Catalyst Quest
Catalyst mind center Is a place where we believe and encourage thinking out the box.
about the program
Our talented and advanced learners’ youth programs, where we believe that just like the sky has no limits, we should not set limits for learning. Our Groups classes are based on student interest lead programs. Grouped by learning achievements and goals, they are small classes with a maximum of 5 to 6 students in each class – just enough to enable constructive and active learning chances for all learners while providing each learner a chance to participate and take an active role in their learning.
Admission
Admission to Children’s Quest programs is based on the Catalyst General Ability Test results and an interview.
Through our General Ability test, we can identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses in various subjects. This enables us to tailor our teaching methods to your child’s learning approach. The test also provides a marker that helps parents and teachers understand the child’s academic progress as they develop their reasoning, verbal, mathematical, and other academic kills. Through the test, we provide personalized constructive feedback to parents and teachers that directs them towards specific academic areas to increase the child’s performance. The General Ability Test provides empirical data that can help guide educational decision-making, including whether more targeted testing or extra help should be recommended, or if the child is ready for advanced coursework or gifted education.
Through our interview process, we assess your child’s ability to work collaboratively with others in their group, their enthusiasm for learning, and their passion and aptitude for teamwork.
Important Points to be considered:
- (Please note that due to the small class sizes and limited resources, we regret to inform you, that our staff are not equipped to support severe behavioral needs, or tolerate any kind of bullying at our center.)
- Quest Gifted & Talented Youth programs Ages are (9 to 12) ( 13 to 15)
- (Start of the classes is based on the Number of registered students for each program)
Our Quest Group programs are exploration in areas of:
2D Art Drawing and painting
2D art drawing and painting is a form of visual art that is created on a flat surface, such as paper or canvas. It involves the use of various drawing and painting techniques to create two-dimensional images that can be viewed from a single perspective. In 2D art drawing, students use pencils, charcoal, ink, or other materials to create lines, shapes, and textures on a flat surface. They can create realistic or abstract images and can use shading and perspective to create the illusion of depth and dimension in a variety of artworks, including portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and abstract compositions.
3D Printing
Our 3D printing class covers a range of topics, including:
- Introduction to 3D printing technology
- Design principles for 3D printing
- Hands-on experience with 3D printing software
- Printing and finishing 3D models
- Project-based learning
Astronomy Program
Our astronomy class is a scientific course that involves the study of celestial objects and phenomena. Designed to give students an understanding of the universe beyond the Earth and to explore the incredible range of objects that populate the cosmos, this course covers topics such as, the solar system, the stars, galaxies, pulsars, exoplanets, black holes, dark matter, space exploration, and the history of astronomy. It is a demanding but fascinating class, providing students with a deeper appreciation of the cosmos and the incredible scientific advances.
Chemistry
In our Chemistry classes, students learn laboratory basic techniques and scientific methods for conducting experiments and analyzing results. They also study the history of chemistry and contributions from famous chemists.
We offer two Chemistry classes:
- General Chemistry: This class covers the principles and foundational concepts of chemistry, such as atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, and gas laws.
- Organic Chemistry: This class focuses on the study of organic compounds, which are carbon-based molecules that form the basis of many biological systems. Students learn about topics such as functional groups, reaction mechanisms, and spectroscopy.
Bioinformatics
Our bioinformatics classes provide students with a deep understanding of the computational tools and techniques used in modern biology, and prepare them for careers in research, medicine, biotechnology, and other fields related to life sciences. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and statistics, and is used to study complex biological systems such as genomes, proteomes, and metabolic pathways. Students learn how to use software tools and databases to analyze DNA and protein sequences, predict protein structure and function, and study gene expression patterns. They also learn about algorithms and statistical methods used in bioinformatics, such as sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, and machine learning.
DNA Exploration
Our DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) exploration class covers the basic structure and function of DNA, including the genetic code, replication, and protein synthesis. Students are also introduced to the concept of mutations and their impacts on an organism’s phenotype. Additional topics covered in DNA classes include definition of genetic engineering, genome analysis, and biotechnology. Overall, our DNA classes aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role DNA plays in an organism’s genetic makeup and how it is utilized in scientific research and technology.
Financial Literacy Budgeting and management
Our Financial literacy and budgeting classes teach students how to manage their finances effectively by understanding the basics of personal finance, including managing money, setting financial goals, creating a budget, and investing for the future. In these courses, students learn how to make informed financial decisions and manage their money effectively. The goal is to help students take control of their finances early in life, so that they can avoid common financial pitfalls and build a solid financial foundation for their future.
The classes cover topics such as:
- Understanding financial statements
- Financial goal setting
- Personal finance basics
- Creating a budget
- Managing debt
- Saving and investing
- Understanding credit scores and reports
- Understanding taxes
Further comprehensive courses in this area includes:
Microeconomics: This focuses on individual behavior and decision-making, and how it affects the overall economy.
Macroeconomics: This course looks at the broader picture of the economy including inflation, global economics, and monetary policies.
