PAC 8 media classes for 3rd-8th graders during parent-teacher conferences, spring break

PAC 8 Community Media Center is offering hands-on media-production classes for Los Alamos students in grades 3rd-8th during parent/teacher conferences and over spring break, with sessions scheduled March 19-20 and March 30-April 2 and a fee of $140 per session. PAC 8's announcement notes, “PAC 8 is holding media classes during parent/teacher conferences and over spring break for 3rd – 8th graders.”

Session 1 runs during parent/teacher conferences March 19 and March 20 with morning and afternoon blocks, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and an “Optional supervised lunch 12-1.” Session 1 is aimed at 4th-8th graders and is billed as “Special effects for 4th – 8th graders. Students use GoPro cameras, Green Screen, and edit with Adobe Premiere and create special effects in their video.” PAC 8 and the Los Alamos Reporter note that “Class size is limited to 6 students.”

During spring break PAC 8 will run two additional sessions March 30 – April 2. Session 2 is a stop motion animation course from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon for 3rd-6th graders; the PAC 8 listing specifies that “Students learn the basics of 2‑D and 3‑D stop motion animation.” Session 3 meets 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. for 4th-8th graders and is described as “Music video production for 4th – 8th graders. Students learn special effects, lighting and write, shoot and edit a music video. Editing with Adobe Premiere.” Both spring sessions are $140 and are subject to the publicized capacity limit.

PAC 8’s online listing provides registration and payment instructions in full: “To sign up call or text PAC 8 at 505 920-5845 or email at pac8@losalamos.com and indicate which sessions you would like.” The release also lists a payment mailing address: “PAC 8 Community Media Center Media Classes 475 20th St. Los Alamos, NM 87544” and notes alternative payment methods “(or pay by credit card, cash, Venmo or Zelle).” The listing includes the marketing lines “All classes are FUN” and “Classes fill up fast.” Scholarship information is explicit: “Scholarships are available for 2 or more children in the same family in the same class,” and the Los Alamos Reporter reiterates that “Scholarships are available.”

PAC 8’s listing also published additional July offerings. Session 6 is July 13-16, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, stop motion for 3rd-6th graders. Session 7 is July 13-16, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., “Drone Flight & Videography for 6th – 9th graders.” PAC 8 specifies, “This course is taught by a FAA Certified Remote Pilot,” and that “Students will learn drone flying skills, regulation, safety, flight maneuvers, how to get good drone footage and video editing in this course. Also, how to use special effects with drone footage.” Session 8 is July 20-23, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, stop motion for 3rd-6th graders; Session 9 is listed July 20-23, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with no course detail in the published excerpt.

A photo caption in the announcement reads, “Scene from previous PAC 8 class. Courtesy photo.” To register, contact Jean at PAC 8 at (505) 920-5845 (call or text) or pac8@losalamos.com and indicate which sessions you would like. Spaces are limited and PAC 8 warns “Classes fill up fast.”