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Wednesday: After School Arts & Ceramics

Recurring event see all

November 20 @ 3:30 pm 5:30 pm

$40 Per Registration

November 20 (No class week of Thanksgiving)
Instructors: Claire Carlomagno and Maggie Thomas
Skill Level: All Levels
Registration Fee:
$40 for November
Payment Note: An optional 3 month interest free payment plan is available during checkout through affirm.

Age Groups:
Group 1:
1st & 2nd Grade
Group 2: 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade
*Programming is split into two groups depending on the grade.
If registration is below a certain amount, we will combine the. two age groups into one group. Two separate art & ceramic activities will still be provided.

If you would like your child to attend only one portion(e.g. only ceramics) please contact Melissa Agocs at melissa@sonomacommunitycenter.org

About the After-School Program

Each month the SCC After-School Enrichment program will offer an arts and ceramics curriculum that will connect students to the world by investigating diverse cultural traditions and the common themes that bind us. Through these classes, the Community Center is helping children learn about and celebrate the large and beautiful world we live in!

Half of the program will be in the art room with Claire Carlomagno exploring fiber, printmaking, painting, and more!  The other half of the program will be spent learning the fundamentals of handbuilding with clay with Margaret Thomas. Instructors will prepare lessons that engage and teach while the children create.

The themes of each month will be focused on:

  • October: Halloween and Día de Muertos
  • November: Samhain, Christmas, Hanukkah


This after-school program includes 1 art class and 1 ceramics class each Wednesday.

Drop off at 3:30 and pick up at 5:30. The Center is working on a consistent place for drop off and pick up. Until then, you will be notified where to drop off and pick up your child each week.
We also offer a free pick-up service for your kids if you are unable to drop them off after school. Please contact Melissa Agocs, the Youth Program Director, for more information. You can contact her at melissa@sonomacommunitycenter.org.

The priority of the Sonoma Community Center is the physical and emotional safety of its members, staff, and volunteers. Sonoma Community Center maintains a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse. Sonoma Community Center implements policies and procedures for members, employees, volunteers, or any victims of sexual abuse or misconduct to report any suspicion or allegation of abuse. In addition, the Sonoma Community Center does annual safety assessments and provides regular emergency procedure training for all staff. The Sonoma Community Center has also engaged local partners, such as the Sonoma Police Department. Any violation of this policy would result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

The full policy can be read here in the tab here.


The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.

About the instructor

Claire Carlomagno Wirick

Instructor / Artist

Claire went to art school at the Academy of Art San Francisco and specializes in textile arts, and quilting. She is a clinical herbalist, massage therapist, and works as a studio assistant for Kala Stein where she produces a line of botanical pottery for Chateau Sonoma. Claire also teaches for the Youth Programs at the Sonoma Community Center as well as for the queer art club.

Margaret Thomas

Instructor / Artist


Margaret is a born and raised Sonoma local. She went to SVHS and has been involved in the Community Center since a young age. Graduating Sonoma State University in 2021 with A BFA, Margaret wanted to become a teacher and continue her education career by taking on the after-school ceramics program in 2023. 
Jumping around from printmaking and painting, Margaret has found her new passion in ceramic arts. She finds joy in teaching children while learning along with them, helping break down the fundamental techniques of hand building. 

Margaret focuses her lessons on cultural traditions of different regions and origins of ceramic history, encouraging children to be inspired and creative. Children will make fun and useful pieces they can take home, share with their family and cherish for years to come.

Questions and Answers

  • All Levels
  • Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience.
  • Beginning
  • Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium.
  • Intermediate
  • Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium.
  • Advanced
  • Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice.

You can click on the images below to expand them.

We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds, due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class. 

Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee, or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.

Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org to request a late addition.

We are always looking for new instructors. You can find more information about the process here, or fill out the form directly here.

You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.

The Sonoma Community Center (the Center) strives to create an inclusive, safe community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The Center is committed to creating such an environment because it brings out the fullest potential in each of us, which, in turn, contributes directly to creating a community of belonging. In order to ensure a positive, safe, and welcoming experience for everyone, all program participants are asked to abide by the following policies, community agreements, and restorative safety protocol.

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