Key Dates
Week of 8/31/26 - Week of 12/14/26
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All Mandarin Classes
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MI Robotics Explorers K - 2nd
9/11/26 - 12/18/26
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BrickMasters
10/2/26 - 12/18/26
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Martial Arts
11/2/26 - 5/31/27
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Robotics Engineers 3rd - 5th
Mandarin Classes
On-campus Mandarin classes designed specifically for Braddock families and loved by kids!
Our program reinforces the same vocabulary and language themes students learn during the school day, giving them more speaking practice, repetition, and confidence in a familiar setting. Led by Braddock’s former 1st grade Mandarin Immersion (MI) Teacher's Assistant (TA), this is a seamless, school-connected way to support your child’s Mandarin learning after school.
Because classes take place on campus, families also benefit from a smooth, convenient transition to and from afterschool care as well as other enrichment classes. Students stay in a familiar environment while continuing to build their Mandarin skills with an instructor who knows the Braddock MI community well.
Why Braddock Families Choose Little Panda Scholars
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On-campus convenience – no off-site transfer or extra pickup logistics
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Aligned with Braddock MI's curriculum – students reinforce familiar vocabulary and classroom themes
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School-connected instruction – led by Braddock’s former 1st grade MI TA
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Low-pressure practice – extra speaking, listening, repetition, and confidence-building
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Designed for each grade level – support that matches where students are in their Mandarin journey
Schedule:
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3rd | Weds: 3-4pm
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4th | Fri: 3-4pm
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Email: LittlePandaScholars@gmail.com; likely a small group of 2-3 students
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4th
3rd
Robotics Engineers
🗣️English only
📵 100% Screen-Free • Hands-On Robotics & Engineering
For 3rd-5th Graders
Build robots, drones, remote-controlled vehicles, mechanical arms, voice-controlled machines, and other exciting engineering projects inspired by real-world robotics and favorite themes throughout the year.
Students explore motors, gears, sensors, circuits, remote controls, and mechanical design while solving hands-on engineering challenges. Every project is fully functional, giving students the opportunity to test, ideate improvements, and showcase their creations.
Students take home their individual project after we are done with the build and experiments.
⚙️ Build it. Power it. Move it.
🤖 New machine every 2-3 weeks
From flying drones to race cars to mechanical arms, students tackle exciting new engineering builds and challenges. Each student gets their own kit.
⚡Learn like engineers
Experiment with motors, gears, remote controls, sensors, and mechanical design while learning how real machines work.
📵 Screen-Free STEM
Every class is 100% hands-on. Students spend their time building, testing, and collaborating. We focus on the mechanical and engineering side of robotics.
Martial Arts
Age-appropriate Traditional Martial Arts to fortify kids’ growing sense of boundaries
3rd - 5th Thursdays 2:30pm-3:30pm
TK - 2nd Fridays 2:30pm-3:30pm
Starts October 1st
Master Richard Alonzo is teaming up with Little Panda Scholars to bring Martial Arts to Braddock!
Studies show that kids active in martial arts are more confident, have good sense of self-esteem, and better focus than kids without martial arts experience. They're more calm & respectful under pressure, and less likely swayed by gossip or peer pressure. Improved coordination, balance, strength & flexibility don't hurt either. Prepping kids with social skills, communication skills and boundary setting gives them the tools to deal with the social challenges of growing up. And starting a practice of mindful meditation can help keep kids themselves from resorting to bullying , as it calms their minds and promotes gratitude & empathy.
Empowering kids with confidence, self-control, and anti-bullying skills.
Robotics Explorers
Mandarin Immersion
🗣️We use a mix of Mandarin and English
For K-2nd
Build robots, remote-controlled vehicles, moving inventions, and engineering creations inspired by popular themes like K-Pop Demon Hunters and Minecraft—or original engineering challenges with no theme at all.
Students will discover how motors, gears, motion, and simple engineering work through exciting, hands-on projects designed just for young builders. Every class combines creativity, problem-solving, and play in a screen-free environment.
Our bilingual approach makes learning natural:
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STEM concepts and building instructions are taught in English
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Students complete their projects while practicing Mandarin, learning new vocabulary through real conversations and hands-on activities
Students keep their robotics kit! Students enrolled for the full school year will take home their kit and completed projects at the end of the school year. Students enrolled for one semester only will take home their kit and completed projects at the end of their semester. Every semester features an entirely new lineup of projects, so returning students will always have fresh engineering challenges and never repeat the same builds.
