CCSD SEM Program develops students’ academic, creative and leadership abilities
6th Grade SEM students present at the “I Am A Creator” Young Entrepreneur Fair.
Cache County School District’s Schoolwide Enrichment Model, known as SEM, is a program for gifted elementary students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. The district developed the SEM program to meet the needs of the top-performing 5-7% of the student population in that age group. The curriculum focuses on adding depth and complexity in the area of language arts and has been implemented over the last eight years in all 17 elementary schools. More than 500 students participate each year.
Cache County School District recognizes the unique needs of gifted students and provides training for teacher-specialists, classroom teachers, and administrators. Research shows gifted students are at-risk and need different kinds of academic work, as well as regular time with intellectual peers. One myth around this population is, “They’re smart--they’ll be fine.” SEM focuses on challenging students to stretch their intellectual, academic, creative and productive thinking. The curriculum provides experience in research, collaboration, leadership, and presentation skills.
Each grade level has a year-end project which gives students the opportunity to present their research. This year, at the annual Evening of Excellence, 4th-grade students celebrated the theme “Images of Greatness” as they came in character of notable people who positively influenced society. Subjects ranged from Sitting Bull to living mathematician, Katherine Johnson. Each student researched by reading biographies and completing other learning activities, culminating with writing and memorizing a 25-line biographical poem about their subject and presenting it in front of a large audience. In addition, they prepared a learning center to share with families, teachers, principals, and district representatives to bring their character to life through photos, stories, a timeline, quotes and more.
To prepare for a multi-school debate tournament involving each of the 17 district elementary schools, 5th-grade SEM students researched and gathered information on social media. The topic of the debate was, “Be it resolved that social media does more harm than good.” Each team gathered information for both the affirmative and negative side of the argument. One team presented the harms of social media while the opposing side discussed the benefits. The 5th-grade debate teams were judged by students from Sky View, Green Canyon, Mountain Crest, and Ridgeline High School debate teams.
One hundred and seventy 6th-grade SEM students participated in the “I Am A Creator” Young Entrepreneur Fair held at Utah State University. Teams of three to four students put their minds together to create an invention and business that solved a problem. Each team created a blueprint, working model or prototype, business plan, website, logo, slogan, jingle, and commercial. Projects ranged from improvements to smoke detectors to cup warmers and specialized shoes. The 6th-grade businesses and inventions were judged by 30 local business owners and 20 Utah State University entrepreneurship students. 600 people participated in the Fair, which was made possible by collaboration between SEM and Huntsman School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship.
At each event, students were presented with awards for their hard work and growth. Many teachers, principals, district and SEM leaders attended to show their support for the students and the SEM program. SEM students: Keep up the good work!
SEM was created under the leadership of then-Assistant Superintendent, Maurine Donovan, and is now directed by Executive Director of Elementary Education, Gary Thomas.
4th Grade SEM students arrive in character at the annual Evening of Excellence.
A 4th Grade SEM student channels Leonardo da Vinci at the Evening of Excellence.
5th Grade SEM students debate the positive and negative aspects of social media.
5th Grade SEM students debate the positive and negative aspects of social media.
6th Grade SEM students present at the “I Am A Creator” Young Entrepreneur Fair.
6th Grade SEM students present at the “I Am A Creator” Young Entrepreneur Fair