Frequently Asked Questions
What is the change?
The Gifted Visual Arts Program, grades 6-8, will be relocated to Virginia Beach Middle School beginning September 2010 to afford students the opportunity to participate in the Visual Arts Program as part of their regular school schedule. The pull-out model for delivery of services will cease to exist for students in grades 6-8 only and the Gifted Visual Arts Program will be embedded in the middle school student’s schedule.
What is the reason for the change in program delivery?
With the introduction of advanced courses at the middle school level in the early 1990’s, including high school credit courses, maintaining a balance between academic achievement and the development of artistic talent has been a challenge for many students in grades 6-8. The attrition data on Gifted Visual Arts Program participation among middle school students demonstrate there is typically a drop in Gifted Visual Arts Program participation as students move through the middle grades. For example, there is increased attrition as students move from sixth to seventh grade when high school credit courses typically begin with Algebra I and foreign languages. This attrition further increases as students move from seventh to eighth grade when geometry and earth science become options. Because Virginia Beach City Public Schools is committed to the development of student talents and abilities in both academic and artistic areas, the relocation of the Gifted Visual Arts Program to Virginia Beach Middle School has been designed to decrease program attrition at the middle school level and support students in both their academic and artistic development.
How will middle school students receive gifted visual arts services in the new model?
The visual arts program will be embedded in students’ daily schedules. During a zero bell from 8:15-9:05 a.m., 6th and 7th graders will participate in health and physical education while 8th graders in Level 5 will take Art Studio. This creates time in the Visual Arts Program student to schedule an elective dedicated to the Visual Arts Program as well as time to take another elective bell such as a foreign language. After-school activities will include collaborative experiences with the Contemporary Arts Center.
Who is impacted by the change in program delivery?
Only students identified as gifted in visual arts and participating in the Gifted Visual Arts Program in grades 6-8 will be affected by the relocation of the program to Virginia Beach Middle School.
Will the students in grades 6-8 have the option of attending middle schools other than Virginia Beach Middle School and still attend the Gifted Visual Arts Program?
No. Because the Gifted Visual Arts pull-out program for grades 6-8 will no longer exist as of September 2010, students will have to choose whether to attend their neighborhood middle school, Kemps Landing Magnet School, Plaza Middle Years Program or to remain in the Gifted Visual Arts Program and attend Virginia Beach Middle School. If a student attends Virginia Beach Middle School to participate in the Gifted Visual Arts Program, but they are not zoned for Virginia Beach Middle School, he or she must participate in the Gifted Visual Arts Program in order to remain at the school. If, for any reason, a student leaves the program and he or she is not zoned for Virginia Beach Middle School, the student must change placement to their zoned middle school.
How will the Gifted Visual Arts Program in grades 6-8 be impacted by the relocation?
The curricular structure and units of study will remain largely the same. The only modifications being made will be to extend and expand learning opportunities. This will be possible because of the improved facilities which are available at Virginia Beach Middle as well as the opportunity to increase collaboration with the Contemporary Arts Center of Virginia. The Gifted Visual Arts Program curricula will be maintained as separate and distinct from the regular education curriculum.
How will the Gifted Visual Arts Program in grades 3-5 be impacted?
For students in the Gifted Visual Arts Program in grades 3, 4, and 5, there will be no change to their program location, curriculum, or structure.
Will transportation be provided by the school division?
Virginia Beach City Public Schools will continue to provide transportation. Students may also ride the activity buses from Virginia Beach Middle School if they elect to stay after school for extra-curricular activities, including arts enrichment.
If students are already identified as gifted in visual arts, do they need to reapply for grades 6-8?
Students already identified as gifted in visual arts by Virginia Beach City Public Schools do not need to reapply. Once identified for gifted services, students hold that identification through graduation. Students need only complete an intent form to secure a place in the Gifted Visual Arts Program at Virginia Beach Middle School during the spring of their 5th grade year.
What has been done to prepare the facilities at Virginia Beach Middle School to host the Gifted Visual Arts Program, grades 6-8?
Relocation of the Visual Arts Program to a new middle school site will afford students access to state-of-the-art facilities designed collaboratively by the teachers of Visual Arts Program, the building architect, colleagues at the Contemporary Arts Center, and administrators from both Old Donation Center and Virginia Beach Middle School. The architectural plan for the new Virginia Beach Middle School includes four art labs, pottery rooms for kilns, labs for production and computer graphics, a photography and video studio, gallery and display areas, office space and four storage areas for Visual Arts Program teachers, as well as a storage area for the Contemporary Arts Center of Virginia.
Who will oversee the Gifted Visual Arts Program, grades 6-8, when it is relocated to Virginia Beach Middle School?
The principal of Old Donation Center in conjunction with the director of the Office of Gifted Education will continue to facilitate the application and selection processes and oversee curriculum, instruction, and staff development for the Gifted Visual Arts Program. Since students who elect to remain in the Gifted Visual Arts Program in middle school will become Virginia Beach Middle School students, all matters related to student discipline, safety, attendance, and scheduling will be under the direction of the principal of Virginia Beach Middle School.