VBPS Gifted and Talented Program Newsletter 2009/2010 Volume 1
WHAT A YEAR!
Even thought we haven’t been publishing our GT Newsroom and Brilliant newsletters according to previous schedules, we can’t let the school year end without at least a quick Summer Sendoff.
In this short issue, you’ll find program information as well as what to do with our GT students over the summer months.
Enjoy the sunshine!
Amy O’Brien
www.houseofobrien.com
Belleville Area District Library
The 2010 Summer Reading Program
You know where the Fred C. Fischer Library is, right? Well, come on in! The Summer Reading Program is about to begin. Here’s what’ll be available to all of you summer vacationers out there.
Elementary Age Reader Program
Tuesday Mornings @ 11:00 a.m.
June 15—interactive music program (dancing!)
June 22—Skippy and Dave (musicians!)
June 29—Gordon the Magician
July 6—Joel’s SURFari Juggling Show
July 13—Greg Lester’s Puppet Adventures
July 20—Magician Bill Martin/Final Awards
Teen Reading Program (ages 12—18)
Monday Nights @ 7:00 p.m.
June 14—Gamefest (video game battles)
June 21—Mini-comics Workshop
June 28—Henna Tattooing with Anshu
July 5—Beach Bum Clothes Decorating
July 12—Make Your Own Seashell Jewelry
July 19—Pizza Party with DJ (Greg from Celebrity Sound and Lighting)
Registration and Sign up for both programs begins on June 1st. Come on in, register, and see what else is going on at your local library!
Teen Program Alert!
There is a headcount limit, so make sure you get your name on the list BEFORE you show up for the weekly event.
NEWS FROM THE COORDINATORS
Without Mrs. Barb Woody at the helm, you may be wondering how the GT Program is doing. Duties have been split between North Middle School and Tyler Elementary (the schools where the GT Program resides) with the individual Principals handling each school’s GT administration.
The method for having a student join the GT Program is still the same. The nomination packets are distributed to ALL Van Buren schools (as well as local preschools and daycares) each January. These forms are also available on the school district website under Special Programs. Completed forms are due in February and testing begins as the forms are received. The school committee meets in April to review scores and send out letters of notification to parents as to whether or not their child/ren qualify for the GT Program.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments for the coordinators, here’s the appropriate information. Give them a call or send them an e-mail with ‘GT’ in the subject line.
Important Note for SBCGlobal.net customers. This domain name has been blocked from vanburenschools.net e-mail. Please be sure to e-mail from a non-sbcglobal.net address.
Elementary GT Coordinator
Mrs. Barb Santo
Tyler Elementary Principal
bsanto@vanburenschools.net
734.699.5818
Middle School GT Coordinator
Mrs. Dianne Tilson
North Middle School Principal
dtilson@vanburenschools.net
734.697.9171
Belleville Area District Library
(Fred C. Fischer Library)
167 Fourth Street
Belleville, Michigan
734.699.3291
http://www.belleville.lib.mi.us
Library Hours
Monday through Thursday … 10 a.m.—9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday … 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
Tyler Elementary GT Highlights
Mrs. Preuss - Kindergarten
Mrs. Preuss' Kindergarten class has been very busy learning about plants and their root systems. Students are also learning what plants need to grow and prosper. We planted giant sunflower seeds and are watching them grow, almost doubling in size each day. Along with this activity the kids are learning to use a ruler and measure and chart the growth of their plant. I hope when the sunflowers go home, they are successfully transplanted and they grow taller than the kids. If they do, please take a picture and send it to me at lpreuss@vanburenschools.net.
In math along with measuring, we are working on simple addition and subtraction. We are also using our double addition facts to help us solve other math problems. The students are also being challenged with some problem solving problems and are doing a fabulous job since our reading skills are fantastic!
Near the end of May we will be taking our annual trip to Calder's Dairy in Carleton, MI and returning to eat lunch together in the classroom. It is hard to believe that the end of the school year is so close!
Mr. Hunwick's Second and Third Grade
Mr. Hunwick’s 2nd/3rd grade class is examining a variety of living creatures and exploring their life cycles. Currently, we are taking care of praying mantises and tadpoles. Our luna moths and triops have already gone through their life cycles. By creating sustainable environments for these insects we are exploring how life cycles with complete and incomplete metamorphosis compare. The children will be creating their own habitat for their mantises in a couple of weeks and be returning home with it. How fun!
Mrs. Jedinak's 3rd Grade
Our favorite things from 3rd Grade….
A—Awesome Reading Buddies (We have reading buddies in Mrs. Preuss’ Class)
B—Businesses that we created for mini society
C—Computer Lab (typing stories, playing logic games, learning math, and Study Island)
D—Decimals and Fractions in math
E—Earth Day Fun (We went outside and read our TFK about ways to help the environment)
F—Fairgrounds for Project RED (Rural Ed. Day)
G—Our Being “G”reen Report (Environment Essays)
H—Homework—there is always something more to work on and practice at home :)
I—Investigations in Science (wonderful ways to think about the world around us)
J—Jedinakville—Our classroom mini society
K—Kids’ Night In & Parents’ Night Out (class fundraisers with Mrs. And Mr. Jedinak at school)
L—Leslie Science Center (learning about Michigan Native Americans)
M—Marble Party (we earned our class party where we had pancakes, wore PJs to school, and read books with our friends)
N—Native Americans of Michigan reports
O—Our Poetry Portfolios (full of wonderful and creative poetry in many different forms)
P—Praying Mantis pets (Feeding them, giving them water, & caring for them is a lot of work, but it’s fun!)
