sjsd k-12 gate handbook · 2018-07-17 · grade 9-12 teacher (chs) tag literature kyla ward...

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SJSD K-12 GATE Handbook

Gifted, Academically Talented, Education

Igniting Gifted/Talent Potential for Learning

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Table of Contents Gifted Academically Talented Education (GATE) Program

GATE K-12 Team Page 3 GATE Goals and Objectives Page 3 Core Beliefs/Background Information About GATE Page 4 Assessment Page 5 Communication with Parents Page 6 GATE “Best Practice” Guidelines Page 7 GATE Expectations and Compliance Page 9 Policies Page11 Frequently Asked Questions Page 14 GATE SY19 Professional Learning Plan Page 15 GATE Staff Meetings Page 18

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GATE K-12 Team Director of School Improvement Kendra Lau [email protected]

GATE Department Chair Stephanie Hartley [email protected] GATE Grade 3-8 Teacher Darbie Valenti [email protected] GATE Grade 3-8 Teacher Deb Ballin [email protected] PEGS Teacher K-6 Oak Grove

Jennifer Kellogg [email protected]

Grade 9-12 Teacher (CHS) TAG Literature

Kyla Ward [email protected]

Grade 9-12 Teacher (ASRC*) Science Investigations

Jay Meyers [email protected]

Grade 9-12 Teacher (LHS) TAG Literature

David George [email protected]

Grade 9-12 Teacher (BHS) Literature

Stephanie Hartley [email protected]

*Advanced Science Research Center at Hillyard Technical Center; Available to students from all three high schools

GATE Mission: Igniting Gifted/Talent Potential for Learning

GATE Vision: Creating a Learning Environment that Unites Gifted/Talented Potential with the Power of

Opportunity

GATE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: TO CREATE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHALLENGE AND ENGAGE STUDENT’S IDENTIFIED GIFTED STRENGTHS SO POTENTIAL IS EXERCISED, RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED. TO GARNER ALL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FULL ENGAGEMENT OF AND RELEVANCY TO, THE STUDENT.

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Core Beliefs About Gifted Students

• Gifted children cannot be categorized into any one stereotypical group and exist in all cultural groups, within all economic levels, among populations with other special needs, and in all areas of human endeavor.

• Gifted children learn differently and require special educational rigor to tap and exercise their potential.

o Gifted children need academically challenging curriculum that is both accelerated and enriched. o Gifted children need to have choice in their coursework. o Gifted children need the opportunity that creates true challenge and experience

academic/learning frustration o Gifted children need to be able to be given opportunity to lead and have exposure to modeled

leadership. • Gifted children, because of heightened intellectual and social-emotional intensities, need support and

encouragement from individuals who recognize, validate, and nurture their giftedness. o Gifted children are a special needs population and can be “at risk.” o Gifted children benefit from the expertise of both classroom teachers and specially trained gifted

education teachers. o Gifted children benefit from contacts with intellectual peers, mentors and are supported in the

endeavor to participate in programming. o Gifted children are children first and need to be respected for who they are.

Background Information About GATE GATE began in 1975 with the establishment of the Science Investigations class at Central High School. This was part of St. Joseph’s commitment to meeting the learning needs of its most advanced students. Then in the fall of 1980, the Rainbow (elementary) program began by supplementing the regular school program by providing special educational opportunities for academically gifted students in grades three to six. Students spend one day each week at GATE. The elementary GATE program is at Carden Park Elementary School, 1515 Duncan, St. Joseph, MO. The middle school GATE program is at Hillyard Technical School, Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), 3434 Faraon, St. Joseph MO. Middle School students spend half a day at the ASRC.

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How Learning Is Assessed The type of student assessment used at GATE is called performance assessment. Performance assessments are based on the students reaching a set of stated standards posted in the classroom and in goal folders. The standards used at GATE were developed to correlate with accepted SJSD curriculum. Using the GATE standards, teachers develop expected outcomes for each semester course. Each performance assessment defines the unit expectations using four accomplishment levels. Teachers use performance events encompassing off-level content knowledge, use of specific skills and knowledge in creating or problem solving. Semester course assessments are communicated to parents and families at symposiums, conferences and additionally sent home for review. Four levels of assessment are used at GATE in grades three to eight. Below is a chart showing which levels are used for each grade. Students also set learning targets and goals daily for which they reflect on daily and at the end of semester courses thereby maintaining ownership of their learning and progress towards goals. Learning Accomplishing Excelling Exceptional 3rd-4th X X X X 5th-6th X X X X 7th-8th X X X 9th-12th X X The highlighted boxes indicate the most common levels at which students perform (at the end of the year). The GATE performance skills on which students are assessed are: Information Gathering Critical Thinking Gathering information Reasoning Organizing information Using facts Analyzing information Explaining relationships Applying information Problem Solving Communication Recognizing a problem Planning a message Using problem solving strategies Creating a message Developing a solution (s) Presenting a message Using systems thinking Responsibility Working as an individual Working as a group member Working as a leader

