Windsor Unified School District recently received approval from the California State Department of Education to augment services to the GATE students of Windsor Middle School. Services for students are available through cluster grouping which may be augmented by acceleration, pull-out programs, International Baccalaureate courses, and summer program opportunities. Additional services will include counseling, a differentiated educational plan for the cluster groups, special presentations, and clubs.

Windsor Middle School has 100 GATE identified students, more than 9% of the population. To serve all students effectively, parent volunteers and advisors will be necessary. As the year progresses, parents will be requested to take on a project, club, activity, or special event.

A major focus of the Windsor Middle School GATE program for 2002-3 will be the development of an extensive list of resources for students, parents, and teachers. Through community resources and publication of resources through the district, students may select excellent opportunities for extended growth and challenge.

Implementation of the newly approved Plan is scheduled over the next two school years. Please join the first parent meeting October 3, 2002, for more details.

This summer teachers of GATE students attended a week-long in-service training presented by Roger Taylor. Roger Taylor is one of the most sought-after experts in the areas of interdisciplinary, integrated curriculum, gifted education, school-to-career education, and the middle school concept.

Dr. Taylor has helped thousands of school districts apply local and state standards to their curriculum so that "teachers are teaching students to learn rather than teaching for the test." In his 35 years as a classroom teacher, administrator, professor and internationally known educational consultant, Roger has authored/co-authored over 8000 integrated, interdisciplinary, thematic curriculum units for grade levels K-12. The units are written based on the AHB (Analyzing Human Behavior) model he created. This unique model includes specific application of the most recent brain research, multiple intelligences and constructivist hands-on project-centered learning in alignment with state defined benchmarks and standards. Over 25,000 teachers have attended Dr. Taylor's summer weeklong curriculum-writing workshops where they create integrated, interdisciplinary, thematic units for their students. The best of these curriculum units are available on his website:

www.rogertaylor.com

October 3 Parent Meeting

26-27 Parent/Teacher Institute

Oakland

March 7-9 CAG Conference

Extra curricular activities available for students this year include: Johns Hopkins CTY Talent Search

Odyssey of the Mind*

Math Counts*

Academic Pentathalon*

NASA Design

AVID*

Yearbook*

Summer Classes

Spelling Bee*

Student Leadership*

Town of Windsor Programs*

CJSF*

Counseling/Guidence

So many students are eligible for these activities that we are in desperate need of coaches and advisors for these activities. Please notify Debbie Olcott or Katherine Sterling of the activity for which you wish to volunteer.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to attend the CAG (California Association for the Gifted) in Santa Clara this spring. Reservation and cost information at the Parent Meeting October 3.

Parents are invited to an information and question/answer meeting in the WMS library 6:30 p.m. October 3. A representative from Johns Hopkins University will discuss the application procedure for the program.

Meeting Agenda:

Purpose of the meeting

WMS GATE facts

Extracurricular Opportunities

Counseling/Guidance Opportunities

Differentiated Curriculum - examples

GATE Advisory Committee

Role

Member criteria and application

Set Family Support Night Date

Families of GATE students will gather for a social/support night to watch the movie Shrek (PG-13). Participants will gobble popcorn, and discuss the movie as an example of differentiated curriculum. It will also give parents a chance to form parent support systems which will be helpful in raising a GATE child. The date will be set at the October 3 parent meeting.