Parents of students in grades 5-7
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Parents of students in grades 5-7
Please… • Silence your cell phones • At the conclusion of the presentation, if you have questions unique to your child, please contact the Accelerated Programs office directly for assistance. Note: Presentation is posted on the Accelerated Programs web page.
Heather Sanchez Director, Accelerated Programs, Choice &
Innovation
Amy Bucy Evergreen Middle School Quest
Barbara King Evergreen Middle School Quest
Britt Galen Accelerated Programs Psychologist
Diane Durant Accelerated Programs Supervisor
Suzanne Hurd Accelerated Programs Administrative Secretary
Elizabeth Walkey Gifted Education Advisory Council
Heather Sanchez
Each student will graduate prepared to lead a rewarding responsible life as a contributing member of our community and greater society
Every Student
Future Ready:
•Prepared for College
•Prepared for the Global
Workplace
•Prepared for Personal
Success
Ideals
Opportunity & Equity
Innovation
Improvement Values
Goals
Highly capable students are students who perform or show
potential for performing at significantly advanced academic
levels when compared with others of their age, experiences,
or environments.
✓ Outstanding abilities are seen within students' general
intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or
creative productivities within a specific domain.
✓ These students are present not only in the general
populace, but are present within all protected classes
according to Chapters 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW.The legislature finds that, for highly capable students, access to accelerated learning and enhanced instruction is access to a basic education.
There are multiple definitions of highly capable. The research literature strongly supports using multiple criteria to identify highly capable students, and therefore, the legislature does not intend to prescribe a single method. Instead, the legislature authorizes school districts to identify through the use of multiple, objective criteria those students most highly capable and eligible to receive accelerated learning and enhanced instruction in the program offered by the district.
Districts shall make a variety of appropriate program services available to enrolled students who participate in the district's program for highly capable students. Once services are started, a continuum of services shall be provided to the student from K-12.
K-5 2-5 High
2-5 Middle
Highly Pull- School
Full -Time School
Capable Out
Quest
Course
Quest Quest Enrollment
(HC)
Course
Once a week Once a week Self- Self-
Enrollment
30 min. full day contained contained Options to
math and/or enrichment classroom Middle include Honors,
School core College in the
reading at specific at specific High School,
enrichment sites sites classes at Running Start,
at home specific sites Advanced
school Placement (AP)
14• The middle school Quest program provides our most highly
capable students the opportunity to engage in rigorous and
challenging curriculum with their academic peers.
• The program is designed to meet the needs of students
who have been identified as having exceptional cognitive
and academic ability by accelerating and enriching the
district curriculum.
• Classes include greater breadth and depth of subject
matter, a wide variety of learning processes and teaching
methods and high expectations for student work and
achievement.For 6th grade students, Middle School Quest consists of a two-period integrated language arts and social studies block, one period of science and one period of math, leaving them two additional periods for required and elective classes. For 7th and 8th grade students, Middle School Quest consists of a two-period integrated language arts and social studies block and one period of science. Students are placed at the appropriate math level for one other period, leaving them two additional periods for required and elective classes.
In Middle School Quest classes
• learning pace is faster than in the regular education
program
• work exceeds grade level standards
• emphasis is on
• advanced academic thinking skills and strategies
• strong communication and collaboration skills
• an increased awareness of local and global
citizenship.Middle school Quest programs are currently located at: • Evergreen Middle School, Redmond • Kamiakin Middle School, Kirkland • Redmond Middle School, Redmond The district assigns a student to attend a middle school Quest school based on his / her home address. School assignment is subject to change.
Math/Science Evergreen Middle School LA/SS Evergreen Middle School
Middle School Quest Math/Science Amy Bucy Evergreen Middle School
Sample Quest Math Mapping
6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
7th Math Calculus Calculus
Algebra Geometry Advanced or or
Grade Algebra Analysis
Math Statistics Statistics
Once Quest students reach high school there are other
choices for upper level math:
❖ Probability & Statistics
❖ Microeconomics
❖ Engineering
❖ Computer Science
In order to be college ready students need only 3 years of
high school math. To gain access to University of
Washington they need four years of “Quantitative
Coursework.”How do I help my student with math?
Current research shows that our brains grow most when we
do 2 things:
1. Extend effort – struggle is really good!
2. Correct our mistakes and practice the correct way.
Encourage your student to work at the edge of their
understanding. If something is easy for them, make it
more challenging – add fractions, decimals and negative
numbers to the mix.
Practice makes permanent!Middle School Math Teams ❖ Encourage your student to participate in Math Club or Math Team at their school. ❖ Most teams participate in district, state and national competitions that help solidify problem-solving skills, team work and thinking fast on your feet. ❖ Math Olympiad ❖ Math is Cool ❖ AMC 8 ❖ Math Counts
Science-Ambitious Science
Teaching (AST)
6th grade Focus:
Using models to share their thinking and understanding of
phenomena (ex: Why does glass shatter when a singer reaches
a certain note?)