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Communication with Parents Communication is one of the most important components in the continued success of our students, our teachers and our program. Face to face communication is often the most effective and beneficial means for sharing information. However, there are many other ways to communicate, and the GATE staff attempts to maximize the options that are available. Below is a list and brief description of the approaches we use to keep parents and the community-at-large informed about the work that takes place at the Center.

• Open House and Orientation kicks off every school year in August • Individual Conferences are conducted throughout the year as student issues/concerns arise. • PTO Meetings bring parents and the GATE staff together in a collaborative effort to plan and implement

programs and activities. • Principal Meetings provide an opportunity for building representatives to meet with the gifted program

advisor to ask questions and discuss issues regarding the gifted program. The liaisons disseminate information from these meetings to the families in their respective schools

• Fall and Spring Symposiums allow parents to view student work throughout the semester and visit with teachers

• Online Communication apps: @SJSDGATE • Website: https://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Page/26560

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GATE “Best Practice” Guidelines

Dear Parents, Teachers, Administrators and Students: The St. Joseph School District has a “continuum of services” for students identified as gifted and

talented at the elementary through high school level. Such as a full day or half day experiences for students at

Carden Park elementary school and the Advanced Science Research Center.

Coordination of the home school and GATE programs is essential if students are to reap the greatest

benefit from participating in these learning opportunities. Because participation in the GATE program requires

identified students to miss one day of school per week, issues related to their home school absence need to be

addressed. The goal of these guidelines is to provide a condensed but clear picture of how the home schools

and the GATE cooperate in order to make students’ experiences as positive as possible.

The guidelines listed on this page were generated with the help of building principals. The following criteria

were used to guide our work:

• The guidelines need to be consistent with district policies

• The guidelines need to be non-punitive and adhered to by all SJSD Staff/Administration

• The guidelines need to “make sense” to both home school and GATE teachers and administrators

• The guidelines need to be clearly communicate to parents and students

Thank you for your support and commitment to educating each child for success and creating a great

place to learn in every classroom.

Sincerely, Stephanie Hartely GATE Department Chair

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Guidelines are as follows:

SPECIALTY CLASSES Avoid scheduling art, music, and other specialty classes on students’ Center day.

TESTS Avoid administering tests on students’ GATE day. This guideline refers to both district-sponsored tests as well as teacher-generated tests on major instructional units.

SPECIAL EVENTS Avoid scheduling special events on students’ GATE day. Special events include field trips, guest speakers, room parties, assemblies, special instructional films, performances, etc. If a conflict arises, the GATE center should be notified and families should be given the option of having their children participate in the special event or in the Center program. NEW CONTENT Instruction at the home schools continues on students’ GATE day. However, teachers should avoid introducing major new concepts when students are at the GATE center. If major new concepts are introduced, teachers should provide direct instruction to students on these concepts when they return to class. Students should not be responsible for obtaining this information on their own.

CLASSROOM WORK Students should only be required to complete work that is necessary to learn new information or to understand complex concepts. Most classroom work that is missed because of Center participation should be compacted or waived.

HOMEWORK Homework assignments resulting from both missed classroom work and regularly assigned homework should be compacted so students who attend the GATE center do not have more homework than other students in their class. If the amount of homework exceeds that of other students, students should be given a minimum of two days to complete the work assigned to them. ABSENCE POLICY If a student misses more than three GATE days that are categorized by the GATE administration as by choice, the student will not be eligible for continuing in the program. The three GATE days referenced are per total school year. Examples include, but are not limited to: staying in the regular classroom for MAP preparations (not actual testing), birthdays, fourth grade challenge, regular field trips, or other celebrations. A letter will be sent home upon the second absence. To enter the program again, a student will have to be re-evaluated by SJSD GATE staff using the process in place.

