Gifted Jaguars and Eagles

February 7, 2022 Dear Parents/guardians and advanced 8th grade learners, Thank you for applying to Dimensions Academy High School! On Monday, February 21st the Gifted and Talented Department will conduct PreACT testing for Dimensions Academy High School applicants at Kennedy High School. We will use your student’s PreACT score as one of our data points in our selection process for DAHS. Additionally, the test results will be helpful to your family in selecting courses for your student as they go to KHS and JHS. Lastly, research shows that practice taking high-stakes tests helps students go into their junior year more prepared for tests like the ACT and the SAT, which results in higher scores. The PreACT will be given on paper and include multiple choice tests in English, math, reading, and science. Please drop off your student at Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave in Bloomington, by 8am and pick them up around noon. We will be in the cafeteria starting at 7:30 am. Stude...

We learned recently that covid contact tracings have identified several of our students who need to be put on quarantine. Because of this, these students will be missing this Saturday’s PreACT testing. We do have a virtual back up plan. If your child is feeling sick or suspects contact with someone who is positive for Covid, please do not send them for the testing this Saturday. Contact us for an alternative testing plan. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

In February students will be asked to register for next year. If you were not able to come to this morning's meeting I encourage you to watch the video. I'm including links to the resources I used: Video from today's Post DA Planning Meeting - https://youtu.be/2FmnXmsSvXg My PSEO planning guide document - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YkEVqdHSB_JR_2Z1ofjscKp7VGv6-xQ1mGmWnyKItkg/edit?usp=sharing The slideshow I used - https://tinyurl.com/yd9epeuu After the meeting Carl Pearson and I found this list: https://www.mnmsa.org/files/8013/1723/8071/PSEO_College_List.pdf Take care, Meredith

Today we are PreACT testing potential DAHS students for next year.  It is exciting to be able to put faces to the essays!  I am excited to work with these students next year!

Bloomington students earn top scores on ACT Published on May 16, 2019 Kennedy High School junior Jordan Thomson and Jefferson High School juniors Ryan Cole, Colden Longley and Christopher Melville earned perfect scores on the ACT. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students taking the ACT earn a top score of 36. Thomson participates in cross country, track, Quiz Bowl, climbing club and Ignite Mentorship. He is captain of the math team and earned a Science Olympiad state first place medal. He maintains a 4.27 GPA and is an AP Scholar with Honor. He plans to pursue a career in engineering. Cole plays trumpet in Jefferson’s marching band, pep band and jazz band and participates in Boy Scouts, and B.A.A. baseball and basketball. He plans to study engineering and computer science in college. Longley participates on the math team, Quiz Bowl, cross country, Nordic skiing and track. He is an AP Scholar with Honor and maintains a 4.39 GPA. He plans to pursue a major...

US News and World Report released their 2019 rankings recently and Jefferson moved into the top 20 in the state! These rankings focus mostly on academics and college readiness. Another item to consider is that US News greatly revised their ranking and data systems, which almost doubled the amount of schools they measured so moving into the top 20 is doubly impressive.  https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/minnesota/rankings

Hi Everyone! Reminder: to find college prep materials (including ACT and AP Test Practice) for your students (or kids at home) use the LearningExpress Library, a FREE resource from ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota). ELM is located on my website, or use this direct link:  LearningExpress Library . To login, and to locate the College Admissions Test Prep section, follow the directions below: Hit:  in blue bar. If you've logged in before, enter Username and Password. If you are a new user, hit "Register" --  under "New User?" on right.    Then fill out fields. Use email address as Username. Create Password: 6-10 characters, no spaces. Hit "Register" -- blue button after fields. Then hit:  in blue bar. Then select (for AP/ACT/SAT/PSAT/TOEFL) Test Practice and College Essay Writing Tips): Let me know your questions! :) -- Jane Dorn Media Director Thomas Jefferson High School Bloom...

Dimensions Academy High School of Bloomington Don’t let your child’s exceptional gifted education stop in middle school Bloomington Public Schools has developed an innovative approach to gifted education at the high school level through Dimensions Academy High School.  Students can apply to be in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and/or the Humanities (English and Social Studies) strands. DA HS STEM:   DA High School STEM is a partnership with Normandale Community College to provide an early college experience for 9th and 10th grade students who have exceptional academic skills and are ready for highly rigorous college-level curriculum prior to their eligibility for PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options) in grades 11-12.  This original program allows students to college from 7:50-9:35 am at Normandale Community College. Students work in a cohort class of 9th or 10th graders with college professors. After the college classes, students ar...

ACT Practice at KHS Published on October 1, 2018 What:  ACT Practice Test When:  Saturday, November 3rd at 7:30am Where :  Cafeteria - Kennedy High School Why:  We encourage all juniors to take this practice exam as the results will give them tips on how to do their best when they take the exam for real in the spring. Students who take this practice will also have the opportunity to sign up for ACT prep classes in the Spring   How much:  Students must pay $5 to confirm their registration. Scholarships are available for students on Free or Reduced Lunch. Students must stop by the Career & College Center to pick up their test tickets   How do I sign up:   here  or  www.tinyurl.com/khsact2018

US News and World Report recently published an article explaining that practice tests can elevate ACT/SAT results.   I wanted to let you know about some opportunities for your student to take the the Practice  ACT  at Jefferson.  The test is $15.  The 2 hour and 30 minute Review Session is an additional $35.  This test is put on by Breakaway Test prep.   During the review session, they will go over the test results, but also give test-taking tips as well.  They also offer longer classes that students could take after the review session if they find it valuable and want more prep. The school sends out a Blackboard Connect email (about the 1st of October) to Sophomore and Junior parents but many of my 9th grade gifted students have also asked about this.  Payments can be dropped of to Mrs. Becky Wallerick in the Career Center at JHS. Bloomington Public Schools pays for all juniors to take the  ACT ...

