Southeast's Enrichment Program a Success with Students

Crochet creations and marvelous mosaics, woodland fairy houses and pop-up books, sewing and embroidery. These are a few of ’s favorite things.

They’re enrichment clusters, part of the elementary school’s Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), a method that was fostered by a pair of University of Connecticut professors in the 1970s, and has been used for “encouraging and developing creative productivity in young people” ever since, according to the university's Web site.

Susan Irvine, an enrichment teacher and coordinator of the elementary school's enrichment clusters, said Southeast’s weeks-long program allows students of varying ages, who share a common interest, to come together for one hour of the school day each Wednesday.

Irvine said students are exposed to information on a variety of subjects and participate in interest-based "clusters" throughout the year.

“Everyone gets to pick what they want to do,” said Irvine.

Teachers, parents and community volunteers work together with students to help make each cluster – ranging from Letterboxing Adventures to Wilderness Survival – a fun and unique experience.

"I think enrichment clusters are fun because you get to learn and do things you’ve never done before," said Tim, a third grade student, in a recent school survey.

Irvine said that both faculty and students look forward to branching out each week in order to expand their knowledge on their particular topic of interest.

“Kids are excited, parents are excited; it’s nice because you can get out of your regular role,” said Irvine. “They get to do new things outside of our regular curriculum.”

Enrichment clusters recently wrapped up for the year, and the school is currently working to schedule additional sessions as students look toward the New Year.

“I think we should do clusters every week!,” said third-grader Ryan, in a student survey.

Anyone interested in participating or learning more about enrichment clusters may contact Irvine at 860-423-1611 or by e-mail at susan.irvine@mansfieldct.org.