| Steppingstone expands enrichment programs | March 8, 2009 |
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Farmington Observer/Eccentric
The current economy has forced many schools to cut back on enrichment
programs this academic year.
Not so at Steppingstone School for Gifted Education in Farmington Hills.
This year, Steppingstone incorporated a Suzuki Violin program as part of
the regular music curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through
second.
Mary Stolberg, Suzuki Violin instructor at Steppingstone, was thrilled to
expand the program beyond the after-school classes being offered for the
past two years.
"Exposing students to the violin at this young age will have a significant
impact on increasing the students' interest in playing an instrument as
well as provide them with skills that will improve their performance in
all of their subjects," said Stolberg.
Students in grades third through eighth study vocal music and are
introduced to piano instruction as well.
In addition, Steppingstone added an 8-week ice skating program to go along
with the 8-week swimming program students have enjoyed for many years.
Steppingstone's philosophy regarding physical education is to expose
students to recreational sports that have the potential to become
life-long physical activities.
In past years, students would participate in swimming lessons every
Thursday from January through March at the Costick Center in Farmington
Hills. This year, Steppingstone added ice skating lessons at the
Farmington Hills Ice Arena to its physical education curriculum. Now,
one-half of the Steppingstone students attend ice skating while other half
attends swimming.
In the area of foreign language, Steppingstone has added Mandarin Chinese
to its curriculum for students in kindergarten through third grade.
Students in fourth and fifth grade study Spanish while students in sixth
though eighth grade study Japanese.
Kiyo Morse, Head of School, stated that she is excited about the additions
to the Steppingstone curriculum and that the school is in the process of
completing plans for new additions in the area of science curriculum as
well.
Original article
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