a beginner's course into the wonderful world of cheer! Each scholar will learn how to perform cheers, some choreography to instill into a cheer routine and basic tumbling skills and jump sequences. We could possibly learn basic stunts also! We will have a great time and enjoy the sport of cheerleading! ​

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Activate Outdoors  

Area of Interest:  Physical Education

Do you enjoy being outside and being active?  If so, this is the course for you! We will begin our day by running laps as a warm-up.  Then, we will operate two separate fields of soccer and kickball.  Some days we may all play kickball, some days we may all play soccer, but most days you can choose which one you want to play. Water coolers will be available and frequent breaks will be encouraged in the heat.  Please bring another shirt to change into and/or deodorant for when our class is over.  Let's get healthy, have some fun, and ACTIVATE OUTDOORS!

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​Business Academy

Area of Interest:  Strategy, Problem Solving, Digital Design, Entrepreneurship - (Grades 4, 5, and 6)
Learn how to start your own small business from scratch! This course is designed to mentor, support, and equip scholars with the necessary success skills to set them on the path of becoming our future entrepreneurs. Scholars will learn what it takes to succeed in our global economy, equip them with the success skills they need, and set them in the right direction for understanding entrepreneurship at a young age… oh and did we mention it's fun?!  Computer skills are highly recommended.
NOTE: For a few assigned days scholars will need to bring an electronic device (iPad or cell phone) for promotional video filming.

 

Cocoa Motion

Area of Interest: Food, Team Building

Sweeten your day with Cocoa Motion! Get ready to have some delicious fun with chocolate! Take a virtual tour of a Chocolate Factory, explore the ancient world to see how they discovered chocolate, build a chocolate sculpture, explore baking science, and more! Your taste buds will thank you for this unforgettable experience!
ALLERGY WARNING: This course involves handling and consuming food. Scholars with dietary restrictions or allergies should not select this course.

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Creative Streak
Area of Interest: Fine Arts

Have you made art with yarn?  Come join the fun in Creative StreakI!  We will be using our art and crafting talent to create wonderful take home projects.  You’ll be amazed at the art you can creat with yarn..  So, get ready to get your creative streak going!

Cultural Fusion Fiesta
Area of Interest: Performing Arts, History
Experience a vibrant celebration of global traditions through music, dance, food, and art.  Engage in hands-on activities, savor authentic flavors, and connect with diverse cultures. Join us for an unforgettable journey of cultural fusion and festivity.

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Dance Through the Decades

Area of Interest: Performing Arts, Physical Education

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to dance your way through the decades! We’ll explore pop culture and fads through time and learn all the popular dance styles. So let’s hop aboard our time machine and bust a move as we dance through the decades.

 

Draw Your Perspective

Area of Interest: Art

Bring your drawing to life using pencil, colored pencil, or charcoal instead of paint. learn how to use positive and negative space, shading, hatching and cross hatching. These techniques will help to improve the way you approach every art piece in the future.

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DECATS Detectives: Focus on Forensics

Area of Interest: Science, Problem Solving

 

Did you ever wonder how detectives collect and analyze evidence to solve crimes and mysteries? In DECATS Detectives: Focus on Forensics we will explore procedures and processes for finding, collecting and analyzing physical evidence such as fingerprints, hair and cloth fibers, footprints and more! We will also be examining eye-witness statements to verify their accuracy. Scholars will use the forensic evidence they collect to include or exclude suspects in our own mini mysteries. One thing is for certain, Scholars will learn to look beyond their assumptions to see if the physical evidence supports their hypothesis!

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Follow Your Art
Area of Interest: Art (Grades 5 and 6)

Learn how to bring your art to a new level of expression. Paint two-dimensional visuals that express elements of colors, tones, lines, and textures. You will produce a piece of artwork that shows volume, space, movement, and light on canvas.  Let your art shine through water color and acrylic paint.

