Working with local environmental educator and ornithologist Dr. Celia Lewis, CELC Middle School students utilize the outdoors as their classroom! Pictured here, students are analyzing data from yearlong investigation of shore birds within the Farm River Watershed. CELC Middle School believes in the power of learning through experience. One of the requirements [...]
Each year CELC has a theme that takes on a life of its own throughout the year, culminating with the writing of formal research papers and creating elaborate displays that showcase the work and learning of each student. This year’s theme “Ancient to Modern Civilizations” includes research about ancient Japan, San Bushmen of the Kalahari, [...]
The Acton Public Library held Poetry Night Wednesday, April 26, at 7 p.m. concluded its 23rd Annual Poetry Competition. Winning poets read their compositions and received their awards. The evening, celebrating National Poetry Month and the poets’ prizes, was sponsored by the Friends of Acton Library. All submitted poems are on display in the library through May 2017. [...]
Often middle school-aged students arrive at CELC having being taught division but lack solid understanding of division. All too often, students are asked to memorize algorithms without grasping how the steps relate to the concept at hand. When students work with math manipulatives, such as base ten blocks, Cuisenaire rods, fraction strips, etc., or draw [...]
According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, over 28% of boys and 40% of adolescent girls report being victims of cyberbullying. What would you do if you knew someone being cyberbullied? You might see it affecting whole life, happiness, and wellbeing. Two girls from CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School in Branford, CT decided to [...]
CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) is designed to bring students outside their comfort zones! Seeing and doing brand new things and then having the once “new” become “the familiar” allows for real transformation and growth. We see it over and over again. It is always incredible to witness students broadening their perspectives and becoming more [...]
Students arrive to the recipe they would delve into in for Why Cook? class; this week it is Chicken Pot Pie. Using raw ingredients and cooking from “scratch”, the morning includes making pastry crust, roux, and all the chopping of vegetables they were able to manage! The room soon fills with home cooked aroma! After [...]
A CELC student collaborative piece Have you ever wondered how to make the perfect chicken pot pie? We have and in our quest for the best pie possible, we learned some things that we think could help you on your journey to perfect pie-dom. The first thing to know about the crust is this. When [...]
Thank you to Ken Mackenzie of Frogurt Time Guilford for hosting a student-curated Art Show with the students of CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School of Branford in collaboration with EducArte, a school in Antigua, Guatemala. All proceeds from the sale of student artwork are in support of EducArte, an organization that provides education [...]
Art, as expression and experience. Middle school students from CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School work with local artist Daniela Balzano to foster an appreciation of public art as a means of expression and collaboration. “Public art is free. Spectators don’t need to dress in their best or buy tickets. It’s available to everyone, [...]
Moves One Step Closer to $50,000 College Scholarship Branford, CT, 22 January 2016—Julian D., a first-year student at CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School won the school competition of the National Geographic Bee Friday, 22 January and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship. The school Bee, at which students answered questions on geography, [...]
The small schools movement is building momentum throughout the country. Students receive a personalized education and take advantage of a variety of unique opportunities. James Blackstone Memorial Library made available its Maker Lab for just such an opportunity. Two small schools, CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School of Branford and FlexSchool of Fanwood, New Jersey, [...]
The experiences at CT Experiential Learning Center Middle School (CELC) combine rich academics with field studies. CELC provides an educational environment that inspires learning in a personalized and meaningful way for young adolescents. Your gift can be applied in a variety of ways. In addition to the general fund, which helps with all of the [...]
The experiences at CT Experiential Learning Center Middle School (CELC) combine rich academics with field studies. CELC provides an educational environment that inspires learning in a personalized and meaningful way for young adolescents. Following are some highlights from the week of 7 DEC – 11 DEC: ~Click on any image to view a scrollable gallery. [...]
The experiences at CT Experiential Learning Center Middle School (CELC) combine rich academics with field studies. CELC provides an educational environment that inspires learning in a personalized and meaningful way for young adolescents. Following are some highlights from the week of 30 NOV – 4 DEC: ~Click on any image to view a [...]
by Christopher M., On-the-Spot Reporter and 2nd-year CELC student Let’s start at around 1:00 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. We were just getting into a Literature class, and Sue, Ronnie, and Galina were preparing to present their roles. Sadly Julian wasn’t in school that day, so he needed to hand in his role the next [...]
As it goes at CELC, each week brings unique experiences. Some of the highlights from the last five days: Dr. William Wernau from Heifer International, an organization whose mission is to care for the Earth and end poverty, speaks with CELC students about global issues. Students visit Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset [...]
CELC’s Why Cook? class not only has students thinking about culinary arts, but also has them considering how to express their experiences through creative writing. The Why Cook? blog below was written by 3rd-year CELC student, Sue H. The pieces of cubed pepper tumbled over one another in their race to get into the pot first. They knocked against each [...]
CELC’s Why Cook? class not only has students thinking about culinary arts, but also has them considering how to express their experiences through creative writing. The Why Cook? blog below tells the tale of an onion’s journey from soil to soup, as written by 3rd-year CELC student, Cade M. I: “I was once one. Now [...]
by Cade – CELC Student, Reporter on Assignment As September ninth rolled around, the students of the Connecticut Experiential Learning Center began the new school year. One by one they climbed the steps to the classroom – what would this new year hold? What new mysteries and opportunities would be unlocked? Where would they [...]
Gloria Ruiz de Rabin, a native of Paraguay, holds a BA in Education from the National University of Paraguay and offers over seven years of professional Spanish language teaching experience. Before moving to Connecticut, she was Head Language Teacher of the Spanish Language Institute IDIPAR in Asunción for seven years and Owner / Director for [...]
We’re giddy with excitement…the CELC gang is here! This feeling overcomes us whenever they appear. …Proceeding up the driveway to One Eleven, Laurel St…..Rear. The chores they came to conquer are waiting on a list previously made out by the farmer who they’ve assembled to assist. He stands at the ready to delegate to the [...]
Basking in the rising sun, assessing the damage of midnight flood, Walking through the soaking walk listening to my cohorts talk, Sue and Sophie deep in slumber despite last night’s rolling thunder. The smell of beans and peppered eggs, seem to call to Philip’s legs, Rolling in with his son, he eats his food until [...]
CELC’s CANstruction project helps to generate 20,000 meals for families in Connecticut. Sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, CANstruction 2015 was a great success! Tuesday, 5 May 2015 six participating schools, along with teams of architects from around the state, created enormous CANstructures made out of about 15,000 total cans [...]
CELC’s CANstruction project gains momentum as students meet with architect Kyle Bradley of HH Purdy Architects. Decisions are made related to the types of cans that should be included as part of their colossal structure, which they will enter into the 2015 statewide CANstruction competition, sponsored by American Institute of Architects (AIA) in support of the [...]
