Academic year 2019-20, the learning and growth continues ... following are some highlights: CELC Middle School students tour Ellis Island with the Save Ellis Island Foundation as part of CELC’s yearlong thematic study of Heritage, Ethnicity, and Quest for Freedom in America. The tour highlighted areas not open to the general public, including Ellis Island’s [...]
Community Service is included in CELC Middle School’s curriculum. For students, it allows for the realization that it is possible to make a difference in the lives of others. The energy and enthusiasm is evident as students step outside of themselves to focus on helping others. This year CELC volunteers twice per month to [...]
During CELC’s study of cellular biology, students create “edible cells”, models of animal and plant cells using only edible ingredients to represent all the cell parts, labeling each with description of its function. ~ click on any image to view a scrollable gallery
- written by CELC students Emma, Harper, Matt For this extraordinary middle school, field trips are a common thing. Every Tuesday and Thursday CELC (Connecticut Experiential Learning Center) has “outdoor ed”, which often consists of hiking, working at a farm and similar outdoor activities. But today for “outdoor education”, CELC helped serve food for the [...]
- written by CELC students Natalia and Spencer On January 17, 2019, students from Connecticut Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School were lucky enough to volunteer at the Community Dining Room in Branford. CELC regularly invites the students to experience different things as part of the experientially- based curriculum; this time it was to volunteer at [...]
- written by CELC students Evan and Ethan It's a school, but instead of English class today, the students helped serve food at the Branford Community Dining Room.
CELC Middle School students volunteer, serving soup at Branford’s Community Dining Room.
CELC Middle School students flex their creative muscles at the Long Wharf Theatre in order to devise their own play to share! Students are working diligently to write, develop, and perform their very own show. Bermuda Triangle’s Thief A new island has been discovered, and its potential for freedom and prosperity is unknown! A boat [...]
Billy Ochoa teaches Spanish at CELC Middle School, via Skype from Guatemala. In Guatemala, he works directly with an organization called EducArte, supporting youth who cannot afford to attend school. EducArte brings education and many health and community servcies to youth and their families. This fundraiser is designed to help Billy and EducArte raise the $350.00 [...]
Thinking About Middle School? Activity Day and Open House at Connecticut’s Only Experientially-based Middle School. Saturday, 16 March, 2019 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 28 School Street, Branford. Find out about CELC Middle School, offering academically rich real-world learning, personalized approach, 5th - 8th grade. Come meet teachers and students, stay for the art, [...]
CELC made all the difference for this kid!!! He is loving Penn State! Thank you Melinda and Maria❤️ CELC was the best school for my son for so many reasons. It was also an answer to a prayer. As they say, it takes one person to make a difference. Well, in this school you have two [...]
Branford Walk Like MADD 2018 with Team CELCstars CELC Middle School is participating in Walk Like MADD Saturday, 13 October 2018 to raise critical funds for Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and help put an end to the 100 % preventable crime of drunk driving. Walk alongside us and take steps to stopping this violent crime. [...]
And it's only Week One at CELC - already we've done much, including: math challenge games, Why Cook? class; Project Water field study; team building at Bushy Hill Nature Center; migratory bird study and field experience; Spanish class Skype into Guatemala; creative exploration of individual and group "hopes and dreams" for the year; and getting started on [...]
Long Wharf Theatre hosts its annual drama class for CELC Middle School and homeschooled students ages 9 – 14 Long Wharf Theatre and the Connecticut Experiential Learning Center Middle School invite you to join the 8th year of our collaboration! Each year combines theatre with a theme. Students learn acting techniques, make new friends, and devise [...]
by Melinda Alcosser As a recipient of a scholarship from the Friendship Fund, I was recently fortunate to travel to Guatemala with a group of educators on a Digital Storytelling program run by Peaceworks Travel. This organization was founded by a history teacher just after 9/11, who felt it vital to find a way to [...]
CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Ecology and Sustainability Exposition was a great success! Held at the Willoughgby Wallace Memorial Library in Branford, students set up elaborate interactive displays and shared with the public, family, and friends who attended the event.
Once again, CELC traveled for an end-of-year adventure, this time to The Ecology School in Saco, Maine. CELC incorporates student travel into its curriculum purposely – to bring young people outside their comfort zones and to open up to discovery of new elements in themselves, the world, and each other. Educator Brody from The Ecology School worked [...]
Each year CELC Middle School of Branford has a theme of study - this year’s theme: Ecology and Sustainability. After months of study, research and preparation, students not only write a formal research paper about a specific energy source, but also apply their learning by creating and constructing interactive displays related to renewable and nonrenewable [...]
Assistant Professor of Neurology at Yale University Chris Gottschalk, MD, FAHS visits CELC Middle School to teach about the brain and nervous system as part of CELC’s study of the human body. Dr. Gottschalk answered student questions on topics ranging from the parts and function of the brain to new research on causes of migraines. Students [...]
A buzz of conversation and activity and the sharing of ideas when graduate students from Yale University’s School of Management (SOM) visited CELC Middle School as part of the SOM Day of Service. Middle school students were engaged in a Shark Tank Simulation experience, led by the Yale students. The focus was identifying and developing unique [...]
Visiting the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT is a significant part of every CELC year. CELC is fortunate to have established the relationship with this cloistered Benedictine community when one of our colleagues and farmer, years ago discovered the rare breed cattle that exist at the Abbey - Dutch Belted dairy cattle, all black [...]
If you are a parent who is not sure whether your child is at the right school, come hear from parents who have sought local independent and magnet schools for their children, are happy with their choice, and can describe why they are happy. Discussion will include how to decide whether to stay or go, [...]
Friday at Connecticut Experiential Learning Center: Thank you, Evan DeCarlo, for working with our student writers. Thank you, Daniela Balzano, for your creative energy in bringing art to our CELC world! Gentle mindfulness and 108 Monkeys Yoga at CELC inspires students to breathe and be! CELC students visit Dinosaur State Park to learn about Connecticut’s landscape and how it was [...]
Martha Hoffman, founder of Call to Care Uganda (CTCU) visits with CELC Middle School to bring awareness about her work to help children in Uganda. CELC students will now consider how to help take part in this “call to care”.
