Curriculum Enhancement

Mission: The Curriculum Enhancement Committee works with teachers to create new and exciting learning opportunities for all students by providing researching & scheduling activities, performers, and speakers that expand grade level curriculum. The benefits of the Curriculum Enhancement program to the students and the school are immeasurable.

Why: The CE Committee was created in direct response to teacher feedback regarding assemblies, valued instructional time and thoughtful utilization of PTSA funds.

How:  ALL CE activities are teacher driven. The CE Committee meets with grade level teaching teams throughout the year to identify those opportunities that make sense & bring value for the teachers and the students. The grade level CE Coordinator works to support the teachers by researching, coordinating and scheduling activities to develop the current district curriculum, seeking information from members of the education, art, business and parent community.

Funding: Parent and community support of the Cherry Crest PTSA fundraisers (Walkathon in the Fall and Auction in the Spring) provide financing for all CE activities.

During the 2010-2011 school year CE helped to initiate OVER 60 presenters, field trips and special events that help to enhance the curriculum and contribute to making Cherry Crest an enriching experience for all students!

For more information about Curriculum Enhancement, please contact Co-Chair, Jere Prusch at ce@cherrycrest-ptsa.org

Here’s just a small glimpse of the many activities for the 2011-2012 academic year.

  • Kindergarten – Toy building/wood workshop with Rick Hartman; The Frog Prince at Kirkland Perfomance Center; science workshops.
  • 1st Grade – Non-fiction writing workshops with author/illustrator Brenda Guiberson; Kite building with a Master Japanese Kite Maker; In class science & discovery workshops, Animal Show.
  • 2nd Grade – Hands-on Balance and Motion workshop with Rick Hartman; Investigation workshop with the Insect Zoo; Symmetry workshop with Pacific Science Center, community field trip.
  • 3rd Grade – Human Body Day; Native American Storytelling performance; Measurement Olympics; Classroom workshops with Rocks & Minerals, writing workshop with Meg Lippert.
  • 4th Grade – Field trips to Seattle Underground, Klondike Museum, Waskowitz; 5th Avenue Theatre Performance; Electricity and Magnetism Workshop, MOHAI Show and trunks.
  • 5th Grade – Civic Education tour in Olympia; Pacific Marine Research Adventure on Puget Sound; Colonial Days; Code breaker math workshop with Pacific Science Center.
  • All School Events – Deborah Hopkinson author visit, Peter and the Wolf with the Philharmonic Wind Quintet, geography extension with the Passport Club.