The Enrichment Programme at Dellwood Middle School is designed to capture, accentuate and develop the students' special talents, skills and interests.

Students are encouraged to be self-directed, independent learners. The teachers and parents are facilitators or the "guides on the side".

The students engage in completing independent projects in their areas of interests, solve community-based problems, develop and provide services. Students meet two or three times a week.

Dr. Jeanette Musson, the Principal at Dellwood Middle School, stated that she feels the enrichment program gives the students an opportunity to take responsibility for their own work.

Students involved in this program learn new skills in areas of interest for personal growth and towards career goals.

Emily Cowan, an enrichment student, said, "I like the fact that you get to pick your own project and are graded differently because each project has its own rubric."

Dr. Musson said, "The purpose of us bringing the enrichment program to Dellwood is to give children the best possible way of learning.

"We have offered enrichment to allow young people to stretch or challenge themselves to think about learning in a different way."

She noted that young people need to become thinkers, problem solvers and researchers.

The programme also aims to challenge the students. Dr. Musson stated that, "The students have to consistently be challenged to strive not to be mediocre or just average but to strive for the best! Strive for excellence!"

Enrichment Seminars are also offered to expose students to different areas.

Shondenae Wood-Bell, a Dellwood Middle School enrichment student said, "You learn a lot of useful information from the seminar presenters who come to talk with us about careers and business and from the projects that we do."

One of the presenters was Ms. Natasha Dowling who spoke on setting up a small business and is now allowing students who are interested in event planning to shadow her and get hands-on experience

The projects undertaken by students have been as varied as the students themselves.

As future problem solvers, some students undertook to solve community-based problems and provide services to solve those problems.

Victoria Ledo and Shantel Ball of M1 hosted a panel discussion in the school's cafeteria on the "Effects of illegal drugs on the teenagers in Bermuda".

The panellists were Ms Samantha Smith of P.R.I.D.E. and PC Phillpotts of the Bermuda Police Service. The audience was made up of students, parents and teachers.

A video of the presentation was made, thanks to Dellwood IT technician Mr. Crichlow.

Ms. Namarata Bisht spent hours with architect Mr. Kirk Bridgewater of Butterworth Associates and Design Limited who volunteered his time to help create an intricate architectural design of an eco-friendly future city on Morgan's Point to replace the City of Hamilton.

This city is completely powered by alternative energy sources such as a wave farm to harvest the waves.

Solar and wind energy provided the other sources of energy. The government may need to speak with this young lady when planning for the future.

Other students have created and videotaped cooking shows, written short stories and plays, produced crayons, perfume, solar ovens, websites to teach introductory Chinese lessons, articles for the news paper and more.

Ms. Veronica Vernon, coordinator of the enrichment program, explained that the series of enrichment seminars were deliberately designed to create a greater connection between the School and the community and to enable students to better value education "now" because of the possibilities and options it will offer them "later".

"Students sometimes feel a disconnect between what they are learning in school and their interests, talents and career goals.

"We are hoping that they will realise that their education, talents and interests, are all pieces of the same puzzle and that they can use their academic learning to chart their own courses," she elaborated.

"They can become entrepreneurs and business developers, employers of people rather than always looking towards becoming employees, solvers of community problems."

Community partners who took part in the Seminars series include,

Students enjoy this program because it expands their knowledge and lets them be creative in their own way. They feel it gives them a voice and choice.

Future projects include an enrichment fair which will showcase the work of the students and also an online radio station.