Gifted Jaguars and Eagles

Today was our first day with our artist in residence through COMPAS.org.  Desdamona performed some of her work and the students did an 8 minute free write.  Afterwords some of them shared their pieces and I was blown away!  I could have worked for 80 hours and I wouldn't have written work so articulate and with such truth and rhythm.  It was amazing.  I can't wait to see what they do in future sessions!  FFI:  http://www.compas.org/artists/desdamona

I love this use of the cartoon Calvin and Hobbes to discuss the traits of gifted kids.  I frequently need to explain to teachers how gifted isn't the same as honors.  The use of Calvin as a metaphor shows the difference.  http://www.byrdseed.com/calvin/?utm_content=buffer945cf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Nobel Poetry Slam! Tuesday, May 22nd @ 6pm Mugshots Coffee Shop 10518 France Ave S. Bloomington Listen to your peers perform their own original works and/or perform yourself! Hosted by the Bloomington Gifted and Talented Department

  The Bloomington Public Schools Gifted and Talented Department presents PARENT & STUDENT WORKSHOP April 7 8:45-11:30 a.m. Oak Grove MS Media Center 9-10a.m. GT middle school counselor and elementary social workers will introduce the science of calm to adults and students. Through breathing, visualizations and poses, we can learn essential self regulation techniques which lead to happier, healthier and more productive lives. 10:00-11:30 Then, students will join GT staff in a makerspace lab while parents attend a second session with Dr. Teresa Boatman: Through understanding the gifted brain, including executive functioning development and intensity, parents can help support their gifted learners through the journey of childhood. Discuss with psychologist, who specializes in gifted learners, the brain development and social-emotional constructs that interweave with the intellectual capability of the gifted child. THE CHARACTER CHALLENGE: NURTURING RESILIENCE &

The Kennedy Science Olympiad team placed 7th and Jefferson placed 15th at the state Science Olympiad competition out of 33 teams! Congrats to all the individual students who placed in the top 10 in their categories: Kennedy: Dillon Ackerman - 1st place in Dynamic Planet, 4th place in Microbe Mission Ella Anderson - 2nd place in Mission Possible, 3rd place in Write it - Do it Jessica Gremont - 1st place in Dynamic Planet Gunnar Anderson - 2nd place in Mission Possible Phil Malacek - 3rd place in Rocks and Minerals Ben Griesel - 3rd place in Rocks and Minerals Savannah Salato - 4th place in Microbe Mission Madison Chesky - 3rd place in Write it - Do it Jefferson: Zoe Gabrielson and Adeline Vacura - 7th place Mission Possible Freddy Alonzi and Ryan Martz - 8th place Mousetrap Vehicle Ryan Martz and Joseph Pham - 8th place Remote Sensing Hannah Pham and Amy Wang - 9th place Towers Mary Haddad and Daria Weinzierl - 10th place Write It Do It

On March 6th Ahmed Yusuf gave an author's talk with students from Kathryn Haddad's Creative Writing class and Josh Coval's Nobel 9 Language Arts class.  Students asked him about his creative process and about his short story "A Thorn in the Sole" and his play "A Crack in the Sky". 

Here’s How Much Teacher Recommendations Actually Matter to Colleges http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/here-s-how-much-teacher-recommendations-actually-matter-colleges By  Margeaux Biché  in  HIGH SCHOOL Posted  Feb 25 2018  -  02:00pm Tagged  COLLEGE APPLICATIONS   COLLEGE PROCESS   RECOMMENDATION LETTERS   TEACHERS   MENTORS   COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Share this Recommendation letters might not seem like a very crucial part of your whole college application, but they say something about you that a school might not be able to get from your own  essays ,  grades  or  extracurricular background . After all, your teachers and mentors are in the special position to have been able to observe and work with you throughout your fundamental years leading up to college. We reached out to some experts, including  Kelly Sutton-Skinner , Associate Director of Admissions at  Barnard College of Columbia University ,  Dr. Bari