SAGE News
October, 2022
SAGE Mission
As the heart of the gifted community, the mission of the SAGE Center is to ensure all students, as members of a global society, foster their uniqueness, develop their potential, and embrace their true belonging through learning experiences distinguished by:
- Courageous exploration and discovery of passions in a flexible and innovative environment
- Support systems for students, staff, and community
- Ownership and self-regulation in a student-driven culture
Home of the SAGE Illuminators
Principally Speaking...
At the SAGE Center, our students are working hard in each of their Units of Study, Affective learning opportunities, and even Creative Problem Solving, Spanish, and PBL in elementary. All students in Kindergarten through 8th grade are working with Illuminator's Mindset competencies. Please see below for additional information. We continue to work on our big three expectations of Being Professional, Being Responsible, and Being Respectful each day at the Center.
We will continue to send out monthly / quarterly newsletters from each grade level via the School Messenger system as well as provide updates as needed.
Please feel free to follow "NKC SAGE" on Twitter or Facebook to see the weekly happenings here at the SAGE Center!
Your Partner in Education,
~Dr. Marsden
Portrait of a Graduate & Illuminator's Mindset
Over the past couple of years, NKC Schools created a set of key competencies for all students that are transferable across time, space, and any situation to prepare for a future of success. The seven chosen for NKC Schools' Portrait of a Graduate (POG) represent the key competencies for student success to graduation and beyond.
SAGE had adopted each of these seven POGs and embedded them within nine GIFTED competencies called "Illuminator's Mindset." These Illuminator's Mindset (IM) gifted competencies are skills that students will learn, live, and reflect on throughout their kindergarten through eighth grade years at the SAGE Center. Oftentimes, social media pictures from @NKCSAGE will reflect the IM gifted competency and will tie to the NKC POG.
SAGE Gifted Illuminator's Mindset
See below for the competencies represented of Illuminator's Mindset:
Student Spotlight
As a part of the SAGE Illuminator's Mindset, which is tied to the NKC Portrait of a Graduate competencies, our students are nominated by SAGE teachers for exhibiting the highlighted competency of the month.
When a SAGE Illuminator is showing networking, they are exhibiting openness when working with others; seeking and building relationships with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, engaging with them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning; and applying skills in communicating, teaming, and collaborating with diverse individuals and across diverse groups. Networking is the IM tie to Collaboration with the district's Portrait of a Graduate.
1st Grade
Piper demonstrates networking through his ability to coach and encourage his team members through his use of motivational phrases and trustworthy opinions and ideas. He also has the ability to bring his team together to reach their goal.
2nd Grade
Ewan has done an exceptional job modeling networking at SAGE by encouraging his classmates during a variety of creative problem solving games. Ewan has also worked with his peers to come up with our class norms and apply mathematical problem-solving strategies.
3rd Grade
Malcolm has started the year demonstrating his skills as a networker. He excels at using positive collaboration strategies to bring his team together. He also exhibits openness when working with many different people, and he does an excellent job making team members feel welcome.
4th Grade
Jackson exhibits strong networking skills by communicating and collaborating with all students. He listens to his peers respectfully and responds in a kind way. Jackson goes out of his way to make others feel welcome and included. He is a true team player!
5th Grade
Micah has the amazing power to work with anyone. Her ability to be an active listener, keep a positive attitude, and keep everyone focused on the goal are just a few of her strengths as a networker at SAGE.
6th Grade
Mason worked well with his team in the Universe unit of study. During an instant challenge, he made sure that all ideas were heard, and everyone was included in an excellent display of networking skills.
7th Grade
Over the past three semesters, Sydney has consistently demonstrated the Networking skill. She has continually connected with and worked well with her SAGE StartUp company. This year, Sydney has moved into a Co-CEO position for her company and has been such an important leader demonstrating how to work well with a co-leader and how to listen to all team members to ensure their ideas are valued and included in the company they are building.
8th Grade
Allie includes others and brings everyone into conversations and tasks. A skilled networker, she makes others feel comfortable and valued.
Celebrating Empathy Through Kindness
Kindness plays an important part in showing empathy. When we are kind, we are engaging in that “tuning in phase” where we can pay attention and try to understand someone else's experience or emotions. When we notice and understand, we are compelled to act, and that act often takes the form of kindness.
Starting Monday, October 24 our SAGE Illuminators will have an opportunity to participate in Kindness Spirit Weeks and a daily Kindness Challenge while at SAGE!
There is also a home connection attached below if you'd like to participate as a family through the remainder of October.
