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Enrichment

St. Francis of Assisi School

     Enrichment Program - Mapping  News- - 6th Grade Interest-  ITBS News-  Mock Trial
     Geography Bee-   Spelling Bee-DCHS Speech Contest- Technology Fair-
IOWA and ISU Summer Opportunities

 

The Des Moines Public Schools offers summer classes for Talented and Gifted students during the summer.  They are open to students with ITBS test scores over 96% in core areas (Math and Language Arts).

Dates: June 9-June 20
Time: 8:15-11:00 AM   
Location: Brody Middle School ,2601 Park Avenue, Des Moines
Grades: Students finishing k-7 this year.
What: a variety of classes for each grade level

Click on registration for more information.
DSMPS Gifted/Talented Summer Class Registration

 

Dear Parents:

Here is a copy of the Middle School Opportunity Interest Survey that was sent home with all Middle School students on the first day of school. It lists the entire school year's programs in which they can become involved. Thank you for signing and returning the sheet. It will help in planning programs throughout the year. If your student has misplaced the survey and wishes to have his/her interests known, please make a copy of this and return it to their homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

If a student did not sign the survey for a program and later wishes to join it, they may be allowed to do so if it begins later in the year and if it is feasible. Some programs are limited in number of participants, parent volunteers and time commitment.

Please note that there are some fees with some of the programs that will cover registration. If there is no fee listed, then there will be no charge for that program. Arrangements can be made so that no child will be denied participation based on fee.

Some programs are also restricted by grade by their national program guidelines.

Two programs that were not listed were Odyssey of the Mind which will be coordinated by Mrs. Nelson, 8th grade Language Arts and a pilot program for 7th graders on Global Positioning Units, which may be offered to other grades later this year also. Photography will be offered through the Middle School art program with the possibility of a photography club being formed later in the year.

Thank you and I hope that Middle School is a success for all of our students this year.

Sincerely,

Ms Joslin and Mr. Southward

  Our webpage will be undergoing some changes soon and will be updated more regularly in the future.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
 

Enrichment Program Committees
bullet Math News
bullet Book Buddies
bullet Mock Trial 
bullet Math Resource
bullet Chess Club
bullet Geography Bee
bullet Spelling Bee
bullet Talking Canvas
bullet Technology Fair
bullet DCHS MS Speech

 

 

  

Catholic schools provide religious education as the most important enrichment area a child could ever have.  At St. Francis School all students receive an enriched education beginning with the most important area of enrichment – our Catholic faith. 

Additionally, we believe that ALL children have talents and gifts.  Enrichment activities are planned for entire classes or subject areas on a regular basis by classroom teachers. K-6 general programming, the Enrichment program, and the St. Francis Enrichment Committee offer whole class, small group, and individual enrichment experiences across all six areas of giftedness:  General Intellectual Aptitude, Specific Academic Aptitude, Creative or Productive Thinking, Leadership Ability, Visual and Performing Arts and Kinesthetic.  (St. Francis has added its own area of Spirituality.)  A part-time Enrichment Coordinator may also work with a variety of identified students on an “as needed” or individualized basis as learning situations evolve throughout the academic year.

An Enrichment Program is mandated by the Iowa Department of Education for all public accredited schools in the State of Iowa.  St. Francis of Assisi School’s program will follow the guidelines developed through the School’s Office of the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines.  Formal identification for students in an Enrichment Program can begin in the third grade.  Identification is based on a three-fold Diocesan criteria:  ITBS scores, Cognitive Abilities scores, and teacher recommendation.  Students who have been identified may participate in a program of study with the Enrichment Coordinator for enriched academic work.

In the future, Enrichment related activities may include Drake University’s Mock Trial, the Odyssey of the Mind competition and the Area Education Agency’s Knowledge Bowl Competition.  Many enrichment activities are open to the entire student body or specific grade levels.  Participation for such activities will not be solely limited to identified students. 

   
 

MAPPING NEWS
Many students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade have been introduced to Google Earth, a free download program.  It is a very valuable tool for studying geography, land forms and physical features, Please go to the following website for more information. http://earth.google.com

6th GRADE INTEREST: WWII GERMAN SUBMARINE
While reading the book, The Cay, several students visited a website to learn more about German submarines.  This interactive museum page can be found at: http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/index.html

 

IOWA TESTS OF BASIC SKILLS INFORMATION

For more information on interpreting ITBS scores, please go to the following website:  http://www.education.uiowa.edu/itp/itbs

 

U of IOWA-ISU OPPORTUNITIES

The University of Iowa and Iowa State University offer many enriching summer classes for qualified students. To qualify, students in grades 4-8 must take an  above-level test offered by the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa. These tests are open to any student who scores above the 95% on any portion of the ITBS test.  Information about this test is located at the following website. http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/talent-search

Information about summer classes offered to elementary students at the University of Iowa as well as the resources available at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education can be found at this website: http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank

Information about OPPTAG, the summer program offered at Iowa State University can be found at this website: http://www.opptag.iastate.edu/summer

 

MOCK TRIAL

Fall 2007:  SFA will have 4 mock trial teams participating this fall. For more information click on this link:   Iowa Bar Association
 

GEOGRAPHY BEE

Sign up for the state geography bee will begin in middle October with after school meetings to be arranged.  This is open to all 4-8th graders. Information is available on the following website:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee

SPELLING BEE:

Details coming later in the year.

DCHS MS SPEECH CONTEST

This activity will begin lin late March-early April and is open to all students, 6-8th grade.

TECHNOLOGY FAIR:

The technology fair is held in April.  Mrs. Nitzel and Ms. Joslin will be encouraging 6-8th grade students to participate.  Please contact them for further details.

 

MATH RESOURCES
How to Use This List

bullet Brainstorm with your child how your family uses math everyday. 
bullet Compare it to the list that is written here.
bullet Discuss what uses of math could be added to this list.
bullet Let your child help you with one of the items on the list…grocery shopping, measuring, cooking, and if they are really good at adding and subtracting, send them to me to balance my checkbook…just kidding…that is beyond hope!! 

 

© copyright 2007 Saint Francis of Assisi School · 7075 Ashworth Rd · West Des Moines · IA· 50266 ·  515.457.7167