HUSD - Teaching and learning

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The Governing Board and Staff Members of Higley Unified School District are committed to educational excellence for gifted students. The district has developed a comprehensive program of educational interventions to meet the needs of gifted students.
• Appropriate modifications are made in the following three areas:
     Learning environments: flexible grouping, homogenous grouping, and/or heterogeneous grouping, and differentiation.
     Complexity and organization of content, process, and product that include inquiry, active exploration, and discovery.
     Product development: demonstrating concept mastery that address real problems, concerns, and audiences; synthesize rather than
     summarize information; and include a self-evaluation process.
• Evaluation of student products is based on criteria established through rubrics, standards of excellence, and program goals.
• Articulation of services is provided to connect program options sequentially from one grade to the next. Gifted testing

Gifted testing for grades 3-8 will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. A referral form must be filled out by the parent and returned to the gifted specialist at any HUSD K-8 campus by January 15th. Any 3rd through 8th grader who has not been tested within the last 12 months may take the test. You may obtain the form at any of our K-8 campus offices or by requesting one from your child’s teacher. All testing will take place at Centennial Elementary School. There will be no walk-in testing. Prior registration is required. Self-Contained Gifted Program

Dear Parents/Guardians:

In addition to the services that are currently provided at each K-8 school, Higley Unified School District has a Self-Contained Gifted Program that offers a complete gifted curriculum and is designed for students in grades three through six who have extraordinary academic needs, abilities and intellectual potential. If there is enough interest, there is also the possibility that a self-contained second grade program may be added in the fall of 2010. The deadline for applications for the 2010-2011 school year is April 15, 2010. The program is housed at the district’s newest campus, Centennial Elementary School.

The Self-Contained Gifted Program is a full-day program designed for qualifying students who need the support and challenge that a peer group of students with similar academic interests and abilities provides. The goal of this program is to provide students who have advanced intellectual, academic, and/or creative thinking skills the opportunity to dynamically interact with teachers who specialize in gifted education as well as peers of similar aptitude within a rigorous, interdisciplinary learning environment in order to reach their highest levels of learning and accomplishment. These students are grouped together all day with the exception of specialty classes and lunch. The teachers are gifted endorsed and have experience working with gifted students.

Criteria for qualifying for enrollment in this program include:
1. Score at or above the 97%ile on one of the three gifted subtests (verbal, non-verbal and quantitative); and a second score at the 90%ile or above in another subtest
2. Completion of the application form
3. Two recommendations, one from a regular classroom teacher and one from the gifted specialist at the current school
4. A self-recommendation form
5. Past classroom performance

The classroom instruction expands and accelerates the traditional curriculum to accommodate the unique needs and interests of the students. Differentiation in environment, instructional methods, course content, process, and product provides appropriate educational experiences for these students. Students are provided with a rigorous interdisciplinary core curriculum of language arts, social studies, science, and math. Standard curriculum is compacted for students who demonstrate mastery and proficiency in basic skills. Students also have an opportunity to explore areas of interest in depth through independent research.

Assessment of program effectiveness is designed around these expected outcomes:
• Adequate yearly academic gains on standardized tests;
• More specific individualized instruction and direct teaching;
• Challenging, extended curriculum;
• Differentiated content, process, product, and learning environment;
• Higher levels of self-confidence and self-reliance among students;
• Increased parent involvement and satisfaction;
• Increase in teacher expectations of students;
• Higher level of teacher satisfaction and enthusiasm.

Centennial Elementary School is located at 3507 South Ranch House Parkway, Gilbert. Transportation will be the responsibility of the parent. If you are interested in having your child considered for this program, please fill out an application form and return it to Tracy Kahle, Administrative Assistant at Centennial Elementary School.

For more information, contact any of our site Gifted Specialists or the SCG Program Teachers at Centennial.

Rosann Perry, Chaparral (480) 279.7900
Patty McMurray, Coronado (480) 279.6900
Gerrie Clower, Cortina (480) 279.7800
Janet Williams, Gateway Pointe (480) 279.7700
Vicki Simer, Higley Elementary (480) 279.6800
Robin Engel, Power Ranch (480) 279.7600
Karen Lopez, San Tan (480) 279.7200
Angela Lewis, Centennial (480) 279.8200
Nancy Foote, SCG Teacher, Centennial (480) 279.8200
Rebecca Nieboer, SCG Teacher, Centennial (480) 279.8200
Aimee Hunter, SCG Teacher, Centennial (480) 279.8200

Self-Contained Gifted Program Application
Self-Contained Gifted Program Frequently Asked Questions Documents:

Characteristics of Gifted Children
Gifted and Talented program scope and sequence
Gifted Testing Process Parent links:

Website of the Higley Supporters of the Gifted: higleygifted.org