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Choose classes that interest you
Learn Cool Things
Contact ATS:
Phone: (916) 278-7032
Email: ats@csus.edu
Website: www.csus.edu/coe/ats
ATS is a self-supporting non-profit sponsored
by the College of Education at Sac State.
Submit
the completed
materials to ATS by
4 p.m. on April 29
Like us on Facebook!
After the deadline,
ATS welcomes applications
for classes that are still available
Table of Contents
2
General Info
Course Descriptions
ATS Overview
21Art
22Engineering
3 Qualifying for ATS
4 Campus Overview & 24 English & Learning Skills
Transportation
26Languages
5 Class Locations, Safety
27 Mathematics & & Supervision
Computer Science
6 Overview of Fees & 28 Performing Arts
Deadlines
7
8
Refund Policy
9
Application Process
29Science
Financial Aid
10 Required Items
Schedules
Placement Order
13
Waiting Lists & Other
Similar Programs
14
Class Changes
15FAQ
• Qualifying Exam
• Applying
• Report Card
• Course Selection
• Fees
• Financial Aid
• Schedules
• Classes
• Safety & Supervision
Students entering grades 7-10
should refer to the Summer
Catalog for the 6th–9th grade
program.
32 Courses by Date & Time
11 Choosing Classes & 34 Master Schedule of Classes
Attendance
12
Courses listed in this catalog are
for students entering grades 5
and 6 in Fall 2015.
Includes date, time, cost, and eligibility
requirements for each course.
Application
37 2015 ATS Application 4/5
application deadline:
April 29 by 4 p.m.
$37
after the deadline:
$47
39 2015 ATS Financial Aid Contact ATS for course availability.
Application
ATS is a non-profit, self-supporting organization sponsored by the College
of Education at Sacramento State. The program does not receive federal,
state, or University funding. ATS provides classes to highly able and
motivated 4th-9th grade students
(in other words,Angela
students
entering grades
Cover Design:
Argüello
5-10 in Fall 2015) and has been
serving
the
needs
of
the
Capital
region’s
Photos:
ATS staff
young scholars since 1982. ATS has provided instruction to more than
42,000 academically advanced students over the last 33 years.
Message from the Sacramento State Provost
Academic Talent Search offers an amazing experience for 4th and 5th grade
students who are passionate about learning and want to enrich their academic development. Every year hundreds of students come to campus to
participate in a variety of courses often not available in regular school such
as engineering, science, writing, acting, and art. Each course is designed to
foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
The academic program is enhanced by social, cultural, and recreational activities that encourage fun while learning, provides academic enrichment, a taste of college life at Sac State, and
the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and abilities. Motivated middle school
students will find the program fun, challenging and rewarding with courses taught by talented
University professors, middle and high school teachers and experts from the “real world”.
I strongly encourage you to share this opportunity with your child. I can personally attest to
the vibrant and enriching experience provided by Academic Talent Search at Sac State by seeing
first hand the exciting learning environments that happen on this campus during the summer.
ATS, now in their 34th year, has served over 40,000 students. We hope your child will participate in this unique program that can inform career choices and often helps open the door to
college!
Fredericka (Fraka) Harmsen, Ph. D.
Provost, Sacramento State
Message from the College of Education Dean
As Dean of the College of Education, I take pride in the educational
opportunities we provide through programs like Academic Talent Search
(ATS). ATS provides children and families living in the Sacramento region
and beyond an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a student on a
university campus, to walk across the campus, sit in classrooms like other
college students, and most importantly meet students from a cross-section
of ethnicities, languages, and experiences.
We also take pride in the services that [ATS] has provided for the last 34 years in the
Sacramento Region. ATS continues to provide academically stimulating and fun classes for
young people, our future students and leaders, who are currently enrolled in the 4th through
9th grades. Kids are given an opportunity to explore and expand their interests in professional
fields like Engineering, Theatre, Spanish, Writing, and Geometry.
The fees assessed are used to provide students with access to some of the most qualified
instructors and services required; and to ensure that there is quality instruction and support
throughout the span of a child’s involvement in the summer program. To that end, the ATS
program staff seeks to provide students from all economic backgrounds with an opportunity
to attend these classes. We are fortunate to be able to make a difference in the lives of children
who attend ATS.
On behalf of the College of Education, I want to welcome our young scholars, our future
educators, engineers, scientists, and mathematicians to a world of intellectual stimulation,
excitement, and fun here at Sacramento State.
2015 Advisory
Committee
Steve Henderson
Head of School, San
Francisco Flex
Academy
Greg Lang
President, Greg M.
Lang, CPA Inc.
Nestor Lara-Baeza
Assistant Vice
President, Geoffrey
Weill Associates
Nancy Lee
Attorney, Murphy
Austin Adams
Schoenfeld LLP
Edith LeFebvre
Professor, Communication Studies,
California State
University, Sacramento
Patricia Rucker
Legislative Advocate,
California Teachers
Association
Al Schubert
SVP and General
Manager, Health Plans,
Vision Service Plan
(VSP)
Marlene Townsend
Retired, University
Enterprises Inc.
Shayla Williams
Center Director,
KinderCare Learning
Centers
Vanessa Sheared, Ed.D.
Dean, College of Education
Academic Talent Search
1
ATS Overview
“The ATS
experience
has broadened
our daughter’s
understanding of the
areas of study that
will be available to
her as she continues
her journey in
education.”
-ATS Parent
Any current 4th or 5th grade
student who is willing and able
to meet an exciting challenge
is a candidate for ATS’ 4/5
Program. Current 6th-9th
graders are eligible for ATS’ 69 Program and should refer to
the summer catalog for
6th-9th graders.
“
Benefits
Academic Talent Search
(ATS) provides fun, hands-on
courses to enthusiastic and
motivated 4th and 5th grade
students (in other words, students who are entering grades
5 and 6 in Fall 2015).
Please note: Students in grades
6-9 (in other words, students
who are entering grades 7-10
in Fall 2015) attend ATS’ 6-9
Program. Each program has its
own separate course offerings,
schedule, and catalog.
ATS has been serving the educational needs of young scholars since 1982 and has provided instruction to more than
42,000 academically advanced
students from throughout the
greater Sacramento area.
This is ATS’ 34th year of offering academic and enrichment
classes at Sacramento State
(Sac State).
Motivated, mature, and enthusiastic are only a few of the
characteristics that describe
ATS participants.
2
• ATS provides students with
an opportunity to explore
new approaches to traditional topics and to experience
enrichment opportunities
in new subject areas that are
not always available in regular
school.
• The ATS 4/5 teaching staff
includes Sac State professors,
community college faculty,
local public and private school
teachers, and industry professionals.
• ATS brings together intellectual peers from throughout
the Sacramento Valley region,
allowing them to make new
friends, share common interests, gain self-confidence, and
improve social skills.
Quick Facts about
ATS
• Enrollment in the ATS
program is open to current
4th-9th graders who take the
appropriate level of the ATS
Qualifying Exam. Students in
grades 4-5 take the “intermediate” level, while 6th-9th grad-
ers take the “advanced” level
and should refer to the 2015
Summer Catalog 6-9.
• More than 10,700 students
from 577 schools took the
qualifying exam during 20132014.
• Classes are held at Sacramento State.
• Students in the 4/5 Program
will attend classes with other
4th and 5th graders only.
(Sixth through ninth graders
will be in classes with other
6th-9th graders.)
• While this is the seventh
summer for ATS’ 4th and 5th
grade program, ATS is celebrating its 34th year (of the
6th-9th grade program) on the
Sac State campus.
• Over 40 classes are offered in
the 4/5 program.
• Over 42,000 students
have participated in the ATS
program since 1982, and over
1,800 students applied to attend ATS in 2014.
• ATS is a non-profit organization that receives no state,
federal, or University funding.
• Over $45,000 in financial
support was awarded last year.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Who should apply
to the ATS 4/5
Program?
Students in grades 4 or 5 as
of January 1, 2015 (in other
words, students who will be in
grades 5 or 6 in Fall 2015) and
who have taken the “intermediate” level exam are eligible to
apply to the ATS
4/5 Program.
One of the goals of ATS is to
be inclusive of all students
who show academic potential.
As a guideline, 4th and 5th
grade students who fit into
one or more of the following
groups are encouraged to take
the “intermediate” level test:
• Students who score at the
90th percentile or above on
subtests of the standardized
achievement test used by their
regular schools.
Academic Talent Search
• Students who have scored
at the “advanced” level on the
California Standards Tests.
Unlike other tests, there is no
minimum score required to
“pass” the exam.
• Students who participate in
a GATE program or who have
been identified as gifted.
Test scores help students
determine which ATS classes
best match their capabilities.
• Students who are ready to
be challenged academically
and who wish to participate or
whose parents want them to
attend.
Each course has a minimum
score requirement. However,
there are classes available at all
score levels.
The ATS Qualifying
Exam (“Intermediate” Level)
The ATS Qualifying Exam
measures students’ aptitude
for learning rather than their
knowledge of specific content.
The test is used by ATS to
identify academic potential
in students who may benefit
from enriched educational opportunities.
Fourth and fifth grade students take the “intermediate”
level exam to qualify for the
ATS 4/5 Program. Students in
grades 6 through 9 interested
in the ATS 6-9 Program take
the “advanced” level exam.
Taking the
Qualifying Exam
The ATS Qualifying Exam is
taken by students from approximately 500 public and
private schools in the greater
Sacramento region between
January and March.
Testing is also offered at Sacramento State for students who
are unable to take the exam at
their school sites.
All students must take the
exam appropriate for their
grade level. The cost of the
exam is $15.
Students unable to take the
test at a school site or at Sac
State should contact the ATS
Office for information about
additional testing opportunities offered for a higher fee.
Camille St. James
Qualifying for ATS
5th Grade
Matsuyama
Elementary
My favorite classes in
school are science and
social studies. I like science because I get to do
a lot of hands on stuff.
And I like social studies
because you get to study
USA’s past. My favorite
things to do outside of
school are soccer and
swimming.
The ATS Everyday Phenomena was different
from my school classes
because we got to do
more experiments and it
was fun. I was interested
in the class because I like
science and hands on
labs. I learned about the
elements on the periodic
table. I liked making the
ice cream at the end.
I liked that we got to
learn a lot in one day. I
would describe ATS to my
friends as fun, interesting,
and a great experience.
3
Benjamin Mason
Campus Overview & Transportation
“The Capital
University”
5th Grade
Rocklin Academy
Meyers
My two favorite classes
in school are biology and
chemistry, because I love
learning about how the
human body works, and
what the earth is made
up of. The things I like to
do outside of school are,
sports, playing with my
dog, and LEGOs.
The ATS classes I took:
Gross Anatomy, Messy
Science: Explosions and
Reactions, and Engineering: Roller Coasters,
Mazes, and Rube Devices.
I wanted to keep my education going during the
summer, and I learned
from my Gross Anatomy
class that your nervous
system also controls your
emotions. I think my most
memorable experience is
when I did the Engineering class with my best
friend. What I liked most
was the constant challenges. My teachers and
classmates were kind and
friendly. ATS is a great way
to keep your education
going during the summer,
and to make new friends.
4
Sacramento State is the 7thlargest campus in the California State University system.
More information about the
campus is available on the
university website at
www.csus.edu/pa/visitor.
Sac State welcomes ATS
students to the campus,
where ATS classes are held
in University classrooms and
laboratories. Please note that
some ATS courses may be held
in Folsom Hall at 7667 Folsom
Boulevard. This University
building is NOT located on the
main Sac State campus. See
page 5 for more information
about Folsom Hall.
Students attend classes only
with other 4th and 5th grade
ATS participants and not with
college students.
Getting to Campus
ATS is a commuter program.
Parents must make their own
arrangements to get their
students to and from campus.
See “Supervision, Safety &
Security” on page 5 for more
information about student
supervision on campus.
Sac State is located at
6000 J Street, near the Howe
Avenue/Power Inn Road exit
on Highway 50. Directions to
campus can be found by visiting www.csus.edu and entering
“directions to campus” in the
search bar.
Getting to the Main
ATS Office
The ATS permanent office
is located in Folsom Hall, a
university building off the
main campus at 7667 Folsom
Boulevard. Located near the
corner of Folsom Boulevard
and Hornet Drive, this office
is open year-round. A limited
number of 30-minute visitor
parking spaces are available on
the east side of Folsom Hall.
The ATS On-Campus
Office
ATS maintains a summer office on the Sac State campus
that is open during class
hours. ATS staff are available in both offices to assist
parents and answer questions.
Students in grades 4 or 5 are
welcome in the on-campus
office when accompanied by a
parent or guardian.
More detailed information
regarding supervision policies
will be included in admission
packets mailed in late May.
Regional Transit
Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) can be a convenient
means of getting to and from
campus. Bus schedule information is available at (916)
321-2877 or online at www.
sacRT.com.
Parking
Following the policy set forth
by the California State University System and Sac State’s
Transportation and Parking
Office (UTAPS - University
Transportation and Parking
Services), parents should be
aware that parking regulations are enforced seven days
a week, 24 hours a day, all year
long.
Any vehicle that is parked illegally or without a valid permit
displayed will be subject to
citation issuance. Two-hour,
daily, and weekly parking permits are available for purchase.
There are also a limited number of 30-minute and 45-minute spaces on campus, some of
which require a permit.
Additional information regarding parking will be provided in
admission packets, and may
also be obtained online at
www.csus.edu/utaps, by phone
at (916) 278-7275, or by email
at parking@csus.edu.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Class Locations, Safety & Supervision
Classroom
Locations
The University grants access to
classrooms on the campus, so,
unfortunately, ATS has no control over the rooms to which
courses are assigned.