Q—Quilt Poetry (a king-sized quilt full of our color poetry)
R—Reports on the Presidents of the United States
S—Sweet Peas from seed to plant (observations of our plants and their life cycles)
T—Time Travel Stories (Our very own hardcover published books!)
U—Under and Over Estimates (we learned this with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
V—Very Exciting Vocabulary (We have learned many new words in all subject areas)
W—Water Cycle (and the importance of it on Earth)
X—eXciting experiments (Growing crystals was one of our favorites)
Y—Year end family picnic and the Leslie Science Center (We are looking forward to it.)
Z—Zany Puppet Shows (our versions of The Witches, by Roald Dahl)
We were really amazed at all the amazing things we have learned together this year. How quickly time flies when we are engaged and having a blast! :)
Ms. Andrew ’s Fifth Grade
In March the 5th Grade GT performed the musical Annie, Jr. The students put on a performance of a lifetime.
We just finished an economic unit that concluded with our trip to Exchange City. The students work in a variety of businesses and try to repay their business loans to the Credit Union. They also learn about personal finances and must maintain their own checkbooks.
We are getting ready for our annual Chicago trip this week. The architecturally focused trip is always a much anticipated event for 5th Grade.
North Middle School GT Highlights
2010 African Well Project
Again the seventh grade class embarked on a journey to make a difference in the lives of thousands of African people. The class set a goal of $3500 which is enough to have one well drilled in a rural African village and the training for upkeep. North has again partnered with the African Well Fun Organization; you can read more about their efforts on their website: africanwellfund.org.
Mr. Hudock’s GT classes, which consist of both the sixth and seventh grade students this year, have played an active role in this project. They have been instrumental in raising the $4342 that has been collected so far as well as donated their time to help work our spaghetti dinner fundraiser that was held on Thursday, April 29th. Some 40 students welcomed guests, talked to them about the water situation in Africa, served food, and ran our raffles. The North Middle School seventh grade band performed, poetry from Mr. Hudock’s GT English classes was on display, as well as African art created in the seventh grade art classes. This event alone collected almost $2000 for the cause and served almost 300 people.
Students will continue to collect money through May 14th. Over the past two years the project has collected almost $16,000 and has funded five wells in rural villages in Africa. A priest working in Africa was visiting a colleague’s church here in Michigan and asked if they knew where North Middle School was. The priest indicated that in the village he works is a well with a plaque that says, “Donated by North Middle School in Belleville, Michigan.”
I’m so very proud of our students’ efforts. They are thinking globally and acting locally. It all goes to make a better future for all of us!
Mr. Hudock's Classroom
It has been a terrific year in the 6th and 7th grade Social Studies, English, and Enrichment classes. The students have done a terrific job working together and supporting one another. They have done some great work and have a few great things to look forward to yet this year. It has been a pleasure working with all of them; they have been an impressive group.
Having been able to teach both the English and Social Studies, I believe it has been a great opportunity for students to go deeper into the subject with cross-curricular activities and lessons. Students have really grasped the Eastern Hemisphere in Social Studies as well as improved their reading and writing skills in English.
I wish all of my students a safe and fun summer break. I look forward to seeing you all again next year as 7th and 8th graders!
Best Wishes,
Mr. Hudock
GIFTED AND TALENTED RESOURCES
When "I love Summer Vacation!" becomes "Mom! I'm Bored!!!"
The Truth
After a jam-packed school year, is it fair of us teachers and parents to expect our kids to be able to ‘gear down’ for the summer months?
Probably not.
So, here are a few things to fill up the lazy days of summer and maybe even sneak in a little lateral learning.
2010 Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
It’s back! And this time the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program is using 39 Clues as it’s theme. Children from first grade on up can earn a free book by reading 8 books over this summer. There are many extras with the 2010 program like new digital cards each month, so go to the website below to learn more and sign up!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp
Schoolcraft Kids On Campus
Schoolcraft Community College in Livonia, Michigan has classes—GT and Standard—for children grades 1st—12th. Classes include Acting, Art, Math, Science, Writing, Computers, Culture, Business, Physics, Building Robots, Writing Song Lyrics, etc. So many choices that you’re bound to find something that sparks an interest!
http://www.schoolcraft.edu/koc/
Interlochen Summer Camps
Anyone ready for a trip up north? For those artistic students, there is plenty going on at Interlochen! They have camps for Creative Writing, Dance, General Arts, Motion Picture Arts, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts. All of this is going on in beautiful Interlochen, Michigan!
CTD—Northwestern University
The Center for Talent Development has been a partner in academic achievement for years. They provide the students with the opportunity to build their educational portfolios with standardized test scores from the EXPLORE, ACT, and SAT tests via the Midwestern Academic Talent Search (MATS) beginning as early as the 4th grade. These tests can be taken and retaken in order to make the most of those scores that high schools, colleges, and universities hold so dear.
Also offered are summer courses—on site and online—that span Pre-K through 12th grade. Grade levels are divided as such:
Leapfrog - PreK through Grade 3
Spark - students completing Grade 4
Apogee - students completing Grades 4 - 6
Spectrum - students completing Grades 7 - 8
Equinox - students completing grades 9 - 12
Lots of information on this website. Check it out before classes and camps fill up!
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/summer/
Concordia Language Villages
Do you have a student talented in languages? Would you like to encourage such development? Is a trip to Minnesota a doable option for you? Here’s your chance. From day camps to immersion camps, the Concordia Language Villages have got you covered. Remember, we are truly a global community and it’s never too early to start learning a language!
http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/
And don't forget about the Belleville Area District Library 2010 Summer Reading Program listed above. It's going to be excellent and it's just around the corner!
Comments about this web page? Please contact Amy O'Brien at aobrien@houseofobrien.com. Thank you!