Long Meadow Elementary School PTO
Before and After School Enrichment Program Enters Sixth Year

For the past six years, the Long Meadow Elementary School (LMES) PTO has been enriching the lives of students through the LMES PTO Before and After School Enrichment Program.

The annual program, which is presented in both fall and spring, offers courses to students that extend beyond what is found in their daily classroom setting.  Chess, Junior Engineers, Introduction to Crochet and Knitting, Improving Stage Presence and Elementary French are just a few of the courses LMES students can enroll in. 

“Time in school is finite and the demands on our instructional time have increased tremendously,” said Mr. Gusenburg.  “Our teachers work diligently to provide an exciting and well-rounded program but there are many areas of interest to students that just cannot be accommodated within the school day.  For that reason, the LMES PTO Enrichment Program was created,” he explains. 

Most classes meet for an hour a week, for six weeks at a cost of $30 per student.  The program, which is organized and run by the school’s PTO, is completely self funded, as the tuition charges are used to pay the instructors and to purchase supplies. 

PTO Enrichment Program Chairman, Connie Holt has been running the program for the past three years.  Due to the ever increasing class offerings, the program has broadened under Ms. Holt’s watchful eye.

“I believe strongly in augmenting our public school experience,” she explains.  “I think it is important to have art, music, crafts, dance, science, and languages offered as much a possible. I like the informality and affordability of the after school classes,” she said.

Most of the program instructors are not certified teachers.  They are comprised of parents, high school students, senior residents from Heritage Village and other members of the Region 15 community who have a desire to share special skills or a favorite hobby with LMES students.

One parent instructor has even refused to charge a fee or accept a salary for the class he offers in “Cartooning and Portrait Drawing for Fun”.  Phil Youngquist’s daughter Aryana is a 5^th grader at LMES.  An artist by profession, Mr. Youngquist explains his generous gesture.  “Not only is this fun for me, but it’s a way to give back to the Long Meadow community that my daughter is a part of,” he said.

About a year and a half ago, Ms. Holt posted a flyer at Pomperaug High School in search of students who were interested in sharing their talents.  “I am very pleased with the high school students who have taught art, basketball, theater, and dance,” she said.  “I really believe it is important to have older children interact and engage younger children.”

Ms. Holt says the more she talks about the program, the more variety is proposed to her and that word of mouth has been the best way to advertise for instructors.           

Classes vary in popularity depending on what courses are being offered in a session.  According to Ms. Holt, “Silly Science” and “Chess” were very popular until more classes were added that appealed to boys.  Now, “Junior First Lego League”, “Introduction to Karate” and “Hoop it Up” basketball, are always the first classes to fill up during registration.  Even “Creative Cooking” has been a big draw for both male and female students. 

Each class has its own special energy passed between instructors and students.  “The children have a great deal of fun and learn at the same time. The PTO Enrichment Program has been a wonderful addition to our school,” said Mr. Gusenburg.

“The program will always be a work in progress,” said Ms. Holt.  “I don't view it as complete and I don’t want it to become stagnant.  I remain open to new ideas and I’m always looking to incorporate new interests. The LMES Enrichment Program is only as good as the people who choose to participate in it.”