Newsletter:

How does Gifted Education work for my child?

Gifted students in the Virginia Beach City Public School (VBCPS) system are provided with instruction via a differentiated curriculum responsive to the educational needs of the child. Gifted students may choose to apply to a centrally located full-time gifted elementary school, Old Donation Center, or students may remain in the neighborhood school and receive services via the cluster/ resource program. Both models provide opportunities for gifted students to benefit from learning challenges offered through the differentiation of curricula, the incorporation of strategies designed to raise the level of learning, and the availability of specialized programs. The educational delivery models found at Old Donation Center and the home school cluster/resource program encourage and provide an arena for all teachers of gifted learners to practice effective collaboration. Through collegial sharing and opportunities for professional growth, they provide services for the entire elementary population.

Goals of the Gifted Education Program:

• To differentiate curriculum and instruction in order to provide challenges for intellectually gifted students that meet their intellectual and emotional needs.
• To provide effective staff development opportunities for resource teachers, cluster teachers, regular education teachers, and administrators.
• To promote awareness of the unique needs of gifted students among parents, school staff, and the community

FAQ about referring students for gifted services:

Who can refer students?
A teacher, a parent/guardian, a peer, the student support team, the student, or any person who has knowledge of the student’s abilities may initiate a referral. Referral forms can be obtained from the gifted contact person at the school.

What are the steps in the referral process?

• The classroom teacher or parent/guardian obtains a Referral Form from the gifted contact person in school.
• A classroom teacher completes the Teacher Information Form and attaches a copy of the student’s current report card.
• If the parent/guardian did not refer the student, then the Parent Letter and Parent Information Form is sent home to be completed, signed, and returned to the classroom teacher.
• All forms are sent to the school’s gifted contact person who forwards them to the Gifted Testing Department located at Old Donation Center.
• Parents/guardians are notified of the date that the assessment specialist administers the tests.
• The Eligibility/Placement Committee meets quarterly (November, January, March, and May), reviews all information, and makes eligibility decisions.
• Parents/guardians and/or the referral source receive notification of the decision by mail within ten working days.
• Confidentiality is maintained during all steps in the process.

Gifted Web Links for Parents:

National Association of Gifted Children – www.nagc.org
Hoagies Gifted Education Page – www.hoagiesgifted.org

Teacher:

My name is Beth Schlossberg, and this is my first year as Arrowhead’s Gifted Resource Teacher. I work at Arrowhead on Tuesday through Friday of every week, planning and implementing a challenging curriculum with your child’s classroom teacher. I also work with kindergarten and first grade students regularly throughout the year.

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