Cassidy Gifted and Talented News
November 28, 2017
Announcements
Primary Talent Pool/Gifted and Talented Student Showcase
On December 12 from 5:30-6:30 in the Cassidy cafeteria, we will be having our Primary Talent Pool/Gifted and Talented Showcase. At this event, students will share the projects they have been working on throughout the school year with attendees. When you arrive at the event, students should go to their classrooms to get their chromebooks if needed and then find their grade level table. They will get their projects set up and remain at their grade level tables while families walk around to view the student projects. The event was originally scheduled for December 7, but that conflicted with the orchestra concert, so I moved it to the 12th. This is not a mandatory event, but is a wonderful opportunity for students to show off their hard work.
Seesaw
Seesaw is an online journal where students can make posts to document and share their learning with you and each other. They can take videos and pictures, make drawings, type notes, etc. I am beginning to use it in several classes and will roll it out to more as we go along. Right now, I am using it in the following classes:
3rd Grade STEM (click here)
4th Grade STEM (click here)
5th Grade STEM (click here)
If your child participates in one of these groups, you can sign up with Seesaw to view their work by clicking on the link next to their group, choosing their name from the menu, and then signing up for an account. There is also a Seesaw app you can download on your phone.
What We Are Up to This Week!
We are engaged in STEM units that teach students about a variety of different types of engineers and engage them in the Engineering Design Process. First and second graders are doing a unit on Designing Parachutes, third graders are doing a unit on Designing Lighting Systems, fourth grade is doing a unit on energy (and finishing up their rockets), and fifth graders are doing a unit on Building Bridges.
Math:
Students are engaged in Problem Based Learning connected to the content they are learning. For example, second graders are learning about economics!
Language Arts:
1st graders are writing their own newspaper to encourage people to do something good for the world (stop littering, stop bullying, etc.). 2nd graders are writing their own Diary of a ... story based on the Diary of a Worm book where they have to research a topic and then weave interesting facts about that topic into a funny story told from the perspective of their topic (e.g., Diary of a Jellyfish). 3rd graders are writing their own historical fiction novel. They have selected the time period for their research and are digging in to find out what life was like back then. 4th graders are writing a myth based on Greek and Roman mythology. 5th grade students are designing their own utopia.
Art/Creativity/Dance/Music/Drama:
Students are working on self-selected projects where they can make a contribution to something going on in the school (e.g., making Work Hard Be Kind posters for our new school motto, designing advertisements for school fundraisers, writing a song to teach others to Work Hard, Be Kind) or something that develops their particular talent. 5th grade art/drama/dance students are working on a creating their own American Revolution pre-show for the 5th grade spring constitution musical.
Leadership:
Students are self-selecting projects where they can demonstrate leadership within the school. They can participate in an existing program or come up with one on their own.
Resources and Opportunities
Accelerated Program
If you are interested in having your child considered for the Accelerated Program (for students who will be fourth, fifth, or sixth graders next year), please complete the interest form by clicking on the following link: www.fcps.net/accelerated
This is the program at Ashland for grades 4/5 and Winburn for grades 6. This link should also come out in a district email.
Cassidy App
Make sure to download our Cassidy App! I will use the app to distribute newsletters and announce events. Here is a link to directions on how to get the app. When you click to add GT (this will pop up after you choose your grade(s)), you will need the following password: GTcassidy17
If you already set up your app and did not add GT, then you will need to go to Settings and click on Enroll in GT and then enter the password: GTcassidy17
Homeroom
Within the app, we will also have a Homeroom button where I will post pictures, videos, and notes about what we have been up to in GT. To link to our homeroom, you will click here and set up an account. It will then populate in your Homeroom button on the app. I have posted tons of pictures and videos of our projects!
If your child is identified in science, you may also want to add Mrs. Fehr's science Homeroom. She posts many community events, activities, and pictures there.
Contact Information
Gifted and Talented Teacher
Cassidy Elementary
859-381-3018 ext 21252