VBPS Gifted and Talented Program Newsletter 2007/2008 Volume 3

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GPA MEETING NEWS

Unfortunately, due to another snowstorm, we had to cancel the February 12th meeting. As soon as we have a plan for the materials that were intended for that wintry night, you will be notified. Keep an eye on those backpacks and e-mail inboxes!

GT Family Game Night

Date: Thursday, March 13th

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Tyler School

Students - bring games to play in the cafeteria.

Parents – bring card tables and chairs and games/cards to play in the gym.

Bring beverages and snacks to share.

Recycling Contest

This year we had a “Cartridges for Kids” contest that ended on January 17. Mr. Hunwick’s class won first place, and Mrs. Mallon’s class won second place.

Although the contest has ended, you can still bring in the following items to recycle: video games, used cell phones PDAs, palm pilots, DVD movies, empty laser cartridges, and empty ink cartridges. Please put these in the box by Ms. Andrew’s class, Room 32. If you have anything to recycle, please recycle it!

~Delionte West and Brianna Duncan

News from the Coordinator

It’s been very busy in the GT Coordinator’s office. As of February 12, there are 134 referrals for the Gifted Program for the 2008 / 2009 school year. Mrs. McCrary has begun testing, and we hope to have all the testing and scoring done by mid-April. (I’m always the optimist!)

At the last GPA meeting, Marth Toth came to speak about a new foundation that is being formed to help fund education in the Van Buren schools. It has been founded by former students, some who were in the GT Program. Mrs. Toth would like to see a special portion designated for the Gifted Program, and is seeking ideas from people who are interested in helping. This includes fund raising and seeking donations from people, such as former participants, who have an interest in the GT program. You can e-mail Mrs. Toth at matoth@vanburenschools.net

One of the handouts discussed at the meeting was titled, “Parental Guidance: Eight Principles.” This came from www.gifted-children.com which I highly recommend. It costs just $10.00 and contains a wealth of resources. Check it out! The eight principles are:

1. Help them develop discipline.
2. Insist on routine.
3. Help them structure their time.
4. Cultivate concentration, not fragmentation.
5. Encourage exploration.
6. Allow them leisure.
7. Help them understand social responsibility.
8. Stress personal integrity and ethics.

As we approach our mid-winter break, it looks like the students are very busy and very engaged in their studies! Please fell free to call me or e-mail me at any time with any news, ideas, or concerns.

Barbara Woody
734-697-6370
bwoodygt@yahoo.com

GPA (Gifted Parents Association)
2007/08 Meeting Schedule

The parent group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 7:00 – 8:30 PM in the Tyler Media Center. (That’s a fancy word for “Library.”) The dates for 2008 are:

• March 11
• April 8
• May 13

Elementary GT Classroom News

Mrs. Preuss – Kindergarten

What do penguins and the Chinese culture have to do with each other? Nothing, but that’s what the kids are currently learning about in Mrs. Preuss’s class. The kindergarten children are studying about penguins and how they change and grow from birth to adulthood. They are also writing nonfiction pieces about penguins. When the children go to Ms. Liu’s class they will learn about pandas using the penguin model.

Now let’s take a look at the Chinese culture and the celebration of the Chinese New Year. On February 8 the children celebrated with a Chinese feast. They started off with a singing program for their parents, singing both in Chinese and English. For their feast they ate dumplings, chicken, rice and vegetables, fruit, fried rice, and egg rolls. That sounds delicious!

Raymond Jiang and his family went to China and brought back many things to help the class celebrate Chinese New Year. They brought back books and chop sticks for each student and stickers of the Olympic symbols to celebrate the 2008 Summer Olympics that will be held in Beijing. What a great celebration they had!

~Noelle Pierce and Marcus Steele

Ms. Liu - Kindergarten

Counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s – Ms. Liu’s class is on their way to high level math! English or Chinese, the kindergarten kids are working hard. If you happen to be in Ms. Liu’s class on someone’s birthday, you’ll hear the class sing “Happy Birthday” in Chinese. On February 8 the class celebrated Chinese New Year with an awesome party. The kids were very busy decorating the room. You should see the delicate and colorful kites hanging from the ceiling!

