GREAT THINKING THURSDAY
For Klein ISD Educators of Gifted Learners
October 10, 2019
A Powerhouse of Opportunity
By:
Klein ISD Opportunity Student Ambassadors
From: High, Forest, Oak, Collins, Cain
POWERHOUSE is the word used to best describe the twenty Nationally Recognized values-driven leaders who are heading up the 2019-2020 Opportunity Student Ambassador Program in Klein ISD. For almost two months now this group of students has inspired and supported their peers on the path to college, particularly in the preparation of the PSAT and SAT examinations.
In September OS Ambassadors hosted a practice SAT at Klein Oak and Klein Forest high schools. Over 200 students registered for the Preparation Boot Camp Events for this fall. Students received immediate score feedback after the test that gave them a better understanding of their individual strengths and needs.
“The teachers explained each question effectively and helped us with any problems that we were having.”
The second Boot Camp session took place at Klein High School where for the first time SAT Instructors, who are Klein ISD high quality teachers, offered answers and explanations to the test questions taken previously. More than 130 students were able to choose workshops focused on the different sections of the SAT (Reading, Writing, Math, Essay). Here are some of the student comments:
“I liked how we were allowed to choose what session we wanted to do.
Teachers were really helpful.”
“I liked that we could choose what we wanted to work on.”
Boot Camp Session 3 took place at Klein Collins High School last weekend where nearly 100 students attended. SAT instructors provided targeted support responsive to student needs. The workshops were once again divided by sections of the SAT but subdivided even further. Students were given a portion of the time in the workshop to work out new questions and then instructors went over the answers as well as giving students tips and strategies to maximize their time and efficiency.
“The teachers were very helpful; I liked their energy and they gave great tips and strategies!”
One more Boot Camp Session will be offered at Klein Cain High School this Saturday, October 12th. The department of College & Career Pathways is tremendously proud of the work of the student ambassadors. Their efforts have been noticed at a national level and Advanced Academics will be sharing the work of our Ambassadors at the College Board National Forum in Washington D.C. We are also grateful relationship-driven and results-focused educators who have joined these Opportunity Ambassadors in achieving our Promise to Purpose vision for EVERY student.
Known as a Powerhouse, these equipped scholars were also invited to present to families at this year’s GT Summit. Their presentation focused on the Equity and Challenge Khan Academy provides for PSAT/SAT preparation of our students.
GT SUMMIT: BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH OUR KLEIN FAMILY!
By Carrie Raiyawa
Advanced Academics
Program Coordinator
On September 28, 2019 the annual GT Summit was held at the Klein Multipurpose Center. Families of GT and Advanced Learners gathered together for a day of learning and fun. Our vision for this event was to build community by educating our families about the innovative programming in Klein ISD, the services being provided by Klein ISD educators and tips on how to support their advanced learners from home. The presenters at this included members of the College and Career Pathways Team, the Advanced Academics Team, Parent Liaisons,Library Services Personnel, GT Advocates, and parents of GT Learners. These amazing Promise to Purpose Investors spent their Saturday building relationships with our Klein ISD community.
Some of the sessions offered to families presented information about programs such as AP Capstone, IB, Project Lead the Way, Duke TIP and Humanities classes. Also included were informative sessions about supporting GT learners through specific questioning strategies, academic portfolios, college applications, financial aid, and the social-emotional needs of gifted. Through our partnership with the Family Engagement Department and with the help of some gracious Parent Liaison, we were able to offer translations of many sessions in Spanish as well.
While the parents learned from our Klein ISD team, the students were highly engaged in the arena of the KMPC through hands-on experiences led by Klein ISD students and teachers. One very popular presentation was the Chemistry Roadshow from Texas A & M University!
Many of our parents, students, and teachers left the Summit grateful for the opportunity to interact, discuss, and have FUN with learning!!!
Common Lit: EVERY Learner can Grow with this FREE Resource!
Hildebrandt Path Shares the Love
By Stacy Ingram
Hildebrandt Path Teacher
Throughout the year, Path has a variety of speakers visit the class to talk about college, career, and civic readiness. Speakers who come to discuss their mission and service always captivate students.
