WCSD GATE
September 2014
WCSD GATE Newsletter
giftedandtalented@washoeschools.net
T: 775-682-5546
Welcome to the 2014/2015 school year!
The Gifted and Talented department is excited to continue
supporting your scholar this year. Our goals as a department are to
have exceptional communication and customer service. You can
expect monthly newsletters, consistent communication and teacher
and students support with high yield learning strategies from your
specialist. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please
communicate with your specialist as soon as possible. Each
specialist is an advocate for your child to receive the best education
possible. Please let your specialist know if you did not receive the
introductory letter that provided more information on the services
provided at your child’s school.
New High School Programming! This year marks the first year that gifted
students will be receiving Gifted programming at the High School Level. We
look forward to the continued expansion and success of the gifted
programming in our county.
Levels of Service: The second page of this newsletter is the Levels of Service
for Gifted Middle School Students explained. The base tier explains how the
specialist will support your scholar and their school.
Our Program Director, Lisa Riggs:
Lisa Riggs is the Washoe County School
District Gifted and Talented Education
Program Director. Lisa has been the
instructional leader of the gifted and
talented program since 2005. She has twenty-three years of diverse curriculum
and instructional experience, specializing in the needs of gifted students. Her
background includes: 15 years of middle school teaching experience and
overseeing gifted curriculum programming in Washington State. She
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Washington State University, a
Masters of Curriculum and Instruction from City University of Seattle, and a
Masters of Educational Leadership from the University of Victoria, Canada
B.C.
Upcoming Events
GTAC: First Monday of each
month at 7:00pm
West Conference Room
WCSD Administration Building
425 E. Ninth Street, Reno
GTPC: GT Parent Connect
NAVIGATING THE DISTRICT
Monday, September 15, 2014
6:00pm HUG HIGH SCHOOL
Theater 2880 Sutro St, Reno
Fundraisers:
October 15, 2014 All Yogurt
Beach locations »
Contact Information
Name Debbie Holmen
Schools Served: Silver Lake,
Rita Cannan, Robert Mitchell,
Libby Booth
Email:
dholmen@washoeschools.net
Page 1 of 2
Middle School
Gifted and Talented Education
Program
Programming
The Gifted and Talented Education Department (GATE) offers three levels of service for scholars entering
middle school. These three levels of service include the Magnet Middle School Program, the Advanced
Academic Program (AAP), and Middle School Specialist Support. With programming for middle school
students focused on developing scholars that are independent and self-directed learners, we believe that
all gifted learners should receive an enhanced and enriched learning experience with content extended
beyond the core topics focusing on the 21st century skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration,
Magnet Middle School
Program
communication,
and leadership.
The GATE magnet middle school program is a 6th through 8th grade program that offers scholars, which are prepared
and qualified, the opportunity for accelerated rigorous curriculum in the core areas of language arts, math, science,
and social studies. Students are required to apply and may choose to enter in either 6th or 7th grade. The curriculum
for the magnet program is at an accelerated instructional pace (students can complete through HS Formal Geometry
and HS Honors Biology); which includes an increased depth of knowledge and practice; and requires sophisticated
levels of advanced thinking.
This highest level of service is appropriate for scholars that can work independently and are achieving at high
academic levels in all core areas and are in need of increased challenge. Completion of this program will prepare
scholars for advanced coursework in high school with scholars prepared to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses
in their freshman or sophomore years.
Middle School Advanced Academic Program
The GATE AAP for middle school serves the grade-levels of the middle school and offers scholars
qualified for gifted services and high achieving scholars the opportunity for advanced rigorous curriculum,
at their zoned school, in the areas of language arts, math, science, and social studies. Students from the
zoned school may enter the program as they are identified for services and are not required to apply. The
curriculum for the AAP is at an advanced pace (Students may complete through HS Formal Geometry); an
increased depth of knowledge and practice, and requires sophisticated levels of thinking.
This level of service is appropriate for scholars achieving at high academic levels in some of the core
areas and are ready for increased challenge. Completion of this program will prepare scholars for
advanced coursework in high school with scholars prepared to participate in Advanced Placement (AP)
courses.
Middle School Specialist Support
The GATE middle school specialists support scholars at schools without an Advanced Academic
Program (AAP). The specialists work with the Administration at each school site to determine how we
can best meet the needs of the GATE students at that site within the structure of that particular school.
We DO NOT regularly pull students out of class to go to the “Gifted Class”. Instead the model is to work
with their teachers to plan units and lessons that require students to think at a higher level and to assist in
their General Education classrooms when appropriate. Students are gifted all day every day, and we
want them to have experiences in all their classes that will make the experience at the school a great
one. GATE specialists work directly with students to set goals for academic progress and success. They
work with teachers to develop units that focus on higher-level thinking skills and inquiry based learning
Pagespecialists
2 of 2
where students are exploring concepts in a more open-ended way. The GATE
advocate for
students to insure appropriate placement of students in classes.
This level of service is appropriate for gifted scholars desiring to stay with their peers at their zoned
schools. Specialists will work with the general education teachers to assure that all gifted scholars