Ms. Liu’s students are in the middle of making some sweet panda posters on how the pandas grow. They are comparing the growth patterns to the penguins that they studied in Mrs. Preuss’s class.

Listen up: In May the class is going to a farm to learn about more animals. That’s our report.

~Jacob Gray and Emily Mall

Mrs. Dybicki’s First Grade

Hello! I’m going to tell you about Mrs. Dybicki’s enthusiastic first grade class. The students are currently studying about the Chinese New Year. The class has been going down to the computer lab and logging on to the site “PBS Kids,” and doing activities about the Chinese New Year.

In math class the children have just finished studying geometric shapes, and they made some beautiful projects using newspapers, and they also built some geometric structures out of marshmallows and toothpicks. In science the first graders learned about the water cycle; they had fun reviewing by playing a Jeopardy game.

Mrs. Dybicki is proud to announce that her class just finished some lovely shoe box book reports. You can see these on display at school.

The class is very excited about the “100’s Day Celebration” and the 100”s Day projects. The students are working on putting 100 of the same item of their choice on a board to display. These will be entered into a contest.

Mrs. Dybiciki and her class have just gone on a field trip to go “Cosmic Bowling.” I bet they had a lot of fun! They will also be going to two museums. The kids must be very excited!

Mrs. Dybicki mentioned that 16 teeth have been lost since the month of December. That’s a lot of teeth!

What a great classroom for first graders to learn and have fun!

~Alexis Hatchard

Mrs. Anguilm’s First and Second Grade

The students in Mrs. Anguilm’s class are currently studying all kinds of math, learning about magnets in science, and doing many writing projects. The students are junior meteorologists who report the weather forecast to the school.

One exciting activity that the kids are looking forward to is planning a puppet show using magnets. The students are going to break up into groups and write a skit based on part of a story from a book that they have read.

Another activity that is being planned is a family culture project. Students’

families will visit the class to talk about their cultures. They might even bring food from their countries! Students are also looking forward to performing the play Charlotte’s Web and participating in several activities to celebrate 100’s Day. Some future field trips for Mrs. Anguilm’s class include a visit to a museum and seeing a play at the theatre.

Some very interesting things have happened to some of the children in this class. Zandalee lost a tooth in the middle of Library class. (How crazy is that?) Matthew’s tooth came out while he was showing the other kids that it was loose.

And guess what? The class has a guinea pig names Nibbles. If anyone takes his food bowl he squeals. Kids get to take nibbles home for the weekend. I wish I could do that!

~Whitney Roll

Mrs. Jedinak's Second Grade

Mrs. Jedinak’s class is currently writing “Pigeon Stories” inspired by Mo Willem’s books, such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Pigeon Finds a Dog. These are picture stories with speech bubbles about a pigeon that goes on adventures and solves problems to get out of trouble. Some of the students’ titles include:

• Pigeon Finds a Yo-Yo
• Pigeon Goes to Jail
• Pigeon Finds a French Fry
• Pigeon Goes to Military School
• Don’t Let the Pigeon do Your Homework
• Pigeon Finds a Friend

Mrs. Jedinak’s classroom is home to a hamster named Herbie. The class enjoys watching him run around on a ball. The students are reading the novel Runaway Ralph, so they will often compare the character Ralph to their hamster Herbie.

A new student, Allison Niemiec, has been introduced to Mrs. Jedinak’s classroom. I hope she likes losing teeth! That’s right – the kids in this class have been on a tooth-losing spree! Twenty-two teeth have been lost since September!

~Alexa Porcaro

Mrs. Mallon’s Second Grade

These are your reporters bringing you the news about Mrs. Mallon’s busy second grade class. We especially want to report what the students are studying, because they are currently learning five things.

The second graders are starting to memorize their adding and subtracting. Can you believe that in science they are discovering mixtures and states of matter? We can! They are even starting to master reading and letter writing. Soon the kids will learn how to write in cursive. Mrs. Mallon thinks that the students will do well.