Parents who determine that a
class in Folsom Hall is not convenient for their student may
choose to decline the seat so it
can be offered to a student on
the waiting list.
ATS courses have a lower
priority for classrooms than
Sac State summer courses and
other University-sponsored
events, such as college orientation.
Sac State also participates in
energy conservation measures
during the summer so several
buildings are closed until the
fall semester begins.
Supervision, Safety
& Security
As a result, ATS courses can be
assigned to any available campus building once University
classes and events have been
scheduled.
To ensure student safety, parents must select a policy for
picking up and dropping off
their student. There are two
options:
Room assignments are not
finalized by the University
until late May, and classroom
information will be sent to
admitted students in their admission packets at that time.
Parents and students should
review classroom locations as
soon as the packet is received.
Option A - WAIVER Policy
What this meansParents acknowledge that their
students are mature and independent. They will be allowed
to exit class without adult
supervision and meet parents
at their designated location.
Folsom Hall
Please note that some ATS
courses may be held in Folsom
Hall, at 7667 Folsom Blvd.
This building is NOT located
on the main Sac State campus.
Folsom Hall is located
1.2 miles (an approximate
20-25 minute walk) away
from the center of campus.
Academic Talent Search
Option B - SIGN IN/OUT
Policy
What this meansStudents will only be released
to authorized adults age 18
and over. Once the authorization list is submitted, changes
take one full business day to
process.
Why parents choose thisParents choose to escort
their student to and from
class because they feel more
comfortable supervising their
children on campus. Parents
are responsible for getting
their students to class and
signing them in and out each
class meeting.
Morning Session —
9:30 to Noon
Students must be dropped
off/signed in between 9:15
and 9:30 a.m. and picked up/
signed out between noon and
12:15 p.m.
Sign In/Out
Parents who choose
the sign-in/out option on the Policy
Agreement should
keep in mind that
students must be
signed in and
out of both morning
and afternoon classes
and plan time accordingly.
Waiver
Alternately, parents
who acknowledge
that their student is
mature and ready
to be on campus
independently can
select the option in
which he/she is able
to leave class with
no adult accompaniment.
Afternoon Session —
12:30 to 3:00
Students must be dropped off/
signed in between 12:15 and
12:30 p.m. and picked up/
signed out between 3:00 and
3:15 p.m.
Why parents choose thisThis allows parents the flexibility to drop off and pick
up their students at a predetermined meeting spot. If
students are taking more than
one class a day, they can travel
independently between classes
without being signed in and
out by a parent.
5
Overview of Fees & Deadlines
Mariano Sanchez
After the Deadline
After 4 pm on Apr 29 • $47
5th Grade
John Ehrhardt
Elementary
My favorite class in school
is math. It is my favorite
because a problem can be
solved in many different
ways and you can still get
the right answer. My favorite
thing to do outside of school
is playing baseball. It is fun
because we play vs. different
teams and it helps me work
in a team.
My ATS class, LEGO Robotics,
was different from my classes
in school because we don’t
have computers in our room.
Plus we don’t have tons of
hands on things there. I was
interested in Robotics because I wanted to learn how
to program.
The thing I like the most
about the course and Sac
State campus was that in the
classroom there were computers and [I] got to build
robots. Also the Sac State
campus is so spread out that
there are more buildings.
That makes me feel older and
responsible.
ATS is one of best experiences that ever happened in my
life. It is like being a Sac State
student at a [young] age.
6
Students will be placed into
classes on a space-available,
date-received basis.
Students are encouraged to
contact the ATS Office to ask
about course availability.
Self-Supporting
Program
ATS is a non-profit organization that receives no federal,
state, or University funding.
However, due to careful management of resources, ATS
fees remain consistently lower
than similar programs around
the country. For a sampling of
other programs available, see
page 13.
Program Fees
In general, there are three sets
of fees (listed below). Students
are also responsible for providing their own basic school supplies (pen/pencil, paper, etc.),
meals, and transportation.
1 Application Fee
A nonrefundable, nontransferable fee is required
with each application submitted, as follows:
Applications by
the April 29
Deadline
by 4 pm • $37
Students who submit their
complete application materials by this deadline will be in
the first group considered for
placement.
The application fee is a
processing fee and does not
count toward course fees.
Only this fee is due by the
April 29 deadline. Applicants
paying this fee by credit card
must include all required information, including expiration
date and authorized signature.
The information listed on the
application will be used for the
application fee only (course
fees will not be charged at this
time.)
Missing or incorrect
information will make the
application “incomplete.”
Incomplete applications
will NOT be considered
and will be returned
unprocessed for resubmission with the missing
items.
Unfortunately, due to the
high volume of applications
received, a courtesy call cannot
be made regarding incomplete
materials.
and
2 Course
Lab Fees
The class fee for one course is
$335 and does not include the
cost of textbooks or materials. The majority of classes
will not require a material fee
to account for extra costs for
supplies, handouts, or special
laboratory usage; however,
some may. Course and lab fees
will be due after students are
admitted into classes. More
information will be included in
students’ admissions packets.
3 Textbook Fees
Most classes will not
require a textbook; however,
if one is needed, students can
purchase them on campus at
the Hornet Bookstore beginning in mid-June. More
information will be included in
students’ admission packets.
Students are encouraged
to apply as early as possible to ensure inclusion
in the first group to be
considered for admission.
This allows applicants time to
correct any errors by resubmitting all required documents by
the deadline.
Recommendations
Mailed applications must be
received in the ATS Office by
4 p.m. on April 29. Postmark
dates do not apply. To avoid
busy signals, stress, and
missing a deadline, faxed
applications should be
submitted at least 5 days
before the deadline. If you
choose to submit your application materials on the deadline
day, please hand-deliver them
before 4 p.m.
Due to the high volume of
applications received, ATS is
unable to immediately verify
receipt of individual applications over the phone.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Refund Policy
ATS is a self-supporting, nonprofit program that receives
no University, federal or state
funding. As a result, ATS is
unable to accommodate class
schedule changes in the same
way a university may. Participants are asked to note and
observe the deadline date for
requesting a refund.
Refund Summary
• 100% of course fees
paid will be refunded if
the written withdrawal
is received by 5 p.m. on
May 29, 2015.
• After May 29, course
fees are not refundable.
All participants are asked
to note and observe
the deadline date for
requesting a refund, as
ATS is a non-profit, selfsupporting program and
course fees are used to
purchase materials and
compensate instructors for
a specific class.
• If there are extenuating
circumstances, a policy
exception may be
requested in writing by a
parent or guardian listed
on the student’s 2015 ATS
Application 4/5.
• Lab fees and readers/
booklets are not
refundable.
• The application fee is not
refundable.
Academic Talent Search
Withdrawing from
Classes Before
May 29•
100% Refund
To withdraw from a course in
the 2015 Summer Program
and apply for a refund of
course fees paid, parents must
notify ATS in writing of the
student’s withdrawal.
If ATS receives a written withdrawal no later than
May 29 at 5 p.m., 100% of
course fees paid will be refunded. Fees paid for a specific
course are not transferable to
another course or to another
student. Lab fees and/or
reader/booklet fees are not
refundable.
The application fee is a processing fee and is not refundable under any circumstances
once an application has been
submitted for consideration.
Withdrawing From
Classes After
May 29 •
No Refund
Written withdrawals
submitted after 5 p.m. on
May 29 will not, by policy,
receive any refund of course
fees. When students are
admitted and subsequently
registered for a course,
materials and personnel
commitments are entered
into by ATS. Course fees are
used to purchase materials
and compensate instructors
for that specific class. Each
course is independent of all
other courses and instructor
compensation is based on
class enrollment.
“My student
was very
enthusiastic about
going to ATS classes
that met his interest
and were taught by
teachers who made
the subject matter
very interesting and
engaging.”
-ATS Parent
“
In the case of extenuating
circumstances, the parent(s)
listed on the student’s
application may apply
for a policy exception by
writing a letter or email
to the Refund Committee.
The letter should include:
the student’s name, the
course from which the
student is withdrawing, the
specific reason an exception
to the policy is being
requested, and any relevant
documentation to support
the reasoning as outlined in
the letter.
Requests will be reviewed
by the Committee and may
take up to one month to
process after the request
has been reviewed.
As with requests received
prior to May 29, application,
lab, and reader/booklet fees
are not refundable.
Requests may be sent to ATS
via US mail, fax, or email.
The May 29 by 5 p.m. deadline
refers to the date requests are
received in the ATS office. Postmark dates do not apply.
7
Financial Aid
“My son
really liked
the teacher, [who
was] on top of the
curriculum, which
made him excited
to go back each
day.”
-ATS Parent
“
Financial Aid
Last year, over $45,000
in testing fee waivers and
financial aid for summer
classes was granted to
qualified students based
primarily on family income.
While ATS receives no federal,
state, or University funding,
one of the program’s goals is to
be as inclusive as possible.
ATS is continually seeking
additional funding
sources including grants,
sponsorships, and in-kind
donations in order to increase
program accessibility. In
recent years, grants from
philanthropic organizations
such as ABS Foundation,
Kinder Morgan Foundation,
and the Hearst Foundation
allowed for special funds
to be designated for lowincome families attending
underachieving schools (the
“Target” Schools Project, so
named as selected schools
were “targeted” for assistance
to allow students to attend
ATS).
While ATS cannot provide
the same level of support as
in previous years when grant
funding enhanced the number
of available scholarships,
the program will continue to
award a limited number of
fee reduction scholarships
to students with extreme
financial hardship who
otherwise might not be able to
participate due to costs.
Because ATS does not have
a large pool of financial aid
monies, requests often exceed
the available funds. In order
to make ATS accessible to the
greatest number of qualified
students, fee reduction
scholarships are awarded
toward ONE course only.
Financial aid does not include
application, textbook, or
“materials” fees.
Families with annual income
in excess of $30,000 are
asked NOT to apply unless
significant and extraordinary
circumstances exist as priority
consideration will be given
to those with the greatest
economic hardship.
Be sure to apply by
April 29!
To apply for financial
aid, see page 39 for the
application and required
items. Submit all
materials, including the
application fee, by 4 p.m.
on April 29.
Financial aid decisions
are based on complete
applications received by the
April 29 deadline. Applications
received after this deadline will
be considered only if funds
are available or if awards are
declined by their recipients.
Be sure to include all items
together in one packet and
double check it before you
submit. Unfortunately,
incomplete financial aid
applications will not be
considered.
Financial aid awards are classspecific and will be included
in students’ admission
packets. Awards are not
transferable to other
classes or students.
Unfortunately, no grant
monies were received this
year.
8
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Application Process
which they excel. Homework
time should also be considered. ATS classes are NOT
remedial and are not designed
to allow students to “catch up”
on regular school curriculum.
c. Master Schedule
To apply for 2015 summer
classes in the ATS 4/5 Program, students should:
the ATS
1 Take
Qualifying
Exam: Intermediate Level
Testing is held between
January and March at area
schools and on the Sac State
campus. Students who do not
take the exam at one of these
locations may contact the ATS
Office for information about
other testing opportunities.
the
2 Review
Following:
a. Courses by Date
and Time
Use this listing to find courses
during a specific time period.
This listing is especially helpful
for students with limited
availability due to schedule
conflicts.
b. Course Descriptions
Class descriptions are organized by subject. Students
should pick classes that interest them and are in areas in
Academic Talent Search
The Master Schedule includes
the dates and times for each
course as well as the class cost
and eligibility requirements.
Students must meet the
minimum score requirements
for the courses they select. For
more information, see page 11.
by
3 Apply
April 29
To be considered in the first
placement group, students
should submit complete application materials by 4 p.m. on
April 29. To be considered
complete, report cards and all
other application materials
must be submitted together in
a single packet.
Due to the volume of applications, ATS cannot hold
incomplete materials.
All complete applications
received by this deadline
will be considered as a single
group with placements made
top score down until a class is
full. The higher the student’s
qualifying score, the better
chance of being admitted into
a specific class.
Apply for Financial
Aid by April 29
2015 Financial Aid Application
and the required income documentation with their summer
application materials by 4 p.m.
on April 29. Only students
who submit their completed
application materials by this
deadline will be considered for
financial aid.
Incomplete
Applications
Students who
have misplaced
their scores should
call the ATS office as
soon as possible and
at least two weeks
in advance of the
April 29 deadline to
request their scores.
4
Unfortunately, incomplete
applications will NOT be
considered and will be
mailed back unprocessed,
so that applicants can resubmit materials with all required
items.
Due to the high volume of
applications received, ATS
is unable to call applicants
regarding missing items. The
resubmitted application may
be subject to additional fees
and delayed class placement.
For example, an incomplete
application submitted on
April 23 but not completed
until May 2 will be considered after the first placement
group, be assigned a received
date of May 2, and require the
“after deadline” application
fee.
To ensure the best chance of
being placed into classes, submit complete application materials together before 4 p.m.
on April 29. Students applying
after April 29, should see
page 12 for details about
placement.
Students who are applying for
financial aid must submit the
9
Maneet Rakkar
Required Items
courses. This information
is not used for admission
purposes except in the case of
language courses.
4th Grade
Sunset Ranch
Elementary
I like to do soccer,
Gymnastics, art, gardening, reading, sewing,
traveling, and crafting.
My favorite subject in
school [is] math.
ATS class is different
from [my] school class
by always learning new
things everyday. The
two ATS classes I took
this summer were Grocery Store Chemistry
and Wildlife art. I chose
Grocery Store Chemistry because I love chemistry and it sounded
interesting, and I picked
Wildlife Drawing because I love to draw and
I love animals.
