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| Learners with Exceptional Academic, Artistic, Altruistic Potential | ||
The Gifted and Talented Program for Manchester Schools |
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The mission of the Manchester School
District is to provide safe, healthy, nurturing and respectful environments in
which all students have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills that
will enable them to become life-long learners as well as positive and
productive citizens.
In 2005, the Manchester Board of
School Committee gave approval to establish the LEAP Gifted and
Talented Program at five elementary schools in the District. LEAP supports this
mission by creating and promoting appropriate educational opportunities for all
gifted and talented learners.
DEFINITION
Gifted and talented children are those students identified
as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of high
performance in intellectual, creative, specific academic or leadership areas,
or ability in the performing or visual arts and who require appropriate
services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully
develop.
Demonstrated or potential gifted behaviors exhibited
through multiple intelligences can be general, affecting a broad spectrum of
the childÕs life, such as leadership skills, task commitment or the ability to
think creatively. Some behaviors
are very specific talents and are only evident in particular circumstances, such
as a special aptitude in mathematics, science, or music.
Outstanding talents are present in children
and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all
areas of human endeavor.
The
goal of the District is to build a program in the fourth and fifth grades at a
small number of elementary schools that can be applied successfully to an
increasing number of schools and grade levels over time. In the Spring of 2005, students
enrolled in the third, fourth and fifth grades at the following elementary
schools were identified. Currently only fourth and fifth grade students are
eligible to participate in phase one of the program implementation at
Bakersville, Highland-GoffeÕs Falls, Jewett, Parker-Varney and Webster.
To identify students, the school
district is implementing a three-part process: nomination, screening and
selection. After a teacher or
parent nomination of a student, a multi-part criterion, including current
standardized tests scores, teacher and parent rating scales and student work
samples will be utilized to screen the students. The next step is for the LEAP screening
committee to review the data and determine eligibility of each student. Upon selection, an Action Plan will be
developed for each student.
The LEAP Program will
focus on differentiating instruction in the regular classroom by promoting learning
experiences and teaching methods that match the studentÕs knowledge, ability
and needs through a range of individual and group activities. This is not a
Òpull-outÓ program for identified students. Providing enriching instruction using differentiation
strategies within the classroom is the G/T ProgramÕs initial plan.
For further information regarding programming and
services, please contact:
Troi Hopkins, Coordinator Linda Mandra, Coordinator
LEAP Gifted and
Talented Program LEAP Gifted and Talented
Program
Manchester School District Manchester
School District
286 Commercial Street 286
Commercial Street
thopkins@mansd.org lmandra@mansd.org
(603)624-6300 ext. 140 (603)624-6300
ext. 198