The students are looking forward to the Science Fair. They are planning great experiments and are hoping to win. When the kids went to Belleville High School to swim, they did really well and enjoyed it. Congratulations to the class – they won second place in the recycling contest!

~Delionte West and James Korpics

Ms. Geshel’s Third Grade

Ms. Geshel’s class is doing a lot this semester! In science they are learning about energy. There are nine sources of energy: five of them are renewable, and four of them are non-renewable. The sources are: solar, water, wind, biomass, geothermal, coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear.

The students in Ms. Geshel’s class are doing a president project. It will be a poster board project where each student gets to pick a president to report about. Parents and other students will be able to ask questions about the president.

On February 26, Ms. Geshel’s class and the fourth and fifth grade classes are going to the Village Theatre in Canton to watch a play called, “Through the Artist’s Eyes.” In other news, the students are really excited about the science fair.

Ms. Geshel’s class has only one birthday in February. Her name is Alexis, and she is turning nine. The class has a hedgehog named Gracie. It sleeps eighteen hours a day and eats cat food! Overall, Ms. Geshel’s class is very busy!

~Sean Rimando

Middle School GT Classroom News

GRADE 6

Hola Padres, Profesores, y Estudiantes (Hello Parents, Teachers, and Students),

As we traveled south through North America, we stopped for some interesting cultural lessons in Mexico. Mexico has so much to offer. We came to the conclusion that Mexico has some similarities with the United States. They have states just like we do. They have the same three branches of government. Things were not always so organized. There were many wars over land between the Native Americans and Spanish. Wow! There were a lot of wars.

Even farther south are the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and South America. We will be studying their governments, economies, and many cultures. We look forward to all the interesting information and fun projects that are yet to yet to come. Plan on a fun project on the Inca, Maya, and Aztec cultures. For now, we are creating murals of Mexico's history and studying Mexican Folktales. Doesn't that sound fun?

~Kelsey Maull 6th grade GT Social Studies

A new semester means new challenges, but we are always ready for a challenge! In English, we will be starting off the second semester by focusing on the literary element of plot and the parts of the plot line. Now, this might sound easy, but depending on the story, the plot line can be somewhat tricky. We will read several short stories from our anthology and later move onto our second novel, Esperanza Rising, for which we will be creating some interesting projects that will be displayed around the classroom.

As for Enrichment, we are going to embark upon our second research paper. But here is the catch: Mrs. Kissman chooses our topics, which could be quite interesting. She keeps telling us that we will be surprised, but excited about her choices. All we can say is that, we shall see. Writing a research paper according to Mrs. Kissman’s specifications can be demanding. But again, being challenged is what we thrive on. So bring it on Mrs. Kissman, bring it on!

GRADE 7

A lot is coming up for Mrs. Porzondek's seventh grade English class! We just finished reading Chinese Cinderella and will begin exploring over thirteen different international versions of Cinderella. We'll be identifying the different cultural factors that influenced each piece like their clothing, traditions, and beliefs. To finish off the lesson, each student will be creating a culture of their own and writing their own version of Cinderella. Simultaneously, we will learn about English grammar including independent (main) and dependent (subordinate) clauses, how to link independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions, etc. Furthermore, we will review the parts of speech such as adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions. Students will practice their grammar skills and "The Six Traits of Writing" as they write their own Cinderella stories.

Coming up next month, we will begin our study of Shakespeare. First, we'll learn who Shakespeare is and where be came from, basic background information. Next, we'll read The Merchant of Venice, a Shakespearian comedy. To complete the unit, we'll demonstrate knowledge with an assessment.

~Happy Learning, Allix Hutchinson

Social Studies with Mr. Hudock:Last quarter we finished studying the Middle East and North Africa. We are now moving into learning about the rest of Asia: South and South East Asia. Students will be studying the diverse religions and belief systems, the unique physical characteristics, as well as the ancient and modern aspects of these regions.

Students will have a sprinkling of various projects for this unit. Trading cards for physical features of this region will be created, an advertisement poster for a religion as well as a group poster comparing Buddhism and Hinduism will be done in class. Mr. Zheng will be teaching his unit focusing on modernization in Asia in late March.