When Cindy Mericle, Executive Director at Love Fosters Hope visited the Hildebrandt Path class and told the Mustangs about the experiences of foster children, students were surprised and saddened to learn about the process and effects of children being removed from compromised home environments. Delila Fernandez Benigas echoed the surprise of most students when she wrote about her realization that “Only Two percent of teenagers removed from their families find a forever home. They then ‘age out’ of foster care when they turn 18. Sixty-six percent of those kids end up in jail, homeless or dead.”
Realizations like this made it easy for the class to decide to volunteer for the “Run for Hope” on September 28 in The Woodlands. The run raised over $85,000 to help fund camps, counseling programs and transition programs for foster children. The PATH Mustangs created flyers, made announcements and worked to raise awareness of the event and the needs of foster kids. Then class members and students they recruited gathered at the run to help supervise younger kids in the 1K. Victoria Escobar said she was happy about the event because she was touched by the story where the event “makes them feel seen and realize that people do care about” the foster kids.
Most of the student volunteers had not experienced an event like this from the volunteer perspective. Ingrith Gil expressed her feelings well. She said, “My experience at the run was amazing. There was a lot more people than I expected, and more than 150 volunteers. There was a little boy that fell down, and I helped him get back up and he started running again it was so adorable. All the people were so happy to be there”
Addi Wilkerson shared another great takeaway when she added her observation about the way that working together for a cause strengthened the bonds in the class. She said, “I also loved getting closer to my classmates.”
Students are looking forward to hearing about more social issues and then creating their own community service project to develop and manage in the Spring.
Contest: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/participate/name-the-rover/
Toolkit: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/participate/name-the-rover/toolkit/#Toolkit
Nominate Students for the Lone Star Leadership Academy!
Nomination Deadline: Friday, November 1, 2019
Call for Outstanding Student Nominations
Nominate your outstanding 4th-8th graders for summer 2020 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps! Participants travel to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston area to join delegations of other distinguished students from across Texas for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to significant Texas destinations. Each day participants explore notable Texas sites, learn about unique careers from professionals, and work in small groups to develop specific leadership skills. In addition to improving their leadership abilities, participants gain self-confidence and independence and develop new friendships with other high-achieving students from across the state.
Nominees must:
· Be in 4th-8th grade
· Maintain an 85 or higher average
· Demonstrate leadership ability
· Be involved in school/community activities
Nominate your outstanding 4th-8th graders online:
Scholarship opportunity for Education in Action programs
Scholarship opportunity for Education in Action programs
October 7, 2019
SYTA ROAD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PERIOD IS OPEN!
The Road Scholarship program awards funds to youth unable to afford the cost of their student group trip and may be applied to participation in both of Education in Action's student program offerings: Lone Star Leadership Academy summer camps and one-day Discover Texas Field Trips.
Based on the belief that travel is essential for a complete education, the SYTA Youth Foundation's goal is to make a positive difference through travel. Applications may be submitted October 1 – November 15, 2019.
WHO CAN APPLY? Nominations must be submitted only by an educator, program leader or designated school official. Nominations submitted by parents or guardians will not be considered.
HOW MUCH IS AWARDED PER SCHOLARSHIP? Up to $1,000 will be awarded to an individual (applies to Lone Star Leadership Academy participants); a maximum of $5,000 will be awarded to a group ('a group' can be a group of individual students nominated to attend summer Lone Star Leadership Academy camps OR a school's entire grade level taking part in a one-day Discover Texas Field Trip). Nominations requesting an award higher than the maximum will not be considered.
Understanding the Why of the National Merit Scholarship
Cultivate Talent: Fall GT Professional Learning Playlist
Featuring: Year 3 Blended GT Foundation
How to Make a Cotton Ball Launcher
Create a cotton ball launcher with stuff from around the house: Some cardboard tubes, a pencil or popsicle stick, and some rubber bands. You’ll need some strong tape, scissors, and a hole punch put it all together.
This simple Science Buddies video demonstrates how to assemble this fun cotton or bouncy ball launcher, an exploration of potential energy, kinetic energy, and conservation of energy.