Junior Mastery

Around Our Table – Ana Vizoso and Veronica Castillo

Students in this mastery will be learning different aspects “around the table”.  As chefs, they will learn their way around the kitchen, preparing kid-friendly recipes and learning the importance of a balanced, nutritious and healthy diet. In addition to cooking, our students will also learn tips and tricks on planning an event. From invites to guest lists, table set up and more, we will be incorporating event planning into our mastery. Lastly, students will be introduced to basic table etiquette. We will learn what’s appropriate and what is not and so much more.  

Requirements: Students must be able to listen and follow directions, work in teams, enjoy working with the earth as well as in the kitchen.

A $30 fee for staples in the kitchen will be assessed. During the course of the year students will be required to bring specific ingredients depending on the recipe they are creating.

CEA Book Club – Rebecca White

Book Club is a mastery for students who enjoy reading to get together to read and discuss books. Students will be encouraged to form and express their opinions with the group. Our book club will share our top picks with the school and also be able to create book reviews to share with our peers. 

Requirements: Students should enjoy reading, be good listeners, be creative, and be able to follow directions. 

Choir – Fabiola Martinez 

The CEA choir is the official voice of Conchita. Students who love to sing may audition to join the CEA choir. The choir will perform at official CEA ceremonies, such as First Communion and Graduation, as well as assemblies and other CEA events.

Requirements: Audition.

Caring Cougars – Helen Hernandez 

Caring Cougars members need to have a deep interest in helping others and doing things to make our school community and local communities feel seen, loved, important, and special. Through kind gestures, random acts of kindness, service projects, and fundraisers to benefit local charities, we will have a fun-filled and heart-warming year!  

Requirements: This mastery may require us to meet beyond the school day, including weekends.  Let’s make our school and community mejor, mejor y mejor together!

Cross Country – Coach Carlos 

Cross Country requires students to run long distances. Students are expected to show up on time in proper running attire (regulation shorts, shirt, and running shoes). Students will be running between 2-4 miles daily at different paced intervals to not only change up the routine, but also give the students a well-rounded and solid foundation as they begin to understand what cross country and track style running consists of. Also, by changing the methods in which we run, we will be able to identify the strengths of each runner, so when the track meets roll around, we know what event to put the student in to give him/her the best chance to win. There is a $150 fee that will cover a uniform, practice t-shirts, Gatorade, entry fees and our tent. 

Requirements: Try-out. Wear your regular uniform for the day and bring your PE uniform and sneakers in a bag. 

Dance – Danella Bedford 

Conchita Espinosa Youth Dance Ensemble (CEYDE) is dedicated to enhancing the dance training for CEA’s dancers in various dance styles. This program has a junior level and a senior level and aims to provide students with the tools needed for performance in the professional world. In today’s dance world, the dancer must be extremely versatile as this art form continues to develop and, therefore, classes will focus on ballet and modern technique with other styles taught whenever possible. Students will also study the “progressive ballet technique” which is a specific body conditioning class, with the use of various simple equipment. 

Field trips to performances, workshops, or a combination of both, in or out of town, are an integral part of the training. Our goal is not only to improve technique and offer performance opportunities but also to develop the human inside. Dance cannot be considered an art if it is executed without a soul. 

Requirements: Audition and pre-audition classes.

Students must have a desire and a passion to pursue dance and the ability to work hard. Students wishing to be a part of the Dance Mastery program must audition at the beginning of the year on all specified days and must be enrolled in ballet in the Conchita Espinosa Conservatory of the Arts. Once accepted into CEYDE, students are expected to commit fully to the program, which includes consistent attendance to all conservatory classes, all rehearsals, workshops, master classes, competitions, and field trips that are scheduled at the beginning of the year. Please note that most of these are NOT during school hours and, therefore, this program does require extra commitment, not just from the students but also the parents. There are also extra costs, including, but not limited to, uniform, field trips, master classes and competitions. The cost can vary for each student, but an approximate cost of main events will be discussed in the first meeting at the beginning of the year. 

Lego Robotics – Diane Majors and Mariajose Jeria

Students will learn new vocabulary, use creativity, science, technology, organization and planning skills, and problem-solving skills to build models and program them. Students will be able to share creations with peers orally and in writing. 

Requirements: Students should enjoy building and creating with Legos, blocks, etc. Students should enjoy using technology to create programs, be good listeners, and be able to follow oral and written directions. 

There is a $140 fee that will cover a portion of the cost for the robotics portion of the program. 

Mathletes – Fransel Lapica  

This mastery fosters a love for mathematics, science, engineering and problem solving. Students will engage in hands-on activities, cooperative projects, and playing games. Mathletes provides academic benefits, and it is a great way to express creativity and develop teamwork skills. 

Requirements: Students must have a passion for math and science, be good team players, have a competitive spirit, be creative and be ready to have fun. During the course of the year, students will be asked to bring materials for different projects we will be making. 

Music – Yirka Ledon, Norman Milanes, Wendy Ocando, Antonio Perigo, Jose Pradas

Junior Music Mastery is the Mastery Group for CEA’s youngest musicians. It is geared towards students interested in developing their passion for music. Students do not need previous music experience. If you do not play a musical instrument, but are interested in exploring the possibility, there are numerous instrument teachers who will work with new music students, as well as students who have previous experience with the instrument. Moderators in the Music Mastery work with students on an individual basis to strengthen their technical skills as musicians, as well as work with instruments in sections, and participate in ensemble work, in order to discover the magic of making music through teamwork. Violins, cellos, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, guitars, percussion instruments, keyboards, etc., are used to create music that delights audiences of all ages. Music Mastery will participate in several performances each year.

Requirements: Interview

There will be a $100 fee for materials. Participation in conservatory music classes is recommended.

There will be a $100 fee for materials. Participation in conservatory music classes is highly recommended. 

Visual Arts – Karina Vazquez

The goal for Visual Arts is to give the students the knowledge of the historical perspective of art, as well as the classical techniques of each of the movements that we will study in class. 

Visual Arts classes take a classical approach to teaching drawing and painting as well as the history of art. The program goes beyond arts and crafts; the students learn how “to see” in a new way as well as to view, discuss, and create art masterpieces. Technology is used to research different arts and periods of art. Visits to museums and other art events pertaining to class discussion will occur during the year. 

Requirements: Applicants should have a passionate interest in art since students are expected to spend at least 2 hours a week working in their sketchbooks at home. Portfolio submission is required. Portfolio should include current sketchbook with more than 10 pages completed and an original art work (size 8½ x 11) along with a paragraph or two about their artwork and/or interest in art. Name and homeroom should be on the back of the sketchbook and the art work. There is a $100 fee for supplies.