The thing I like most
about ATS classes is
how you learn things
everyday and everybody is so nice. It is a
fun learning experience
where there are many
class to chose from.
1
2015 ATS
Application 4/5
The 2015 ATS Application 4/5
can be found on pages 37-38
of this catalog. Please note
that the application is doublesided, and both pages must be
submitted.
Test
2 Qualifying
Scores
Students must have scores
from the “intermediate” level
test. The student’s highest
scores (verbal and math)
should be written on the
front of the application. A
copy of the “intermediate”
level test score report should
also be submitted with the
application.
See the Master Schedule
on pages 34-36 for score
requirements for each class.
3 2014-2015
Report Card
A copy of a recent report card
from the 2014-2015 academic
year is REQUIRED from all
students. The report card is
used to verify student grade
level and to aid instructors
in creating curricula for their
10
All report cards must be
from the 2014-2015 school
year and must be submitted
with the application. As each
application must be complete
and include all required
materials in a single packet, a
report card may not be faxed
to the ATS office separate from
the application.
Applications
received without a
report card and/or
any other required item will
be considered incomplete and
mailed back unprocessed for
resubmission.
4
Report cards should be
submitted in their entirety.
For report cards that are
double-sided, have multiple
pages, or are larger than 8.5”
x 11” (i.e. legal size), be sure
to include ALL parts of the
report card. Report cards
must show all classes being
taken for the school year, not
just one subject, and must
include all of the following
information, or it will be
considered incomplete:
• school name
• student’s name
• student’s current grade
level
• term dates
• specific courses the student
is currently enrolled in
• semester, trimester, or
quarter grades
• comments for those
courses (if given)
Home school students
should submit documentation
from their school or program
that shows current grade
level, current curriculum, and
level of achievement in each
subject.
Students who attend schools
that do not issue traditional
report cards (such as Waldorf
or Montessori) should
provide a copy of the school’s
most recent written evaluation
from 2014-2015 that shows
all classes taken this school
year and current grade level.
For example, a Montessori
progress report will not be
sufficient if it lacks some of
the required information.
4 Application
Fee
A nonrefundable fee is required with each application
submitted. This is a processing
fee, not a deposit, and is not
deductible from course fees.
This fee is required from all
applicants, even those who are
applying for financial aid.
If you are charging the
application fee to your Visa,
MasterCard, or Discover Card,
be sure to include all required
information.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Choosing Classes & Attendance
Class Homework
ATS courses are challenging
and demanding—homework
completion is required in most
classes. Incomplete homework
can affect students’ learning
and, ultimately, their final
course grades. Estimated
homework time is listed at the
bottom of each course description to help students plan
their workloads.
Attendance and
Absences
• Attendance and on-time
arrival in class are MANDATORY! Students should apply
for a course only if they can
attend EVERY class session in
its entirety.
group work and collaborative
projects), students with excessive absences or tardiness may
be withdrawn from classes by
the ATS Directors.
Getting into a
Specific Class
Some classes are extremely
popular and have more applicants than seats available.
Because it may not be possible
to gain admission to a specific
section, students are encouraged to list an alternate
(either a different section or a
different course for which they
are available and interested).
Conversely, some classes will
have more room for students.
In the event that a low number
• Classes are only one week
long, so students move quickly
through the curriculum.
• For safety purposes, ATS
staff will call home to verify
any absence from class.
Absences and tardiness often
affect final course grades and,
in some cases, group projects.
• Teachers are not required to
provide make-up work or tutoring to help students “catch
up” following an absence or
late arrival.
• ATS is committed to providing
a positive learning experience.
Because absences and late arrivals are disruptive to the class,
affect student progress, and are
detrimental to learning (due to
Academic Talent Search
than a student who could only
attend Section 2. (To indicate
availability for more than one
section, list one section of the
class as the primary choice
and the other section as the
alternate choice.)
“We had a
lot of hands
on activities. It was
actually pretty fun.”
-ATS Student
“
Students who do
not meet the SCORE
requirement for a
desired class
Students who do not meet the
qualifying score requirement
for a course may apply for it
only if they are within
10 points of the requirement.
Students who meet this condition will be considered for
admission after all qualified
students (those who meet both
the grade and score requirements) who applied by the
deadline have been admitted.
Course Grades
• Students will receive a letter
grade for each class taken.
of students apply for a course,
it may be subject to cancellation. See pages 12-13 for
information on placements
and waiting lists.
For courses with multiple
sections, the more flexible
students can be, the better
chance they have of being
admitted into the class. For
example, a student who
wanted to take Study Skills
and could attend either
Section 1 or 2 would have a
better chance for placement
• At the end of August, students will be mailed a report
with grades earned for all
courses taken during
the summer, descriptions of
each class taken, and personalized instructor feedback.
ATS grade reports are NOT
automatically sent to students’
regular schools.
• 4/5 classes are short courses
and do not carry a recommendation for high school credit.
11
Placement Order
Placement Order
1
Jada Bailey
All qualified 4th and
5th graders who
submit complete applications
by the deadline (4 p.m. on
April 29) and meet course
requirements are placed top
score down until all seats are
filled.
4th Grade
H Allen Hight
Elementary
I like math because it is
fun and easy to me, and
I also like to act. I like to
ride my bike, sing, and
play basketball.
My ATS class was different from my regular
class because we didn’t
have lunch, recess or as
many students. I only
took one class and it
was the one were you
get to act. I learned
how to look up while I
am reading my script
and I took the acting
class because I love
to act and it sounded
really fun. The most
memorable thing is
that I got to meet a lot
of new friends and I like
how the library looks.
You should really take a
class there because it is
fun and you can meet
some new friends.
12
How Placements
Are Made
Often, more students apply
for ATS classes than there are
seats available. As a result, the
following admission guidelines
have been established.
The computer generates a
roster of all qualified 4th and
5th grade applicants for each
class who submit a complete
application by the deadline
(4 p.m. on April 29).
Students who meet the
requirements for a course are
ranked by their qualifying test
scores from highest to lowest.
Placements are made from the
highest score down until the
class is filled. For example, if
40 qualified students apply to
a class with 24 seats, the
24 applicants with the highest
scores will be admitted.
Students will not be placed
into classes that meet at the
same time or multiple sections
of the same course. Placements
are not transferable from
one student to another or
from one section of a course to
another.
2
Students who do
not meet course
requirements and who submit
their complete applications by
the deadline.
3
Students who submit
their complete
applications after the deadline
(after 4:00 p.m. on April 29)
are considered on a datereceived, space-available basis.
Regardless of circumstances,
ATS cannot guarantee class
placement to any student.
Students Who Do
Not Receive Their
First (Primary)
Course Selection
Students who are not placed
into their first choice will be
considered for their alternate
selection (if that course has
not already been filled).
If both the primary and
alternate courses are filled
and the student meets the
score and grade requirements
for the primary course, then
the student will be placed on
a “waiting list” for their first
choice.
Applicants who are placed in
their alternate course are not
added to a waiting list for their
first choice.
Requesting an
alternate (if your
primary selection is not
available) is the best chance
of being placed into a class
and participating in ATS.
4
To be fair to all students, no
priority is given to previous
ATS participants. Likewise,
students who did not receive
their first choice in the past
have no priority over new
applicants.
Students who wish to repeat a
class will receive lower priority
than applicants who are
seeking to take the course for
the first time.
Receiving Your
Admission Packet
For students who submit their
application by the deadline,
admission packets will be
mailed in late May.
Please be advised that
packets are sent through the
University mail system, which
can add 2 to 3 days to the
delivery time.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Waiting Lists & Other Similar Programs
Waiting List Status
Unfortunately, ATS cannot
release waiting list rankings, as
the computer system does not
generate a printed list. When
a seat becomes available in a
class, the computer provides
the next qualified candidate.
As soon as a student is placed
in a class from the waiting
list, ATS staff will notify
that individual by phone,
fax, or email. However, ATS
recommends applying for an
“open course” rather than
waiting for a space to become
available in a full class.
Waiting Lists
Being placed on a waiting
list does not guarantee a
position in a course. The
waiting lists for some classes
never change and others may
change only by 2 or 3 students
because of drops.
ATS recommends
applying for an
“open course” rather
than waiting to see if a
space becomes available
in a full class. More details
will be provided in students’
admission packets mailed in
late May.
•
be on waiting lists for
or admitted to multiple
sections of the same class
(e.g. Robotics Section 1
and Robotics Section 2).
•
be on waiting lists for, or
admitted to, classes that
meet at the same time.
For example, two classes
that meet for the same
week in the morning.
•
be on a waiting list for a
class being offered at the
same time as a class to
which they have already
been admitted. For example, a student admitted
to Hip Hop Dance Crew
may not be on the waiting
list for Newton’s Toy Chest
Section 2 because they
meet at the same time.
4
Multiple Waiting
Lists
To be fair to all participants, and
because the computer cannot
accept conflicting information,
students may not:
•
“hold a seat” in multiple
sections of the same class
(e.g., both sections of
Messy Science).
Being placed on a
waiting list does
not guarantee a position
in a course.
4
Similar Programs Around the U.S.
Arizona
Arizona Youth University
Summer Aquatic Camp
University of Arizona
(520) 626-6179
www.life.arizona.edu/ayu
Classes: $199 - $650
Course fees are due with the
application
Sacramento State
(916) 278-2842
sacstateaquaticcenter.com
App Fee: $100 deposit
Classes: $300
California
Classic Math School
Fremont, CA
(510) 440-0929
www.classicmath.org
App Fee: $45 + $40 interview fee
+ $35 testing fee + $100 deposit
Classes: $150 - $900
Academic Talent
Development
UC Berkeley
(510) 642-8308
atdp.berkeley.edu
App Fee: $50
Classes: $650 - $700
iD Tech Camps
Campbell, CA
(888) 709-TECH
www.idtech.com
App Fee: $250 deposit
Classes: $779 - $1388
Academic Talent Search
Summer Math Camp
Maryland
Center for Talented Youth
Johns Hopkins University
(410) 735-4100
cty.jhu.edu
App Fee: $50
Classes: $2,330 - $4,190
Tennessee
Vanderbilt Program for
Talented Youth
Vanderbilt University
(615) 322-8261
www.pty.vanderbilt.edu
App Fee: $30 + $300 deposit
Classes: $550 - $1000
Colorado
Center for Bright Kids
Colorado
(303) 428-2634
www.centerforbrightkids.org
App Fee: $50 + 50% of course fees
Classes: $1,650
13
Anela Rei Tan
Class Changes
4th Grade
Del Paso Manor
Elementary
My favorite things are
swimming, watching
broadway plays and
playing outside. My
favorite classes in school
are Science, Math, Band,
Dance, Art and P.E. because they will help me
in the future to reach my
goal to be a chemist or a
broadway star.
The ATS classes I took
will help me prepare
for the things I want
to do in my life. I took
Chemistry and Theater.
My classmates in both
courses were from
different grades. There
were more activities and
interactions with each
other. Taking courses at
a university is an amazing experience. Doing
experiments was super
fun especially making
ice cream. I love learning
new things. ATS is super
fun with lots to do and
makes learning interesting.
14
cant qualifications for a class
will only be discussed with
that individual’s parent(s)/
guardian(s) as listed on the
application.
Adding and
Dropping Classes
Adding a course after placements have been made can be
difficult because there may be
no seats available. Also, holding a seat in a class that you
do not intend to enroll in may
cause unnecessary hardships
for other students. ATS cannot guarantee that requested
course changes can be made.
Changing Courses
or Sections
After initial placements are
made, it is difficult to move
students to a different course
(for example, 15solve2 to
15comic1) or a different
section of the same course (for
example, 15ead1 to 15ead3).
All classes and sections are
considered separate entities as
they are scheduled for different
dates and times. Late changes
are difficult to accommodate
without infringing on the
rights of other students. Each
class has a specific number
of available seats. Admitted
students will NOT be asked
to give up their seat so that
another student can be placed.
Each class has a specific
number of seats available.
Students who request a change
will be placed only if space is
available, and they must first
drop their seat in the other
section or course.
Requests Must Be
in Writing
All requests for changes must
be made in writing by the
parent/guardian listed on the
student’s 2015 ATS Application
4/5 and will be considered on
a date-received basis only if
space is available. Requests can
be mailed, faxed, or emailed
to ATS.
Submitting a request does not
guarantee enrollment into the
desired course.
To increase the
chances of being
placed, a student should submit a written request as early
as possible.
4
Requesting Classes
with Friends
Class assignments are based
on several factors including
grade level, qualifying score,
and application received date.
Two students may have different qualifications. For student
privacy and security, appli-
Also, some of the most
popular classes may be split
into multiple sections, so
two students who are both
admitted into the same course
may still be placed in different
classrooms.
Remember, the main point
of ATS courses is academic
learning, not socializing.
Meeting and making new
friends is an extra benefit!
If there are extenuating
circumstances based on
educational reasons, parents
of both students should write
letters to request a change and
clearly indicate the educational
reason. The parents requesting
the change must be listed on
the students’ 2015 ATS Application 4/5.
Because the requested
accommodations may not be
possible, if taking a class with
a friend is the priority for both
families, it is best to choose a
class that is still open so both
students can be considered for
placement.
Section changes cannot be
made once class has begun. No
student will be asked to give
up a seat in a class to which
he/she has been admitted in
order to accommodate another
student’s request.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
ATS will accept your
highest scores from the
appropriate level of the
test.
QUALIFYING EXAM
Q: Do I have to take the
ATS test for a class
that is “Open to All
Scores”?
