PPS. Department of Talented and Gifted. February 1st, 2017

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GIFTED GAZETTE Existimantes Autem Potentia Est | Thinking is Power

From the Director:

Change is hard. Community is everything. In order to realize this we always have a three pronged focus: district, school, and classroom.

By working together in a spirit of positive partnership, we have opportunities to create change. I am fortunate to be able to visit schools all over the district and discuss with parents, school leaders and teachers how we can all work together to create the best learning environments for our kids. I hear from teachers all the time how hard they are working to make a difference in the lives of our students. Teachers need all the support we can give them. Teaching is one of the most complex and challenging careers anywhere. It can also be one of the most rewarding. I hear from teachers about all of the best practices and strategies they use to challenge and motivate their students.

Is it always perfect? No, but we can help to support teachers. Any time a school staff and/or teacher reaches out to us we try to be there. Collaborating and providing that support makes all the difference and I see what can happen in the school and classroom when we do. After all, our teachers ARE the program. I encourage us all to take a moment out of our lives to thank them.

Andrew Johnson Office of Talented and Gifted Education Portland Public Schools

TAG Student Spotlight

3rd and 4th Grade students at Chief Joseph Elementary have been involved in a weekly STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) workshop led by University of Portland students. The workshops help students enhance and enrich their science and engineering knowledge.

So far, students have worked with snap circuits to better understand how an electrical circuit works and ways to alter the amount of electrical flow to a component. Students have also explored states of matter by working with polymers and creating silly putty. This week, students will use everyday items such as marshmallows and spaghetti to test their engineering skills.

Rachel Clay, 3rd grader at Chief Joseph took home the Grand Prize in the Oregon Humane Societies 68th Annual Be Kind to Animals Poster & Story Contest. Way to go, Rachel!

If you want to read her story, check out the Student Spotlight on the TAG webpage. www.pps.net/tag

PPS. Department of Talented and Gifted. February 1st, 2017

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Be on the lookout for…

TAG sponsored Oregon Spellers Contest through OATAG.

Building level competitions starting soon. Want to know if

your school is participating? Contact your TAG Facilitator.

2017 NW Youth Careers Expo sponsored by Portland

Workforce Alliance will be March 14, 2017. More info?

www.portlandworkforcealliance.org/expo

TAG Parent Seminar in the spring. More details to come!

PPS High School Science Expo Applications are due by Feb.

18th. www.nwse.org to sign-up.

Check Out the TAG

Website!

WWW.PPS.NET/TAG

Talented and Gifted Identification

The assessment process for formal TAG identification should end mid-February.

KG-1st Intellectual, Math, and/or Reading

2nd Math and/or Reading

3rd-12th Intellectual, Math, and/or Reading

School based teams will be meeting before spring break to make final placement decisions. Letters will go home to families after these decisions are made.

What’s New?

TAG is transitioning to SBAC scores for possible identification in reading and/or math.

New teacher resource examining “Quality Questioning” to deepen student engagement.

First ever, district wide, elementary science fair sponsored by TAG for grades 3-5. Stay tuned.

The Goal is to provide professional development at every school centered on Rate and Level and best practice.

TAG FAMILY NIGHTS TAG in Partnership with OMSI

TAG Students and their families are invited to attend OMSI Family Night!

6-8PM February 13th