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Extreme Journeys

Area of Interest: Social Studies and History

Are you interested in perilous adventures?  Does the idea of discovering new continents, climbing Mt. Everest, or soaring into space excite you? Come explore humankind’s most exciting achievements!  Choose historical adventures that excite your curiosity and retrace a hero’s footsteps.  Map out and design future daring adventures of your own, too.  From Ponce de Leon to Neil Armstrong, we’ll span the best that exploration has to offer!

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Follow Your Art
Area of Interest: Art - (Grades 5 and 6)

Learn how to bring your art to a new level of expression. Paint two-dimensional visuals that express elements of colors, tones, lines, and textures. You will produce a piece of artwork that shows volume, space, movement, and light on canvas.
 

Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead 

Area of Interest: Problem-Solving, Team Building - (Grades 5 and 6)

Are you ready to take the helm of your four C’s? That’s Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking. In this course, teams of 
students will compete to build contraptions, machines, devices, tools, gadgets, and gizmos. Each day, a task will be put forth.  Teams will create and complete using set parameters and materials. Which inventions will meet the challenge? Timid thinkers need not apply!

Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul

Area of Interest: Physical Education

Let’s get our minds, bodies, and souls active in this fun, free-spirited class! In this course, kids will learn beginner yoga poses that challenge individuals both physically and mentally. Incorporate good strength training and yoga to benefit your body and mind while practicing Catholic meditation. We recommend you to bring in your own yoga mat. 

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Hogwarts Academy

Area of Interest: Literature  - (Grades 4, 5 and 6)

Calling all Muggles who are certain their Hogwarts Letter got lost in the mail! This is your chance to enroll in Hogwarts Academy. We will polish up our potions knowledge, and test our wizardly knowledge to earn the House Cup! Attend Herbology, Astronomy, Transfigurations & more this summer through DECATS!

Human Habitat Dimensions

Area of Interest:  Fine Arts

Learn about indoor/outdoor living environments in a hands-on creative method. Establish a living style, create a floor plan, select colors, fabrics, and furniture to decorate your own human habitat! Scholars will learn to draw to scale and build a mini-model.

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In Our Poetry Era
Area of Interest Writing, Music  

Do you enjoy modern music? Do you enjoy seeking out the meaning of music & what the artist is trying to tell you? Then join us In Our Poetry Era! We will analyze modern songs & artists, and work to write our own songs! We will discover the miles of figurative language that artists use & analyze their meaning. You will leave this course with a binder full of inspiration!  ​

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It’s Beginning to Look  a lot Like Christmas

Area of Interest:  History and Fine Arts

Get ready to dive into the enchanting world of Christmas traditions. Join us on an adventure exploring the tales of St. Nicholas, the legendary toymaker.  Ever wonder about the origin of hanging stockings or Santa's chimney exploits?  Curious about the history behind Santa's red suit? And what about holly and mistletoe?  The fun doesn't stop there... get your creative juices flowing  as we craft Christmas ornaments, pop-up cards, and Christmas treats with finesse!  Dive into art as we master the art of drawing cardinals, make an elf trap, and create Christmas tree corner bookmarks, and much more.  Join as we celebrate the magic of Christmas, unravel the traditions and create cherished memories.​

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I’ve Got Your Number

Area of Interest: Math, Problem Solving - (Grades 3, 4, and 5)

I’ve Got Your Number is the ultimate course tailored to math enthusiasts who thrive on game-based learning.  Dive into a summer of mathematical exploration where dice games, cards, board games like Beat the Teach, Don’t Go Low, Farkle, Genius Square, MasterMind, Mancala, and Dara, along with logic puzzles and engaging art projects, await. Challenge yourself to keep your math skills sharp while having a blast with strategic gameplay, problem-solving challenges, creative art projects, and mind-bending puzzles. Join us for an unforgettable journey where numbers meet fun, logic reigns supreme, creativity flourishes, and learning is as enjoyable as it is rewarding!

