Gifted & Talented

Please see our handbook for qualifications and helpful hints for referrals.  Referral forms may be picked up from the GT office at 700 West Chickasawba, Blytheville, AR 72315 (Blytheville Middle School).  You may also ask any teacher in our district and they can help you get the forms needed for referrals.  The next testing will take place during the month of April 2012.    Transfers will be considered on an individual basis.

The following definition shall guide districts in providing services and opportunities for students identified as gifted and talented: Gifted and talented children and youth are those of high potential or ability whose learning characteristics and educational needs require qualitatively differentiated educational experiences and/or services. Possession of these talents and gifts, or the potential for their development, will be evidenced through an interaction of above average intellectual ability, task commitment and /or motivation, and creative ability.

The next state GT monitoring will take place in 2013-14.

 

Fifth- Twelfth grades will be served through PreAdvanced Placement/Advanced Placement classes.  What does  this mean for your GT student?  Be assured that all GT students will be served appropriately and the GT facilitator will follow up closely by making personal contact time with each GT identified student.  While the students will no longer be "pulled out" of their classes, a certified GT facilitator will assist the PreAP teachers to ensure that the students will receive appropriate services as stated in the GT handbook.  PreAP is a rigorous program that will provide each student a challenging learning experience that will enhance the current curriculum.  These students will be a part of a special class that will meet once a month for approximately an hour to address affective needs and participate in enrichment activities that are meant to enhance their current curriculum.   They may also receive visits from community members, college personnel, etc. and participate in projects that lend themselves as exceptional learning experiences via websites, video performances and more.

Kindergarten and First Grade Enrichment will be served twice a month for 30 minutes with the regular classroom teacher delivering the remainder of the lessons under the supervision of the GT teacher.  Second-Fourth Grade GT students will be pulled out weekly for 150 minutes per week. 

Other options to watch for this year: 

WOW!!!  A new program has been introduced this year at the high school level!!!  Rotary INTERACT has now been formed!  Please contact Diane Hay for more information!  Interact is a service club so be ready to work and be involved out in the community. 

Odyssey of the the Mind    K-12 grades    (We need coaches & judges!!!)  Training will be made available.  If your child has not been placed on a team and is interested, PLEASE consider becoming a coach.  We need you!!  We currently have students waiting to be a part of this program and can't because we do not have enough coaches.  Each year, we have disappointed students and parents who want the Odyssey of the Mind experience and can't have that due to a lack of volunteers.  I really want our program to grow so every child with the desire can have this unique experience!!  OotMind is a GT sponsored program; however, team members do not always have to be in GT to participate. 

To learn more about Odyssey of the Mind, visit these links:   www.ciarkansas.org  or www.odysseyofthemind.com    

OotMind Update: Odyssey of the Mind has begun.... We do have a few new folks on board and we are gearing up for regional competition on March 3 at Pocahontas and state competition on March 31 at Beebe.  For more information, contact Diane Hay or Shannon Perkins.

Quiz Bowl - BHS & BMS   This program is going strong this year.  Watch for meetings of interest and be sure to attend practices to be able to compete.     

 If you have a student who may be interested in BHS/BMS Quiz Bowl next year, please contact Diane Hay, Russell Page, Lauren Callender, or Josh Miller. 

HURRAY FOR BHS QUIZ BOWL~~ The 2011-12 Quiz Bowl team (coached by Russell Page & Lauren Callender) competed in the Knowledge Bowl in Memphis in January!!!  Yes!  They will be on TV!!!! I'm excited for them!!!!  The shows will air on February 4 and April 7 at 9:00am...Set your DVRs...don't miss it.

Writing Contest (Sponsored by Dr. Siamak S. Shahriari, MD)  K-12 grades

Chess Club - BIS, BMS & BHS:  Chess is known for enhancing creative problem solving skills in those who participate and play regularly.  Even those students who don't already play chess can learn and enjoy the game!  Check with your school to see who is working with the students in a chess club.  If a chess club hasn't been started at your school and students are interested...please call the GT Director to get one started.  You'll be glad you did!  Competitions are also available throughout the school year.

Junior American Citizen Contest -JAC (Sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Charlevoux Chapter)  K-12 grades.  This year's theme will be "Enhance the Present."  The National Society of the American Revolution created the Junior American Citizens Contest to promote good citizenship and appreciation of American heritage and history among every school-age child in the US.  The JAC committee offers contests in art, creative expression and community service.   

Governor's School - High school students may qualify for Governor's School.  Check with his/her high school counselor for more information.

ROBOTICS:  BMS is offering a robotics class this year.  Mrs. Sharon Brown & Mr. Josh Miller are the sponsors. It's just another way for your student to become involved in something very educational and challenging.  The team has already had their "practice run" at the Turtle Creek Mall in Jonesboro!!!  They did a great job.  Competition is Saturday, October 29th at the convocation center in Jonesboro!  Come out and support them.  They've worked very hard!!  Look for the black shirts with "High Voltage" on the back!!!!

Robotics will be offered this year at the Intermediate school level through PreAP Math and Science classes.  Check back for more information as it becomes available. 

Community involvement is encouraged in the education of our gifted students.  If you have an idea that will enhance our program, please let us know.  We are always looking for opportunities for our students.  We would love to have volunteers from our community come in and speak to our students about various topics of interest.  Please contact Diane Hay or Shannon Perkins to set up a time to come in and speak. 

EDMODO is here!!!  The BIS, BMS & BHS students have Edmodo accounts through the school.  This account is used for class announcements, activities, projects and much more.  Every parent has access to this program as well.  You can get your parent code by having your child log into his/her account and look to the right of the screen under parent code.  With this code, you can sign up for your own Edmodo account and keep up with your child's GT activities and announcements.

Parents:  Emails are welcome so we can send out important information through internet.  If you would like to share your email with us, please send it to dhay@blythevilleschools.net.  Please include your child's name and grade.  :o)  I will put it in an email folder and send out notifications as needed.  If you do not have an email, I will still send out paper notices.

  Please support:

        NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children)

        AGATE (Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education)

        ASA (Autism Society of America)

       AAGEA (Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators)

Diane Hay, GT Administrator                                                                                                                                                                 Shannon Perkins, GT Facilitator