Vanguard Magnet School and
An International Baccalaureate
Primary Years Programme World School

River Oaks Elementary School
Head of School Vanguard Coordinator
 Dr. Keri Fovargue  Andy Williams
Administrative Team
Dottie Lawrence Liz Goodman
Assistant Principal IB Coordinator

River Oaks Elementary
 Built in 1929 with an additional wing added in 2005
 Houses 32 K-5 self-contained classrooms
 Serves a culturally and economically diverse group of about students 680
 Students who attend are either neighborhood zoned or magnet transfer students
 All classes taught by certified teachers of the gifted and talented
 All teachers IB certified

Vanguard Magnet Program
 ROE attracts students throughout HISD with its
Magnet program.
 ROE’s Magnet program is Vanguard.
 ‘Vanguard’ is the HISD name for Gifted and Talented
Programming.

Homerooms
 All homeroom classes are self-contained.
 Students are with their homeroom classes for Reading,
Writing, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Recess, and Lunch.
 Homerooms go to the library and have research and technology classes as a group.

School Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
7:45 am – 3:15 pm
Wednesday
7:45 am – 12:45 pm

TEXAS GOALS FOR SERVICES FOR
GIFTED STUDENTS
 Demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication
 Production of innovative, advanced level products and performances
 Products reflect individuality and creativity
 Advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, and environment

HOW DO WE SERVE THE
GIFTED?
Specifically selected programs designed for differentiation!
Performance based Guided Reading program
Performance based Words Their Way spelling and language program
Spiral, analytical curriculum of Everyday Math
Inquiry based Science and Social Studies

Reading Instruction
 Guided Reading Program
 Based on the idea that students should be instructed and achieve growth from their current reading level
 Teachers do a variety of assessments to determine reading level
 Reading levels take into consideration fluency and comprehension, as well as word identification
 Advanced vocabulary is developed through interdisciplinary studies

Reading

Writing/Language Arts
•Writing instruction is conducted in a Writing
Workshop format
• Teachers have had advanced training with national consultants in the art of teaching writing

Mathematics Instruction
 Our mathematics program is based on the EveryDay
Math curriculum series
 Research based curriculum developed by the
University of Chicago School Mathematics Project
 Develops more sophisticated knowledge of numbers and number sense than a traditional mathematics textbook series and extends far beyond basic computation skills
 Manipulative and hands-on approach rather than worksheets

Mathematics

Science and Social Studies

Hands-On Science Laboratory

The Nature Center

What is PYP?
 The IB PYP is an instructional framework that fits around any curriculum. It is designed to add rigor, inquiry, higher level thinking, and advanced levels of questioning. By the end of fifth grade we strive for every student to exemplify the learner profile.

The philosophy at the heart of the Primary Years Program (PYP) is a commitment to structured inquiry as an ideal approach to learning.
Teachers and students are guided by a series of basic questions as they design curricular units for exploration and study. Ideas of local and global significance reveal concerns shared by people of all nations.

Inquirer Risk-Taker Knowledgeable Balanced
Caring Communicator Thinker
Open-Minded
Principled
Reflective

IB PYP
Attitudes
• Appreciation
• Tolerance
• Respect
• Integrity
• Independence
• Enthusiasm
• Empathy
• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Cooperation
• Confidence
• Commitment

Program of Inquiry – Six
Organizing Themes
Who We Are
Where We Are
In Time and Place
How We Express Ourselves
How the World Works
How We Organize
Ourselves
Sharing the Planet

HOW DOES THE IBPYP REFLECT
GT BEST PRACTICES?
 Best Practices – National Perspective
 Encouraging creativity
 Acknowledging/Developing Multiple Intelligences
 Focusing on Higher Level Thinking
 Inquiry-Based Learning and Teaching
 Compacting the Curriculum
 Flexible Grouping
 Utilizing Instructional Technology
 Tailoring Reading and Writing Instruction
 Instruction in Multiple Languages
 Research Using Primary Sources

After School Program
Offerings:
 Extended Day Supervision
 Wednesday Program
 Homework Class
 Enrichment Classes
Dance, Voice, Robotics, Art, Photography, Magic, Yoga,
Violin, Chess, French, Gymnastics, Guitar, Various Sports,
Etc. Etc. Etc

Specialists Opportunities
Art Music P.E.
Spanish
Science Lab
Library Services
Technology

Research
IIM Independent Investigation
Method

Technologically Rich Learning
Environment
Technology Specialist

Additional Support Personnel
 Full-Time Nurse
 Full-Time Reading Specialist
 Full-Time IB Instructional Coordinator
 Full-Time Special Education Teacher
 Part-Time Speech Therapist

ROE – A Family Affair
•Book Fair
•Fun Run
•Carnival
•Silent Auction

Odyssey of the Mind

Additional Enrichment Opportunities for Fourth and Fifth Graders
 ROE Singers
 Suzuki Violin Classes
 Spelling Bee
 Name That Book
 Student Leadership Team
 Roots and Shoots Club
 Journalism
 Art Experience
 Digital Technology

Vanguard Demographics
Total School Enrollment 678
Neighborhood Zoned Students 324
Magnet VG Transfer Students 354
Vanguard Gifted and Talented Students 510

Vanguard Statistics
Application Information
For Entering 2014 – 2015
As of Magnet Notification Date
Grade Transfer
Spaces
Available
Qualified
Transfer
Applicants
Accepted Wait List Accepted
Non-Sibling
Wait List
Kinder 44 486 11 Q Siblings 6 Q Siblings 33 Q 442 Q Called to #12
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
12
0
0
0
0
178
132
111
67
42
4 Q Siblings 1 Q Siblings 8 Q
0
2
0
0
166 Q
132 Q
108 Q
67 Q
42 Q
Called to #9
No Calls
Called to #3
No Calls
No Calls

Instructional Delivery Model
GT Cluster Classrooms
Approximately
75% GT Identified 25% Not Identified

Application Process
Magnet/Vanguard

Submit a Vanguard application online.
Applications Due Include all required documents.

Deadline – December 18, 2015
Vanguard Testing

Children must qualify for the Vanguard program. Entering kinder testing is scheduled for Jan – Feb. Testing for grades 1 – 5 will occur in December and
Magnet Notification
January.

Applicants are notified electronically of
Day their status on March 24, 2016 .

GT Testing
Achievement Test


Entering K – Woodcock-Johnson
Entering 1-5 - IOWA
Ability Test


Entering K – Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability
Entering 1-5 – CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test)

Test Administrators
 Trained
 GT Certified
 Specifically chosen for the job

Lottery
 An electronic lottery is conducted if there are more qualified applicants than spaces available.
 A separate lottery is conducted for qualified siblings for entering kinder and grade 1.

Neighborhood Zoned Students
 Classrooms are available for neighborhood zoned students whether identified as Vanguard or not.
 School attendance zone is determined by where you reside.
 Zoned students do not go through the lottery.
 Zoned students who are given preference for space then move outside the zone during their time at River
Oaks, must withdraw and enroll in the new zoned area school.
 Addresses are checked and students are withdrawn if they live outside the ROE zone.

Magnet Notification Day
 Electronic notification will be March 26, 2016.
Child qualifies and has a space
Child qualifies and is on the wait list
Child does not qualify

Wait List
 Please be patient.
 Attrition can occur throughout the summer.
 We will work the wait list throughout the summer.

Transportation
 Bus transportation is provided by HISD
 Students must live more than 2 miles from the school
 Stops are designated by HISD Transportation
Department according to your zoned school.

ROE Students !