Extensions on district standards (designing sunglasses from
recycled materials)
7th grade Focus:
Engineering Projects (solar cookers, spring scales, trebuchet)
In-depth exploration of District Standards (designing a periodic
table)
8th Grade Focus:
Processing Expository Texts (Higher levels texts on Space,
forces in space)
Designing and Engineering in teams (Exploravision)Middle School Quest Language Arts / Social Studies Barbara King Evergreen Middle School
Humanities – Language Arts
• Common Core State Standards are met through use of:
• Complex texts (non-fiction and fiction)
• Novels are selected to meet the advanced reading levels of the Quest
student.
• 6th grade: Schooled, The Odyssey, The Maze Runner
• 7th grade: Nothing But The Truth, NightJohn, The Fifth of March
• 8th grade: The Lord of the Flies, Of Beetles and Angels
• Literary analysis
• Writing
• Narrative (NaNoWriMo)
• Expository (Project Writing)
• Argumentative (Research-based)Humanities – Social Studies
• Common Core State Standards are met through use of:
• Complex texts
• Grade Level curriculum texts and scope and sequence
• Primary Source Readings: (Examples)
• 7th grade: Hobbes & Locke – philosophy of the Constitution
• 8th grade: Census Analysis, famous speeches and their impact
• In-Depth projects that focus on research, presentation, and
collaboration.
• 6th grade: Model United Nations
• 7th grade: Project Citizen
• 8th grade: National History DayStrategies used across the Middle School
Quest Content Areas
• Thematic Instruction
• Applying a growth mindset (Carol Dweck, Ph.D.)
• Using Depth and Complexity (Sandra Kaplan, Ph.D.)
• Team collaboration
• Project-based learning
• Interdisciplinary projects
• Pre-Assessment, formative and summative assessments to
monitor student progress and growthWhy Quest at Middle School
“Once a musician has enough ability to get into a top music
school, the thing that distinguishes one performer from
another is how hard he or she works. That's it. And what's
more, the people at the very top don't work just harder or
even much harder than everyone else. They work much,
much harder.”
― Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success
We want our students to find school engaging, to be
challenged in their thinking and to reach new heights. We
want them to be engaged citizens in our schools and in our
community.Heather Sanchez/Diane Durant
Nominating students
• Parents, staff or community members may nominate
students in 5th, 6th and 7th grade for Middle School
Quest. Parents must complete an online application.
Please contact the Accelerated Programs Office if a
paper application or a translated application is needed.
• Students must reside in LWSD boundaries to apply for
and participate in Quest programs.
• Students must go through the district's highly capable
assessment process for selection.Placement process for current 5th-7th grade
students applying for Middle School Quest
• All students who qualify for Quest will be offered
placement in the appropriate Quest program.
• For Middle School Quest, the location of the Quest
school is based on a student’s home address.
• School assignment is subject to change.Frequently Asked Questions
• Can out of district students apply?
• Students must reside within the Lake Washington School
District at the time of application to be eligible for Highly
Capable Services. Students must remain residents of the
district to continue to receive services.
• What documents do I need to provide proof of residency
in LWSD?
• Proof of residency is required for families whose child
attends a private school, a school outside of the LWSD, or
who is homeschooled.
• Families typically provide documents including current
mortgage statements or current utility bills.• How can I talk with parents of students in Highly Capable
Programs?
• The Gifted Education Advisory Council (GEAC) is a good
source of information about Highly Capable programs
from the perspective of parents.
• Can I observe a middle school highly capable program?
• We are unable to schedule classroom observations as
part of the application process. With high interest in
programs, this would create a distraction to the learning
environment. Our website provides a thorough overview
of our programs to enable families to get a sense of what
the day-to-day experience is like for students.• How are eligibility decisions made? All eligibility decisions are made using a body of evidence (or multiple objectives). Assessment criteria, including typical ranges for eligibility, are published on the Accelerated Programs web page. A Multi-Disciplinary Selection Committee (MSC), which includes at a minimum a psychologist, department administrator and instructional specialist review all evidence for each student together to make an eligibility decision.
• How will I know if my child meets the screening criteria?
• All applicants will be scheduled to take the CogAT
screening form. Families will receive an email status
notification following the completion of the CogAT
screening form.
• What if my child gets sick or we have a family emergency
and cannot take the CogAT or IOWA assessment?
• If your child is ill or your family experienced an emergency
on the day of the assessment, please email
quest@lwsd.org before the test begins. Students with a
documented illness or family emergency are provided one
make up date set by the district.• I had my child privately tested. Can I submit these
results with my application?
• LWSD does not accept private testing results in place of or
in addition to district assessment results. Accepting
private evaluations creates potential inequity based on
the ability of parents to pay for a private evaluation.
Instead students participate in the district assessment
process at no cost.
• I had previous teachers write letters of recommendation.
Can I submit these with the application?