The concept lists are available in the classroom to help prepare ahead of time. The test is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

GRADE 8

Language Arts: The 8th grade Language Arts Class has been keeping busy. We recently completed an author study on Edgar Allen Poe. We read several works including: The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Murder in the Rue Morgue. Everyone is now a Poe expert! After break, we will begin reading The Diary of Anne Frank, play version. There are lots of supplemental activities with this unit, including some research on children who lived during the Holocaust combined with a simulated memoir. All students will be expected to read a novel about World War II or the Holocaust.

History:After a great 1st semester, with this year's class achieving the highest average class score on the midterm in Mr. Hutchinson's six years of teaching, the students in Room 139 are poised for further success as they prepare for high school life and beyond. As Febtuary is Black History Month the class will participate in a technology based Black History Month Web assignment along with being offered extra-credit opportunities designed to deepen their understanding of the African-American experience in the United States. For those going to Washington D.C., please check you emails and look for your child to bring home a flyer listing the final payment dates, current balance ( which will include proceeds from our coffee fundraiser subtraced from your final payment) and our trip itinerary. The flier will be going out on Friday, February 8th, weather permitting. Thanks for your continued support and we all look forward to wonderful second semester.

Elementary GT Classroom News (cont.)

Mrs. Wozniak’s Third and Fourth Grade

Currently in Mrs. Wozniak’s class the third graders are studying regions of the United States and making travel brochures. They students are trying their hardest to master their multiplication facts. They have been very busy reading and writing fables.

The fourth graders in Mrs. Wozniak’s class are busy preparing for their trip to Earthworks. They have so much to learn before they go! The fourth graders have been studying about fantasies in their language arts class.

The entire class is preparing for Mini-Society. They will set up a government, money system, and businesses to bring their study of economics to life.

Their most recent field trip was to the Leslie Science Center. On February 26, Mrs. Wozniak’s class will be visiting the Cherry Hill Theatre in Canton.

~Kymberley Legget

Mr. Hunwick’s Fourth and Fifth Grade

The update on Mr. Hunwick’s fourth and fifth grade class is pretty exciting! The students are currently studying fractions in math. They are preparing their experiments for the science fair and doing some on line activities on gaggle.net. (This is a lot like google.com, but for kids. It links to many other web sites.)

Now for the fun part of our report. Well, everybody likes pie, and Mr. Hunwick’s class is having “Pie Day” in March. The students will get to eat pie and learn math at the same time. What would you think their favorite pie is?

An educational project is the one and only Mini-Society! This economics project will help the kids learn how to use money and will teach them about jobs and careers.

There are a few more exciting pieces of news. The class is going to the Historical Museum to learn more about Michigan history. Twenty-one students made the honor roll. One very special person made the “All A Honor Roll.” - Jordan Edwards. It sounds like the students in Mr. Hunwick’s class are very busy!

~Hanna Korpics and Lauryn Jenkins

Ms. Andrew’s Fifth Grade

Ms. Andrew’s fifth grade class is very interesting. Most of the kids are reading Number the Stars. The story takes place during World War II, and it seems like the kids are enjoying the book.

In social studies the fifth graders are studying the thirteen colonies. In math there are two different groups; in the sixth grade math group the students are learning geometry; in the seventh grade math group, the kids are learning about the “x” and “y” intercept.

On March 4 Ms. Andrew’s class is going to Exchange City to enhance their study of economics. The students will work at shops, get paid, and spend their money on actual items. This will really help them learn economics principles!

The class held a “Cartridges for Kids” fund raiser. (See accompanying article.) In case you haven’t heard, the class put on the play, “High School Musical.” The kids are still singing the songs, especially their favorite, “Stick to the Status.” They love to talk about all the fun they had and laugh about the funny scenes like when a cupcake was thrown at Sharpay. Watch for fund raisers to buy a new and improved sound system.

These are just a few exciting things Ms. Andrew’s class does behind a closed door!

~Rachel Connors and Hannah Smith

HAVE A GREAT

MID-WINTER BREAK !!!