Interested in summer ACT prep?  I have heard really good things about Break Away Test Prep.  We are hosting them this summer for ACT prep and it comes highly recommended as a good fit for gifted learners.  The link to register is here:   http://www.breakawaytestprep. com/bloomington/ .  Below is info from their website.  Please check it out! Summer Test Prep! Presented for the first time, Bloomington Public Schools and Breakaway Test Prep are pleased to offer an innovative small group test-prep class exclusively for Bloomington-Jefferson and Bloomington-Kennedy students this summer. Beginning Thursday, August 2nd , Breakaway Test Prep will provide an intensive four-week, 12-hour program designed to help get your student ready to take the ACT.  Breakaway will provide three hours of ACT instruction on four consecutive Thursday mornings in August (August 2nd, August 9th, August 16th, and August 23rd). Each class will be held from 9:00am – 12:0...

Today I had a great meeting with Becky Wallerick ( rwallerick@isd271.org), our new College and Career Counselor, at Jefferson High School.  We are really fortunate to have someone in this position who is focused on post-graduation planning with our students and we are especially lucky to have someone who truly understands gifted teens!  We are in the process of putting together an evening program for gifted jr and sr students and their parents for jump start in the fall to help guide college planning.  In the mean time I think these articles are a great starting point! Have a great summer! Meredith  What most parents of gifted children wish they had known about college planning  - June 1, 2018 Five tips gifted students need to consider when choosing a college  (2015) Ten essential tips to help your gifted teen plan for college  (2014)

Bloomington students earn top scores on ACT Published on May 10, 2018 Jefferson High School juniors Josh French, Charles Maki, Ryan Meaney and Isabella Phan earned perfect scores on the ACT. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students taking the ACT earn a top score of 36. French is a percussionist in Jefferson’s band and marching band, and participates in chess club. French is a PSEO student at the University of Minnesota and maintains a 4.0 GPA. He plans to attend the University of Minnesota majoring in engineering upon graduation. Maki is captain of the debate team and co-president of the DECA club, and also participates on the math team and speech. He is Jefferson’s ExCEL Award nominee and maintains a 4.4 GPA. Maki hopes to study computer science and work in the finance industry. Meany participates in cross country, track and the math team while maintaining a 4.3 GPA. He plans to pursue a career as a harmonica player. Phan is a state and national qualif...

The SAT: What Parents Need To Know By KC Wright * January 18, 2018 You’ve known this day was coming: Your high schooler is growing up, getting taller and beginning to think about what will happen after the 12th grade. College might seem far away, but it is never too early to begin considering important components of your student’s college application. One important factor in the college admissions process, particularly for those students who are applying to competitive or elite schools and/or applying for scholarships, is the SAT or ACT. How much do you know about these all-important tests? Here are some questions we frequently hear from Noodle Pros parents regarding the SAT. How long is the SAT? The SAT is either 3 hours long, or 3 hours and 50 minutes long; the longer version is for students who elect to take the optional essay component. Students are strongly encouraged to make a decision regarding the essay when they register for the exam, but the College Board notes...

Bloomington juniors Josh Lueth and Adeline Vacura (Jefferson High School) and George Thielen (Kennedy High School) have earned perfect scores on the ACT.  Lueth and Thielsen are both DAHS alumni!   On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students taking the ACT earn a top score of 36. WCCO covered the story here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=8VcYUxvBby8

It is not too late to sign up for the  Practice   ACT  Test, a fundraiser for Jaguar DECA. It will take place  Saturday, February 4th , at  8:00 a.m .  at Jefferson High School.   Students will take a full  ACT   practice  test (no written portion), including an extra reading section to gauge the students reading speed.  Sylvan Learning has found that reading speed is a large indicator on how well students do on the  ACT .   The tests are scored so students know how they did, including a diagnostic report and access to SylvanPrep.com. On  Monday, February 13th , at  6:30PM , Sylvan Learning will hold a results meeting in the cafeteria.  Students will get their results, learn how to read them, and get general information on how to improve their  ACT  score.  This meeting is designed for students and/or parents. Students can sign up for the  ACT   Practice  Te...

I get asked this question all the time.  Maybe these articles can help you?  In the end I think it's a great plan to take them both at least once so you can figure out which test works better for you and then retake that test so you can get a higher score. http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/should-you-take-act-sat-or-both http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/articles/2016-10-03/choose-between-retaking-the-act-sat-or-changing-exams

ATTENTION JUNIORS! First off, this year the PSAT is being offered on Sat Oct 15th at JHS from 8am - noon in Cwing.  You will need to register online through the JHS website to take it. Listen for announcements regarding registration. The cost is usually around $25.  Many colleges have special scholarships for National Merit Scholars and I want you to get them.  If you are full time PSEO please touch base with your counselor so that you don’t miss the opportunity to register for it.   Secondly, I wanted to make sure you knew about all the great colleges that are coming by JHS this year to meet with students.  This list of college visits will be updated throughout the year but we already have visits lined up from Yale, Dartmouth, Williams, Johns Hopkins and many others.  They will be held in the Career Center.   Third,  you should plan to take the ACT and/or the SAT this year in addition to taking it for free on April 19th at JHS (a...