SEM Directory—Connecticut

Contact Information:

Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Shirley A. Cowles, Director of School-Based Programs
166 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06l06

Phone: 860-987-6028
Fax: 860-987-6016
Email: shirley_cowles@bushnell.org

Demographic Overview:

Number of Program Coordinators	3
Number of Enrichment Specialists/Teachers:	None
Number of Schools:	30
Number of Students:	5,000
Grade Levels using SEM Model:	4-8
Urban, Suburban, Rural:	Urban, Suburban, Rural
Number of Years in Operation:	11

Description:

The Bushnell PARTNERS Program was inaugurated in January of 1993. The program was implemented in the Hartford, West Hartford, and Bloomfield school districts with the following two primary goals at the forefront:

To improve language arts skills (literacy) for school children, and
To increase intercultural competencies among a diverse population of communities

Two primary needs articulated by school personnel, students, parents, and administrators are:

Greater access to the artistic resources of local arts organizations; and
Cost-effective ways to incorporate arts resources directly into the curriculum in a sequential and comprehensive manner.

The PARTNERS approach consists on interlocking components, which in turn are closely tied to core educational requirements and specific learning goals. The six program components are:

literature Linked to Curriculum
Artistic Resources
Professional Development for Teachers & Artists
Performance Events & Exhibit Opportunities
Family Involvement Activities
Program Evaluation & Student assessment

Elementary level book-based activity guides have been created, along with middle school interdisciplinary arts units of study, which connect to a particular piece of children's/young adult literature. An artistic partner (either a Teacher Artist working directly in the classroom, or a Presenting Artist conducting a grade level assembly) uses the literature, along with their particular arts discipline, (creative writing, music, theatre, dance, photography, painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, arts of decoration and functional design), the unit principle (or Big idea), and academic content to present the full day workshop, hands-on activity, or performance.

SEM Components:

	Services for Identified Students	Services for Entire School Population
Total Talent Portfolio
Type I Experience
Type II Training
Type III Independent Investigations
Curriculum Compacting
Arts Enrichment
Differentiation in the Regular Classroom
Regularly Scheduled Resource Room Time
Academies of Inquiry and Talent Development
On-line Accelerated Courses

Other SEM Features:

Schoolwide Enrichment Team
Cluster Grouping
Enrichment Program Handbook/Brochure
Supplementary Options for Artistically Talented Students
Accelerated Classes
Grade Skipping Options
Staff Development for General Faculty
Summer Gifted Programs
Participation in State, National, and/or International Programs Such as National History Day, Future Problem Solving, Math Olympiad
Type III Fair on or an End-of-the-Year Showcase of Students Work

Contact Information:

Mansfield Public Schools
Wayne Trembly, Enrichment Specialist
Mansfield Middle School
205 Spring Hill Road
Mansfield, CT 06268

Phone: 860-429-9341
Email: tremblywn@mansfieldct.org

Demographic Overview:

Number of Enrichment Coordinators	None
Number of Enrichment Specialists/Teachers:	1 (at each of the schools)
Number of Schools:	4 (3 elementary, 1 middle)
Number of Students:	650 (1,420 in the distict)
Grade Levels using SEM Model:	5-8
Urban, Suburban, Rural:	Rural
Number of Years in Operation:	20+

Description:

Mansfield Middle School's Enrichment program is unique in the fact that it serves a large number of students in a variety of ways. While every endeavor is made to serve the most talented students, the primary focus in also on "schoolwide" enrichment. At MMS, every student is invited to the Interest Center to pursue a project or investigation of their own choice. All the student needs is an idea and the willingness to follow through with the required amount of task commitment. The enrichment specialist finds a way to provide the help and the time. During the 2000-2001 school year, 258 of the 649 students (39.75%) completed a long-term investigation of their own choice. These projects spanned the school curriculum, and in some cases, were not directly related to specified curriculum topics but provided opportunities for higher level thinking.

SEM Components:

	Services for Identified Students	Services for Entire School Population
Total Talent Portfolio
Type I Experience
Type II Training
Type III Independent Investigations
Curriculum Compacting
Enrichment Clusters
Differentiation in the Regular Classroom
Regularly Scheduled Resource Room Time
Academies of Inquiry and Talent Development
On-line Accelerated Courses

Other SEM Features:

Schoolwide Enrichment Team
Cluster Grouping
Enrichment Program Handbook/Brochure
Supplementary Options for Artistically Talented Students
Accelerated Classes
Grade Skipping Options
Staff Development for General Faculty
Summer Gifted Programs
Participation in State, National, and/or International Programs Such as National History Day, Future Problem Solving, Math Olympiad
Type III Fair on or an End-of-the-Year Showcase of Students Work

Contact Information:

Mansfield Public Schools
Susan Irvine, Enrichment Specialist
Southeast Elementary School
134 Warrenville Road
Mansfield, CT 06268

Phone: 860-423-1611
Email: irvinesb@mansfieldct.org

Demographic Overview:

Number of Enrichment Coordinators	None
Number of Enrichment Specialists/Teachers:	4 (3 elementary, 1 middle)
Number of Schools:	4 (3 elementary, 1 middle)
Number of Students:	1,400
Grade Levels using SEM Model:	preK-4
Urban, Suburban, Rural:	Rural
Number of Years in Operation:	10

Description:

The Schoolwide Enrichment program in Mansfield employs many of the components of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model. These components are not "added on" to other school programs for a short period of time but are embedded in the school structure. The goal of providing differentiated instruction is district-wide and is supported by curriculum specialists and small class size.