 

I Will Survive

Area of Interest: Naturalist, Outdoors 

In this course scholars will explore the outdoors and learn the skills to survive! Scholars will learn how to use a compass and hunt treasures, use a bow drill to make ambers for fire, learn to  fish, first aid skills from EMTs, and how soldiers survive in the wild. We’ll also learn about dangerous snakes and spiders in Texas and how to be prepared when  camping and hiking.  If you love the great outdoors, this is the course for you! 

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LEGOmania!

Area of Interest: Team Building. Problem-Solving 

Are you a Lego maniac? Do you like to have fun designing different structures with legos and participating in challenges? If so…this is the course for you! Build a marble maze…create a Lego zoo, participate in a Lego boat race and so much more! For creative minds, everything is awesome in LEGOmania!

 

Let’s Put on a Show!

Area of Interest: Performing Arts, Team Building

Lights, Camera, Action! Do you love to be on stage? Do you sing and dance throughout your day? Is acting your “scene”? Then, let’s put on a show! You will learn to perfect your craft and sharpen your talents while learning how to put a show together and perform for an audience. By using our talents, we will create a show stopping musical revue! Scholars MUST be present for the entire session of DECATS - We perform at the end of DECATS.

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Maker Mania!

Area of Interest: Technology, Fine Arts

In Maker Mania! scholars will participate in hands-on activities to integrate technology and crafting!  Scholars will have the chance to experiment with electricity by building paper and wearable circuits.  They’ll also have the opportunity to participate in design challenges!

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Marble Madness

Area of Interest:  Engineering, Critical Thinking  (Grades 3, 4, and 5) 

Roller coasters!  Race tracks!  Mazes!  In Marble Madness scholars will embark on an exciting journey exploring physics, engineering, and creativity through the world of marbles! Scholars will learn about concepts such as gravity, motion, and momentum while designing and constructing a variety of elaborate marble runs and mazes using various materials. Through hands-on activities, teamwork, and problem solving challenges, they will enhance their critical thinking skills and learn to collaborate all while having fun!

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Mission Possible
Area of Interest: Physical Education, Fitness, Nutrition

 Would you like to improve your coordination, strengthen your core, learn fun and unique exercises?  Then let’s make your mission possible! The greatest wealth you’ll ever get is our health.  Treat yourself to a fitness experience and see the positive difference.  We will set personal goals to achieve good physical and mental health.  Declutter your mind of all negative thoughts and embrace a journey filled with joy and positivity. Ultimately, you will discover a more mentally and physically stronger version of yourself. 

 

Once Upon a S.T.E.M. 

Area of Interest: Logic, Problem-Solving, Strategy, Team Building - Grades 3 and 4 Only

Can you build a parachute for Jack to escape the Giant?  Or design a zip line for Little Red Riding Hood to bypass the wolf on the way to Grandma’s house?  Use everyday objects to challenge yourself to complete the Science Technology Engineering Math tasks and rescue your favorite fairy tale characters!

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Play-Write!

Area of Interest: Fine Arts, Language, Team Building

Do you like to write stories?  Do you often create characters and act them out with your friends?  Well, here is your chance to learn how to write plays, monologues, dialogues with characters and stories you create yourself!  We will learn how to write comedies, mysteries, and dramas, etc. We will also be writing scenes for the Let’s Put on a Show course musical, so we will get to see our writing works performed!  So if you like creative writing with interesting characters, it’s your turn to Play-Write!

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The Pollinator Project: Birds, Bats, Bees, and More - (Grades 3 and 4)
Area of Interest: Science

Did you know that one out of every three bites of food is made possible by the pollination of plants by birds, bats, bees and other insects? The Pollinator Project will be examining the reality of these friends of the environment. Questions about bat echolocation, how a bee sees, why there are so many colors of honey, and how specific anatomy of birds can aid in their survival are just a few of the topics we will be examining. Scholars will learn physical and behavioral adaptations, life cycles, and how we can help to preserve the habitat of pollinators. Pollinator support projects will be built including a bat hotel, a bee drinking fountain, and a hummingbird feeder. Scholars will also explore other ways to attract and support pollinators in our neighborhoods.

