parent quarterly update: extended services – september 2017– · department of teaching &...

Department of Teaching & Learning

Email [email protected] • Office 847-842-3529 • Fax 847-381-1007 310 E. James St., Barrington, IL 60010 • www.barrington220.org

Parent Quarterly Update: Extended Services – September 2017–

Fall is such an exciting time in our schools! The hum of student chatter and laughter is

certainly in the air. I hope all of the Back-to-School Nights have served you well this fall.

Please visit the Extended Services webpage on the www.barrigton220.org website and

the Barrington Council for Gifted and Talented (BCGT)

https://bcgtdotorg.wordpress.com/ website for parent support and wonderful student

opportunities. Student course pathways, moving through middle school and high school,

can also be found on the Extended Services webpage. Additional resources and coming

events are housed here and new items are added routinely. I wish you and your children a

positive and successful school year filled with exploration and wonder!

Sincerely,

April D. Jordan, Ed.D.

Director of Extended Services & Staff Development

Office: (847) 842-3529



Information Night for Parents of New Students to the Program Date & Time: November 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Location: Station Middle School, Media Center

Parents of new students to the Extended Services Program are encouraged to join me for

a presentation of general program information. We will review placement criteria, the

continuum of services, and how you can support your extended learner.

Extended 7th Grade Science, Enhanced Curriculum As previously shared, Extended Science started in 6th grade last school year and with

enhanced curriculum aligned to the Next Generation Science (NGSS). Inquiry-based

learning with an emphasis on the engineering standards allows us to continue to maintain

an accelerated and enriched student experience using the Smithsonian Science Education

Center (STC) materials for support.

Now 7th grade Extended Science is off to a very exciting start with its new extended

curriculum! The new NGSS Standards in science has our 7th grade students immersed in

biological science for the entire year. Already students have demonstrated ingenuity

with iPads by taking photos through the microscope eye piece! The images are quite

clear and allow students to draw or observe specimens without continuously returning to

the scope. They are also studying the seven characteristics of life and will soon take a

detailed tour of cells.



Student Breakout EDU Experience to Build Reading Skills

In order to build student stamina in reading and to show students the importance of close

reading, learners in Mrs. Christianson's and Mrs. Conant's class participated in their first

ever Breakout EDU experience. Students used both textual clues, as well as clues

provided by the teacher, to unlock four locks holding the "mystery read." Students were

challenged and thrilled! Most importantly, students were learning that strong readers do

not worry about word count or the number of pages in a novel. Instead, they focus on

reading closely with intent and purpose to garner a deep understanding of what they have

read. Bravo!



Stillman Nature Center Visits ESC The Extended Self-Contained students are studying ecology this time of year in their

science rotation. Mark Spreyer, Executive Director of the Stillman Nature Center and

expert on birds of all kinds, brought the following birds of prey to the classroom: screech

owl, red shouldered hawk, barn owl, barred owl, and a vulture. Students were enchanted

by these beautiful, fascinating birds! They delighted in Mark's extensive knowledge and

great story-telling.

National Association of Gifted Children, 64th Annual Convention

The NAGC will be holding its annual convention in Charlotte, North Carolina this

November 9-12th. It is an amazing opportunity to hear from renowned experts in the field

of gifted and talented education and discover contemporary approaches to meeting

students’ needs. “NAGC, NCAGT, and members of the NAGC GLBTQ Network are

working together to utilize the opportunity to support its members, be a shining example

of inclusiveness and respect, and advance its mission of supporting the needs of gifted

children” (NAGC Statement on the 64th Annual Convention, 2017).



Extended Services Five-Year Action Plan The following is an illustration of our Five-Year Action Plan, outlining the program

elements we will continue to re-evaluate over the next several years. We are moving into

year three this 2017-2018 school year.

parent quarterly update: extended services – september 2017– · department of teaching &...

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