Kindness Challenge Home Edition Below
National Merit Scholarships Senior Semifinalists
We are proud to announce that six members of the Class of 2023 have been named National Merit Semifinalists! Congratulations to the following seniors on this recognition of their academic excellence:
Nicholas Boley – Staley*
Ava Donegan – Oak Park*
Benjamin Evans – Staley
Jerrilynn Phillippi – Staley*
Simon Whitty – Staley*
*SAGE Illuminator
Semifinalists will be notified in February if they have advanced to Finalist standing. Many will earn the Merit Scholar® title, winning one of the $2,500 National Merit® scholarships. Others will be designated to receive Merit Scholarship® awards – either a corporate-sponsored merit scholarship or a college-sponsored merit scholarship. To learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit their website.
Class of 2023 National Merit Commended Students
We are proud to recognize this year's class of National Merit Commended Students from across NKC Schools! Congratulations to our eight seniors who have earned nationwide recognition for their outstanding academic performance:
Nathan Beeson – Oak Park*
Grace Clark – Staley
Carley Freeman – Oak Park*
Wain J. Guo – NKCHS
Thomas E. Kerns – NKCHS*
Malia Kuykendall – Staley*
Peyton Musembi – Staley
Katherine Stedman – Oak Park
*SAGE Illuminator
News From the SAGE Office
Parent Handbook:
- Please see below for the link to the SAGE Parent Handbook. It includes all important information pertaining to procedures and policies for the SAGE Center.
- Students who ride the bus will be delivered and dismissed through the lower level bus loop.
- Please avoid this area when visiting the SAGE Center.
- Students who are dropped off or picked up from the SAGE Center should enter and exit from the South double doors of the Center.
- Please ring the door bell for admittance.
- Drop off is no earlier than 9:25 a.m. / Late Start Thursdays: 10:10 a.m.
- Please pull all the way up to the orange cone to leave space in the circle drive for others wishing to drop off.
- Please wait until an adult is visible before unloading.
- Students should not be dropped off or picked up near the main entrance of the Northland Innovation Center as this is a public entrance for all tenants of the building.
- Thank you for for remembering that all Visitors to the SAGE Center should enter / exit through the South doors of the Center - near the 1st floor circle drive.
- Visitors will be required to show proper ID and receive a Visitor's badge before entering the educational wings.
- Please make an appointment with the SAGE teacher when requesting a conference.
- If you’re eating lunch at the SAGE Center with your child, please remember parents must sit at a designated table only with his/her child.
- You may also bring food for only your child. Food may not be shared or purchased for other children.
Lunch
SAGE Lunch Times
6th, 7th, & 8th grades - 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
K - 2nd grades - 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
3rd - 5th grades - 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
PEGS - 12:20 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Lunch Accounts
Students who would like an 'extra' item (snack, ice cream, etc.) will be charged for those add on items. Please see below for the link to add to your child's lunch account.
SAGE Lunch Menu
SAGE Parent Handbook
We encourage all of our families to become familiar with the Parent Handbook as it provides important information about the procedures and policies of the SAGE Center.
SAGE Center Dates to Remember!
Oct. 7 - No School (Offices Closed)
Oct. 10 - No School (Teacher Professional Development)
Oct. 11 - PAGS Board Mtg. 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 - PAGS Volunteer Mtg 6 p.m.
Oct. 21 - 1st Quarter ends
Oct. 21 - SAGE Advisory Board 7:30 a.m.
Oct. 25 - PAGS Journey through SAGE 6 p.m.
PAGS Corner
Thank you for joining PAGS! We've appreciated all of you who have already joined for the 2022-23 school year! Dues are only $10 per family. We now have an on-line option for our membership form and can take credit card payments.
We're sorry for the inconvenience of those who've tried to pay online, but had difficult. We believe that the issues are now fixed. If you have further issues, please reach out to Mrs. Owsley at Lara.BradleyOwsley@nkcschools.org.
Thank you for your continued support of PAGS and the SAGE Center. Here's to another successful year!
Sincerely,
NKC PAGS Board
Upcoming PAGS Events
Tues., Oct. 11: PAGS Board Meeting 5:30 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 11: PAGS Volunteers Meeting 6 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 25: Journey through SAGE 6 p.m.
Parent Resources
Oftentimes, our staff is asked how parents can help students at home when they worry, especially in light of world events, national disasters, etc. This book came highly recommended from several who have read it.
From Amazon: This is a "practical parenting resource to understanding and relieving anxiety in kids, including 15 tools and workbook exercises to do with your children to manage their fears and worry less."
National Association of Gifted Students
Gifted Association of Missouri
GAM Online Store
GAM recently opened an online store that will be available through October 22nd. Feel free to check it out below!
How Can I Stay Current?
You can "LIKE" NKC SAGE on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @NKC_SAGE. Please also watch for periodic emails or phones calls from the Center.
SAGE Center
Website: http://www.nkcschools.org/page.cfm?p=2774
Location: 6889 North Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO, United States
Phone: (816) 321-5350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NKC-SAGE-1527086857352545/
Twitter: @NKC_SAGE