ALLERGY WARNING: Scholars can also sample foods (fruits, vegetables, and honey) typically pollinated by native birds, bats and bees.

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​​Robotics 

Area of Interest: Technology and Problem Solving

Have you ever wanted to build and code a robot? If so, this course is for you!!! This course is an introduction to building and programming robots using LEGO SPIKE Prime. In pairs, scholars will use Lego bricks to build mini-figures then program the mini-figures to do tasks such as picking up objects, driving, break dancing, and playing mini golf. Scholars will practice construction and programming using distance, force, and color sensors and motors. This course is good practice for scholars interested in STEM and robotics competitions.

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Science Secrets 

Area of Interest: Science  - Grades 3 and 4

If you like to discover things for yourself, then this is the course for you!  WARNING: It might be messy and even explosive!!  You’ll have a great time exploring many sciences including physics, chemistry, earth science, and botany.  We’ll make super bouncy balls and really cool hovercrafts!  You’ll even be able to eat an experiment or two...yum!!

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Sew What?

Area of Interest: Fine Arts

Do you love creating something from nothing? Do you want to learn the basics of sewing; both with a machine & hand sewing? Curious about how fabric is made? Join us in Sew What! We are going to master sewing in a straight line by making a pillow case with coordinating fabrics! We will create a DECATS pillow using pre-cut fabrics & if time allows, a new pencil case for school including learning how to add on a zipper!

Siege Warfare 

Area of Interest: Logic, Strategy

History and science combine in the study of the weapons and defenses of castle and siege warfare. Use your knowledge to build model castles and weaponry and participate in an all out battle between attackers and defenders to see which technology will triumph!  You will study the physics of weaponry to build model catapults, trebuchets, crossbows and more! Three teams will be established from the group of scholars to build catapults, battering rams, and an impenetrable castle. Will your team win the war? This is a challenging course that requires attention to detail and patience. Task commitment is a must. 

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​Space-ology!

Area of Interest: Logic, Science -  Grades 4, 5 and 6

In Spaceology, scholars will explore the parts of a rocket that make it fly high!  Learn about wing and nose cone design and the forces that propel a rocket up.  Finally, design, build, and launch a water rocket.  

Sportsapalooza

Area of Interest: Physical Education, Team Building

Ever wish gym class could be every day?  Well, you’re in luck! Join your friends and fellow scholars playing some of the most fun games you play in gym class. From relay races to matball, spend an hour being active and having fun!

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Strategy Masters

Area of Interest: Strategy, Logic, Problem Solving

Strategy Masters is a fun and exciting course where strategy is the key to winning! In this course, you will dive into a variety of games-from board games to team challenges and learn how to think critically, plan ahead, and outsmart your opponents.  Whether you're into classic games or new favorites, each day will test your decision-making skills, and encourage creative problem solving.  Get ready to have a blast playing games while sharpening your strategic mind!

St. Joseph’s Carpenters

Area of Interest: Fine Arts, Team Building - Grades 4, 5 and 6

Houses, furniture, fences, decks, sheds, and benches… What do all these things have in common? WOOD! Working with wood is something that people have been doing for centuries. Have you ever wanted to build something on your own, using your hands and your imagination? Woodworking is the perfect place to explore that curiosity! This unique course will drive you to understand the materials, tools, safety, prep work, labor, and final touches that make each piece special and different! Come experience this
one-of-a-kind course!

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Super Slime 

Area of Interest: Science - Grades 3 and 4

If it fizzes, oozes, or globs, it is on the menu.  Make “gastric foam, milk maggots and monster snot” and then devise some clever ideas to amuse and amaze your friends. We even make slime on Fridays!! Calling all Mad Scientists!!

