Middle School Newsletter
Northland Innovation Center
September Newsletter
Welcome Back
First, we hope that this newsletter will provide you with valuable information about your child's gifted experience as the year progresses.
Second, we will be able to provide information about upcoming events allowing you to update your kitchen calendar and ensure your attendance to any gifted events, either during school hours or at night.
Lastly, we will be providing online resources, articles and books that will support you as a parent of a gifted child.
As always, thank you for being an integral partner in your child's gifted education. We look forward to you enjoying the following newsletter as we start the new school year!
Program Goals
To provide curricula that focuses on more elaborate, complex, and in-depth study of major ideas, key concepts and themes that integrate knowledge within and across disciplines and encourages the use of higher-level thinking skills.
To provide curricula that sets high standards and that demands rigorous expectations for student work and performance demonstration.
To provide instruction that allows for the development and application of productive thinking skills and enables students to re-conceptualize existing knowledge and/or generate new understandings that deal with real-life problems and issues.
- To provide instruction that is flexibly paced and matched to the student’s ability, pre- assessment data, learning style, interest, and motivation.
- To provide opportunities for students to develop leadership and group interaction skills that allows student-centered discussion and Socratic questioning.
To require project based learning of gifted students that represents application, analysis, and synthesis of knowledge.
To encourage an environment that fosters a positive attitude toward creative challenges, investigative activity, and knowledge creation.
What Day Does Middle SAGE Begin?
Regular Middle School SAGE Days:
- Monday - 7th & 8th grade (New Mark)
- Tuesday - 7th & 8th grade (Northgate & Maple Park)
- Wednesday - 7th & 8th grade (Antioch, Most 7th/8th grade Private and Home School students)
- Thursday - 6th grades (Gateway, Eastgate, 6th grade Home & Private School students)
- Friday - 6th grade (Gateway & PEGS)
SAGE Lunch Time
K-8 SAGE Center Open House
Please Mark Your Calendar for K-8 SAGE Center Open House and
PAGS Ice Cream Social
Tuesday, August 27th from 4p.m.-7 p.m.
Important Update
Aug. 19th,20th Gateway
Aug. 20th Eastgate
Aug. 20th, 21st Antioch
Aug. 29th New Mark
Aug. 20th Maple Park
Aug. 20th Northgate
Fall Semester 2019 Course Description
Robotics
FIRST LEGO league teams will research a real-world problem and are challenged to develop a solution. The theme for the year will be “INTRO ORBIT.” They must design, build, and program a robot using LEGO MINDSTORM technology, and then compete on a table-top playing field.
The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Teams are required to develop strategies to build robots based on sound engineering principles. Students will also be challenged to participate in community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.
Kitchen Chemistry
Students will look at cooking from a scientific basis. Students will conduct an edible experiment and look at the science behind how it all works. Not only will chemical principles be examined, but also biochemical, biological, microbiological, and maybe even a little physics.
Forensic Science
Students will work a simulated crime scene and use the tools a real forensic scientist would use. They will work weekly on labs designed to help them understand the career of forensic science. Students will study such subjects as fingerprinting, bone identification, blood and fluid identification, blood splatter, ballistics, and much more.
Graphic Design
Students will learn the basic elements of graphic design and how they are used in various formats. Students will then learn how to use Adobe Illustrator and PhotoShop to create a variety of projects.
Photography
Students will learn about basic photography terms and concepts along with the science behind how cameras work. They will learn about the parts of a DSLR camera and compose a variety of photographic art using a lighting studio, photo boxes, and DSLR cameras.
Interior Design
Interior design students will build the skills necessary to create inspiring spaces, by taking an interdisciplinary approach that draws from art, architecture, and digital design.
SAGE Start Up
Students will have the opportunity to become an entrepreneur by working together to design a business and use the Fab Lab to create and market products for that business. Students will also adopt a global cause and will support their cause with the proceeds from their business.
Digital Communications
Students will learn a variety of digital communication skills, including filming and editing skills, storyboarding and scripting, special effects techniques, and on camera presentation skills. They will contribute to the digital yearbook for SAGE. They will create short films, news stories, personal narrations and commercials using digital film cameras, green screen technology, and Adobe editing software.
Future Cities
Students will work together to research the real-world challenges facing the cities of tomorrow. They will use design software to virtually create their own ideal community that provides solutions to today’s problems. Their team designs will be submitted to a national competition where their skills as city planners and managers will be measured.
Fab Lab- Laser Etching
Students will be using the Epilog Laser Cutter/Etcher, along with Adobe Illustrator, to design and create multiple projects. Some projects may include: a wooden notebook cover, tile coasters, a wooden puzzle, a small wooden box, an acrylic charm, and/or repurposed glass jars.
Textile Studio
Students will explore various textile art from around the world and use the design process to hand and machine sew, block-print, and upcycle used textiles for new purposes.
Biomedical Engineering
Students will extend their understanding of the various systems of the human body, apply their knowledge to construct prosthetics, and develop various tools necessary to improve function of the body.
Middle School Team
Robotics and Forensic Science
816-321-4009
Melissa Duffett
Kitchen Chemistry
melissa.duffett@nkcschools.org
Jennifer Koch
Graphic Design & Photography
816-321-6710
Cassandra Shaffer
Fab Lab & Arduino Programming and Coding
816-321-5988
cassandra.shaffer@nkcschools.org
Lara Owsley
Broadcasting & Future Cities
816-321-4216
Lara.bradleyowsley@nkcschools.org
Cassie Fogel
Robotics & Forensic Science
816-321-4605
Wendy Rust
Biomedical Engineering and Textile Studio
816-321-6558
Melissa Torres
SAGE Start Up & Interior Design
816-321-8719
Website: https://www.nkcschools.org/page.cfm?p=2774
Location: Northland Innovation Center - North Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 321-5350
Facebook: facebook.com/NKCSAGE
Twitter: @NKC_SAGE