ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOLGIFTED SERVICES

Presented by the Gifted Services Department

December 3, 2015

Objectives

Who?Why?What?How?

WHO?

High School Gifted Services

Moncia Bowler – District

Shane Baker– Century High School

Denise Cobb – John Marshall High School

Chris Smith – Mayo High School

WHY?

Gifted Services Philosophy

•Offer opportunities which challenge all students

•Encourage students to take rigorous courses

•Support and encourage all students in order to reach their full potential

Our Role• To administer the Honors Diploma program• To facilitate professional mentorships in the community• To be an advocate for students • To be a resource for parents and teachers• To identify students who might be capable of taking more

challenging courses• To help those students and parents to make an informed

decision about academic choices, and• To support those students in their efforts

WHAT?

Earning an Honors Diploma•A student must earn A’s or B’s in 24 one semester honors classes.

•This is the equivalent of 12 credits. (24 are required to graduate.)

•A student would need to average about 3 honors classes each semester.

Honors Classes

• Honors

• Honors Option

• Advanced Placement(AP)

• Independent Studies *

• Post-Secondary Option*

Honors Classes

•Open to all students meeting prerequisites

•More in-depth and challenging course work

•All students in the class earn honors credit

•Examples include honors biology, honors geometry, and honors English

Honors Option Classes• Offered in areas where no honors equivalent is available

• Student completes a contract which states that he or she agrees to complete different and more challenging coursework than other students

• Examples include speech, reading, and health careers

Mentorships

•Allow a self-motivated student to explore a career area

•Examples include medical labs, architecture firms, veterinary clinics, photography studios, and government agencies

•Can be a wonderful experience for the right student!

Mentorship Process• Make an appointment with your gifted specialist

• You will discuss your areas of interest and fill out an application

• The gifted specialist will begin the search for a mentor

• Once a mentor is found and all the necessary forms are completed the class will be added to your schedule.

Advanced Placement (AP) Classes• Honors classes typically taken by juniors and seniors

• Teachers generally have special training• Follow national curricular guidelines• Students may take a test which could earn them college credit

• Examples include statistics, biology, government, and literature

Independent Studies• For a student who has an area of interest beyond our curriculum

• Requires the cooperation of an interested teacher

• The student writes and submits a proposal for the principal’s approval

• May receive honors credit with the approval of the gifted specialist

PSEO

•Post-Secondary Enrollment Option•Allows qualifying juniors and seniors to take college classes while still in high school

•Only select classes qualify as honors credits

•Check with your school’s gifted specialist prior to enrollment

CTECH• Block classes• Start in an area of interest in 9th grade at your high school• Transportation provided to the CTECH buildingHealth and Biomedical Sciences (Become a certified

nursing assistant)EngineeringHospitalityInformation TechnologyManufacturingAgricultureConstruction

Getting into College

•Colleges look at more than just grades.

•They look for rigorous coursework.•They look for students who are growing and improving academically.

•They look for students who are active in their school and the community.

Academic Activities• Math League• Chess Club• Science Olympiad• Mock Trial• Knowledge Bowl• Speech Team• DECA• S-Cubed• And many others!

HOW?Contact your gifted specialist:Century: Shane Baker JM: Denise CobbMayo: Chris Smith

GATEWAYDee Voldal

QUESTIONS?