A: Yes. To ensure fairness,
and as a requirement to
participate in ATS, all
applicants must take the
qualifying exam. Class
placements are made from
the highest score down
until a class is full.
Q: My student will be
a 6th grader in the
fall. Can s/he apply to
classes in the 6th-9th
grade program?
A: ATS program eligibility is
based on a student’s grade
level as of January 1, 2015.
If a student was in 5th
grade on that date, he
or she is eligible for the
4th and 5th grade ATS
program.
Q: I took the test as a 4th
grader. Do I need to
take it again as a 5th
grader?
A: Fourth and fifth graders
take the “intermediate”
level of the exam, and
ATS recommends you
take the test every year
(but you are not required
to do so if you have the
correct level scores on
file). Many students do
choose to retest each
year to try to improve
their scores, as ATS class
placements are made top
score down. There is no
risk in retesting since
you can use your highest
scores!
APPLYING
Q: Can I turn in my
application now and
take the test later? I
don’t want to miss the
deadline.
A: No. You will not know
what classes you are
eligible for without your
scores, and a copy of the
report is required with the
application.
Q: I missed the deadline.
Can I still apply for
classes?
A: Yes. After the deadline,
applications will be considered for classes on a
date-received, space-available basis. Contact ATS
for a list of classes that are
still available.
Q: If I meet the score
requirement for the
class I want, does it
guarantee me a seat in
the class?
A: No. Students who apply
by the deadline and meet
both the grade level and
score requirement for a
course are placed from the
top score down until the
class is filled.
The higher your score,
the better chance you
have of being admitted
into a class; however, ATS
cannot guarantee class
placement to any student.
Q: How do I know if ATS
received my application?
A: Due to the high volume of
applications ATS receives,
it is not always possible
to immediately confirm
receipt of individual applications by phone or email.
Once received, applications are reviewed to
make sure all required
items are included. If
it is complete, you will
receive notification that
your application is being
processed.
If your application is
incomplete, it will be
returned so that you can
add the missing item(s)
and resubmit all materials
in a single packet.
Ryan Van Valkenburgh
Frequently Asked Questions
4th Grade
Butte Vista
School
I love going to
Lake Tahoe, reading, and baking. My favorite
classes in school are math,
science and writing.
The ATS classes were
different then my regular
classes because in our ATS
class we did experiments,
and in my regular classes
we just read about it, take
notes, take a tiny quiz and
not do experiments and
interactive activities. What
I learned that will help me
in the future was learning
the steps of the Scientific
Method because when I
get to high school, college,
and middle school, I’ll
know how to do it properly.
My favorite experiment in
the class...was trying to rot
a strawberry.
What I liked about the
courses was how many
experiments we did, and
what I liked most about Sac
State was how many trees
there were. It [was] super,
fun, educational and challenging.
continued on next page Academic Talent Search
15
Frequently Asked Questions
Randy Dang
5th Grade
Gold RIver
Discovery
Center
My favorite classes in
school are science and
math because you can
do calculations. My
favorite hobbies to do
when school’s out are
playing Club Penguin,
Legos, tennis, swimming, and piano.
I was interested in the
ATS Lego Programming
class because I started
getting the hang of the
Lego thing and had a
peek at programming
in my regular class, so it
was logical to go. It was
different from regular
classes by being more
interactive with blocks
than school. The most
memorable part of
my course was when
I solved the code on
how to make a bot
that does what I want
it to do. ATS is a collaborative, hands-on
and awesome summer
program.
16
Faxing your application
well before the deadline
or hand-delivering it to
the ATS office is highly
recommended (30-minute
visitor parking is available
on the east side of Folsom
Hall). Q: Can I apply for classes
online or by phone?
A: Unfortunately, no.
Each application
requires inclusion of
the application fee, and
ATS does not have a
secure server to receive
payments online or by
phone.
Therefore, each student’s
application, payment, and
other required materials
must be submitted
together in a single packet
by fax, via regular mail, or
in person.
Q: I submitted my
application before
the deadline, but it
was incomplete. I
resubmitted it after
the deadline. Will I
still be in the first
group for placement?
A: No. A student’s placement
group is based on the
date his/her complete
application is received in
the ATS office.
For example, an
incomplete application
submitted on April 23 but
not completed until
May 1 would be assigned
a received date of May 1,
and would therefore
be considered on a
date-received, space
available basis after the
first placement group.
It would also require
the “after deadline”
application fee.
Q: My student doesn’t
receive a report card.
What do I submit?
A: Students who attend
schools that do not issue
traditional report cards
should provide a copy of
the school’s most recent
written evaluation for
2014-2015.
REPORT CARD
Q: Why is a report card
required with the application?
A: Report cards are used to
aid instructors in creating
curricula for their courses
and to verify student
eligibility (such as current
grade level). Report cards
are not used for admission purposes except in
the case of a language
class.
Students are encouraged to apply
as early as possible to
ensure inclusion in the
first group to be considered for admission.
4
Documentation must include the student’s current
grade level, curriculum, and
achievement in each subject. See page 10 for more
details.
Q: The school keeps the
report cards, so we
won’t get them until
after the deadline.
What do I submit?
A: A copy of the most
recent report card from
this school year, or any
other school document
dated 2014-2015 with the
student’s school name,
current grade level, class
information, and grades is
acceptable.
Alternately, you may wish
to contact your school
and request a copy of the
report card. Please note
that a report card may not
be faxed to the ATS office
separate from the application. Each application
must include all required
materials in a single
packet.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
COURSE SELECTION
Q: My student needs a
certain class because
he or she needs help in
this subject. Will ATS
classes help my child
“catch up”?
A: ATS classes are not
remedial and are not designed to “help” students
improve in their weak
areas. Courses are fastpaced and are designed to
advance students further
in their areas of strength
and interest.
Q: Do I need to take Section 1 of a class before
I can take Section 2?
A: No. The section number
represents the number
of times the SAME class
is offered. For example,
Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena is offered at four
different dates and times.
Q: If I don’t list an alternate, does it improve
my chances of getting
the class I want?
A: No. Not listing alternate classes does NOT
improve the chances of
admission into your first
class choices. Because
student requests often
exceed class size limits,
not all students will be
placed in their primary
class choices.
Some classes are extremely popular and, as a result,
have more competition
for the limited number
of seats available. Also,
classes with a low number
of applicants are subject
to cancellation.
To improve the chances
of participating in ATS,
students are encouraged
to list alternate choices
at the time they submit
their initial application.
Students should not
wait until after they have
received their admission
packet to request to add
another class, as requests
after the deadline are considered on a date-received,
space-available basis.
Q: What if I want to take
a class with a friend?
A: Class assignments are
based on several factors
including grade level,
qualifying score, and application receipt date. You
and your friend may have
different qualifications.
Remember, the main
point of ATS courses is
academic learning, not
socializing. If there are extenuating circumstances,
students may submit a request before class begins.
However, your request
may not be possible to
fulfill if the class is full.
Refer to the “Requesting
Classes with Friends”
section (page 14) for more
information. Class or
section changes cannot
be made once class has
begun.
Q: I really want to get
into a Robotics class,
but I don’t care
what section. What
should I write on my
application?
A: To have the best chance to
get into a class, students
should list one section
of the class as a primary
choice, and the other
sections as alternate
choices.
Rebecca Jeevamani
Frequently Asked Questions
5th Grade
Gold RIver
Discovery
Center
I play the piano, go to
karate, and I like to read
and draw. My favorite
classes in school are
science and Japanese. I
took Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena and
Newton’s Toy Chest. I
really LOVE science so I
chose the essential ones.
I learned the basic physics and on TV shows and
other things, it shows up.
The chemistry will help
me in middle school science. I didn’t travel class
to class (before) so that
was something new. My
most favorite experiment was the makeyour-own ice-cream.
Ours turned out to be a
milkshake and my partner was allergic to dairy
so I got the whole thing!
The courses were spaced
out evenly and the landscape looked very pretty.
I would describe ATS to
my friends as a preparation for middle school
and a place for people
who want to go above
and beyond. I wouldn’t
consider it as a summer
school because it’s fun
and it’s not like school.
continued on next page Academic Talent Search
17
Frequently Asked Questions
“I feel that not
only was the
class academically
sound, but it also
gave him confidence
in being able to
attend college when
he is older.”
-ATS Parent
“
For example, in the case
of a student wanting
to get into Robotics,
Section 1 could be listed
as a primary choice, and
Sections 2 and 3 could
be listed as alternates.
Because the computer
cannot accept conflicting
information, it is NOT
possible to list mutiple
sections of a class as
different primary choices.
Q: If I’m applying for
financial aid, do I
still need to pay the
application fee?
A: Yes. The nonrefundable
application fee is a
processing fee, and is
required for all applicants,
even those who are
applying for financial aid.
FINANCIAL AID
Q: What are the income
requirements for
financial aid?
A: The Financial Aid Committee grants awards on a
need basis. Families with
an annual income over
$30,000 are asked NOT to
apply for financial aid.
Q: I haven’t filed taxes
for 2014. Can I send
information from a
previous year instead?
A: No. Verification of complete annual household
income from the 2014 tax
year is required.
18
See the Financial Aid Application for more information about acceptable
documents.
Q: When will I know what
classes I got?
A: For students who submit
their application by the
deadline, admission packets will be mailed in late
May.
Q: Do I have to pay for
classes now?
A: No. Only the application
fee is due with your application. Paying course fees
now does not increase
your chances of being
admitted.
Q: If I don’t get a class,
do I get my application
fee back?
A: No. The application fee
is a processing fee and is
nonrefundable and nontransferable.
SCHEDULES
FEES
Q: When do I have to pay
for classes?
A: Course fees and confirmation of attendance
are generally due in late
May or early June. More
information, including
a specific registration
deadline, will be available
in your admission packet.
with a written explanation of why alternate
documents are being
submitted and what they
represent.
If 2014 tax forms have
not been submitted, other
documentation, such as
a CalWorks statement,
must be provided along
Please be advised that admission packets are sent
though the University
mail system, and delivery can take longer than
regular US mail.
Q: Can I call and get my
class placements over
the phone instead of
waiting for my packet
to arrive?
A: No. Unfortunately, ATS
is not able to provide
individual class placement
information over the
phone. Admission packets
contain personalized
materials with detailed
information regarding
your class admission.
Due to the complexity of
this information, we ask
for your patience as you
wait for the admission
packet to arrive at your
home.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
CLASSES
Q: How big are the classes?
A: Class sizes vary depending on the subject and a
number of other factors.
The majority of classes are
generally between 22 and
26 students.
Q: Will all classes be
held on the Sac State
campus?
A: Yes. All ATS courses will
be held either on the
main campus (located at
6000 J St) or in Folsom
Hall (7667 Folsom Blvd).
See page 5 for more
information.
Q: Why are some classes
held in Folsom Hall (a
Sac State building not
on the main campus)?
A: Classroom assignments
are made by the
University. ATS courses
have a lower priority
for rooms than Sac
State courses and other
University-sponsored
events, such as college
orientation.
Parents who determine
that a class in Folsom Hall
is not possible for their
student may choose to
decline the seat so it can
be offered to a student on
the waiting list.
Q: Am I going to be in
classes with college
students?
A: No, just with other
4th and 5th grade ATS
participants.
Q: If you know some
classes are popular,
will ATS offer more
sections?
A: A number of factors go
into the preparation of
offering an ATS course.
There is a lengthy process
to hire faculty; planning
and hiring is usually a
three-month process.
Because of the extensive
preparation involved, it is
difficult to find a qualified
instructor at short notice
while providing adequate
time to prepare a quality
course. However, if a
class is very popular and
there is a current faculty
member on staff who is
qualified and available to
teach the course, ATS may
be able to split a course
into multiple sections.
Q: Will students get
breaks during class?
A: Yes. Students will get
breaks during class. The
length and frequency
of class breaks are
determined by the
instructor and the flow of
the class.
Students in the 4/5
program will be
supervised during class
breaks, but not between
morning and afternoon
classes.
Q: How do I know if
a class requires a
textbook? Will it be
the same as last year?
A: The majority of 4/5
classes do not require
textbooks; however,
some may. Most range
in price from $20 to $40
and can be purchased at
the Hornet Bookstore on
campus or from other
textbook resellers.
Book requirements
may change each year
as teachers refine their
curriculum or new
editions are published.
Textbook information will
be included in students’
admission packets in May.
Jacob Castellanos
Frequently Asked Questions
5th Grade
Capitol Heights
Academy
I compete in marathons, I like swimming,
and I love to play video
games. Math and science [are my favorite
classes], because I am
good at math and science is fun to do.
My most memorable
experience at ATS was
the new friends I made.
I took a roller coaster
class [because] I want
to be an engineer
when I grow up. I really
liked the cool projects
we did. I learned how
to work as a team and
had to use engineering skills to make the
project work correctly.
I would describe ATS as
fun, challenging, and
very rewarding.
continued on next page Academic Talent Search
19
Frequently Asked Questions
Justin Wong
4th Grade
Elliott Ranch
Elementary
My favorite classes in
school are math and
science because it is
challenging in math and
extremely cool to learn
science. My favorite
things to do outside of
school is to draw, play
computer games, and
checkers.
ATS is a fun learning
program designed for
kids and you get to meet
awesome new friends. I
was absolutely interested in the classes that I
took this summer. I took
architecture, chemistry,
and LEGO Robotics. I
learned about atoms in
chemistry, bridges in architecture, and robots in
LEGO Robotics. The ATS
classes were different
[than] my regular school
classes because they
were interesting and
fun. My most favorite
experience was to experience different chemical
substances in chemistry.
