Resource-Cluster Program
See individual school listings.
The resource-cluster 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 learners 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. Through demonstration teaching, collegial sharing, collaborative planning, peer coaching, and by providing staff development opportunities, the essential connection between the gifted resource teacher and the cluster teachers is developed. 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 at one of the high school academy programs.
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 meet the criteria for gifted identification in Virginia Beach City Public Schools 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 another language. 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.
Gifted Arts Programs at the Middle School Level
Gifted Dance Education Program
The Gifted Dance Education Program is a pull-out model for identified students in grades three through eight and is housed at Old Donation Center. Admission into the program is determined through an application process.
Dance students are presented a comprehensive curriculum which emphasizes the areas of concepts and skill development, dance history and appreciation, and creativity.
Additional information about the Gifted Dance Education Program may be found on the Old Donation Center website.
Gifted Visual Arts Program
All sixth through eighth grade students identified as gifted in visual arts who wish to participate in the Gifted Visual Arts Program attend Virginia Beach Middle School as a full-time student. In grades six through eight, the Gifted Visual Arts Program is embedded within the middle school daily schedule. Gifted Visual Arts Program student schedules incorporate a zero bell to provide time for visual arts and another elective during the course of the student’s middle school day. Sixth and seventh graders have health and physical education scheduled during the zero bell; eighth graders have art studio. Transportation to Virginia Beach Middle School is provided for all students attending the Gifted Visual Arts Program.
Additional information about the Gifted Visual Arts Program may be found on the Old Donation Center website.
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, musical theatre, 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.
Students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools are identified as gifted in the visual and performing arts upon acceptance to the Governor's School for the Arts.
For more information, please visit the above website or call 757.451.4711.
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).
Referral forms are available in all schools from the gifted resource teacher, the guidance department, or gifted program contact and may be submitted at any time during the academic year. A Parent Information Referral Form is also available. Detailed information on the referral process.
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 and 7 may apply to the Gifted Dance Education Program housed at Old Donation Center that serves students in grades 3 – 8. Students in grades 6 and 7 may apply to the Gifted Visual Arts Program housed at Virginia Beach Middle School. 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 website.
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.
Once a student has been tested, an identification and placement 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 audition or portfolio of student works for visual and performing arts programs
Applications for the resource-cluster 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.
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
- initiation of exit procedure
The committee chair notifies parents or guardians at the initiation of the reevaluation process and of the committee's decision.
Parents or guardians may appeal the decision of the Gifted Identification and Placement Committee when there is additional, pertinent information. An appeal form may be obtained from the Gifted Testing Office. All appeal requests must be submitted to the director of the Office of Gifted Education and Curriculum Development by the deadline provided within the letter communicating the decision of the Gifted Identification and 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 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. Any additional assessments must be initiated by the committee and administered by Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Assessments not conducted by Virginia Beach City Public Schools will not be considered by the committee.
The committee's decision may include one of the following:
- Uphold the original decision of the Identification and Placement committee
- Reverse the decision of the Identification and Placement committee
- Gather additional or updated data
The parents or guardians will be informed of the appeals committee’s decision by letter.
Requests for appeals for admission to Kemps Landing Magnet School are first addressed by the principal of Kemps Landing Magnet School.
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.