If any question is not answered via this website, e-mail lcoleman@milforded.org.
Is there any homework in the Gifted Program?
While there are no formal homework assignments in the Gifted Program, some students find it beneficial to do work on their independent projects outside of school.Back to Top
What is expected of a student if he or she is falls behind in regular classes?
The student should arrange to meet with his or her teacher before or after school. Late buses will be available after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays(usually beginning in October). It is helpful for your child to arrange to get notes from the class missed from another student in class. Exchanging phone numbers with other students--so that your child can call with any questions, is also helpful.Back to Top
What is the Gifted Presentation Night?
Families of students in the Gifted Program are invited to view and listen to presentations of individual and group projects. Students share their goals, what they have learned, and the results of their work. This event is typically held in late May or early June. Invitations are sent home. The date will be posted on the Harborside school calendar and well as on this web site's calendar.Back to Top
Do Gifted students take any trips?
Harborside's Gifted students in each grade usually take one trip per year. The three middle school Gifted Program teachers try to set up joint trips by grade. We always need several parents to help chaperone each trip. If you would like to be a chaperone, please let your child's Enrichment teacher know.Back to Top
MAGE is a PTA organization for the Gifted. It stands for Milford Association for Gifted Education. MAGE raises money for the Gifted program and provides teachers with discretionary funds to pay for project materials as student needs arise during the year. Families involved with MAGE lobby for our program and in recent years have prevented or minimized cuts to Milford's Gifted Program. Families are encouraged to join MAGE. Dues for a family are a nominal amount. Meetings are usually held once a month and special programs are held during the year for Gifted/Enrichment students and their families.Back to Top
In order to work on independent projects, students in the Gifted/Enrichment Program are "pulled out" of other teachers' classes to attend the Gifted program.Back to Top
What if my child's teacher doesn't want them to go to his or her Gifted pullout class?
The district policy is sent to every school by the Director of Pupil Personnel Services stating that students must be allowed to attend pullout classes. Your child's Gifted teacher should be informed of the problem,so that she can discuss the regular teacher's concerns and work out a solution. If there is a special speaker, lesson, video, etc. that would be difficult to make up, your child should discuss this with the Gifted teacher and an accommodation can be made.Back to Top
What if my Gifted child is falling behind in his or her school work?
Sometimes students find it challenging to keep up with the demands of the regular curriculum. Parents may wish to set up a meeting with the Gifted teacher to determine if their student might benefit from taking a leave of absence from the Gifted Program. Readmittance into the Gifted Program is not automatic; if a request is made to be readmitted to the program, an analysis will be made of the reasons for the leave, as well as the student's academic performance.Back to Top
What if there is a special event, or video in my child's pullout class?
For special activities,a student may be excused from a particular Gifted Pullout period. If this becomes a chronic concern, then the teacher and student may need to identify an alternative class period for pullout.Back to Top
What if my child doesn't like his/her investigation topic?
The student and teacher should discuss options for the original investigation/topic/identified problem to determine if there is a way to modify it to make it more motivating to the student. If not, the student can propose other investigative problem-based ideas and work with the teacher to find one that is acceptable. A key goal is to have the child find a topic/question/problem that is truly motivating (so he or she will not just go through the motions).Back to Top
How are students selected for the Gifted Program?
The Gifted Identification and Selection Committee receives and reviews: 1. A Nomination Form submitted by a Harborside Teacher or team. 2. A Rating Scale for Identifying Superior Students (nominating teachers complete this) 3. A Portfolio of student work is submitted by teacher for review 4. Anecdotal evidence from class participation (submitted by teachers) 5. Report cards & standardized test scores 6. CMT scoresBack to Top
What if some members work harder than others in an investigative group?
While the Gifted Program teacher will try facilitate any difficulties in a student investigative group, the student feeling he/she is doing more than others can discuss options with the teacher. This can include learning how to develop leadership skills to motivate other students to do more; identifying tasks that need to be done and getting help dividing the tasks among the group members, or subdividing the group into smaller groups of compatible individuals.Back to Top
What organizations are geared toward Gifted students and their families?
Milford Association for Gifted Education (MAGE): Connecticut Association for Gifted (CAG): www.ctgifted.org National Association for the Gifted Children (NAGC): www.nagc.org New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education: www.necgt.org/Back to Top