The Sac State campus is
beautiful with a peaceful
environment.
20
Q: Does ATS provide
any residential or
transportation
options?
A: No. ATS is strictly a
commuter program,
and participants are
responsible for making
their own arrangements
to get to and from the
Sac State campus for each
class meeting. For more
information about public
transit, see page 4.
Parents can select
between the following
options:
1) that their student be
signed in and out of each
class every day by an
authorized adult, OR
Policy Agreement
Forms are mandatory
documents established
to ensure student
safety.
Q: Who is authorized to
pick my student up
from class?
A: If parents have indicated
on their student’s Policy
Agreement that they want
their child to be signed in
and out of each class by
an authorized adult, their
student will be released
only to individuals listed
on that written agreement.
SAFETY AND
SUPERVISION
Q: Why do I need to sign
my student in and out
of class?
A: For student safety and
security, parents will be
required to complete a
Policy Agreement once a
student is admitted to a
course.
2) that their student is
mature, ready to be on
campus independently,
and able to leave class
with no adult accompaniment or supervision.
All persons listed must
be at least 18 years of age
and must present a photo
ID when picking up the
student.
ATS is committed to keeping students as safe as
possible, so children will
not be released into the
custody of anyone not on
the agreement, regardless
of his or her relationship
to the child.
Parents who indicate on
their Policy Agreement
that their student can
leave class with no adult
accompaniment, do so
with the understanding
that ATS will not check or
monitor if someone picks
their student up after
class.
Q: I work full-time
and cannot sign my
student in and out.
Is there daycare or
supervision provided
before, after, or
between classes?
A: ATS provides supervision
for students during class
time only, and parents
should plan accordingly. Because ATS is
not licensed as childcare
there is no supervision for
students before, after, or
between class. (See details
on page 5 for more information about options and
supervision.)
Q: What is the latest
time I can pick up my
student?
A: All students must be
picked up no later than
15 minutes after class
ends.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - General Information
Jenan Ozeir
Art
Beginning Drawing:
Cartoons & Comic
Strips
5th Grade
CA Montessori
Project (Capitol)
I like math, reading, art,
and science. I like math
because it’s fun and challenging, reading because
it takes me into another
world, art because I can
express myself, and
science because it’s
thrilling. I like to play volleyball, do gymnastics,
play with my dog and
cat, and spend time with
my family outside. [At
ATS,] I took wildlife drawing, and what I learned
from that class helps me
draw wildlife better than
I ever could. It was really
fun! We took trips around
the campus and it just
had a different feel. I
loved when we went into
the greenhouse and then
went outside. I loved the
campus because of all
the trees and the rose
garden, etc. The courses
are really fun and are
really interesting. ATS is
really fun and I learned
a lot.
Academic Talent Search
Have you ever wanted to
create and draw cartoons?
Then this class is for you!
This hands-on course is
designed for students who
wish to develop their talent
to draw cartoons and apply
those skills to the anatomy
of a comic strip. Students
will learn how to draw funny
people, animals, and objects
(like a car or a piece of fruit)
and then explore how to bring
them to life with personality
and humor. The course also
touches on caricatures and
cartooning in advertising.
Using their cartooning skills,
students will work in teams
to design their own product,
then draw and color an
advertisement for the product
and present it to the class.
For the final project, students
will work individually to
apply their knowledge of the
components of a comic strip
and draw their own panel
comic strip. Artwork will be
displayed on the walls for
students and parents to view!
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Laura Schofield, Educator
Wildlife Drawing
In this hands-on class,
students will learn basic
techniques and skills to draw
from observation. Through
the medium of charcoal,
students will learn to draw
and create still-lifes of
critters with fur, feathers,
and scales. Working from 3-D
animals and specimens in the
Sacramento State vertebrate
museum, students will learn
the techniques of form,
shape, shading, and pattern.
Students will keep a sketch
book and practice drawing
and sketching outside of class.
By the end of the course,
students will have enhanced
their abilities to critique their
own works and developed
the art vocabulary needed
to discuss their creations
with others in an informed,
factual, and risk-free way. No
prior drawing experience is
required; however, students
with a drawing background
are welcome.
Because it may
not be possible
to gain admission to
a specific section, students are encouraged
to list an alternate (either a different section
or a different course for
which they are available
and interested).
4
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Marsha Schindler, Art Institute of
California, Sacramento and the
Crocker Art Museum
21
“
“I liked that
I learned so
much more than I
expected. The learning
part was the best.”
-ATS Student
Engineering and
Architectural Design
Engineering
Simulations
This course introduces the
basic concepts of architecture
and engineering. Students
will use the Engineering
Process Method to develop
their abilities in imagining,
creating, and testing.
Engaging hands-on activities
will include designing an egg
bungee jump and building a
cantilever bridge, a geodesic
dome, a truss bridge, and
a tower. By incorporating
visual thinking, materials
testing, problem solving,
and cooperative learning,
students will discover the
qualities of “good design.”
Working in pairs and small
groups, students will learn
about elevation design, test
building materials, and
explore building types and
their aesthetics. Students will
test the stiffness, rigidity,
elasticity, and compressibility
of materials such as nylon,
cardboard, clay, paper, and
wood. Students will see how
their creations function
under forces like tension,
compression, and bending.
Using their new architectural
skills, students will design
elevation and floor plans
for a “School of the Future.”
The objective is to introduce
students to the activities of
architects and engineers and
to appreciate principles of
good design.
In this hands-on class,
students will participate in an
advanced role-play simulation
in which they will design
their own shopping malls.
Students will work with
decimals, geometry, and basic
number sense to learn reallife math, engineering, and
problem solving skills. They
will apply their newfound
math and engineering skills
to real world applications. In
small groups, students will
form a construction company
in charge of building different
stores for the mall. Teams
will decide which anchor
stores and businesses they
will design. Each student
will draft a blueprint of the
store they wish to build,
and will also apply for a
job, such as Building and
Safety Manager, Architect,
Procurement Specialist, or
Accountant. Teams must
adhere to the budget and
will interact with the “bank”
during the simulation. At the
end of the class, students will
participate in ribbon cutting
presentations and speeches.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Teresa Bridges, Folsom Cordova
USD
22
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Debbie Prekeges, Rocklin USD
Rohan Upadhyay
Engineering
4th Grade
Rocklin Academy
Meyers
My favorite class in
school is math because
you get to solve challenging equations. My
favorite things to do
outside school are swimming and Taekwondo.
I also like to play with
legos and play games.
ATS classes were different from my regular
school classes. I took Engineering and Architecture and Lego Robotics.
These were topics I didn’t
learn in school. I got the
opportunity to work as
a team and learn new
concepts. I was interested in the classes I took
this summer because I
wouldn’t learn them in
school. What I learned
about engineering and
architecture could help
me in the future.
My favorite experience
at ATS this summer was
building a Truss Bridge.
What I like most about
the courses were doing
hands on activities. I
liked that the Sac State
campus was big. ATS
was fun. I learned a lot of
things. It gave me exposure to learn at a college
campus with students
from different schools.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - Course Descriptions
Engineering
Engineering: Roller
Coasters, Mazes &
Rube Devices
In this hands-on course,
students will learn the
engineering design process
through activities in which
they brainstorm, sketch,
fabricate, test, and problem
solve. Challenges will include
marble roller coasters and
mazes. They will use the
design process and build
Rube Goldberg mechanical
devices. A Pulitzer Prize
winning cartoonist, sculptor,
and author, Goldberg was
famous for his depiction of
complicated inventions that
performed simple tasks, using
intricate mechanical devices
and outlandish components.
Using some of Goldberg’s
concepts, students will work
in pairs to create a structure
that uses gravity and kinetic
energy to complete simple
tasks. The devices they
create will be subsystems
of simple machines within
a larger system and will be
self-powered using potential
energy. When done, students
will have produced a creation
that does not require the
use of batteries or electrical
power. Remember, Goldberg
would never do anything in a
straightforward, easy way!
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Carol Keitt, Elk Grove USD
Imagination
Innovation:
Structural
Engineering Design
Students will learn the
basic concepts of structural
engineering and then design
creative structures that can
withstand earthquakes,
rotational force, heavy
loads, and insane heights!
Daily hands-on activities
using common materials
will generate collaboration
as students race to find the
best, fastest, most stable, or
most innovative solution. The
engineering design model:
creative brainstorming,
innovation, prototype
building, testing, and
modifying will be practiced
as teams learn to think
outside the box, sharpen
their critical thinking, and
build teamwork skills. After
studying famous structures
such as the Eiffel Tower, the
Pyramids of Giza, and the
Golden Gate Bridge, students
will design their own towers,
expansion bridges, and other
edifices out of everyday items
like marshmallows, golf
balls, toothpicks, gumdrops,
and Jenga blocks. Students
will test their creations
with weights, earthquake
simulations, and water
balloons. On the last day of
class, friends and family will
be invited to watch a live team
challenge as students race
to build a mystery structure
using secret supplies.
Estimated Daily Homework:
10 - 15 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Patricia Sipula, Elk Grove USD
Academic Talent Search
LEGO Robotics:
Building &
Programming
Experience the fun of building
and programming a robot
while developing problem
solving and critical thinking
skills. Working in teams,
students will design, build and
program robots using LEGO
Mindstorms NXT kits. Team
members will complete LEGO
missions such as following
a path, opening a door, and
releasing a chute of LEGO
Logs. All participants will
take on different roles as
builder, programmer, data
collector, mathematician,
tester, and robot mission
controller. Students will
learn to use “drag and drop”
programming, to build and
connect motor attachments,
and to tie function in design,
structure, and support.
Critical thinking and
problem solving skills will
be enhanced as students
relate the linear distance
to the size of the robot’s
wheel, explore how sensors
allow robots to “see” their
environment, and complete
challenging missions.
Using the programming,
engineering, problem solving
and teamwork skills they
have acquired, students will
demonstrate their learning at
a competition on the last day
of class.
“ATS was an
opportunity
for my child to try a
course of study that
she found interesting
- and something not
offered in a traditional
academic program.”
-ATS Parent
“
Estimated Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
• Kelly Cordero, Sacramento
City USD
• Denise Watts, Sacramento
City USD
23
Creative Writing:
Create Original
Stories with
Fairytale Elements
To be considered
in the first
placement group,
students should submit
complete application
materials by 4 p.m. on
April 29.
4
Fairytales have been in
existence for hundreds of
years. What is so magical
about these stories that still
makes them accessible to
audiences today? Using the
original stories of authors
such as Charles Perrault, Hans
Christian Andersen, and the
Grimm Brothers, students will
learn the distinct structure
of fairy tales and analyze the
message embedded. Students
will then create original and
creative stories of their own
based on this structure. Class
discussion and peer feedback
is an essential component of
this class, and the students
come alive when working with
like-minded peers who share
their love of writing. Through
class discussions, peer
review, and the reading of
classic stories as inspiration,
students will learn the skill of
using “voice” in their writing
to personalize it for the
reader. The revision process
will also be explored. While
this course focuses on fairy
tales, the writing strategies
discussed can be applied to all
genres.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez, Folsom
Cordova USD
24
Greek Mythology
in the Ancient &
Modern World
Myths helped the early Greeks
understand puzzling events
in nature and in human life.
The actions and adventures
of gods and goddesses taught
important values to future
generations, while helping
to explain phenomena
that couldn’t be explained
by science. In this course,
students will learn about
Greek mythology and the
Olympian gods and goddesses
made popular in Rick
Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.
Students will create maps of
Ancient Greece to explore
where the gods and goddesses
were believed to have lived
and to better understand
the geography of the rest of
the world from the Greek
point of view. Names and
key features of the Olympian
gods and goddesses (including
Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera,
and Athena) will also be
discussed. Students will then
create their own god/goddess,
writing a story involving their
powers, friends, enemies,
and ultimate connection to
Olympus. The elements of a
myth will be introduced, and
students will draft their own
myth explaining how natural
phenomena in the modern
world came into being.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Ryan Merold, Elk Grove USD
Kaylee Duncan
English & Learning Skills
4th Grade
Butte Vista
School
Math and science are my
favorite classes in school
because you’re always
learning new things and
it can be very challenging.
My favorite things to do
outside of school are reading, softball, track and field,
and basketball.
My ATS classes were different from my regular school
classes because at my
school we don’t have those
types of classes and they
dug so deep into the topic.
I took a Greek Mythology
class, and I was very interested in it because there
is so many new things
to learn about. This will
benefit me in the future
because of the creative
writing and reading.
My most memorable moment was walking into the
classroom knowing how
much I was going to learn.
[What] I loved most about
the courses and campus
were the classrooms, there
were so many. I would
describe ATS to my friends
[as] an amazing experience over the summer and
I learned so much that I
would totally recommend
taking it next year.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - Course Descriptions
English & Learning Skills
Short Story:
Adventure,
Vampires & Wizards
The Write Stuff:
Exploring Fantasy,
Mythology & Fiction
Do you have a vampire story
to write? A wizard story? An
adventure story? Then let your
inner author come out and
write it. In this fiction class,
students will explore the art
of the short story. Students
will read short works such
as “A Very Old Man with
Enormous Wings” by Gabriel
Garcia Marquez and “To Build
a Fire” by Jack London. These
stories will serve as models for
students to write their own
stories. In addition to some
excerpts from classic stories
by authors such as Roald Dahl
and Jack London, students
will read samples of works
by contemporary authors
such as Sandra Cisneros and
Amy Tan. Emphasis will be
on learning how to structure
a short story—students will
learn how to create a plot,
craft interesting characters,
describe a setting, make a
scene come to life, and write a
believable dialogue based on
the “story” of the day. We will
also focus on the students’
creative process and finding
those fabulous stories waiting
to come out.