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Expectations/Compliance

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ST. JOSEPH 925 Felix Street

St. Joseph, Missouri 64501

To: SJSD Elementary GATE Program Families From: SJSD GATE Department Chair Date: May 31, 2018 RE: 10-11 Compliance Schedule You have received, or have as an attachment, a SAMPLE compliance schedule that was given and explained to your student on their first day of class. It is simply a schedule that will facilitate your student’s success by creating a plan for which they can demonstrate an ability to correct negative issues including: poor organization, poor behavioral, and assignment/project incompleteness. This schedule was designed to identify negative issues that diminish student success and then, to create opportunity for timely corrective action that will lead toward success. “Action” in column one of the compliance schedule indicates what action needs to be taken to take a step towards correcting negative issues. “Due date” is the date the action will need to be completed. “Person responsible” is the student the compliance schedule was given to. There must be a commitment by the student for success and following through on a course of action that will lead them toward positive goals within this program – You are encouraged to participate in this plan IF your student has a compliance schedule at any time during their participation in the SJSD Elementary GATE Program.

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Elementary GATE Program Compliance Schedule Name_____________________ Date Issued_________________ Compliance schedule was issued for the following reasons (dates provided) Contact with parents occurred on: This compliance schedule is expected to be complete on _____________ at which time a decision will be made as to whether the student is in compliance with the requirements set forth. If the student gets back into compliance with the requirements, the student will continue in the program as long as the requirements continue to be met. Excursions from compliance that are outside of the control of the student will be considered fairly. If the student does not get back into compliance, a two week probationary period will follow at which time a decision will be made as to the student’s status in the program as active or inactive. Action Due date Person responsible

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Policies Arrival and Dismissal Arrival Procedures: The elementary GATE program is located at the Carden Park Elementary School (1510 Duncan). Students from all over the St. Joseph School District are bused from their home schools to Carden Park. When students arrive at Carden Park they should sign in at the office and indicate their lunch choice, then proceed quietly and quickly to their assigned GATE classroom. Middle School Students should proceed to the Advanced Science Research Center at HTC upon arrival from respective schools. Note: If parents prefer to drive their child to Carden Park, they are certainly welcome to do so. However, please notify the GATE staff if this will be a normal arrival routine. The bus company needs to know the specific number of students they will regularly be transporting. Students who are brought by their parents must also enter through the front door and sign in as determined by Carden Park. Any time missed at the regular school will be counted as absent. Dismissal Procedures: Unless otherwise indicated by parents, students will be bused back to their home school at the end of the day. The buses depart from Carden Park at 2:15 and HTC at 2:30. If parents plan to pick up their child on a weekly basis, the GATE staff must be notified. Parents are asked to pick up their child through the main office. Students will exit through the front door and will then be released to their parents by the GATE staff members. Again, if students do not return to their home schools, they will be counted absent for the remaining school day time. Unexpected Transportation Changes: If a situation arises where the typical arrival/dismissal plan must be altered, simply call the GATE staff at Carden Park, email the GATE department chair ([email protected]) or send a note with your child. Attendance/Absence If your child is absent on a day he/she is scheduled to attend GATE, please call the GATE staff at Carden Park or email the GATE advisor [email protected] Expectations Discipline The GATE program will follow the policies and procedures as defined by the St. Joseph School District. If a student’s behavior becomes disruptive or distracts other students, impairing their ability to successfully meet their potential, GATE teachers will conference with the student and fill out a compliance schedule for the student. Compliance schedules must be signed by the student’s parents and returned. If a student is not successful in meeting the specifications of their compliance schedule, a conference with parents will be required. FIELD TRIPS Field trips may be taken throughout the year if the teacher finds that the field trip would meaningfully enhance his/her unit of study. Details regarding field trips (along with permission slips) will be sent home with students well in advance. Depending on location of the field trip and the cost involved, parents may be asked to contribute a portion of the cost. If such a contribution would cause a hardship on the family, the GATE program and GATE PTO may be contacted to provide financial aid. It is our greatest desire that all children are given the opportunity to enrich their academic studies through such meaningful experiences.

