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Schools

Back to School: Cure the Blues with After School Fun

One last look at where to get creative after school.

Yesterday's return to the classroom marked one of the earliest starting dates for New York's school year yet.

If you - or your child - is suffering from a case of the back-to-school-blues, a look at some of these creative after school programs might help. More organized Park Slope parents will likely have already signed the kids up for their favorite activities, but here's a last minute look at a few programs still open for enrollment. Consider this a last call for after-school fun.

For the very little ones, Beansprouts Nursery School at 453 Sixth Avenue is still holding open house tours and accepting enrollment for its trademark Early Bird, After School and weekly programs. All parents wishing to attend the tours must RSVP via the nursery website, or call 718-965-8573 for more info.

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Brooklyn Design Lab is a design-focused arts program designed to encourage the imagination and enhance artistic skills of pre-school and grade school children. After school courses incorporate mediums such as wood, clay and paint, with classes titled Creature Creation, Robots & Aliens, Sensory Lab, Rocks Leaves Feathers, and many others. The Lab is located at 413A 7th Ave between 13/14 streets. Visit the website or call 917-657-7441 for further queries.

Treblemakers offers a range of classes for your little songbird – or rock star – with classes in singing and songwriting, bass, brass and string instruments. Located on the second floor at 436 5th Avenue, Treblemakers helps students develop their musical talent, while teaching practice discipline, technical skills and musical theory. Call 718-369-3260 to learn more about signing up.

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It's no small secret that chess is cool again – it's not just popular among seniors in Central Park, or the geniuses in the school chess club. Besides the cool factor, however, it helps children develop key strategic thinking skills, and is commonly believed to boost students' levels of academic achievement. New York Chess & Games offers daily and weekly class schedules for kids, both for after-school and weekend sessions. Register now for a 30% off rate until Sept. 13th.

Art in the House starts classes Sept. 19th – so register fast for a chance to put color, paints and artistic expression to use with the 2011 after-school program, located in the Old Stone House at Fifth Avenue and 3 rd Street near the JJ Byrne Playground. Classes are held for children aged 7 to 11 years, with classes focusing on paper mache, pop-up cards, watercolor technique, portraiture, fabric collage and much more. As an added bonus, AITH offers free pick up from PS 321.

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