Transport yourself into
magical worlds where people,
places, and things are not
often what they appear to
be! Following CCSS narrative
writing standards for 5th
and 6th grade, students will
learn to identify traits that
characterize modern fiction
and fantasy as they explore
classics like The Hobbit and
The Lion, The Witch, and The
Wardrobe, as well as modern
bestsellers from the Percy
Jackson & The Olympians and
Heroes of Olympus series.
Students will learn to develop
a sequence of events, provide
descriptive, engaging details,
and conclude their writing
pieces with solutions to their
characters’ problems. Students
will practice careful and
purposeful reading, engage in
literature-based discussions,
and explore what these
mythical worlds can tell us
about our own. Additionally,
students will respond to
modern mythology/fantasy
texts in a variety of written
assignments, including
literary analysis, extending
a classic story with a chapter
of their own, as well as
explanatory writing using
text-based evidence to
support their claims. Using
the new skills and knowledge
gained, students will then
craft their own original piece
of fantasy/mythology writing.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Jeff Knorr, Sacramento City
College
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Ryan Merold, Elk Grove USD
Academic Talent Search
Study Skills
Learn to study more
efficiently so you have more
free time to do activities that
you love like sports, video
games, and other fun things.
This course will introduce
students to different methods
of studying to achieve
academic success while
reducing the time spent on
test preparation! Through
hands-on activities such as
creating graphic and visual
organizers, students will
explore note-taking styles
like Cornell Notes and Color
Coded note-taking and will
improve their organizational
skills to keep course materials
easily accessible. Students
will learn how to find the
best time and place to study,
discover how to study,
practice stress management,
and develop short-term and
long-term planning. Through
an understanding of different
learning styles and strategies,
students will learn how to
improve their test taking
skills. They will assess their
own learning style using
Howard Gardner’s Multiple
Intelligences Survey and will
become aware of their own
particular learning style(s) to
use in any subject. By the end
of the course, students will
be prepared for the upcoming
school year and beyond by
gaining the skills necessary
to achieve overall improved
grades, better success on
tests, and higher confidence in
the classroom plus more time
to do other fun activities!
By policy,
written withdrawals submitted
after May 29 at 5 p.m.
will not receive any
refund of course fees.
4
Estimated Daily Homework:
30 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Leslie Lastra, St. Patrick Academy
25
“We felt that
ATS provided a
unique and challenging
academic experience
that is not offered at his
regular school.”
-ATS Parent
“
Beginning
Conversational
Japanese
Introductory
Spanish: Easy as
Uno, Dos, Tres!
This will be a basic conversation class in Japanese.
Students will learn how to
introduce themselves, greet
friends, ask questions while
they shop, and order at restaurants. One of the class goals is
to attain basic speaking skills
to function in Japan. All students will practice speaking
through role-playing, cultural
games and songs, and also
during lecture. Students will
be presented with common
expressions and dialogues
(polite speech and colloquial
speech) some of which are
used in Japanese Anime and
media such as Smile PreCure,
One Piece, and Studio Ghibli
films produced by Hayao
Miyazaki. Students will learn
commonly used expressions
and phrases like Arigato and
Konnichiwa as well as pop
culture words such as Kawaii, Sugoi, and DokiDoki.
Emphasis will be on correct
pronunciation and intonation.
Students will also participate
in cultural activities such as
origami, visiting the Japanese
garden and tea room, and
Japanese food tasting. By the
end of the course students
will have gained a foundation
of Japanese conversational
skills that will benefit them
for future language study.
Students will have an exciting
opportunity to get a head
start on their future world
language studies. Students
with little to no prior Spanish
experience will learn the
basics of the language, such
as the alphabet, numbers,
colors, months, days of the
week and greetings/leavetakings. Basic introductory
phrases such as asking how
a person is doing, how old a
person is, introducing oneself
and talking about one’s family
members and friends will
be taught. The development
of speaking and listening
skills will be the primary
components of this course,
but students will also have
opportunities to write in
Spanish as well. Skills will be
practiced through interactive
games (Bingo, Hang-Man,
Memory and Word Search),
songs (alphabet, numbers,
days of week and months)
and role-playing activities
(greetings, leave-takings
and introductions). Through
these activities, students will
acquire a basic understanding
of both the Spanish language
and some components of its
culture. Students will leave
the class inspired to use their
newly acquired language
skills/knowledge to continue
their study of the language in
the future.
Estimated Daily Homework:
30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Yoshiko Abe, Port of Sacramento
Japanese School
26
Kaylah Mureness
Languages
5th Grade
Thomas Edison
Lang. Institute
I like to play volleyball
and I like to read. I love
to play cards. (I can
do magic tricks). My
favorite [classes] are
Math, Science, Reading,
and Spanish. I like them
because they are challenging and fun.
My ATS Spanish class
was different because
of the chairs, the rooms,
the campus, and the language. I was interested
because I wanted to
learn a different language. I learned songs
in Spanish. I liked meeting other people in the
class. What I liked about
the courses is we had
fun. I would say ATS is so
much fun [and] you can
choose your classes.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15-30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Jennifer Johannson-Aguilar,
Rocklin USD
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - Course Descriptions
Mathematics & Computer Science
Luza Prieto
Fun with Algebra!
5th Grade
Cameron Ranch
Elementary
My favorite classes are
math and history. In
math I learn things that
help me everyday. In
history I learn why the
world is how it is today.
I like soccer, drawing,
crafts, and bike riding.
In chemistry at ATS there
was a lot more experiments than regular
science. Algebra really
helped me understand
why we do problems the
way we do. I wanted to
take algebra because I
love math. Algebra really prepared me for 6th
grade. I took chemistry
because I wanted to
learn more science. It
really helped and was so
much fun.
I liked to feel like a
college student, and I
got to see what college
is like. ATS is summer
school but ten times
more fun. It is also more
of a challenge than
regular school.
2(x+3) = 4x + 2 + 2x
Are you ready to tackle
challenging problems like
this with ease? Do you want
to learn a fun and easy way
to solve complex algebra
problems? If so, then you’ll
love this course. This class
is for students who love the
thrill and challenge of math
problems. Using the HandsOn Equations® balance mat
and game pieces, students
will quickly move from
interactive concrete examples
to abstract thinking. Visual
and kinesthetic learners will
benefit greatly from this
course while constructing
and manipulating algebraic
equations. Students will
learn how to simplify and
solve word problems. They
will also work with various
manipulatives to explore
integers, operations, and
polynomial expressions.
This course includes small
and large group activities,
as well as opportunities
for individual learning and
exploration.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Misty Calderon, Elk Grove USD
Creative Computing:
Learning to Code by
Design This course will introduce
students to computer
programming and coding
using Scratch. Students
will work with a variety of
design concepts based on
their personal interests. The
basics of the Scratch platform,
as well as sequencing and
loops in programming will
be introduced through a
“Dance Party” program that
combines animation and
music. Students will then
develop a project based on
art or music to explore the
concepts of parallelism and
events. Finally, students
will create a maze or game
to learn to use data and
variables in programming,
as well as how to define
rules and goals. Students
will prepare their own
projects while collaborating
with classmates for support
and feedback. As a final
assignment, students will
enhance a program written
during the week or apply
their skills to a new program.
A “museum walk” will allow
all students to interact with
the final projects. By the end
of the course, students will
have developed new skills
in computational thinking
(algorithms, problem solving,
abstraction), collaboration,
and practice (creation and
programming). Due to the high
volume of applications received, ATS is
unable to immediately
contact applicants regarding missing items.
4
Note: This course requires
use of a public website that is
regulated by MIT’s Scratch Team
administrators.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Debbie Porter, Natomas USD
Academic Talent Search
27
Performing Arts
Acting Escapades:
Adventures in
Improv Theater
“I wanted to
take ATS classes
because they seemed
very interesting to me.”
-ATS Student
“
This course will build students’
confidence, critical thinking,
and teamwork skills through
theater exercises. Students
will learn to assess a situation,
adapt to it, work for a common
goal, and communicate
with others. Through games
and activities, students will
improve their acting and
public speaking skills as they
practice voice projection, eye
contact, and the ability to
continue on when adversity
occurs. Students will talk to
trees, transform themselves
into inanimate objects, and
age 100 years during daily
exercises. Writing and reading
skills such as character
development, sequence, plot,
and cause and effect will
be enhanced as students
create improvisational
performances. Risk-taking
will be encouraged in this
supportive, low-stress
environment where everyone
has a lifeline on stage and
the main objective is having
fun. Students will learn
about themselves and their
comfort zones and will take
turns in leadership roles while
creating performances which
complement their collective
talents and showcase their
unique skills. Whether a
student is artistic, musical,
or theatrical; prefers to be
out of the limelight; is a
problem-solver or a creative
thinker, Improv theater has a
spot for everyone!
Estimated Daily Homework:
10 - 15 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Patricia Sipula, Elk Grove USD
28
Hip Hop Dance Crew Reader’s Theater:
Acting Skills
Have you ever wanted to
dance like your favorite
dancers from So You Think
You Can Dance? Does
the popular Sia video
“Chandelier” inspire you
to sway, spin, and leap?
Whether you are a beginner
looking to learn some of
today’s popular Hip Hop
moves for your next school
dance, or an experienced
dancer wanting to expand
your knowledge and technique
in dance, this course will give
you the skills and confidence
to reach your goals. Using
popular hits that are fun,
upbeat, and age-appropriate,
students will be introduced to
the foundations of Hip Hop,
as well as today’s popular
dance moves such as the
“Nae Nae” and “The Whip.”
Students will also learn
basic contemporary dance
technique and choreography.
Group routines will encourage
teamwork and syncopation
while freestyle movement will
enhance creativity and selfexpression. Daily warm-ups
will include cardiovascular
movement, strength
conditioning, new steps and
combinations, group work,
and freestyle exercises. This
class will help shy dancers
gain self-confidence and
experienced dancer grow.
At the end of the course,
students will present a Hip
Hop Showcase for friends and
family. No prior experience is
necessary.
In this class, everyone is a
star! Students will experience
acting without the difficulty
of memorizing a script.
Reader’s Theater allows
an actor to concentrate on
acting skills, such as prosody
(voice expression) and tone,
facial and body language,
and proximity (placement)
to effectively convey the
story. Students will learn
to use eye contact and voice
projection to capture the
audience’s attention. During
short rehearsals, students
will practice several plays of
their choice (from dramas
to comedies), learning
how to critique positively
and effectively and take
constructive feedback.
Groups of students will
practice together for a final
presentation on the last
day of class. Students will
have fun while gaining more
confidence in public speaking
as well as understanding the
importance of body language
and voice intonation. This
class will help students
overcome shyness or fear of
speaking in front of others
and improve their “stage
delivery” and self-confidence.
No prior experience is
necessary.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Vicki Morgan, Folsom Cordova
USD
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 – 30 Minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Michelle Green-Clark, American
River College
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - Course Descriptions
Science
Chemistry: Everyday Ecology: Strange &
Phenomena
Savage Plants
Health and Physical
Fitness
This class will emphasize
fundamental concepts
of chemistry, such as
atoms, chemical changes,
thermodynamics, the periodic
table, and compounds and
solutions. It will explain
phenomena that students
experience in their everyday
lives. Students will see a
variety of experiments
designed to demonstrate
chemistry concepts. Students
will learn about surface
tension of water while
competing against each other
in Water Olympics and learn
why we can stick a pencil in
a balloon without popping it.
They will explore exothermic
and endothermic reactions
by mixing chemicals and
observing the reactions. While
making ice cream, students
will observe the effect of salt
on the melting temperature
of ice. Through direct
observations, students will
learn to distinguish between
physical and chemical
changes and about the effect
of air pressure on objects.
This class will have short
lectures, demonstrations, and
lab activities. Students will
take home many of the lab
activities to share with family
and friends.
Explore the determinants
of health, fitness, and
performance that enable us
to be physically active. In
a human performance lab
setting, students will explore
the components of physical
fitness and the physiology of
exercise. Students will learn
how the heart and lungs work
together and how they react
to different activity levels.
Using medical measurement
devices such as a stethoscope,
a sphygmomanometer, and
a pulse oximeter, students
will observe changes in their
own bodies caused by exercise
and diet. Students will be
exposed to sports medicine,
sports nutrition, and sport
psychology. The differences
between therapeutic, fitness,
and performance training will
also be discussed. Students
will learn about common
non-communicable diseases
such as diabetes, metabolic
syndrome, hypertension
and obesity. In addition,
students will gain a better
understanding of heart
disease, the “silent killer,” by
learning what a heart attack
is, what the risk factors are,
and what preventive measures
are recommended. By the
end of the class, students
will have developed a better
awareness of their own
personal physiology and the
health consequences of their
lifestyle choices.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
DeAnna Krenecki, San Juan USD
People eat plants every day,
but what do plants eat? Many
get their food from catching
and consuming animals.
Students will discover
the incredible diversity of
carnivorous plants by touring
the Sac State greenhouses,
identifying different types of
carnivorous plants, exploring
the animals associated with
carnivorous plants, and using
microscopes to examine
species. Scientific methods
and tools will be used to
explore in detail a variety
of organisms, including
Venus flytraps, sundews, and
pitcher plants. Students will
examine how different plants
capture and consume animals.
