ENRICHMENT FOR ALL
Valley Stream 30 provides all students with various enrichment opportunities using the Framework for 21st Century Learning which provides the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise they must master to succeed in the real-world 21st Century context.
WHAT IS 21st CENTURY LEARNING?
Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes
Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential to student success. Core subjects include English (reading or language arts), mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics. In addition, we promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:
Learning and Innovation Skills
Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include:
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Creativity and Innovation
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Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
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Communication and Collaboration
Information, Media and Technology Skills
Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as:
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Information Literacy
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Media Literacy
Life and Career Skills
Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as:
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Flexibility and Adaptability
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Initiative and Self-Direction
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Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
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Productivity and Accountability
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Leadership and Responsibility
To learn more about the 21st Century Learning Framework visit:
http://www.p21.org/about-us/p21-framework
WHAT ARE THE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES?
Here is a brief description of the Valley Stream 30 enrichment opportunities provided to students throughout the school year:
Enrichment for All Push-In Program
Students in Kindergarten through 6th grade each have one marking period of push-in enrichment opportunities. Our district enrichment specialist, Ms. Galgano works with all students to provide them with experiences to develop their communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. She has worked with Ms. Epstein to develop each grade level module. The visuals below showcase the themes for each grade level.
To see the district’s complete Enrichment Plan, click below: Click Here
The Quest program is one of the many enrichment programs offered at Valley Stream 30, which challenges our third- through sixth-grade learners with a broad range of advanced-level enrichment experiences.
The Quest program is a pullout service, which occurs at your child’s school. Students will experience extended enrichment learning opportunities in technology, critical thinking, cooperative skills, presentation skills, argumentation, and mathematics. They will continue to build on their 21st Century Learning skills, as well as hit upon major content areas. Your child is expected to meet the work requirements of the Quest program and maintain high performance in academics and assignments for their classroom.
In 2023 we redesigned the admissions process for Quest. Here is the FAQ that was created by our enrichment team:
PROJECT BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Grades: K-6 Time: During School
Project-Based Learning is a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks. Research shows that Project-Based Learning, also known as PBL, increases student motivation and engagement in learning, is more effective than traditional instruction in increasing academic achievement, improves student retention of knowledge over time, and improves mastery of 21st century skills. Throughout the school year, students in kindergarten through sixth grade will work on various PBL projects with the support of their classroom and enrichment teachers.
Each project has an essential question, which captures the PBL problem to be solved and connects students’ lived experiences and interests to disciplinary problems in the world and strengthen their new understandings to real-life experiences.
ENRICHMENT AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS
Grades: 3-6 Time: After School
Valley Stream 30 offers a variety of different enrichment clubs before and after school. These clubs give our students the opportunity to join a wide range of activities with their peers. It is a chance to explore new interests, acquire 21st Century skills and pursue passions. Staff members in the district facilitate these clubs and they vary by building from year to year. Some of the offerings this year include:
- American Sign Language
- Culture Shock
- Lego Robotics
- Droning
- Theater
- Helping Hands
Contact your school for a listing of the current school year’s enrichment club offerings:
For more information
Contact our Enrichment Teachers:
Illisa Epstein
Susan Galgano