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TCLA Enrichment

For motivated students who need a greater academic challenge through a rigorous curriculum and small-group instruction.

Get your child started today.

TCLA Enrichment Center was founded by Virginia McDonald in 2010. After teaching gifted and talented students for 27 years, she realized the importance of exposing all motivated students to a curriculum not offered in schools.

Ms. McDonald spent several years developing and writing curriculum for TCLA students from kindergarten to high school. These lessons focus on literacy, problem solving, narrative and expository writing, vocabulary development and grammar instruction.

OUR MISSION

TCLA Enrichment promotes the development of both critical and creative thinking in bright and motivated children.

  • Challenge Student
  • Engage Learning
  • Support Progress
  • Respect Intelligence
  • Collaborate With Peers
  • Build confidence, resourcefulness and independence

OUR COMMITMENT

TCLA Enrichment program endeavors to support your child’s intellectual and emotional development through our curriculum and master teachers.

  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Improved writing
  • Advanced text/topics
  • Like-minded students
  • Core subject areas of reading, writing, and problem solving

WHY ENRICHMENT?

Ms. McDonald and her staff enthusiastically teach her original curriculum with positive results to all TCLA Enrichment students.

  • Master teachers
  • Small groups
  • Robust Courses
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem solving and logic
  • Improvement in standardized test scores

About TCLA & Mission Statement

All of our courses at Turtle Creek’s Enrichment Center teach strategies and skills to enhance the development of students’ critical and creative thinking skills. Crucial to success in school, on standardized tests, and throughout life, this foundation empowers young learners for ongoing intellectual and social growth.

Robust courses in the core curriculum of literacy are offered. From personal to professional strengths, these content areas are uniquely geared to prepare students for success as resourceful, independent learners.

TCLA Enrichment provides the highest quality after school, small-group instruction to develop independent, confident, and intelligent critical thinkers. Students will be able to:

1. Develop critical thinking and be able to form evidence-based opinions and responses.
2. Develop confidence in avidly sharing thoughts, opinions, and analysis of text where learning is respected and valued.
3. Develop and master age-appropriate written responses to comprehension questions and selected prompts.
4. Develop a love of reading through engaging and thought-provoking texts.
5. Develop foundational mechanics of effective writing.
6. Develop time management and study skills to complete homework assignments.
7. Develop foundational mathematical skills and concepts and apply them to problem solving.
8. Develop scholarly standards in a low stress supportive environment that focuses on excellence that can transfer to improved classroom performance.

Virginia McDonald

Virginia McDonald, the founder of TCLA, has been a teacher of gifted and talented students for over 35 years and is passionate about helping children develop critical and creative thinking skills. She has created innovative and stimulating curricula to help bright students achieve to their maximum potential.

During her career in public school, Ms. McDonald won the Monmouth County Superintendent’s Teacher Recognition Award. In recognition of her outstanding work and meritorious service at Marlboro Elementary School as the teacher of the gifted and talented, Mrs. McDonald was bestowed this honor by the New Jersey State Assembly.

What Others Are Saying

  • I am so grateful for the wonderful start to my son and daughter’s educational journey that came from their time at TCLA. Not only were both of them well prepared to enter public school, but they entered far above grade level.
    Marisa S.
  • Ms. McDonald has been teaching me for about two years now. She helped me to improve my writing and reading abilities. She taught me well so I can comprehend the topics I don’t understand. Since Ms. McDonald is so knowledgeable, I learn so much from her every time I meet her.
    Himani J.
  • Ms. McDonald’s classes open doors and paths to new destinations and places we usually would never dare to venture without her support and explanation. She is with us every step of the way explaining every lesson.
    Annie Z.
  • Ms. McDonald has taught me so much through the years I have been with her. She takes the time to help the students she is working with understand his/her mistakes or problems. Every week I walk into the building with excitement in my eyes eager for new knowledge. Every week, she presents us with a new challenge.
    Cindy Z.
  • TCLA Enrichment is an exceptional school unlike any other because of many favorable attributes such as the knowledgeable teachers, the warm atmosphere, and the challenging content we are learning. Ms. McDonald and Ms. Lorentzen, who are my teachers, have a natural talent for teaching youths and increasing their knowledge. Both are excellent teachers; I can hardly wait to see them again after each class.
    Amanda K.
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