Other oddities of the plant
world, with a host of unusual
adaptations, will also be
examined. Students will have
hands-on exercises developing
the “ultimate” carnivorous
plant, examining the natural
world’s biodiversity, and
exploring how evolution
works. Background
research and short written
assignments will be required
as homework in preparation
for a final project (poster and
oral presentation).
Estimated Daily Homework:
30 - 45 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Jamie Kneitel, Sacramento State
Requesting
an alternate
course choice (if your
primary selection is
not available) is the
best chance of being
placed into a class and
participating in ATS.
4
Estimated Daily Homework:
20 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Linda Paumer, Sacramento State
Academic Talent Search
29
Messy Science:
Explosions &
Reactions
“I loved the
projects.
They were very fun
and exciting. The
experiments were
excellent!!”
-ATS Parent
“
Delve into the world of
science with messy, hands-on,
sensory-filled experiments!
Students will explore physics,
biology, chemistry, earth and
life sciences using creativity
and imagination. Messy
scientists will learn about
the properties of polymers
through an exploration of
oobleck, home-made slime
and making their own bouncy
super ball. From exploding
film canisters to water rockets
and geyser-sodas, scientists
will create safe chemical
reactions and discover the
fun of physics.The science
behind decomposition will be
revealed through observing
molds and yeasts macro- and
microscopically, dissecting
a moldy pumpkin, creating
mold terrariums to take
home, and tasting “moldy”
food commonly found in the
stores. Students will observe
and create rainbows using
water, light refraction and
prisms, use filter paper to do
color blotting, observe the
properties of visible light,
hands-on color mixing, eating
the rainbow and create a takehome rainbow spinner. On the
last day of class, students will
explore the physics of gravity
through timed watermelon
drops, egg drop invention, and
by creating parachutes and a
wind tunnel.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Debbie Prekeges, Rocklin USD
30
Physics: Newton’s
Toy Chest
Open up Newton’s toy chest
and discover how much fun
science can be! Through short
informative lectures, exciting
physics demonstrations,
and captivating handson lab activities, students
will work in teams to learn
how everyday toys can be
used to explore physics
concepts such as motion,
force, gravity, friction, and
air resistance. Students will
build a toy parachute to better
understand air resistance.
Working with Newton’s
cradles, students will
investigate the conservation
of momentum while pop-up
toys, rubber balls, and clacker
toys will allow students to
discover Newton’s third
law of motion. Kinetic and
potential energy will be
studied as students work with
roller coasters, the comeback can, and pendulums.
Toy cars and dominoes will
help provide explanations for
physics concepts such as force,
velocity, and acceleration. As
a final activity, students will
work in cooperative groups
to design and build roller
coasters that demonstrate
the concepts learned in class.
By the end of the course,
students will have gained a
foundation for future studies
in middle and high school
physics.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
Kristen Snyder, San Juan USD
Sophia Tolley
Science
5th Grade
Edwin Markham
Elementary
I love science and math
because they are so
infinite and wild and
undiscovered. English
and history are tame
and we know mostly all
about it. I want to be
the first to do something
meaningful. I enjoy
hanging out with friends
and reading. I also want
to learn hacking and/
or programming for a
hobby. I like to play soccer and do ballet.
[At ATS] I took chemistry, and it is different
firstly because it was
a small class, a more
casual teacher, and
shorter classes. I was
interested in Chemistry
because I am interested
in becoming a math or
science professor, and
don’t know which. I
loved being surrounded
by people my own level,
and, of course, I was
AMAZED by the experiments. It was enjoyable,
educational, and downright awesome.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program - Course Descriptions
Eamonn Drury
Science
5th Grade
DH White
Elementary
I like Boy Scouts, baseball, soccer, and camping. My favorite classes
are Math and the study
of The Periodic Table of
Elements. They interest
me because they both
have algebra in them,
and I enjoy solving
problems.
The class I took this summer was Roller Coasters
and Rube Devices. It
was nothing like my
school could ever dream
of doing. It was more
hands-on and a lot more
fun! It taught me to calculate speed. I can use
what I learned to build
other things.
The most memorable
moment was the pressure of building a roller
coaster that works. It
was fun to work together in groups and
make new friends. I like
the courses because of
the great teachers. I like
the campus because
it has lots of trees and
open areas. [ATS is] a
great experience and a
must do thing!
Academic Talent Search
Solving Mysteries
with Science
The Power of
Density!
Do you like to solve puzzles,
riddles, or mysteries? Do you
like science experiments?
Then this is the class for
you! This class combines
mystery and investigation in
a highly exciting, engaging,
and educational experience.
Student-detectives will
explore a variety of science
concepts as they conduct
hands-on forensic science
tests on evidence found at
a “crime scene.” Students
will learn the importance of
fingerprinting and discover
how unique fingerprints really
are. Using chromatography,
students will compare inks
found at the “crime scene.”
Conducting pH tests will
allow students to determine if
anything was added to liquids
found at the scene. Through
handwriting analysis,
students will uncover the
author of a mysterious note
left at the scene. This class
will have short lectures,
demonstrations, and lab
activities. Students will take
home their investigation
notebooks to share with
family and friends.
What do The Blob, Vision, and
Ultimate Kitty Pryde have
in common? The ability to
control their density! Nothing
is free from the super powers
of density! Come learn about
density and its far-reaching
effects as we challenge our
current ideas and learn how
it is at work everywhere.
In this class, students will
build a model of density
through hands-on activities
by investigating, calculating,
discussing, and writing about
what they are learning in
their own scientific journals.
Once students learn about
what matter is, they will
collaborate to investigate
the properties of substances.
Together, students will
participate in hands on
activities and test everyday
items such as soda and candy
bars to learn about what
exactly makes things float
or sink. Finally, students
will be able to apply their
understanding to the world
around them by building
testers to see how density
is the driving force behind
such phenomena as hot air
balloons and convection
currents. By the end of class,
students will be able to
determine the relative density
of solids, liquids, and more,
and prove their findings
through cool activities that
show density may be one of
the most useful superpowers.
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
• Andrea Cottrell, Twin RIvers
USD
• Mysti Lingenfelter, Twin Rivers
USD
To avoid busy
signals, stress,
and delayed receipt,
faxed applications
should be submitted at
least 5 days before the
April 29 deadline.
4
Estimated Daily Homework:
15 - 30 minutes
Instructor and Affiliation:
• Megan Morrison, Washington
USD
31
Courses by Date & Time
To have the best chance
of being admitted into a
specific class, a student should
meet the ATS qualifying score
requirement for the course and
should be sure to submit their
complete application by 4 p.m.
on April 29.
4
Students who submit their
complete applications by the
deadline will be placed into
classes from the highest score
down until the courses are filled.
June 15 to June 19
June 22 to June 26
Morning
Morning
Engineering
• Engineering: Roller Coasters,
Mazes & Rube Devices Section 1
Engineering
• Engineering: Roller Coasters,
Mazes & Rube Devices Section 2
English & Learning Skills
• Creative Writing: Create Original
Stories with Fairytale Elements
English & Learning Skills
• Short Story: Adventure, Vampires
& Wizards
Performing Arts
• Reader’s Theater: Acting Skills
Languages
• Introductory Spanish: Easy as
Uno, Dos, Tres!
Science
• Physics: Newton’s Toy Chest
Section 1
Afternoon
Afternoon
Engineering
• Engineering & Architectural
Design Section 1
Art
English & Learning Skills
• Greek Mythology in the Ancient &
Modern World Section 1
• Study Skills Section 1
Science
• Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena
Section 1
32
Science
• Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena
Section 2
• Solving Mysteries with Science
Section 1
• Wildlife Drawing
Engineering
• Engineering & Architectural
Design Section 2
English & Learning Skills
• Study Skills Section 2
• The Write Stuff: Exploring Fantasy,
Mythology & Fiction
Science
• Ecology: Strange & Savage Plants
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program – Schedules
Courses by Date & Time
July 6 to July 10
July 13 to July 17
July 20 to July 24
Morning
Morning
Morning
Art
Mathematics & Computer Science
• Creative Computing: Learning to
Code by Design Section 1
• Fun with Algebra! Section 1
Engineering
• Engineering & Architectural
Design Section 3
• Engineering: Roller Coasters,
Mazes & Rube Devices Section 3
• LEGO Robotics: Building & Programming Section 3
• Beginning Drawing: Cartoons &
Comic Strips
Engineering
• Engineering Simulations Section 1
• LEGO Robotics: Building & Programming Section 1
English & Learning Skills
• Greek Mythology in the Ancient &
Modern World Section 2
Engineering
• Imagination Innovation: Structural Engineering Design Section 2
• LEGO Robotics: Building & Programming Section 2
Performing Arts
• Hip Hop Dance Crew
Science
• Messy Science: Explosions &
Reactions Section 2
Science
• Physics: Newton’s Toy Chest
Section 2
Afternoon
Afternoon
Afternoon
Engineering
• Imagination Innovation: Structural
Engineering Design Section 1
Engineering
• Engineering Simulations Section 2
Engineering
• Imagination Innovation: Structural
Engineering Design Section 3
Science
• Solving Mysteries with Science
Section 2
• The Power of Density!
Languages
• Beginning Conversational
Japanese
Science
• Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena
Section 3
• Messy Science: Explosions &
Reactions Section 1
Academic Talent Search
Performing Arts
• Acting Escapades: Adventures in
Improv Theater
Science
• Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena
Section 4
Mathematics & Computer Science
• Creative Computing: Learning to
Code by Design Section 2
• Fun with Algebra! Section 2
Science
• Health and Physical Fitness
• Solving Mysteries with Science
Section 3
33
Master Schedule of Classes
Use the information on this schedule to determine course eligibility and to complete
the 2015 ATS Application.
Course Descriptions
To learn more about specific class content, read the individual course descriptions.
Sections
Section represents the SAME course offered more than once. For example, Engineering
and Architectural Design Sections 1, 2, and 3 are all the same class. The class is offered
at three different dates and times.
Course Eligibility
Grade level is the grade you were in on January 1, 2015. For example, if you are completing 5th grade (you will be entering 6th grade
for Fall 2015), then you would be considered a 5th grader.
Course
Name
ATS
Dates
Days
Time
Code
Course
Fees
Grade Level
Requirements
ATS Score (Intermediate)
Art
Beginning Drawing: Cartoons & Comic Strips
Section 1
15comic1
Wildlife Drawing
Section 1 15wild1
7/6-7/10
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
6/22-6/26
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
6/15-6/19
6/22-6/26
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
12:30 - 3:00
9:30 - Noon
$335
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 430
Math ≥ 430
Math ≥ 430
7/6-7/10
7/13-7/17
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 420
Math ≥ 420
9:30 - Noon
9:30 - Noon
9:30 - Noon
$335
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 446
Math ≥ 446
Math ≥ 446
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
9:30 - Noon
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 420
Math ≥ 420
Math ≥ 420
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
9:30 - Noon
9:30 - Noon
$335
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math > 460
Math ≥ 460
Math ≥ 460
Engineering
Engineering & Architectural Design
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
15ead1
15ead2
15ead3
Engineering Simulations
Section 1
Section 2
15sim1
15sim2
Engineering: Roller Coasters, Mazes & Rube Devices
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
15rube1
15rube2
15rube3
6/15-6/19
6/22-6/26
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Imagination Innovation: Structural Engineering Design
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
15design1
15design2
15design3
7/6-7/10
7/13-7/17
7/20-7/24
LEGO Robotics: Building & Programming
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
34
15bot1
15bot2
15bot3
7/6-7/10
7/13-7/17
7/20-7/24
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program – Schedules
Master Schedule of Classes
ATS Application
Be sure to send in your RECENT 2014-2015 report card (that shows your current grade
level and curriculum) along with the application fee and ATS “intermediate” level test
scores. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned unprocessed
for missing items. Before submitting your materials, check that you have all the required
items. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications received, ATS is unable to
contact you by phone or email if something is missing.
Material Fees and Textbooks
Course fees do not include the cost of textbooks. The majority of classes will NOT require
a material fee to account for extra costs for supplies, handouts, or special laboratory usage;
however, some do. More information will be included in students’ admissions packets in May.
Course Credit Recommendation
Classes in the 4/5 program are short courses. They DO NOT carry a recommendation for credit.
Course
Name
ATS
Dates
Days
Time
Code
Course
Fees
Grade Level
Requirements
ATS Score (Intermediate)
English & Learning Skills Creative Writing: Create Original Stories with Fairytale Elements
Section 1
15fairy1
6/15-6/19
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 420
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
9:30 - Noon
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 420
Verbal ≥ 420
Greek Mythology in the Ancient & Modern World
Section 1
Section 2
15greek1
15greek2
6/15-6/19
7/6-7/10
Short Story: Adventure, Vampires & Wizards
Section 1
15short1
6/22-6/26
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 415
15study1
15study2
6/15-6/19
6/22-6/26
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
Open to all scores
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
$335
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 415
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
Study Skills
Section 1
Section 2
The Write Stuff: Exploring Fantasy, Mythology & Fiction
Section 1
15write1
6/22-6/26
Languages
Beginning Conversational Japanese
Section 1
15convo1
7/6-7/10
Introductory Spanish: Easy as Uno, Dos, Tres!
Section 1
15intro1
6/22-6/26
Mathematics & Computer Science
Creative Computing: Learning to Code by Design
Section 1
Section 2
15comp1
15comp2
7/13-7/17
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 425
Math ≥ 425
7/13-7/17
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 440
Math ≥ 440
Fun with Algebra!
Section 1
Section 2
15fun1
15fun2
continued on next page Academic Talent Search
35
Master Schedule of Classes
Apply by 4 p.m. on April 29 to be considered in the first group of students for
placement.
