The Program
Childhood is an adventure. It is when young people discover who they are and what matters to them.
Akiba’s Discovery program helps children explore their interests, talents and skills with best-in-class specialists in Athletics, Language & Learning, and Fine Arts.
Discovery enables children from pre-school through 8th grade to progressively develop skills year after year. Our qualified instructors foster good sportsmanship and develop self-confidence.
Our goal is to guide students as they tap into and develop their talents while enjoying the journey through Akiba’s Discovery program.
The Coordinator
 Shari Handler is the coordinator of the Akiba Discovery Program. She brings extensive experience in children’s programming including musical theater, Judaics and enrichment activities. Although Shari is a lawyer by profession, her diverse background includes running her law practice, writing novels, teaching Hebrew school, directing drama classes, musical theatre and dancing ballet for many years. Above all, a common theme that drives most of her work is her passion for child development and fostering kind, happy kids with high self-esteem, self-confidence and belief in their own capabilities.
Shari Handler,
Program Coordinator
shandler@akibaacademy.org
 Athletics
 Akiba Academy is committed to providing a quality athletic experience to our students. Our goal is to impart excellent skills and the positive lessons of sportsmanship: respect for one’s opponent, consideration of the rules, and the ability to win and lose with grace. Our athletes learn perseverance, self-discipline, team building and respect.
Beginning in Clinics, sports skills are built in a progressive manner, while children learn positive team and competitive behavior. The program culminates in our Middle School Athletics, where students compete against other top Dallas private schools.
 Clinics: Clinics, grades K-2, rotate through soccer and basketball. Clinics is built around fun game drills and scrimmages. Students learn basic skills along with game rules and playing techniques.
Jr. Leaguers:
Jr. Leaguers, grades 3-4, rotate through soccer and basketball. Building on Clinics, this class teaches broader, deeper skills through game drills and expanded knowledge of rules and techniques. Jr. Leaguers also introduces children to athletic competition by positively and carefully guiding each child through the competitive process in several intermural games.
 Fitness Club:
Fitness Club uses drills and games to keep students active and moving. The focus is on balance, motor skills, movement and rhythm, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and instilling a love of being active and fit.
Middle School Athletics: Middle School Athletics offers students the opportunity to participate at a competitive level. Boys play soccer while girls play
volleyball. Basketball and Track are open to all students.
 Language & Learning
Preparing to live in our global community begins with appreciating the languages of others and grappling with new ideas and ways of seeing the world. Our
Language & Learning department provides opportunities to virtually backpack through Latin America, become skilled at origami, dive into biblical oceans and much, much more.
Spanish: Our Spanish instructor teaches and engages children to expand their language and cultural experience by combining Spanish language and culture into the curriculum. Lessons incorporate art, poetry, drama, games and music. Grab your passport and take a trip through South America.
Mandarin: Our Mandarin program uses interactive instruction with relaxed conversation, lively, age-appropriate dancing, singing and creative activities.
 Mishmar: The Torah comes to life in Mishmar, grades 1 and 3, through stories, singing and illuminating debates. Discussions include topical subjects as well as the parsha of the week.
Preschool Enrichment: In addition to On Pointe Ballet, Petite Picasso’s Viual Arts and From Mother Goose to Fairy Land Theatre Troupe, after hour preschoolers may participate in Hands-on-Materials where they experiment with fabrics, clay, pipecleaners and more; Little Olympians who develop sports skills and Crazy Fridays! spent in science, cooking, literature, games, photography and more.
 Fine Arts
Our Fine Arts Department offers a comprehensive visual and performing arts program. Through interdisciplinary activities each specialty comes together to support the others. Among other performance opportunities, all programs in the Fine Arts Department participate in the end-of-year BLOOM Fine Arts Festival.
Visual Arts:Children experience a variety of artistic media through drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, crafts and photography in our state-of-the-art studio. Each project focuses on teaching a particular technique such as line, curve,
perspective and color. Art history and artistic styles are interwoven through projects as students work in two and three dimensions. Children have an opportunity to exhibit their pieces throughout the year.
 Theatre Troupe: In Discovery’s Theatre Troupe, children work with Dallas
Children’s Theatre to explore their skills in movement, vocal technique, creative and dramatic games, script writing, performance, technical theatre and costume and set design.
Choir:  Participating in the Discovery choir develops basic musical and performance skills using voice and instruments, including developing an appreciation of music through advanced choral techniques. Children have many performance opportunities throughout the year.
Instruments: Beginning in 4th grade, students participate in Discovery’s Instruments program. Using recorders and bells, students learn the fundamentals of reading music, tempo, syncopation, theory and performance.
During band, middle school students expand their knowledge of music during club time. Students have the option to choose their instrument from flute,
clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, bass guitar and drums.
Ballet: Students are trained in traditional ballet techniques and styles. Emphasis is placed on method and execution of movement, with the foundation consisting of the five basic positions, with turnout. Children perform throughout the year.
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