Nicole Parkhill
Elementary Teacher
Engaged students are successful learners — and meaningful engagement begins when students are given choice, voice, and opportunities to explore their interests. At Sacred Heart School of Halifax, enrichment learning goes beyond textbooks and traditional curriculum. Our Elementary School Enrichment Program is a dedicated, intentional learning experience designed to deepen understanding, nurture individual strengths, and support whole-child development through purposeful, hands-on learning.
At Sacred Heart, the Elementary Enrichment Program is implemented in two ways. The first is differentiated teaching and learning, which meets students where they’re at academically and socially. The second is Enrichment Clusters.
Enrichment Clusters are my passion. They are thoughtfully curated experiences designed to enhance students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities. Through these clusters, students have the opportunity to dive deep into topics, acquire new skills, and often engage as practicing professionals in various fields. Students participate in an array of experiences that may include STEM, Creative Arts, Health and Nutrition, and Digital Media, among others. Our Enrichment Clusters are led by faculty, like me, who share an interest in or passion for a topic. While these may seem like extracurricular activities, they differ greatly as they offer a richer, deeper dive into specific topics.
The Enrichment Cluster I created is The Caring Chef. Each week, we spend time in the kitchen, focusing on our love of food, cooking skills, teamwork, and nutrition. While the students and I are in the kitchen, we have conversations about food cost, food security, where our food comes from, and who in our community might need support accessing healthy and affordable food. These conversations help enhance their awareness of food waste, the impact of our actions on the environment, and our ability to make a difference in our community.
The cluster is a little bit different each term, depending on available resources and support. For example, we hosted a first-generation farmer, who just happens to be a Sacred Heart alumna, who runs a food cooperative. And, we recently visited the food exhibit, Eat, Taste, Share, at Pier 21, combining our cluster focus with an important cultural component.
As with every cluster, decision-making is student-led, meaning, in this case, that our students decide what to make, where to source our food, and how it should be shared. I provide support and assistance, but only when and where it’s needed. I give students space to experiment, collaborate, and learn from both mistakes and successes.
I love seeing the spark of inspiration that comes with this type of hands-on learning, and the way students develop their voice and skills throughout the experience. It very clearly shows that at Sacred Heart, enrichment learning is more than a program — it is a journey of curiosity, growth, and discovery — one that will serve them well at school and in life.
