Wildcat Wednesdays at Shortlidge Academy: Expanding Opportunities for Young Learners
Across schools in the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, students, educators, and community partners are coming together each week for enrichment activities designed to empower students, inspire creativity, and make learning engaging and joyful. At Shortlidge Academy, that commitment has taken shape through an initiative known as Wildcat Wednesdays.
Held once a week, Wildcat Wednesday dedicates an hour of the school day to STREAM learning—Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math—giving students opportunities to explore these subjects through hands-on experiences and creative expression.
According to the WLC’s Executive Director, Dr. Laura Burgos, the program demonstrates how powerful enrichment opportunities can be for even the youngest learners. For Shortlidge Academy’s Wildcats, it means discovering new passions while building confidence and curiosity that can shape their educational journeys for years to come.
Bringing New Educational Experiences Into the Classroom
During a typical Wildcat Wednesday, students take part in a variety of STREAM-focused experiences led by specialized partners and vendors. Each session introduces students to activities like music, dance, digital art, drama, and hands-on science, allowing them to discover new interests while developing creativity and problem-solving skills.
For Shortlidge Academy Assistant Principal Diane Mahotiere, the goal is to bring these opportunities—that often are only offered as after-school activities—directly into the school day.
“These enrichment opportunities are especially valuable for students who may not typically have access to such experiences, broadening their exposure and supporting the development of the whole child,” Mahotiere says.
Supporting Educators Simultaneously
Wildcat Wednesday also serves another important purpose: professional growth for educators.
While students are engaged in enrichment activities, teachers participate in focused professional development and collaborative planning sessions designed to strengthen instruction and support student success.
“My inspiration behind Wildcat Wednesdays was to build teacher capacity by providing targeted professional learning tailored to the specific needs of our school,” Mahotiere says. “Both teachers and students are actively growing.”
A Growing Culture of Enrichment at WLC Schools
Wildcat Wednesday is part of a broader effort across the WLC to bring engaging enrichment opportunities directly into the school day.
At Harlan Elementary School, Magical Mondays give students the chance to explore new interests, while We Rise Wednesdays at Lewis Dual Language Elementary School and Thunderbird Thursdays at Warner Elementary School offer similar opportunities for discovery and creativity.
During these reimagined school days, students participate in programming ranging from dance and computer coding to chess, music, visual arts, and hands-on science activities. Supported by community partners like Four Youth, Code Ninjas, the Wilmington Children’s Chorus, and others, educators say these weekly enrichment blocks have quickly become something students eagerly anticipate.
Teachers also report that students often carry the excitement and curiosity from these sessions into the rest of their week, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the school community.
Additional Wilmington Learning Collaborative schools are currently in the planning process and will soon be launching their own on-site enrichment programming, expanding these opportunities for even more students across Wilmington.