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Take Your Best Shot

Area of Interest: Photography

Do you have a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) camera that you’ve wanted to learn how to use? Well then, this course is for you! We’ll take a deep dive into the world of digital photography! We’ll cover the basics starting with how to use a DSLR camera, to how to compose pictures focusing on aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Learn about taking portraits, action shots, the rule of thirds; and, throughout our three weeks together, your photo may even end up in the DECATS newsletter!
Note: Scholars must provide their own DSLR camera and must bring it to campus every day. (No cameras will be provided). Cameras will be stored safely in the classroom and taken home at the end of each day. 

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Tinkercad

Area of Interest: Technology - Grades 5 and 6

Tinkercad is an easy-to-use tool for creating digital designs that are ready to be 3D printed into super-cool physical objects.  You will be guided through the 3D design process via hands-on lessons that teach you the basics of Tinkercad.   Strong computer skills are highly recommended.

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The Cutting Edge - Beginner

Area of Interest: Biology, Science - Grades 3 and 4

How does an earthworm breathe?  Does a crawfish have a brain?  Take this course and you could find out!  In this course, scholars will be introduced to dissections through applying anatomical vocabulary and use of dissection tools to carefully survey organisms that are part of the animal kingdom.  The Cutting Edge Beginners is open to 3rd and 4th grade scholars and will be a great way to “get your feet wet” in the exciting world of dissection!
ALLERGY WARNING: This course includes dissection and is best for scholars with strong stomachs. It also involves exposure to specimen preservatives.

The Cutting Edge - Intermediate 

Area of Interest: Biology, Science - Grades 5 and 6

What does a heart actually look like?  Now is your chance to investigate animals in a hands-on dissection course!  In this course, scholars will be introduced to dissections through applying anatomical vocabulary and use of dissection tools to carefully survey organisms that are part of the animal kingdom.  The Cutting Edge Intermediate is open to 5th and 6th grade scholars.
ALLERGY WARNING: This course includes dissection and is best for scholars with strong stomachs. It also involves exposure to specimen preservatives.

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The Game of Life 

Area of Interest: Finance, Problem Solving

"The Game of Life"  is a fun, engaging course designed to teach scholars the basics of managing money. From understanding the value of saving and budgeting to learning how to make smart choices with spending, this course helps scholars develop a solid foundation in personal finance. Through interactive activities, real-life examples, and easy-to-understand lessons, scholars will gain the skills they need to build healthy financial habits that will last a lifetime. This course empowers kids to take control of their financial future! 

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Walk Like an Egyptian
Area of Interest: Fine Arts, History, Geography

Travel through the history of Egypt and learn of similar exciting traits that include the notable gods and goddesses, grand sculptures, unique art, interesting cultural facts, tasteful foods, and historical contributions. Come explore with me in this alluring ancient world with King Tut and friends!
ALLERGY WARNING:  This course involves the handling and consuming of foods. Scholars with dietary restrictions or allergies should select this course with caution. (Last day only)

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What’s Cooking DECATS?

(formerly Iron Chef) 

Area of Interest: Food, Strategy, Team Building

Are you ready for a cook off challenge? The kitchen will be filled with opponents ready for battle as they face off to score the highest points in taste, presentation, and originality. Scholars will learn kitchen basics, including safety, food cleanliness, the art of spices, and recipe studies. Team players with a strong stomach, wild imagination, and a healthy appetite for friendly competition should apply.
ALLERGY WARNING:  This course involves handling and consuming food. Scholars with dietary restrictions or allergies should not select this course.

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What’s the Scoop?

Area of Interest: Writing, Journalism - (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

Calling all journalists, interviewers, reporters, and artists.  We will create two issues of a “yet-to-be” named  (by you!)  DECATS newsletter!  Interviewing, writing, editing, layouts, and creativity are just some of the skills we will be practicing and perfecting!  Get ready, set, publish!