- Is there any homework in Enrichment?
- What is expected of a student if he or she is falls behind in regular classes?
- How are Enrichment students graded?
- What is Enrichment Project Presentation Night?
- Do Enrichment students take any trips?
- What is MAGE?
- What is a pullout class?
- What if my child's teacher doesn't want them to go to Enrichment?
- What if my Enrichment child is falling behind in his or her school work?
- What if there is a special event, or video in my child's pullout class?
- What if my child doesn't like the project he/she has selected?
- How are students selected for the Enrichment Program?
- What if some members work harder than others in a project group?
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Is there any homework in Enrichment?
While there are no formal homework assignments in Enrichment, some
students find it beneficial to do work on their independent projects
outside of school.
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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 busses 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.
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How are Enrichment students graded?
Enrichment students receive a Pass or Fail grade on their report card for the
Enrichment Learning Center portion of the program. Students complete self
assessments of their progress. Students receive feedback on their presentations.
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What is Enrichment Project Presentation Night?
Families of students in the Gifted/Enrichment 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.
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Do Enrichment students take any trips?
Harborside Enrichment students in each grade usually take one trip per
year. The three middle school Enrichment 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.
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What is MAGE?
MAGE is a PTA organization for the Gifted. It stands for Milford Association
for Gifted Education. MAGE raises money for the Gifted Enrichment program and
provides Enrichment 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/Enrichment 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 Enrichment students and their families.
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What is a pullout class?
In order to work on independent projects, students in the
Gifted/Enrichment Program are "pulled out" of other teachers'
classes to attend Enrichment.
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What if my child's teacher doesn't want them to go to Enrichment?
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 Enrichment 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
Enrichment teacher and an accommodation can be made.
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What if my Enrichment 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 Enrichment teacher to determine if their student might benefit from
taking a "leave of absence" from the Gifted/Enrichment program.
Leaves can occur for a month or more or for a complete
school year.
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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 Enrichment
Pullout period. If this becomes a chronic concern, then the teacher and
student may need to identify an alternative class period for pullout.
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What if my child doesn't like the project he/she has selected?
The student and teacher should discuss options for the original topic, 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 project ideas and work with the
teacher to find one that is acceptable. A key goal is to have the child find
something that is truly motivating and not just go through the motions.
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How are students selected for the Enrichment Program?
The Enrichment 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 scores
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What if some members work harder than others in a project group?
While the Enrichment teacher will try facilitate any difficulties in a project
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.
