Cryptography class - second session signups!

Cryptography Math Enrichment Class

Alameda will be offering another session of math enrichment for students with strong math skills to be taught once again by Katie Melchor. There will be two classes—one for 1st and 2nd graders and another for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The theme for both groups will be Cryptography: Making and Breaking Secret Codes. Each week, students will briefly learn about one specific secret code that has been used in history. Then students will use problem solving and algebraic concepts to make/break that specific code. The math behind it will be differentiated for the different age groups.

Classes will meet for one hour after school with the 1-2 class meeting on Mondays and the 3-5 class meeting on Tuesdays, both beginning the week of April 8th and lasting for six weeks. Enrollment will be limited to 15 students. Students need to be able to attend all six classes. Please sign up in the office with Chris or Nancy by April 3rd. There are only a few spaces available for each class, as there are several students who were wait-listed from the first session. If we wind up having more interest than space allows we will need to use a lottery system to fill the classes to make it fair. 

Thank you to Ms. Melchor, Ms. VanDerWolf and Mr. Lurie for making this class happen. The kids seem to absolutely love the secret code theme and have learned a lot.

Today's Tribune Article & Opinion piece

This week's Trib has an in-depth article on ACCESS that covers the results of the district TAG survey. Thanks again to those of you who filled out the survey as PPS is taking the results quite seriously. 

And Mark Feldman, a fellow member of the TAG parent advisory council heading the Differentiation subcommittee, has written an Opinion piece with a list of specific recommendations for improving TAG education. 

Please continue to share your ideas with me, with Principal Lurie, and with Kimberly Matier at PPS. Thank you. 

Saturday Academy TAG Challenge Camp

Saturday Academy has posted details on its summer TAG Challenge Camps at Reed and U of Portland. Here's the link.

If you have information about other summer opportunities (or any other TAG-related news), please email me so that I can share links here - thanks!
Amy (amasondoan@gmail.com)

ACCESS on OPB

OPB aired a big piece on ACCESS today. Also, there was a lot of discussion about ACCESS at this week's TAGAC meeting.

Topics ranged from what the true entrance requirements are & what they should be to the impact on other schools if ACCESS expands, ACCESS as a priority vs. better TAG services in neighborhood schools, and possibilities for scaling ACCESS teaching/ability grouping strategies across PPS.

Here's the link - 

http://www.opb.org/news/article/demand-is-high-but-space-is-small-at-program-for-gifted-portland-students/

TAG 101 Meeting & Saturday Academy class

The district started mailing out TAG identification letters this week, so I encourage new families to mark your calendars for the TAG 101 meeting on Wednesday, May 8 at Marshall High School in the evening. More details to come.

This is the first meeting for parents of TAG students identified in the 2012/13 school year. It's your chance to hear from district staff, discuss what services to expect in and out of the classroom, and discuss rights and responsibilities. District TAG head Dr. Kimberly Matier has many plans for improving the TAG program in PPS and she will share some of her news in May.

I'm also very happy to answer any questions you may have about the TAG parent advisory committee's work and advocacy at the state, district and school levels. (amasondoan@gmail.com). Specific classroom concerns about challenge, rate & level should be discussed with TAG coordinator Kiya Masunaga (kmasunaga@pps.net), principal Lurie (rlurie@pps.net) and A.P. Pamela VanDerWolf(pvanderw@pps.net).

We are still hoping to use any remaining TAG budget for a Saturday Academy class or two this spring! If you are interested in helping, please email me or Virginia LaForte (virginialaforte@me.com). Thank you.

HB 2877

House Bill 2877, which would help stabilize funding & services for talented & gifted students in Oregon, passed the House Education Committee yesterday with a unanimous (9-0) vote. The bill has a long way to go, but thank you to those of you who have written in support of the bill.

You can find the latest on HB 2877 here

And see examples of written testimony here and here (timeline of state TAG funding/bills)

Audio testimony from the March 11 hearing is here under Archives, March 11 House Education Committee

This chart, presented to the committee, shows TAG spending trends

TAG Survey Results

The district TAG Survey results are out. Parents of TAG-identified/TAG-potential students should receive a hard copy of the survey summary this week. You can also read the summary letter here.

As noted in the letter, detailed survey results are available in the Alameda school office. All school principals received school-specific results, with any identifying info. removed from the comments.

Thank you for spending time on this survey so that PPS and the state can analyze how our current state TAG mandate is implemented day to day across the district. TAG chief Dr. Kimberly Matier is taking the results very seriously and has already implemented several changes in an effort to improve the program. 

If you have any questions/ideas about the results or the TAG council's work, please feel free to contact me or Dr. Matier (kmatier@pps.net). Please continue to bring any specific concerns about your child's classroom TAG needs to teachers, TAG Coordinator Kiya Masunaga, Assistant Principal Pamela VanDerWolf and/or Principal Lurie.

Thank you,

Amy

ACCESS information night

ACCESS has added another information night -Tues., March 19 at 6p. in the Sabin School auditorium. Here's more information on the ACCESS alternative program.

Today's Op-Ed about TAG in the Tribune

The March 7 Tribune has a letter about TAG from one of the state's most experienced advocates.

"The most common myth we hear is that these students are already doing well and don’t need additional services. This is not true. No one expects talented young gymnasts or violinists to train themselves. Gifted students don’t teach themselves either. Doing nothing means doing harm to these children and to society at large."...

Testimony on TAG Bill - House Bill 2877

OATAG will testify before the state House & Senate Education Committees this month to support Bill 2877, which would provide state funding for TAG services. The group is looking for parents from around the state to share their stories about the need for state-funded gifted services. Here's a message from OATAG's Margaret DeLacy - 

"On Monday at 1:00 the House Education committee will be hearing a bill in Salem that would enhance services for gifted students throughout Oregon. I am very much hoping that there are a few parents out there who might be willing to tell legislators what you have told the School Board and administration here--that gifted students need services. You would be talking to a friendly group of legislators, who are interested in helping. If anyone is willing to do this, please give me a call at 503-774-7017 and leave a message."

 

Or consider sending an email. Even a brief, conversational message about your family's experience with TAG services and other issues can help shape the state's priorities at this critical time. Here's background on the bill.

Thanks!

Send emails to -

rick.berkobien@state.or.us

rep.saragelser@state.or.us,
 rep.jeffreardon@state.or.us,
 rep.sherriesprenger@state.or.us,
 rep.johnhuffman@state.or.us,
 rep.julieparrish@state.or.us,
 rep.shemiafagan@state.or.us,
 rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us,
 rep.chrisgorsek@state.or.us,
 rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us,
 sen.markhass@state.or.us,
 sen.timknopp@state.or.us,
 sen.leebeyer@state.or.us,
 sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us,
 sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us

Review State School Report Cards

Please take 20-25 minutes to review Oregon's existing state school report card format and its potential replacement. Click here to review the report cards.

The new version has a 'Challenge' section that briefly touches on TAG, but does not offer much detail or clear incentives for schools to serve students who already meet/exceed state benchmarks. Please share your thoughts with ODE - thank you!!