SEM Components:

	Services for Identified Students	Services for Entire School Population
Total Talent Portfolio
Type I Experience
Type II Training
Type III Independent Investigations
Curriculum Compacting
Enrichment Clusters
Differentiation in the Regular Classroom
Regularly Scheduled Resource Room Time
Academies of Inquiry and Talent Development
On-line Accelerated Courses

Other SEM Features:

Schoolwide Enrichment Team
Cluster Grouping
Enrichment Program Handbook/Brochure
Supplementary Options for Artistically Talented Students
Accelerated Classes
Grade Skipping Options
Staff Development for General Faculty
Summer Gifted Programs
Participation in State, National, and/or International Programs Such as National History Day, Future Problem Solving, Math Olympiad
Type III Fair on or an End-of-the-Year Showcase of Students Work

Contact Information:

Norwich Public Schools
Pamela Aubin, Director of Curriculum
90 Town Street
Norwich, CT 06360

Phone: 860-823-6284 (Ext. 111)
Fax: 860-823-1880
Email: paubin@norwichpublicschools.org

Demographic Overview:

Number of Enrichment Coordinators	1
Number of Enrichment Specialists/Teachers:	None
Number of Schools:	(9 elementary, 2 middle, 1 alternative high)
Number of Students:	4,050
Grade Levels using SEM Model:	6-8
Urban, Suburban, Rural:	Suburban
Number of Years in Operation:	2

Description:

The Norwich Public Schools strives to provide an educational program that addresses the strengths, talents, and needs of a diverse population. Classroom teachers and specialists are provided with background information on the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and are encouraged to develop programs within the classroom setting using three different learning experiences: exploratory, skill building, and individual or small group investigations.

In grades one through five, teachers seek to provide opportunities for selected talent pool student s that display high interest, creativity, and task commitment in academics and the arts. Teachers are encouraged to differentiate their curriculum for advanced students and to provide enrichment activities based on SEM within the classroom setting and as part of school enrichment programs.

In grades six to eight, the Student Style Product Inventory Survey is used in order to identify the top areas of interest where students might develop a product. This information may be used to cluster or group students in regular classroom programs and in enrichment programs. The identification process in continually reviewed and updated each year.

SEM Components:

	Services for Identified Students	Services for Entire School Population
Total Talent Portfolio
Type I Experience
Type II Training
Type III Independent Investigations
Curriculum Compacting
Enrichment Clusters
Differentiation in the Regular Classroom
Regularly Scheduled Resource Room Time
Academies of Inquiry and Talent Development
On-line Accelerated Courses

Other SEM Features:

Schoolwide Enrichment Team
Cluster Grouping
Enrichment Program Handbook/Brochure
Supplementary Options for Artistically Talented Students
Accelerated Classes
Grade Skipping Options
Staff Development for General Faculty
Summer Gifted Programs
Participation in State, National, and/or International Programs Such as National History Day, Future Problem Solving, Math Olympiad
Type III Fair on or an End-of-the-Year Showcase of Students Work

Contact Information:

West Hartford Public Schools
Dr. Nancy Eastlake, Curriculum Specialist
28 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107

Phone: 860-523-3500 (Ext. 608)
Fax: 860-523-3561
Email: nancy_eastlake@whp.org

Demographic Overview:

Number of Enrichment Coordinators	1
Number of Enrichment Specialists/Teachers:	9
Number of Schools:	13
Number of Students:	9,500
Grade Levels using SEM Model:	3-8
Urban, Suburban, Rural:	Suburban
Number of Years in Operation:	10

Description:

The mission of the QUEST Program is to ensure that students have an opportunity to develop their unique gifts and talents by creating a learning environment that encourages students to: Question the world around them: Understand the need to learn and row: Explore the past, present, and future: Search for solutions and meanings: Think creatively and critically.

The QUEST Program provides enrichment activities to enhance and extend the curriculum in the elementary and middle schools. Students in grades 3-8 are identified for Talent Pool participation through a multi-criteria nomination process. The Schoolwide Enrichment Model serves as the foundation for enrichment learning opportunities for Talent Pool students. The program is based upon the Enrichment Triad Model. Thinking skills, creativity training, problem solving, and independent and small group research investigations and original performances are some of the challenging learning opportunities available.

The QUEST Program is the Schoolwide Gifted Program for West Hartford Public Schools. Students in grades 3-8 participate in enrichment activities following the Schoolwide Enrichment Model. Additional QUEST offerings:
MathQUEST: An accelerated Math program for fourth and fifth graders working 2 grade levels beyond their current grade placement.
ArtQUEST: Visual Arts enrichment for talented young fifth grade students. Classes are after school.
JourneyQUEST: An arts and humanities program for students in sixth through eight grades. The program meets for 12 weeks, once a week, after school.

SEM Components:

	Services for Identified Students	Services for Entire School Population
Total Talent Portfolio
Type I Experience
Type II Training
Type III Independent Investigations
Curriculum Compacting
Enrichment Clusters
Differentiation in the Regular Classroom
Regularly Scheduled Resource Room Time
Academies of Inquiry and Talent Development
On-line Accelerated Courses

Other SEM Features:

Schoolwide Enrichment Team
Cluster Grouping
Enrichment Program Handbook/Brochure
Supplementary Options for Artistically Talented Students
Accelerated Classes
Grade Skipping Options
Staff Development for General Faculty
Summer Gifted Programs
Participation in State, National, and/or International Programs Such as National History Day, Future Problem Solving, Math Olympiad
Type III Fair on or an End-of-the-Year Showcase of Students Work