No screens. Just building, creating, and learning.
⚙️ Build it. Power it. Move it.
New machine every
1-2 weeks
From vehicles and launchers to cranes, rides, and many more moving inventions, students will complete exciting hands-on engineering projects throughout the semester.
Power it. Control it. Move it.
Every build includes a real motor and remote control, allowing students to bring their creations to life while exploring motion, gears, power, and mechanical design.
Build alongside your favorite character
Complete robotics challenges with missions inspired by many available themes (Pokemon, Sanrio Disney, Minecraft and K-Pop. Each project combines imaginative storytelling with real engineering concepts.
Pokemon & K-Pop Demon Hunters
BrickMasters
🧱 Structural Engineering Builders
Build exciting LEGO-compatible creations while learning the fundamentals of structural engineering. Choose one track:
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Pokémon Track: Build with authentic Keeppley Pokémon sets that are no longer in production, making them a rare experience for Pokémon fans.
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K-Pop Demon Hunters Track: Create concert and battle sets builds inspired by the hit film, complete with Huntrix and Saja Boys minifigures for imaginative storytelling and play.
✨ No repeats from the previous school year
🎁 Take-home finished projects
🧱 New projects throughout the semester
⭐ Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced pods available
Students must be at least 5 years old, have prior LEGO building experience, and be comfortable building independently with teacher guidance rather than step-by-step assistance.
Classes start week of September 1, 2026.
Beginner Pod
Great for younger kids looking to develop their building skills. Kits are ~100 pieces and kids will learn best practices. Suggested for 5-6 year olds.
Intermediate Pod
Great for students who are comfortable with smaller pieces and have the focus for ~200 pieces over 2-3 sessions. Suggested for 6-8 year olds.
Advanced Pod
Complex builds of 300-500 pieces with asymmetrical elements at times. More varieties in shapes for an additional challenge. Suggested for 8+
3D Inventor
Lab
English Only
📵 100% Screen-Free • Hands-On Creativity
Students bring their ideas to life using safe, kid-friendly 3D pens.
Through exciting design challenges and open-ended projects, they'll create everything from animals and architecture to inventions, decorations, and functional everyday objects. Every class encourages creativity, problem-solving, and confidence as students learn to think like inventors and turn their imagination into real 3D creations.
More than an art class. More than STEM.
Students learn how to imagine, prototype, and improve their ideas—building creativity and problem-solving skills they'll use in school, future careers, and everyday life.
Designed to grow with your child.
Students are grouped by age so everyone is appropriately challenged.
Grades 1–2
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More guidance and foundational design concepts
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Focus on building confidence and understanding how 3D pens and filaments work
Grades 3–5
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More advanced projects and greater independence
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Additional design concepts, challenges, and opportunities to customize builds
Meet Your Instructor: Ken Mori
Ken has designed over 100 products for companies including Microsoft, HP, LEGO, and Belkin. As an experienced STEAM educator and Makerspace instructor, he inspires students to think like designers, solve problems, and bring their ideas to life.
✏️ Imagine it. Build it. Create it.
🎨 New challenge every 1-2 weeks
From animals and architecture to inventions and seasonal projects, students explore exciting new projects they can take home.
💡 Turn Ideas Into Reality
Using 3D pens and additional materials, students learn to prototype, and improve their ideas while developing creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills that will serve them for years to come.
🚀 Think Like an Inventor
Students learn to prototype, and improve their ideas while developing creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills that will serve them for years to come.
Calendar
FAQs
How does it work?
Dismissal is 2:28 on Mon, Weds-Fri. Students will go to their afterschool care programs (Star Galaxy, LA's Best or Youth Services). Our teachers will handle the pick up and drop off. Here are two examples:
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For 3pm start times, our teacher will pick up your child from their respective care program at 3pm and walk them to our classroom located on campus at Braddock. The teacher will drop off at their care program at 4pm.
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For 4pm start times, our teacher will pick up your child from their respective care program at 5pm and walk them to our classroom located on campus at Braddock. The teacher will drop off at their care program at 4pm.
On Tuesdays, dismissal will be 1:28pm. Our teacher will pick up students from their classroom at 1:28pm.
Can we do a monthly plan?
Sorry, we only offer semester-long commitments for now.
Want to see other classes?
We would love to hear what kind of afterschool classes you wish to bring to Braddock! Email LittlePandaScholars@gmail.com and we can make it happen if there's enough interest from Braddock families!