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Confidentiality will be maintained. To contact the GATE program call Stephanie Hartley (816-671-4030) or email her at [email protected] MEDICATION The St. Joseph School District policies and procedures regarding the administration of medicine will be followed at the GATE program. The school nurse will be responsible for giving medicine if she is in the building. When the nurse is not in the school, she will instruct the GATE staff how to administer the medicine. The nurse will give all the necessary information regarding the medicine to the GATE staff. Medicine brought to school will be kept in locked cabinet. A physician must prescribe all medications and include: complete information on the dosage, route of administration, and conditions (symptoms) requiring the administration of the medication. A form from the doctor and parent must be completed and signed for emergency medications (see page B-12 of the St. Joseph School District Policies). Over-the-Counter Medication: If a student has a special condition that requires taking an over-the-counter medication (Aspirin/Tylenol, cough medicine, decongestants, cough drops) a note from the parent must be sent. If a condition requires long-term use of such medication, a letter from the physician is required. For further details or for parent forms concerning the administration of medication, please see the St. Joseph School District’s Policies pages B-1 though B-13A. RECESS Playground Recess: The following rules apply to all students during playground recess.

1. Outdoor recess will be held on the playground as designated by Carden Park Administration. Students are not to leave the designated area.

2. Students will not play outside when the weather does not permit (rain, snow, extreme temperature, etc.).

3. There is to be no fighting or inappropriate language. 4. Students are to carefully descend from the playground equipment. 5. Personal athletic equipment should be left at home. 6. Students are not to use playground equipment in a manner that would harm other students. 7. Students who display inappropriate behavior will be asked to stand against the wall for the remainder of

recess. 8. Students should go to the bathroom before recess. However, in emergency situations, students may

ask the teacher on recess duty to go to the bathroom. 9. When indicated by the teacher, students should stop playing, pick up the recess equipment and line up

in the designated area. 10. Students are to enter the building quietly, without disrupting other classes, and proceed to the GATE

classroom. Indoor Recess: The following rules apply to all students during indoor recess.

1. There should not be any running rough playing. 2. Students must keep the volume low so they will not disrupt other classrooms. 3. A GATE teacher must supervise students using Internet during indoor recess. 4. Students need to remain in the designated rooms. 5. When indoor recess time is over students need to stop playing and put the room back in order—throw

away any trash, put away art supplies, turn off computer games, put away all games and game pieces, etc.

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Student Emergency Information Student Emergency Information forms are sent home at the beginning of the school year. It is extremely important that parents complete and return them so they are on hand at Carden Park. If there is a change in address, phone numbers, etc. throughout the year, please notify the GATE program, as well as your child’s home school. Food Brought from Home to Share at GATE Due to the increasing number of allergies and other health issues, we ask that students not bring food to school to share with other students. This request includes sharing snacks, sharing lunch items, and bringing birthday and holiday treats. Under some circumstances, a teacher will use food to enhance student learning of a topic. When this happens, the classroom teacher will contact all parents ahead of time, via-email or a notice, to let them know what type of food is being served. If I students has a food allergy that is documented on our health forms, the teacher will also call the student’s family. Inclement Weather Policy If your child is in attendance at the GATE program when the St. Joseph School District cancels school due to inclement weather, your child will be transported back to his/her home school to ride their regular bus home. Please note that GATE is the first school dismissed so that the GATE bus arrives at their home school before their home school is ready to dismiss. If your child attends a private school or is home-schooled, we will notify you immediately via e-mail and/or a phone call so that you can pick up your child. Lunch Students have the options of bringing or buying their lunch at GATE. We follow the same menu as St. Joseph’s schools. A copy of the menu will be available in the GATE classroom. If your child wants to buy lunch at GATE, they need to pay for it through the St. Joseph School District Lunch account. If your child attends a private school or is home schooled, your child buys lunch at GATE or you may bring a lunch from home. Middle School students will eat at their home schools. Early Out Policy

If your child is in attendance at the GATE program when the St. Joseph School District has an early out, your child will be transported back to his/her home school to ride their regular bus home. Please note that GATE is the first school dismissed so that the GATE bus arrives at their home school before their home school is ready to dismiss. If your child attends a private school or is home-schooled, note the St. Joseph School District Academic Calendar https://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Page/2#calendar1/20180531/month to determine these days. If the early out is a two -hour early out, the GATE program will dismiss two hours early. If the early out is a three -hour early out, the GATE program will not meet.

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Frequently Asked Questions by Parents of New GATE Students

1. When will my child begin attending GATE? New students begin attending GATE at the start in the fall of each academic year.

2. How will my child get to and from the Center? Arrival: Children may either go to his/her home school where s/he will ride the bus from the home school to GATE, or parents may drive their child to GATE. Dismissal: Most students ride the bus to their home school. A GATE staff member walks all bus students to their buses and makes sure each child gets on the correct bus. If a parent chooses to pick up his/her child, parents wait in the parking lot or car pool line where a GATE staff member walks each child to his/her car. If there are other arrangements, contact the GATE staff.

