MARCOS DE NIZA
HIGH SCHOOL
Gifted Program Orientation
Leah Lang, Coordinator of Gifted Services
llang@tempeunion.org
(480) 480.730.7658
How Did You Get Here?


Students are identified as Gifted by scoring in the
97th percentile on a standardized test.
Most here took the TUHSD Honors Placement Test.


CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test)
Others may have previous tests or will test
“Gifted” after starting high school (PSAT, etc.).
Haven’t Taken Honors/Gifted Test?



Final chance is Sat, Jan. 25, 2014
McClintock High School
Online Registration:
 http://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/surveys/Hongiftapp.htm
 Or
call 480-752-8696 for more information
Marcos de Niza Open Enrollment?
*2014-15 online open enrollment applications
are available on our district website.
www.tuhsd.k12.az.us
*Applications must be submitted online by
February 1.
*Turn in a complete MdN registration packet to
the front office at MdN by Feb. 3rd.
MdN Gifted Philosophy


Student-focused program, family-centered
Offers opportunities that are
 Individualized
 Flexible
 Developmental

Partnership between family, student, and school
Gifted Coordinator Duties
Develops and monitors Individualized Learning
Plans (ILPs) with students
 Coordinates resources for students

 Academic
programs
 GATS club/activities

Works with faculty and staff to develop
 Individual
accommodations
 Awareness and opportunities for special programs
Individualized Learning Plans


ILPs are a plan between the gifted coordinator,
student, and family
Include several components
 4-year
academic plan
 College and career preparation
 ECAP (Education Career Action Plan
 Use

Kuder Navigator website & Canvas account
Utilize the Whole Person Approach
The Whole Person Approach
Test
Scores
Academics
GPA
Class Rank
Academic
Challenge &
Rigor
Clubs
&
Sports
Leadership
Community
Service
Other
Activities
Honors
&
Awards
Co & Extra
Curricular
Activities
Value of the Whole Person



Develops each student to his/her fullest potential
Maximizes the high school experience
Prepares students for consideration by competitive
colleges/universities
Graduation/Admission
Credit Requirements
Courses
Graduation
Requirements
AZ Universities
Requirements
Highly Selective University
Requirements
English
4 credits
4 credits
4 credits (including composition
& literature)
Mathematics
4 credits
(2 AIMS, 1 upper
level)
4 credits (Alg. 1-2,
Geometry, Alg. 3-4, College
Math and beyond)
4 credits (including college prep
math)
Lab Science
3 credits
3 credits
4 credits (including Chemistry &
Physics)
Social Studies
3 credits
2 credits
4 credits
2 credits (same language)
4 credits (same language)
1 credits (Fine Art)
1 credit (Fine Art)
Foreign Language
Fine Art/CTE/Practical Arts
2 credits
Phys. Ed./Health
1.5 credits
Electives
5.5 credits
23 credits
16 core credits
MdN Honors Courses

27 Honors courses
 Rigorous
core and elective classes
 Offered at all grade levels
 Weighted rank points awarded
 Eligibility is determined by score on honors/gifted test
 Teacher
recommendation/current grades may also be used
MdN Dual Enrollment Courses

35 Dual Enrollment (DE) courses
Core and elective classes
 Offered at all grade levels
 Rio Salado College courses at MdN with college-certified MdN
teachers


Financial assistance is available
Both high school &college credit are earned upon successfully
completing the course
 Credit is accepted at in-state public universities and many outof-state universities.


Check for college equivalency credit at specific universities at
az.transfer.org
MdN AP Courses

15 Advanced Placement (AP) courses
 Offered at all grade levels
 Gain
college level skills
 Earn college credit and/or placement into advanced
courses in college by taking the AP Test in May
 Check for college equivalency credit at specific
universities
 https://apscore.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/se
arch-credit-policies
Gifted-only Courses



Designed for highly-focused gifted students
Offered to juniors and seniors
Advanced Studies
 Specialized
independent study project, or
 Enrollment in college coursework

Honors Professional Internship Program
 High-level
internship opportunity
 Work with a professional mentor
 Designed to give student career insight
High School Registration Info.