Important Information About Applications
The highest application volume occurs the week of the deadline. To avoid high volume
and busy signals, ATS recommends you fax your application at least 5 days prior to the
deadline. If you are submitting your materials on the day of the deadline (April 29), it
is best to hand deliver them before 4 p.m. ATS is not responsible for applications not
received, or received late, as a result of fax congestion or transmission failures.
Once received, applications are reviewed to make sure all required items are included. If complete, students will receive notification
that their application is being processed.
Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned unprocessed for missing items. Unfortunately, due to the high
volume of applications received, ATS is unable to call or email immediately regarding incomplete materials.
Course
Name
ATS
Dates
Days
Time
Code
Course
Fees
Grade Level
Requirements
ATS Score (Intermediate)
Performing Arts
Acting Escapades: Adventures in Improv Theater
Section 1
15act1
7/13-7/17
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
6/15-6/19
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Open to all scores
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
9:30 - Noon
12:30 - 3:00
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 440
Math ≥ 440
Math ≥ 440
Math ≥ 440
6/22-6/26
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
$335
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 410
15fit17/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
$335
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 415
7/6-7/10
7/13-7/17
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
12:30 - 3:00
9:30 - Noon
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 440
Math > 440
6/15-6/19
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
9:30 - Noon
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 435
Math ≥ 435
15solve1
15solve2
15solve3
6/22-6/26
7/6-7/10
7/20-7/24
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
9:30 - Noon
12:30 - 3:00
$335
$335
$335
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
4 thru 5
Verbal ≥ 418
Verbal ≥ 418
Verbal ≥ 418
The Power of Density
Section 1 15dens1
7/6-7/10
Mon thru Fri
9:30 - Noon
$335
4 thru 5
Math ≥ 425
Hip Hop Dance Crew
Section 1
15dance1
Reader’s Theater: Acting Skills
Section 1
15read1
Science
Chemistry: Everyday Phenomena
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
15chem1
15chem2
15chem3
15chem4
6/15-6/19
6/22-6/26
7/6-7/10
7/13-7/17
Ecology: Strange & Savage Plants
Section 1
15plant1
Health and Physical Fitness
Section 1
Messy Science: Explosions & Reactions
Section 1
Section 2
15messy1
15messy2
Physics: Newton’s Toy Chest
Section 1
Section 2
15toy1
15toy2
Solving Mysteries with Science
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
36
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program – Schedules
4/5 2015 ATS Application
program
*REQUIRED items:
Report Card
Include a COMPLETE
copy of your recent
2014-2015 report card.
For double-sided, multipage, and/or longer (i.e.
legal size) report cards,
be sure to submit ALL
necessary parts. See
page 10 for details on
this requirement.
Application Fee
Pay the appropriate
nonrefundable application
fee as shown in the “Fees
Due Now” section.
Test Scores
Attach a copy of your
“intermediate” level
ATS scores.
Reminders
• Grade level is the
grade you are in as of
January 1, 2015.
• Be sure to submit all
required items in a single
packet. Incomplete
applications will not be
considered and will be
returned, so that you
may resubmit a complete
packet by the deadline.
• If faxing, be sure to
include BOTH sides of
the application, report
card, etc. as necessary.
Office Use Only
Student Name:
Mailing Address:
Yes
No
LastFirstMiddle Initial
Address
City
Primary Phone #: (
State
)
Area Code
Gender:
Current School:
Female
Zip Code
Male
Grade (as of Jan. 1, 2015): 4 5
Parent/Guardian Information For student safety, information will only be released to individuals listed on this form.
Parent/Guardian Name(s):
List all individuals who are authorized to discuss or change information about this student.
Cell or Daytime Phone Number: Ask For:
Time-sensitive correspondence from ATS may be sent to this address.
“Intermediate” Level Test Score Information – Look at your Test Results report for this information, and write your highest “intermediate” level verbal & math scores below.
Int. Level ATS Verbal Score
Financial Aid – see page 8
I am applying for financial aid:
Int. Level ATS Math Score
YES
NO
If YES, complete the Financial Aid Application on pages 39-40. Be sure to submit all required documents with this application
before 4 p.m. on April 29 to be considered.
• Fees Due Now - Nonrefundable app fee
If your application is received:
You pay:
By 4:00 pm on April 29
$37
After 4:00 pm on April 29
$47
Date:
Incomplete applications will be returned without being
considered, so please review it for completeness and accuracy.
Student Information • Have you participated in ATS classes before?
Primary Email Address:
• Admission is made “top
score down” based on
applications received by
the April 29 deadline.
Complete both sides and include all REQUIRED items.*
Check or Money Order. (Payable to "ATS")
Please
charge the application fee to my:
VISA
MasterCard
Discover
If you are charging the application fee, all information below is
REQUIRED and MUST be correct & complete in order to process your
application. Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed.
Check #:
Cardholder’s Name
Check Amt:
Charge:
Y
P
Account Number (16 digits)
Entered:
Expiration Date
Verified:
Authorized Signature (required)
Academic Talent Search
37
Student’s Last Name
First
Middle Initial
Class Selections - Class placements are based on your selections below. Students who apply by the April 29 deadline
and meet class requirements are placed top score down until all seats are filled. Students who apply after the
deadline will be considered on a date-received, space-available basis.
• I’m applying for
class(es) this summer.
number
It is very important to write the correct ATS codes, as these are used for class placement. Please
double check all information, as incorrect codes may cause your student to be admitted into a course
other than you intended. ATS is not responsible for erroneous information listed on the application.
Class Request • If this class is not available (check only one box):
add me to the waiting list OR
consider me for my alternate below:
Primary Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Alternate Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Class Request • If this class is not available (check only one box):
add me to the waiting list OR
consider me for my alternate below:
Primary Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Alternate Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Class Request • If this class is not available (check only one box):
add me to the waiting list OR
consider me for my alternate below:
Primary Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Alternate Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Class Request • If this class is not available (check only one box):
add me to the waiting list OR
consider me for my alternate below:
Primary Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Alternate Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Class Request • If this class is not available (check only one box):
add me to the waiting list OR
consider me for my alternate below:
Primary Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
Alternate Choice: Course Name
ATS Code
Dates
Days
Time
Score Req
If your application does not include all required items, it will be returned to you unprocessed so that it can be completed and
resubmitted. Due to the high volume of applications received, ATS is unable to call or email regarding missing items. Please
double check that you have enclosed all required materials. It is strongly recommended that you list an alternate class choice.
Deadline
• Application Deadline: April 29 by 4:00 pm
• After the deadline, applications are accepted for classes that are still available.
• See page 12 for important placement information and details.
Mail (including express and overnight mail) or Hand Deliver*
Academic Talent Search
Folsom Hall Suite 2040
7667 Folsom Blvd
Sacramento CA 95826
38
Keep a copy of this application
for your records!
Fax (submit 5 days prior to the deadline to avoid a busy signal)
*There are a limited number of 30-minute visitor (916) 278-5930
parking spaces on the east side of Folsom Hall.
If faxing, you must include ALL credit card information on the front of this
application to pay the application fee, or your application will be considered
incomplete. Be sure to fax ALL sides and pages of your required items, including
this application and your report card.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program – Applications
4/5 2015 ATS Financial
program
Office use only
Aid Application
Date:
App Fee:
A limited number of fee reduction financial aid awards are available to 2015 ATS Summer Program
applicants. This aid is awarded based on need. To request financial assistance, students must:
Yes
No
Sibling(s):
Action:
complete the 2015 ATS Application 4/5 (pages 37-38) and submit required application materials.
submit the appropriate nonrefundable application fee. This fee must still be paid even if you are applying for financial aid.
attach a copy of pages 1-2 of the 2014 Federal Income Tax form or a Federal Income Tax Summary or Recap from a
tax preparation service or electronic filing. If tax forms were not filed, other appropriate documentation verifying
annual income, such as a CalWorks statement, must be provided. A single paycheck stub or W-2 is NOT sufficient. The
documentation should be from an official state, federal, or company entity and must show complete yearly income for
the household. Note: If you did not file Form 1040 and are providing alternate documentation in lieu of the appropriate
tax forms, a written statement must be included in the open response area on the back of this application. This statement
should explain why alternate documents are being submitted and clearly state what they represent.
complete this 2015 Financial Aid Application 4/5. Note: Families with income levels in excess of $30,000 are asked not to
apply unless significant and extraordinary circumstances exist. Please clarify on the back of this page.
2015 ATS Application 4/5 and 2015 Financial Aid Application 4/5 must be submitted together by the application
deadline – April 29 by 4:00 p.m. – to be considered.
All completed financial aid applications received by the application deadline (April 29 by 4 p.m.) will be
considered. Applications received after this deadline will NOT be considered.
Financial aid awards will be included in students' admission packets.
Student's Name:
Last NameFirst NameMiddle Initial
Grade (as of January 1, 2015):
4
5
Current School:
Yes
No
Is the student on a reduced fee or free lunch plan?
Yes
No
Does the student attend a Title I School?
Parent's Statement:
I am able to provide $
toward my child's course fees for the 2015 ATS program.
I understand that ATS will consider granting full or partial aid for only one course and that
additional expenses like books and transportation are not covered by financial aid.
Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian
Date
More on back
Academic Talent Search
39
Student’s Last NameFirst NameMiddle Initial
ATS financial aid awards are based on financial need as reflected in the documentation of income you provide.
However, ATS recognizes that there are special situations which should be considered when reviewing
applications for need-based requests. If your income documentation does not clearly reflect these factors,
please include a brief statement clarifying your existing circumstances. While it is not required that all
applicants complete this section, it can be beneficial in helping the Financial Aid Committee better understand
the family’s financial situation. Families with incomes in excess of $30,000 are asked not to apply unless significant
and extraordinary circumstances exist.
Please include this completed Financial Aid application and the required documents with your
2015 ATS Application 4/5. Completed materials must be received by 4 p.m. on April 29, 2015 to be considered. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Incomplete applications cannot be
processed and will be returned.
Mail (including express and overnight mail) or Hand Deliver* Fax (submit 5 days prior to deadline to avoid a busy signal)
Academic Talent Search
Folsom Hall Suite 2040
7667 Folsom Blvd
Sacramento CA 95826
40
*There are a limited number of
30-minute visitor parking spaces
on the east side of Folsom Hall.
(916) 278-5930
The appropriate application fee is required from all ATS applicants, even
those who are applying for financial aid. If faxing your application, all
necessary credit card information must be included on the front of the
2015 ATS Application 4/5 to pay this fee.
2015 Catalog: 4/5 Program – Applications
Questions
How to Apply
1
Take the ATS Qualifying Exam
“intermediate” level
2 Review the following:
1. Individual Course
Descriptions
2. Courses by Date & Time
listing
3. Master Schedule of Classes
3 Collect the 2015 summer application materials
(must be submitted together)
1. report card from the 2014-2015 school year
2. 2015 ATS Application 4/5
(on page 37-38)
3. ATS “intermediate” level
qualifying test scores
4. application fee
5. financial aid application
and accompanying
documentation (if applicable)
Where to Submit
Mail, Fax or Walk-in
Folsom Hall Suite 2040*
7667 Folsom Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95826
Phone (916) 278-7032
Website www.csus.edu/coe/ats
Email ats@csus.edu
Like us on Facebook!
ATS Staff
Dr. Terry A. Thomas
Executive Director
Sarah Warren
Program Support
Scarlet Maurin
Director
David Fox
Lynda Nakamura
Program Manager
Alé Garcia
Student Assistant
Donavan Harris
Student Advisor
Edwin Macias
Student Assistant
Drew Pearson
Program Assistant
Michelle Mate
Student Assistant
Student Assistant
Submit
the completed
materials to ATS by
4 p.m. on April 29
Jenna Avansino
Program Support
Message from the Executive Director of ATS
The ATS program for students in grades 4 and 5 was initiated in 2009.
Many parents asked us to offer ATS for their younger children. We heard
their voices loud and clear. ATS staff had a vision of providing high level
thinking challenges and skills that would fit the readiness of students in
grades 4 and 5, while still keeping the same high standards of quality as
we do for older students. We had to adjust the format of the schedule and
the safety and security requirements due to the younger maturity levels,
but we kept the hands-on and real-world nature of the curriculum. And it worked!
Fax: (916) 278-5930
Seven years after starting, the ATS 4-5 program is highly successful! This year, ATS will offer
46 classes in five one-week sessions. Class topics will include Engineering, Mathematics,
English, Foreign Language (Japanese and Spanish), Performing Arts, and Science. New
and exciting classes are Computer Programming, Structural Engineering, The Write Stuff
(Exploring Fantasy, Mythology, and Fiction), and Acting. These new classes are in addition to
a number of popular favorites, which are returning this year.
Business Hours
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
I hope you find the classes you like in this catalog and you have a productive summer learning
new and exciting things at ATS. No doubt, you’ll meet a new friend at ATS, too. Have fun!
* If hand-delivering an application,
there are a limited number of
30-minute parking spaces on the east
side of Folsom Hall.
Terry A. Thomas, Ph.D.
Executive Director
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6098
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
SACRAMENTO CA
PERMIT NO 47
Academic Talent Search
80700125
Make New Friends
Have Fun Learning
The ATS office is located just off the main Sac State campus in Folsom Hall
Suite 2040 (Near the corner of Folsom Blvd and Hornet Dr)
April 29 by 4 p.m.
After the deadline, ATS welcomes applications
for classes that are still available
e Sac
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la en
c T Participate in
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th
e
the
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annual
34
a
Summer Program
Ac
Summer 2015 | Catalog for 4th and 5th graders
Application Deadline:
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