Tricia Ugland works with her kindergarten students while celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday. (Provided by Tony Winger)
For families who are embarking on the homeschool journey with children entering kindergarten next fall, a partnership with Cloverleaf Enrichment School may be just the ticket. One day each week, students and families can switch up the homeschool routine and join their friends at Cloverleaf.
For kindergarten students, this means they get to explore the world with Tricia Ugland, Cloverleaf’s well-known and much-loved kindergarten teacher. They become budding scientists, problem solvers, and experts on the inner workings of their own brains as Ugland serves as a mentor, instructor and another caring adult to help nurture and guide them on their learning journey.
Parents benefit from weekly communication with Ugland as she partners with them to build social and emotional competencies and skills in literacy and numeracy that will serve as a strong footing for the years of learning to come.
Homeschool parent Marissa Mullin describes Cloverleaf as a “blessing” for her family, with her fourth child now in Ugland’s kindergarten class. As she affectionately affirms, Ugland is “an amazing teacher, who pours so much into her students and inspires them to truly love learning.”
Kindergarten is just the beginning, as the Cloverleaf program extends all the way through the 12th grade. The hallmark of the Cloverleaf experience for all grade levels is a strong sense of community, as one day each week students have a change of pace from the homeschool routine and join a close-knit community of learners guided by state-licensed teachers. Students take part in project-based learning exploration, strengthen important social and life skills, and build strong relationships. For high school students, enrichment includes opportunities to earn transcript credit, as well as access to concurrent enrollment and career technical education classes, including those provided at Douglas County School District’s new Legacy Campus.
A weekly day of academic enrichment is only one of Cloverleaf’s two key components. This tuition-free program, provided by Douglas County School District, also provides free curricula and resources, including consumables, that families may use at home for core subject areas, potentially saving families thousands of dollars. As Gordon Mosher, Douglas County School District’s director of choice programming explains, “DCSD is committed to partnering with homeschool families to best serve all students.” From nurturing a love of learning with Ugland, to exploring post-secondary and career options as high school students, Cloverleaf is prepared to partner with homeschool families. As Mullins concludes, “I am so thankful my children had the opportunity to add this enriching program into our homeschool journey.”