Counselors visit each feeder middle school
 Early-mid
January: Registration Orientation
 Late Jan.: Actual Registration (collect & process
paperwork)

8th Grade Open House
January 13th at 6:00 pm
 Meet department representatives, coaches, club
sponsors
 Monday,
Scheduling Recommendations for
Gifted Students

Most competitive colleges require
4
years: English, Math, Science
 3-4 years: Foreign Language
 4 years: Social Science
 1+ year: Fine Art

6 classes x 4 years = 24 credits
 Graduation
requirement is 23 credits
Competitive Track



Full load with as many Honors classes as possible
Aimed at producing the top 5-10% of the class
Only one “free” class choice per year
All others are Honors or Required
 Freshman: English, Math, Science, Foreign Language, PE,
and elective
 Sophomore through senior: add Social Studies
in place of PE

Honors Scheduling Considerations



Take Honors classes in areas of strength and
interest to provide a challenge, demonstrate
academic rigor, boost class ranking
Take PE, Health, and other non-Honors classes
during Summer School to open opportunities for
electives
Math Placement Freshman Year is based on the fall
and spring Final Exam grades in 8th Grade.
G.P.A. vs Rank Points
G.P.A.
An “A” in a regular class = 4.0
An “A” in an Honors/AP class =4.0

Grade points
A=4
B=3
C=2
D=1
F=0

Rank points
=4 rank points
=5 rank points
Rank points
(Honors/AP)
A=5
B=4
C=3
D=2
F=0
G.P.A. vs. Rank Points
Calculation of Class Rank
Class rank is computed by calculation of a
student’s total rank points.
1st Core courses that are weighted
 2nd Core courses that are not weighted
 3rd Non-core courses that are weighted
 4th Non-core courses that are not weighted

Downside of Competitive Track


Typically involves 18 Honors classes in 24-credit
high school transcript: 3-5-5-5
Issues of overload and stress
 Can
ruin motivation, grades, overall happiness
 Balance challenging work load and the ability to be a
“teenager”
Individual Track




An option for students with different academic
and career pursuits
Less emphasis on competitive track classes and
objectives
More emphasis on helping students transition into
and out of high school, and with making life
choices
Focused on personal interests and out-of-school
experiences
Bottom Line

Freshman year is a transition year
 Classes
will be more challenging
 Workload will increase
 More activities in which to participate:
more opportunity for “positive” distraction
 High school is flexible
 Can
do all three core classes Honors or just one or two
Honors

Consider all of this when selecting classes
Honors & AP Drop/Add Policy



Be sure to read the Registration Information in the Registration
book you will receive in January
Students may change to a regular level of the same course prior
to the end of the 6th week of the semester, but not earlier than the
4th week.
 Date of Parent/Teacher Conference
 Teacher and Department Chair must agree
 There must be room in the regular section
 Your entire schedule may have to change
Teachers are staffed based upon your initial scheduling decisions;
choose correctly the first time
National Honor Society

The fall of junior year

List of eligible students



Teachers nominate – from list of eligible students



Very important you remind your previous teachers who
you are early in the year.
Students are invited to apply
Applications include essays



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Class rank
GPA
Important to have leadership
Important to have extracurricular activities
Important to have community service
If not selected Junior year – keep up grades, make
changes, apply senior year.
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The Padre Experience

Marcos Scholars
 Malachai
Payne
 Casey Silva
 Lily Wick
 Christina Winkler
Want a head start as to what our
current students and parents see?
Marcos Guidance
https://twitter.com/MarcosGuidance
Visit the Marcos de Niza website
and Counseling page.
https://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/mdn/
Next Step…


Turn in Student and Parent Questionnaires or bring them
to the ILP meeting
Sign up for ILP session

(I will send you a reminder)
Thank you for coming!


Questions?
If you have further questions or concerns contact
Leah Lang:
 llang@tempeunion.org
 480.730.7658