ACS is flying high with our new SOARIN’ program, a school-wide enrichment approach to challenge all students to reach their highest potential. We’ve created a continuum of learning opportunities to best meet the needs of each student.
An enrichment cluster program has been added this school year, to better serve the needs of high-ability students. This in-house program has eliminated the need for our students to attend another school one day each week to participate in the county’s Gifted Services Program (GSP). Coordinating an in-house program has “raised the bar” for the entire Ascension learning environment.
We continue to provide differentiated instruction, accelerated courses, remediation, tutoring, and accommodations for learning differences in our classrooms. Current extracurricular offerings provide enrichment through band, choir, drama club, chess club, Odyssey of the Mind, science research, art contests, writing contests, and sports programs.
All Ascension students, faculty and families are part of SOARIN’! It is in every classroom and every activity, as we strive to reach our highest potential using our God-given gifts and talents. Hold on to your hats as we soar to new heights!
|
More Information... |
Talking Points
Syllabus
FAQ (.pdf)
Student Nomination Form (.doc) or .pdf
Soarin' Brochure (.pdf)
Newsletters (.pdf)
-October 2008
-December 2008
-March 2009
-November 2009 |
Soarin' students use a variety of materials and tools, including computers to explore, invent and create.
|
| SOARIN’ Talking Points
• SOARIN’ is a school-wide enrichment program.
• The goal is to challenge each student to meet their highest potential.
• Each is a precious child of God with individual abilities, interests, and learning styles.
• We use four parts of SOARIN’ to meet the needs of each individual student:
1. Talent Review: We assess our students’ knowledge, abilities, learning styles, and interests, so we know how to use their strengths and help meet their needs. We do this all the time, informally and formally, as the children grow and develop.
2. Classroom Enrichment: We use different ways to teach the curriculum to meet the differing needs of our students. Professional practice and development keeps us continually improving our teaching craft.
3. Enrichment Clusters: Just as we provide tutoring and remediation to students needing those interventions, we’ll also provide advanced challenges and enrichment to students needing it. Our students no longer need to miss a day at Ascension to participate in GSP at another school. We’ll have weekly enrichment clusters by grade level to provide services here, coordinated and integrated within the ACS learning environment.
4. Extra-curricular Activities: We have many, many opportunities for students to develop gifts and talents through activities including band, chorus, Odyssey of the Mind, sports, chess club, drama, and more.
• SOARIN’ includes everyone at Ascension: students, faculty, parents, and community members. It is in everything we do, as we strive to be the best we can be.
|
SOARIN’ Enrichment Clusters (Syllabus)
Goal To challenge students of high ability in a student-centered learning environment.
Teacher Mrs. Mary Wells, Room 216 mwells@ascensioncatholisch.org
The Enrichment Group page in Edline includes news, resource links, and photographs from the classroom.
Objectives Students participating in the cluster will
- Identify their learning preferences and styles, abilities, knowledge, strengths, and interests;
- Understand multiple intelligences and use them to express learning;
- Use Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Processes to self-direct their learning
- Understand broad-based issues, themes, or problems within interdisciplinary and multicultural concepts;
- Use higher-level thinking skills and improve communication skills;
- Develop advanced research skills and master various methods of inquiry;
- Develop creative thinking and problem solving approaches;
- Create products and services to solve real-world problems;
- Develop self-evaluation and peer evaluation skills; and
- Practice leadership skills.
Participation
Students who meet enrichment cluster criteria may enter the cluster only at the beginning of a grading period. If a student chooses to leave the cluster within a grading period, he may not re-enter the cluster until the next grading period. Continued participation in the cluster is contingent upon the student putting forth his best effort within the cluster, and contributing positively to the cluster. Cluster participation is also contingent upon appropriate classroom behavior and completion of classroom assignments, outside of the cluster
Curriculum
In addition to various curriculum standards in Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Technology, and Guidance, the cluster curriculum is targeted to meet the standards for the education of gifted children, published by the National Association of Gifted Children (NACG).
Grading
Assessment of student learning within the cluster will be accomplished through a combination of self-evaluation and teacher evaluation. Students will keep a portfolio of their work in the cluster classroom. The portfolio will be sent home periodically, so the students can share their work with family and friends. Students will receive a grade of S (satisfactory), N (needs improvement), or U (unsatisfactory) on the quarterly report card, in the same manner as other special classes. Students who’ve withdrawn from the cluster prior to the end of the grading period will not receive credit for cluster participation.
Supplies
Students need only bring enthusiasm, cooperation, and a curious mind to the cluster sessions. Depending upon the projects the students undertake, donation of some supplies may be requested. All work will be completed within the cluster sessions, except for optional participation in various contests and activities outside of school.
|
|