• Letters of recommendation are not a part of the body of
evidence reviewed by the Multi-Disciplinary Selection
Committee (MSC).• How do I learn more about the assessments used as
part of the eligibility process?
• All information about the assessment process can be
found on the department web page. Parents are
welcome to explore these resources.
• Should my child study or “prep” for assessments?
• We do not recommend or endorse “prepping”
students for the assessment process. The
information reviewed for each student includes
information about current classroom performance,
academic achievement and ability measures to
provide a robust learner profile.• What if my child has an IEP or 504?
• If your child had a current IEP or 504 please
make note of that on your application.
Documented testing accommodations are
provided during the assessment process.
• How many times can my child be nominated
or apply?
• Students can be nominated/apply for highly
capable services each year.• If my child applies multiple times, can we
use scores from a range of years?
• Each year eligibility decisions are made
based on the most current and full body of
evidence for each student for that year. Data
from previous years is not utilized. Criteria
and assessment tools can change from year-
to-year. To ensure equal access for each
applicant each year, that student’s current
body-of-evidence is reviewed in consideration
of the current eligibility criteria.• My child is in private school. What
should we do?
Students residing in LWSD and attending private schools
may apply for and receive Highly Capable services.
Complete the online application, complete the Application
Supplement for Private School Students, and submit
proof of residency during the open application period.
Qualifying private school students would need to be
present in their assigned LWSD school when the services
are offered. School assignment for Highly Capable
Services is subject to change based on enrollment• If my child becomes eligible for service, how will we know the
time/location of services?
• Students who become eligible for services are offered placement based on home
address within an established feeder pattern. School assignment is subject to
change based on overall district and program enrollment.
• Can my child participate in both the Choice School Lottery and the
Middle School Quest Assessment Process?
Yes. Students may concurrently participate in the choice school and Quest application
processes. Should a student be offered placement at a choice school, he/she may continue
with the Quest selection process. Should the student be offered and accept placement in full-
time Quest, he/she will be removed from the choice school and will not be placed on the
waitlist.
If a student in Middle School Quest applies for a choice school and is offered placement at
the choice school, the student may transfer to the choice school and relinquish the Quest
placement.• What if my child becomes eligible for service, but we
are not sure whether or not we want to participate?
• We are here to work with families. Our office staff
and our department psychologist frequently talk with
families regarding program participation decisions.
• What are the typical class/group sizes for students
in highly capable programs?
• Class and group sizes in highly capable programs
aligns with class and group sizes across the district.• Is transportation provided for students?
• Shuttle transportation is provided for middle
school Quest.
• If my child participates in highly capable
programs and we have a concern/question,
who should we talk to?
• Please start with the teacher. If you feel the
matter has not been fully addressed, next speak
with the school counselor and principal. If the
matter continues to remain unresolved the
Accelerated Programs office may be contacted.• I still have some questions. Who should I
contact?
• If you have a question unique to your child,
please call our office at (425) 936-1238 or email
quest@lwsd.org.
• This presentation is posted on the Accelerated
Programs web page.
• The FAQ document can be located on the
Accelerated Programs web page.
• Video FAQ series is posted on the Accelerated
Programs Web page.ABOUT US
What is 2018-2019
Who we are What we do
GEAC? BoardWhat is GEAC? o501c 3 started in 1989 to support the highly capable community in LWSD oWorks in coordination with the LWSD and the highly capable community, similar to a local PTA oOur operating budget is funded 100% by annual donations and corporate matching.
Who we are
o GEAC membership consists of families in the
LWSD highly capable community, primarily
current or past Quest families.
o Educators and other community members are
welcome and encouraged to join.
o All are volunteersWhat we do
To support the unique needs of highly capable students enrolled
in the Lake Washington School District.
Outreach Enrichment Education AdvocacyFostering communication and connection amongst highly capable stakeholders
Supporting highly capable student learning in the classroom, making available funding for enhancements
Total GEAC Grants 2017-2018 Soy Grants Disbursed $11,113.89 Application Grants Disbursed $8,849.34 Application Grant Categories Field Trips $1,822.40 Classroom Supplementary Material $1,852.24 Conference and Professional Development $2,553.41
Offering information about and/or access to relevant education and support opportunities for parents, students, and educators in the highly capable community
Panel Discussion on Middle School Options Board Game Nights Julia Robinson Math Festival Austin DeBonte Guest Speaker on “What Parents Need to Know About Smart kids” Newly Qualified Parents Meeting in May Panel Discussion on Twice Exceptional
Board Info
Officers of GEAC
17 Board Members at
Jaya Ramesh President
large!
Anusha Rao President-Elect
Grants committee
Daval Davis Treasurer
Education committee
Anhaita Jamula Secretary Advocacy Committee
Elizabeth Walkey VP Outreach High School Student on
Pronita Mehrotra VP Grants board
Rathi Sudhekar and Sangeetha Jagadeesan-
CO VP of AdvocacyThank You!
www.lwsdgeac.org
https://www.facebook.com/LWSDGEAC/You can also read
