Vision More and more classroom practices traditionally reserved for gifted students are being employed by regular classroom teachers to meet the needs of increasingly diverse students.  In addition, new state curriculum standards have set guidelines for instruction for all students in higher level thinking skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, interpretation, analysis and evaluation.  Since students spend most of their day in regular classrooms, our primary effort is to support teachers in developing more varied and flexible approaches toward grouping, and instruction to better meet the needs of a wide range of learners in their classrooms. Beliefs The Challenge program is designed with the belief that giftedness might be defined as a complex set of behaviors - above average ability, task commitment, and creativity - that can occur in different people at different times and circumstances.  It is our aim to provide a wide array of services and strategies to encourage and nurture the talent in all of our students.	Assessment We believe the assessment of all students to diagnose instructional needs should be an ongoing process in our district's classrooms.  Nomination for the Challenge Program may also be initiated by a teacher or parent/guardian; please contact the Challenge Program Coordinator or school principal for an application. Screening of students will include group testing.  The assessment of students include:  1) The Gifted and Talented Teacher Survey given by the classroom teacher and, 2) Cognitive Abilities test to be given March 26, 2009. The records of students who qualify for testing through a combination of the above criteria are then reviewed by the Challenge Program Multi-Disciplinary Committee, consisting of the Building Principal, Classroom teacher, the Challenge Director, and the psychologist.  The Committee will review the data and will determine who has met the District's criteria. SELECTION PROCESS Students who score at a 95th percentile or above on at least one subtest will qualify for the highly capable program. Acceptance Parents will be notified of their child's acceptance into the Challenge Program as soon as possible after screening.  Parents may choose to enroll their child in the program, or not.	Programs Available Primary - The focus is enrichment for all students.  Programs include: Annual Student Project Showcase Fair - Presenting a theater group, author, or performer with an academic theme - Cooperative activities with high school students - Instructors from the Tennant Lake Interpretive Center visit each classroom to teach lessons about the natural world. Elementary - Programs include:  Continental Math, Young Authors, Ensure that high end books are available to students in the school library - Battle of The Books#Math Champs (3-6 teams a year compete in County and State Math Champs) - After School Simulations/Projects. Middle School - Programs include:  High Math placement, recommended by parent or teacher - Math/Science ability grouping - Level 4 Math - Jr. SAT (Highly Capable only) - History Day - Science Trip (by application only) - Drama - Math Champs teams. High School - Programs include: Advanced Placement classes - Knowledge Bowl/Math Team - Select Choir - Wind Ensemble - Drama - Jazz Band - Advanced TV *Students identified as highly capable are encouraged to participate in the above programs. Some programs are exclusive to highly capable students.

Return to Blaine School District home