The operative word here being NEW; The district has a NEW superintendent, the Middle School has a NEW principal, GATE has some NEW programming and of course, this blog is...NEW.
Let's start the new year by acknowledging some of the great things that happened last year.
- GATE programming provided enrichment activities to over 100 students last year in a wide-range of interests including Chess Club, Academic Competitions, Appliance Dissection, Film Appreciation and Yoga to name a few.
- New GATE pullout programming was successfully introduced to middle school students and included 'What Does It Mean to be Gifted", The 7-Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Logic and Problem Solving and High School Planning for College.
- Academic Teams from all three grades competed (and placed) in Knowledge Master, Knowledge Bowl and Brain Bowl Competitions.
- The GATE program sponsored two Destination Imagination Teams and both continued to the state level of competition. Congratulations!
- GATE students attended a Leadership program at the Air Force Academy, spent a day at UCCS exploring what colleges have to offer and upper-levels spent a day in Denver participating in Legislature Day.
Yes, 2008-09 was a great GATE year but it's my goal to make 2009-10 even better!
To that end, 6th grade pullout students will again begin their middle school GATE experience by exploring their "gifts" in greater depth before engaging in a variety of activities designed to take lessons from their core subject areas to new heights.
Through a generous grant from the Manitou Springs Education Foundation (MSEF), we will bring Future Problem Solving to 7th and 8th grade pullout students. This internationally recognized program teaches fundamental problem solving techniques that can be applied to any problem. There will even be an opportunity for students who desire, to develop a competitive team.
Again, 8th graders will spend a portion of the 2nd semester engaged in activities that will familiarize them with the variety of post-secondary education options and equip them to make informed choices about their high school classes.
Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) have been prepared for all Tier III students and will be shared with classroom teachers in order to make them aware of the specific academic needs of each student. To maximize the value of an ALP, I believe it require an ongoing dialog between the student, their parent, the classroom teachers and myself, so please share any and all information that you feel pertinent, at anytime.
Many of my students have stopped me in the hallway and asked, "When will GATE start?" The answer is, the week of September 7th. My time, these first few weeks back, are spent updating files, reviewing test data and sharing information with classroom teachers. The September start date also allows students to adjust to the routine and expectations of their classroom teachers before pullouts begin.
I intend to use this blog as a means to reach more parents and provide each of you with valuable information in the form of articles of interest, research, speakers and programs that are related to gifted students and their needs. Please share your ideas for the kinds of information that you would like to see here that will be most helpful.
