In the olden days school kids were limited to learning the three Rs: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic.

But for the second year running Isabelle Sellon School students will be enjoying an expanded curriculum by participating in specialized programs called breakout groups.

ISS principal Paul Pichurski explains that breakout groups are optional six-week sessions where students can learn subjects of their own choosing.

They include robotics, woodworking, French, cooking, coding and rocket building.

Two years ago, staff conducted a survey of all the students on the things they liked. They discovered that students wanted broader programming. However, the school didn’t have the resources to teach all the subjects that students wanted to learn.

As a solution, the school created breakout groups.

“At this level, they’re not often able to choose subjects for themselves,” said Pichurski.

The school is having some community members coming in to conduct the instruction for the groups.

“They’re good opportunities to bring community members into the school,” he said.