Exciting! Enrichment Clusters Arrive at Wallace

In support of RISD's 2020 Vision, Wallace began Enrichment Clusters last week. It was amazing the way it all came together, with help of the Schoolwide Enrichment Team, PTA, and the superb staff at Wallace Elementary!
In December, teachers choose 3 topics they would be willing to teach a six weeks course about for 1.5 hours each Friday afternoon. The SEM team got together and chose 36 topics, ranging from "Ooey, Gooey Science," "Tool Time," "Step Up and Sing" to "Healthy Snacks for Hunger Attacks." A catalog was published and students in grades 1-6 were able to choose 5 titles based on their personal interests. Classes were formed and students were notified via assignment slip Friday morning. The PTA donated many of the supplies that helped make Enrichment Clusters a reality at Wallace. After many hours of planning and anticipation, Friday afternoon finally arrived! I was welcomed into each and every cluster classroom with smiles and echoes of excitement. Students brought me samples to taste from "Sabroso y Delicioso", greeted me with cheers from "We've Got Spirit, Can You Hear It?" and researched native birds in Dallas area before planning birdhouses to build. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and parents who volunteered as "helping hands" that afternoon said they had never heard the entire school so quiet.
I don't know about the students and teachers, but I can't wait until Friday afternoon for Day 2 of Enrichment Clusters!