Here are some of the classes that schools can offer TAG students during the school day or during late starts.
Kimberly Matier worked hard over the summer to negotiate attractive rates for PPS schools. TAG-identified students and students working at the appropriate rate/level can participate. The goal here is to make it easier for schools to set up appropriate plans for the TAG budgets so that the money is not forfeited at the end of the year.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
TAG Advisory Council Meeting Recap
We had lots of new faces at the TAGAC meeting last night. I'll post the minutes when they're approved, but here's a quick recap of Director of Instruction Kimberly Matier's presentation -
-The TAG Coordinator role will no longer be primarily clerical. Clerical responsibilities have been shifted away to other staff. The TAG Coordinator will attend five mandatory professional development meetings on how teachers are expected to meet TAG students' learning rate & level needs in the classroom. The meetings will be Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Jan. 23, Feb. 27 and April 24. The information will be shared with all teachers at staff meetings. The TAG Coordinator will also help teachers write individual instructional plans.
-Final approval of TAG enrichment budget items - which are now totally separate from the TAG Coordinator budget - now rests within the TAG department. Since these are TAG funds, schools are not supposed to use the funds for general schoolwide enrichment/clubs as they have in the past. If schools neglect to use the funds, which has been a problem over the past four years, they will lose control over how to direct the money.
-Schools have until Oct. 30 to plan how they will use their TAG enrichment budgets. Kimberly Matier has negotiated attractive group rates with Saturday Academy and OMSI for differentiated group instruction, which can happen during the school day. I'll post the menu of class choices as soon as I have a digital copy. TAG-identified students and students working at the appropriate rate/level & nominated by teachers can participate.
-The acceleration policy for math and for english language arts will be posted on the TAG website this Friday.
-TAGAC Communication head Brenda Ray Scott is now able to make changes to the PPS TAG website, which should result in a more user-friendly and updated site.
That's it for now - please email me or Virginia LaForte if you have any questions or ideas about TAGAC. Your child's teacher is the best point of contact for individual instructional rate/level and individual TAG plan questions. Thanks!
-The TAG Coordinator role will no longer be primarily clerical. Clerical responsibilities have been shifted away to other staff. The TAG Coordinator will attend five mandatory professional development meetings on how teachers are expected to meet TAG students' learning rate & level needs in the classroom. The meetings will be Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Jan. 23, Feb. 27 and April 24. The information will be shared with all teachers at staff meetings. The TAG Coordinator will also help teachers write individual instructional plans.
-Final approval of TAG enrichment budget items - which are now totally separate from the TAG Coordinator budget - now rests within the TAG department. Since these are TAG funds, schools are not supposed to use the funds for general schoolwide enrichment/clubs as they have in the past. If schools neglect to use the funds, which has been a problem over the past four years, they will lose control over how to direct the money.
-Schools have until Oct. 30 to plan how they will use their TAG enrichment budgets. Kimberly Matier has negotiated attractive group rates with Saturday Academy and OMSI for differentiated group instruction, which can happen during the school day. I'll post the menu of class choices as soon as I have a digital copy. TAG-identified students and students working at the appropriate rate/level & nominated by teachers can participate.
-The acceleration policy for math and for english language arts will be posted on the TAG website this Friday.
-TAGAC Communication head Brenda Ray Scott is now able to make changes to the PPS TAG website, which should result in a more user-friendly and updated site.
That's it for now - please email me or Virginia LaForte if you have any questions or ideas about TAGAC. Your child's teacher is the best point of contact for individual instructional rate/level and individual TAG plan questions. Thanks!
Friday, September 13, 2013
TAG Advisory Council Meeting & Committees
This year, the TAGAC (district parent TAG Advisory Council) is organizing around four committees - Differentiation, Curriculum, Equity and Communication.
If you can't attend the TAGAC meetings (6:30p. one Tuesday evening a month), you can still help out with committee work. The group is determined to build off of last year's survey findings with specific goals and requests for PPS. Please email chair Mark Feldman at ppsmark@feldmark.com if you would like to help with a committee.
The first meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30p. in the Mazama room of Blanchard Ed Services Center at 501 N. Dixon. Mazama is on the second floor by the cafeteria.
Thanks!
If you can't attend the TAGAC meetings (6:30p. one Tuesday evening a month), you can still help out with committee work. The group is determined to build off of last year's survey findings with specific goals and requests for PPS. Please email chair Mark Feldman at ppsmark@feldmark.com if you would like to help with a committee.
The first meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30p. in the Mazama room of Blanchard Ed Services Center at 501 N. Dixon. Mazama is on the second floor by the cafeteria.
Thanks!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
TAGAC meeting Tues., Sept. 17
Welcome back!
The schedule of TAG Advisory Council Meetings has been finalized, and the first meeting is Tues., Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mazama room of Blanchard Ed Services Center at 501 N. Dixon. Virginia La Forte and Amy Mason Doan have volunteered to represent Alameda this year, but we would love to have help. Please email Amy if you are interested in working on talented & gifted issues at the PPS, school or state level.
At the Sept. 17 meeting, TAG director Kimberly Matier will talk about the new role of the TAG coordinator and the new options that principals have for using TAG budgets.
We need new members, especially representatives from middle and high schools and members who reflect the diversity of PPS.
Looking forward to working with many of you this year! And please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions about the TAGAC's work.
The schedule of TAG Advisory Council Meetings has been finalized, and the first meeting is Tues., Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mazama room of Blanchard Ed Services Center at 501 N. Dixon. Virginia La Forte and Amy Mason Doan have volunteered to represent Alameda this year, but we would love to have help. Please email Amy if you are interested in working on talented & gifted issues at the PPS, school or state level.
At the Sept. 17 meeting, TAG director Kimberly Matier will talk about the new role of the TAG coordinator and the new options that principals have for using TAG budgets.
We need new members, especially representatives from middle and high schools and members who reflect the diversity of PPS.
Looking forward to working with many of you this year! And please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions about the TAGAC's work.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Altair School for gifted students - Meeting July 21
A new private school for gifted students is opening on the West side. I don't think they have firmed up the location yet - details below.
Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer.
-Amy
--------------------Please join us for an Information Session this Sunday, July 21st.
When: Sunday, July 21, 3:30 PM
Where: Beaverton Community Center, 12350 SW 5th St # 100 in the Vose Room
Please RSVP to info@altairschool.org
The Altair School, a new independent school for gifted young students, will be opening this September. For our first year, we'll offer a blended 5-6 year old class and a blended 7-9 year old class with the intent of adding one class each year through 5th grade. A part-time schedule is available. Student can choose to attend 5 days/week or 3 days/week.
The Altair School was designed around the needs of highly gifted learners. Altair teachers are committed to knowing each child, personally and academically. We believe a safe, caring community allows inquiry and love of learning to flourish. Our teachers continually assess each student's knowledge, abilities and effort, encouraging each child to do his or her personal best. Our inquiry-based program teaches students to be active participants in their learning, sift through data efficiently and ask great questions.
For gifted children, sensitivities and overexcitabilities are important considerations as well. Our staff is knowledgeable and effective in helping students discover techniques to manage their sensitivities and OEs so they can enjoy the positive aspects of these personality traits. We want our students to experience a joyful learning environment where they can learn life skills and resilience.
Learn more at www.altairschool.org Feel free to contact me directly if you would like more information.
Thank you,
Rebecca
___________________
Rebecca Taylor
rtaylor@altairschool.org
650.387.6051
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