3. What if my child arrives late or I need to pick him/her up early? When a child arrives late, the parent comes into the office and signs the child in. If a child needs to leave early, the parent should send a note of call in the morning. When you arrive to pick up your child, come into the office and sign the child out. The scheduled dismissal process begins five minutes before the scheduled dismissal.

4. What supplies does my child need? A supply list handout will be sent home the first week of school.

5. How is my child assigned to a class? Students will have some choice of their class. After indicating their choice, staff members work together to place children in classes.

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St. Joseph School District GATE

2018-19 Professional Development Calendar

Date Time Description Location

8.9.18 Teacher Workday Buildings 8.10.18 District PD Word of Life and BOE Small Conference

Room 8.13.18 Building Day GATE with Buildings 8.14.18 District PD BOE Small Conference Room 8.15.18 Teacher Workday Buildings 9.21.18 District Departmental PD BOE Small Conference Room 11.2.18 Building PD BOE Small Conference Room 1.7.19 Building PD/Workday BOE Small Conference Room/Building 2.15.19 District Departmental PD

BOE Small Conference Room

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GATEProfessionalLearningPlanSY19

Thursday,August9th—TeacherWorkdayFriday,August10th–DistrictProfessionalDevelopment

Time Description Morning

8:00-11:00 NationalSpeaker–Dr.TerryScott WordofLife(GATE) Afternoon

12:30-3:30 AssessYourP-21PracticeorProgramStandards(Project#1–SJSDGATEScorecard)GuideChooseNAGCMiniCourse((Pickoneforongoing)

GATEK-8SmallBOEConferenceRoom(Ballin,Valenti,Kellogg)

Monday,August13th–BuildingandHSDepartment(2:00-3:30)(GATEparticipateswithBuilding)Tuesday,August14th—DistrictProfessionalDevelopment

Time Description:PBLandMTSSFocus LocationSecondaryTeamsElementaryTeams

8:00-11:0012:00-3:30

Project#1AssessYourP-21PracticeorProgramStandardsdiscussiononpractice/instructionalimprovementGuideNAGCAdvancedStandardsReviewNAGCMicro-Credentials(ongoing)AffectiveNeedsResearchandDiscussion

BOESmallConferenceRoom(Ballin,Valenti,Kellogg)

Tuesday,August15th—TeacherWorkday


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9.21.18 DistrictDepartmentalPDProject#1AssessYourP-21PracticeProgramStandardsNAGCMini-CourseNAGCMicro-CredentialsJamesKaufmanoncreativityUnleashingCreativity:InterviewedinISTEarticleP21Course(ChooseOne)

FirstFloorConferenceRoom(Ballin,Valenti,Kellogg)PersonalizedPD:NAGCMini-CourseNAGCMicroCredential:Meyers,Hartley,Ward,George

11.2.18 BuildingPDProject#2Howdoweknow?AssessmenttoolcreationprojectAssessmentStandard2.4P21Course(ChooseOne)NAGCMicro-Credentials

FirstFloorConferenceRoom(Ballin,Valenti,Kellogg)PersonalizedPD:P21,NAGCMicroCredential:Meyers,Hartley,Ward,George

1.7.19 BuildingPD/WorkdayBuildingPDProject#2Howdoweknow?AssessmenttoolcreationprojectAssessmentStandard2.4NAGCMini-CourseNAGCMicro-CredentialsProject#3Wherecanweimprove?CurriculumandInstructionStandard3.1


2.15.19 DistrictDepartmentalPDProject#3Wherecanweimprove?CurriculumandInstructionStandard3.1Areasofimprovement,strengths,capabilityneedsProject#4InstructionalStrategies


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SY19GATEStaffMeetings


AugustTBD

ProgramEvaluationUpdateNewStaffPTOdatesandParentalInvolvement/CommunicationPDExpectationsSocialMedia

FirstFloorConferenceRoom

OctoberTBD

ProgramEvaluationUpdatePDReflectionsandDiscussionPTOandProgramUpdates


JanuaryTBD

ProgramEvaluationUpdatePDReflectionsandDiscussionPTOandProgramUpdates


MarchTBD

PossibleSpeaker FirstFloorConferenceRoom

AprilTBD

SY20Planning FirstFloorConferenceRoom

sjsd k-12 gate handbook · 2018-07-17 · grade 9-12 teacher (chs) tag literature kyla ward...

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