Improv
Improv, short for improvisation, improv is a fun and engaging form of live theatre that encourages creativity, collaboration, and spontaneity. Students will create scenes and characters on the spot, without a script or pre-planned dialogue. Improv training can help student develop their confidence, creativity, and ability to think on their feet, which in turn can help with their public speaking and communication skills.
Nano Technology
Our student’s nanotechnology class covers the principles and applications of nanotechnology, which is the study of materials and structures at the nanoscale level (less than 100 nanometers). The class cover topics such as the behavior of materials at the nanoscale, fabrication and characterization techniques, and applications of nanotechnology in various fields such as medicine, energy, electronics, and materials science. Students will also learn about ethical and societal implications of nanotechnology.
Physics Program
Our physics class covers topics related to the study of matter, energy, and the interaction between them. This can include concepts such as classical mechanics (e.g. Newton’s laws of motion), thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, atomic physics and quantum mechanics. Students will usually engage in both theoretical and practical study of these topics, through classes, demonstrations, scientific-based work, and problem-solving exercises. The course may also incorporate hands-on experiments and projects that allow students to further explore the principles of physics.
Quest Math
For students aged 9-16. Our math classes prepares students for advanced math competitions and are based on problem solving and cover topics beyond the standard math curriculum taught in regular. These classes are designed to challenge students and provide them with a deeper understanding of mathematics that can prepare them for advanced study in fields such as engineering, physics, computer science, and economics. It covers a wide range of topics, including algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics. The goal of Quest math is not only to teach students how to do math problems, but also to encourage them to think creatively and critically about math.
Quest Creative Writing English literature
Our English literature classes are designed for advanced learner students with a strong passion for literature and reading who are interested in exploring more complex and challenging works of literature. These classes are meant to challenge the students and push them beyond their current reading levels.
In these classes, students will study a variety of literature genres including fiction, nonfiction, and drama. These classes focus on in-depth analysis of literature, critical thinking skills, and writing skills. Students will be expected to write essays, participate in class discussions, and present their findings in a clear and concise manner. Our literature classes provide students with a deeper understanding and appreciation of literature while also improving their reading and literary analysis skills.
Quest Creative Art
Our creative art classes challenge our student’s artistic skills and provide them with opportunities to explore their creativity. Our art classes include:
Drawing and Painting: This class often focuses on learning advanced techniques, such as color theory, composition, and perspective.
Sculpture: Our sculpture classes are a great option for students who enjoy working with three-dimensional materials like clay or metal.
Quest Chess
Our award winning Chess coaches provide a challenging and stimulating environment for youths who excel in chess, helping them to reach their higher potential and achieve further success in the game. Our experienced coaches are tournament players themselves and can provide encouragement and guidance on tournament play and provide valuable insights and advice on how to succeed in competitive play. Students will learn to develop their own tournament preparation routine, including physical and mental preparation, and receive guidance on how to analyze and learn from tournament games.
In addition to teaching the technical aspects of chess, our coaches offer guidance on sportsmanship, teamwork, and other important life skills that can be developed through playing chess.
Robotics
Our robotics classes provide a fun and exciting way for kids to learn about technology and engineering while developing important skills that can benefit them throughout their lives. Using VEX IQ robotics, students learn about the design, construction, and programming of robots using the VEX IQ robotics system. The VEX IQ system is a modular robotics platform that includes a variety of sensors, motors, and structural components that can be assembled in different configurations to create robots that can move, sense their environment, and perform tasks. Moreover, kids can learn important skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. They also gain exposure to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, which can help them develop an interest in pursuing careers in these areas in the future.
Lastly, students can learn about the principles of engineering and physics that underpin robotics, such as torque, force, and power, and how to apply these principles to design and optimize their robots. They also learn about the design process, including brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and iterating, as well as teamwork and communication skills.
Shahin’s Bookclub
Shahin’s Bookclub is a social, interactive student lead classroom. This group class is named after the young Author Shahin Sadath who’s published the book named, (Adventures of EZZA the Rover in Space), due to his passion and support for reading and educating others. The purpose of Shahin’s book club is to enhance our student’s passion for reading, comprehension, and critical thinking. By participating in this weekly book club, students can discuss various chosen topics that they are passionate about, and share them with like-minded peers with similar interests, and in turn, gain a deeper understanding of the book they are reading and the topics of their discussions.
This kind of collaborative approach to reading also helps students to build up their communication and interpersonal skills, which can be valuable both in and outside of the classroom. Additionally, our book club is a great way to encourage students to read more frequently and diversely, which can have many positive effects on their overall academic performance and self-confidence.
This group is highly popular, and spaces are limited. Registration is based on space availability.
To read more about this young Arthur and his activities and donations, you can visit his website:
Speculative evolution
Our Speculative evolution is a class that explores hypothetical and imaginative scenarios of how life on Earth could have evolved differently, and how it could evolve in the future. The class includes discussions on evolutionary processes, biogeography, and paleontology, as well as alternative Earth configurations and the potential for life on other planets. Students engage in hands-on activities such as creating their own speculative animal or plant, and are encouraged to think creatively and critically about the possibilities of life on Earth and beyond.