The Cluster/Resource Program
See individual school listings.
The cluster/resource teacher program available in each middle school provides the potential for gifted resource teachers and core area cluster teachers to develop exciting, differentiated curriculum through a collaborative team effort. In addition, this model promotes optimum understanding of the needs of gifted children for all school staff, without creating an isolated learning environment. Gifted students interact with their teachers and classmates in a heterogeneous grouping, while attaining benefits through the modification of content, process, product, and learning environment.
Each middle school is assigned a gifted resource teacher whose responsibilities include resource and leadership duties, as well as services to students. The gifted resource teacher may work face-to-face with the students or work with cluster teachers, other school personnel, and organizations to facilitate direct services. Demonstration teaching, collegial sharing, collaborative planning, peer coaching, and providing staff development opportunities create the essential link of the gifted resource teacher to the cluster teachers. Communicating the needs of gifted learners, as well as the choices available to these students, is an integral function of the gifted resource teacher.
Students have the opportunity to take advanced classes in English, science, and mathematics, and may begin a foreign language. The pace in these classes is rapid and students explore the subjects in greater depth and with additional intensity. Selection of these courses in middle school allows students the opportunity to take advanced classes in high school, whether as part of advanced placement curricula or as one of the possible high school academy opportunities.
Kemps Landing Magnet School (KLMS)
Kemps Landing is a full-time school for academically gifted students in grades six through eight. Kemps Landing Magnet School, together with family and community, aims to provide a safe, nurturing environment in which open communication and a challenging, differentiated curriculum will prepare gifted students to be lifelong learners, committed to excellence. Students must apply to Kemps Landing and be accepted in order to attend.
Kemps Landing Magnet School requires English, math, science, social studies, physical education, an exploratory, and a foreign language. All students entering the sixth grade will take Latin. Seventh and eighth graders have the opportunity of continuing with Latin or changing to French, German, or Spanish. In addition to these language credits, all students also receive credit toward graduation for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, and Earth Science upon successful completion of these courses. Because a foreign language is required of all students at KLMS, an extended day allows participation in an exploratory program. Classes such as chorus, orchestra, band, drama, computers, oral/written communication and other specialized courses are offered. Opportunities exist for students to explore topics or subjects of specific interest through distance learning. Extracurricular activities include options such as Future Problem Solving, Destination Imagination, forensics, debate, Academic Challenge, SCA, and several other clubs in which students have special interests. The school does not offer a competitive sports program.
The Governor's School for the Arts
http://www.Gsarts.net
Students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools, in grades 9-12, are eligible to attend the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia. Students must complete an application and audition for the intensive programs in dance, music, performing arts, theatre, and visual arts. The applications are available from the school all year and the adjudication process takes place in January.
Students take their academic classes at their regular high schools in the morning and attend the Governor's School for the Arts for three hours every afternoon during the regular school year. For each year they attend, students may earn three credits.
For more information, please visit the above web site.
The Referral Process
Students may be considered for gifted programs through referral by parents/guardians, students, teachers, themselves, and other persons who may have knowledge or expertise to make such a referral including community members, or by any other appropriate school personnel e.g., the student support teams. Should students be eligible for gifted services, parents/guardians will automatically be sent information about the gifted programs.
Referral forms are available in all schools from the gifted resource teacher, the guidance department, or the gifted program contact person and may be submitted at any time during the academic year.
The process for Kemps Landing Magnet School requires that completed applications be received by the first of February of the current year.
Students in grades 6 & 7 may apply to the visual and performing arts program housed at Old Donation Center that serves students in grades 3 - 8. Selection is made through an application and audition process. Auditions are held in the spring. More information about the programs may be found at the Old Donation Center web site.
Eligibility
Student eligibility for citywide gifted services is determined through the use of multiple criteria, and students must demonstrate potential for exceptional performance and academic needs that cannot be met through general education curricula. The Virginia Department of Education has established the following categories of giftedness:
- General Intellectual Aptitude: Students with advanced aptitudes as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression in general intellectual ability;
- Academic Aptitude Specific: Students with specific aptitudes in an academic area: math; the sciences; and/or the humanities as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression in those areas;
- Technical and Practical Arts Aptitude: Students with specific aptitudes in selected technical or practical arts as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression in the technical and practical arts; and,
- Visual and Performing Arts Aptitude: Students with specific aptitudes in selected visual or performing arts as demonstrated by advanced skills and creative expression and who excel consistently in the development of a product or performance in any of the visual and/or performing arts.
Screening and Placement
Once a student has been tested, an eligibility committee reviews all information submitted to determine the best placement for the student. Criteria for selection will include data from a combination of the following elements:
- academic achievement,
- teacher recommendations,
- ability test scores,
- achievement test scores,
- parent checklist of behaviors,
- an interview with the student, and,
- an audition or portfolio of student works for visual and performing arts programs.
Notification Procedures
Applications for the Cluster/Resource Program and other citywide gifted programs are reviewed periodically throughout the year.
Parents/guardians are notified of the committee's decisions by letter. Applications for Kemps Landing Magnet School are accepted by the first of February for the current year. Parents or guardians are notified of the committee's decisions by letter.
Change in Program Placement
Parents/guardians, teachers, or counselors for a variety of reasons may initiate the consideration process for a change in program placement. The evaluation committee considers the same criteria previously used for program placement, and any additional information that may be available such as performance in gifted program activities and classes. After the committee reviews all information, it will recommend one of the following actions:
- continued placement,
- change in placement, or
- initiation of exit procedure. The committee chair notifies parents or guardians at the initiation of the reevaluation process and of the committee's decision.
Appeals Process
Parents or guardians may appeal the decision of the Gifted Eligibility/Placement Committee when there is additional pertinent information. An appeal form may be obtained from the Gifted Testing Office located at Old Donation Center. All appeal requests must be submitted to the director of the Office of Gifted Education within twenty-one business days of receiving the letter communicating the decision of the Gifted Eligibility/Placement Committee. The parents or guardians will be notified by letter of the director’s receipt of the appeal.
At the initial meeting of the appeals committee, all data that has been collected, including additional, pertinent information submitted in the appeal are reviewed. The committee will decide if additional assessment data are needed or, the committee may determine that based on the data that has been submitted, no additional data are needed.
The committee's decision may include one of the following:
- Uphold the original decision of the eligibility/placement
committee
- Reverse the decision of the eligibility/placement committee
- Gather additional or updated data
The parents or guardians will be informed of the appeals committee’s decision by letter. If the parents/guardians do not agree with this decision, they may submit an additional appeal to the director of the Office of Gifted Education.
Requests for appeals for admission to Kemps Landing Magnet School are first addressed by the principal of Kemps Landing Magnet School.
Local Plan for Gifted Education
Each school division is required to submit to the Virginia Department of Education for approval a plan for the education of gifted students. Copies of Virginia Beach's plan are available upon request. Copies and alternative formats of the document are available at the school administration building.
Community Participation
The Gifted Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is appointed by the division superintendent to offer advice regarding gifted services. The CAC is comprised of parents, gifted education teachers, administrators, gifted students, and the business community. The makeup of the committee reflects the various school levels and populations, geographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the community.
Parents have formed an active PTA chapter at Kemps Landing Magnet School that meets monthly. The PTA is very active in school activities and plays a large part in fund-raising efforts and special projects. All parents are encouraged to join.
