CT Experiential Learning Center (CELC) Middle School is an independent school founded in 2009 by educators Maria Mortali and Melinda Alcosser to provide experience-based education with a personalized approach to learning, designed to empower young people to thrive during these important and impactful 5th - 8th grade years.
Combining exceptional academics with hands-on and real-world learning experiences, CELC’s curriculum offers rich opportunities to build on strengths that allow students to gain the confidence required to become resilient and capable of taking on life’s challenges. CELC addresses not only the academic components that are essential for scholarship, but also the social and emotional aspects that are necessary for the young adolescent to truly thrive, rather than just survive these challenging yet pivotal years of growth.
Students come from a variety of towns throughout Connecticut, from families looking for a program that engages and deepens learning, where their children can flourish during these important and impactful 5th - 8th grade years. We serve students who want to be challenged, who may be losing their interest in school or falling through the cracks. Students who are bright and curious yet " bored" or out of synch with their educational experience may even be labeled “gifted” or “twice exceptional” as they have a lot of ability along with some learning issues that make larger setting less than ideal.
A large component of our curriculum involves partnering with other organizations and professional faculty and guest artist is from the surrounding area. CELC also travels on a regular basis, both within the local area as well as out of state to provide real-world learning, beyond the classroom walls.
How can we best meet the needs of adolescent learners of today?
Have we effectively expressed why this type of middle school education is so impactful and empowering?
How will we attract enough students to sustain our organization?
Adolescence is a powerful time of life, when the person who one will become is forming. Students are asked to do hard things. Meeting one’s edge, whether it is academic or social-emotional, is not easy for anyone. Students are asked to try, to stretch beyond the comfort zone. Doing the familiar does not equate to real growth and learning. A micro-school such as CELC allows for educators to take the time to work closely with students, a step at a time to achieve a goal.
An integral factor in having success within this type of experience-based educational setting is its size. CELC is small by design. Each student is valued, seen, heard, and integral to the whole. Social interactions equate to developing relationships. Students have a lot of time to express themselves each day, interacting with one another on a continuous basis. Knowing oneself starts with feeling comfortable to be oneself; this is not often the case for the young adolescent in larger settings.
Combining exceptional academics with hands-on and real-world learning experiences, CELC’s curriculum offers rich opportunities to build on strengths that allow students to gain the confidence required to become resilient and capable of taking on life’s challenges. CELC addresses not only the academic components that are essential for scholarship, but also the social and emotional aspects that are necessary for the young adolescent to truly thrive, rather than just survive these challenging yet pivotal years of growth.
CELC provides an energizing, personalized, and significant middle school experience for each student. Small in size, lasting in impact, CELC prides itself on teaching the value of being productive members of the local community and constructive citizens of the world.
In keeping with the best practices for adolescent learners, considerable attention is given to connecting individual curricular areas to overarching themes. Students explore essential questions that unite broad areas of knowledge, relate historical concepts and trends to current events and their own experiences, refine their research and writing skills and have opportunities to work both independently and cooperatively. Math, Science, Language Arts, U.S. History and Current Events are integrated with, and enriched by, the curriculum in the areas of Environmental Studies and Leadership Training, Peace Studies, Music, Art, Drama, Cooking and Service Learning.