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| Welcome!
Welcome to the 2007 – 2008 school year with the START program! I hope everyone had a fun summer and is looking forward to a great year in START! This year, I will be working with the START students at Lake Ridge, Occoquan, Potomac View, and Belmont. I will meet with the students once a week at their schools. § Monday- Lake Ridge K-3 Occoquan 3rd grade only § Tuesday- Potomac View K-3 § Thursday- Occoquan K-2 Belmont K-3 |
| Frequently Asked Questions
When will START begin? The START Program will begin the week of Sept 17. What will my child be working on in START? The START teachers deliver instruction according to the START curriculum of the Gifted Education Program. Our units focus on problem based learning, with students applying their critical and creative thinking skills to solve problems. Specific details of grade level units of instruction will be provided in future newsletters. Each child also has an opportunity to work on choice activities during START. These activities are generally based in the verbal or quantitative areas and allow for the application of critical and creative thinking skills. Does my child receive a Report Card for START? The START teacher will provide you with a Progress Report at the end of each semester, not a Report Card. The Progress Report assesses progress in the areas of Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Independent Learning, and Interactive Learning. While these categories may not be areas of independence initially, we hope that students will make continued progress on the continuum of skills as they grow older Will my child need any supplies for START? No. All supplies used by students during START classes will be provided. Will my child receive homework from START? No. Children may choose to explore additional material based on the curriculum covered in the START program. We certainly encourage them to extend their learning and their individual interests, but there will not be mandatory homework assignments. Differentiated Services Plan Each child identified for the START Program will receive a Differentiated Services Plan. This plan will be written collaboratively with the child’s classroom teacher and the gifted education resource teacher. The plan will indicate how gifted education services will be provided for your child. A Differentiated Services Plan will be provided for each semester. Permission Forms Each student who participates in the START Program must have a signed permission form on file. If there is a permission form included with this newsletter, please complete the form and return it to your child’s school as soon as possible so he/she may participate in START classes. |
| Please call me or e-mail me at the phone number or e-mail address listed above if you have any questions regarding the START Program. I am looking forward to a wonderful year with the students! |
| Prince William County Gifted Education Program September 2007 Sheri Busky Gifted Education Resource Teacher buskysl@pwcs.edu 703.791.8794 |