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Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

GATE Announcements:

 
2023 Geography Bee Competition - Another Success!
GATE students from across the district took four weeks of GeoBee prep classes to prepare for the competition which took place at Pioneer High School on February 22. Twenty-eight students competed and in the end, it was Cash Foldhazi (1st), Charlotte Banuelos (2nd), and Michael Nichols (3rd) that won the competition. Participants were asked questions about state geography, state birds and flowers, funky state facts, oceans, continents, and countries. Congratulations to all of our participants!
 
Geography Bee winners 2023
Pictured front row: Michael Nichols, Charlotte Banuelos, and Cash Foldhazi. Back row: Judges Hayden Krause, Bob Folker, Dennis Silva and Host Scott Clary.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
 
COMING SOON & DON'T MISS OUT:
FAMILY MATH NIGHTS - Registration is open, sign up here.
  • March 15th at Douglass Middle School
  • March 22nd at Lee Middle School
 
Family Math Nights Flyer
 
  • April 19th at the WJUSD District Office
Family Science Night Flyer
 
GATE ART SHOW - MAY 5 - DOWNTOWN WOODLAND - SAVE THE DATE
GATE Art Show 2023
 
*Summer Enrichment Academy 2023 - Register here.
SAVE the DATES - at Douglass Middle School
  • Session A (Grades 4-6): June 15- 22 (no class June 19) - 5 days
  • Session B (Grades 6-8): June 23-29 - 5 days
  • Session C (Grades 4-6): June 30-July 7 (no class July 4) - 5 days
  • Session D (Grades 4-6): July 10-14 - 5 days
Enrichment Academy Flyer 2023
 
FOR PARENTS:
 
*Our second Virtual GATE Parent Night was March 1st. To learn a bit more, take a look at the presentation by guest speaker Kari Lofing:
*Our first Virtual GATE Parent Night  was December 7th. Check out these GATE resources shared by our guest speaker here.
 
*Attention GATE Parents: Are you interested in being part of the GATE Advisory Committee? This is your opportunity to learn more about the GATE Program and also share your ideas and concerns. We are looking to make changes and improve the program, but need your voice. Our next meeting is March 23rd. We would love to have you join! Please email deann.tenhunfeld@wjusd.org for more information! 
 
FOR TEACHERS:
 
*Teacher Trainings
  • Teaching the Diverse Gifted Child - Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 
  • Nature & Nurture of GATE Learners - Oct. 28 & 29 
  • GATE Program Design & Administration - Jan. 27 & 28
  • Differentiating Instruction Part I: Instructionally Responsive Classrooms - Feb. 17-18 and 24-25 
  • Differentiating Instruction Part II: Application to Core - Mar. 10-11, 17-18, 31, and Apr. 1 
 
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
*Fall Family Science Night 2022 was a success! 
GATE Family Science Night returned, after a three-year hiatus, to an enthusiastic group of WJUSD students on Tuesday, October 18th. Student volunteers from both high schools and middle schools in Woodland, along with adult volunteers, assisted with the science displays and activities provided by Explorit Science Center. The Family Science Night, “Healthy Family, Healthy You,” included seventeen displays such as live “hissing” cockroaches, animal skulls, snake skins, and microscope samples. Students were able to get some hands-on practice as they created an earthquake and saw how buildings were affected as well as designed a bridge using rubber bands and binder clips. Students were also able to study fossils, rocks, and test water samples. “We love all the hands-on activities,” one guest commented. It was a great evening with lots of interactive displays for students to explore. 
 
Volunteer describes the snake display at Family Science NightFamilies attended GATE Family Science NightStudent holds a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
 

*GATE Art Show 2022 is a success! 
Woodland Joint Unified School District’s GATE Program held its 10th Annual GATE Art Show on Friday, May 6, in downtown Woodland. The event marked the return after two years of cancelled events due to the pandemic. The event coincided with Woodland’s First Friday Art Walk and opening night for Woodland’s own Honey Festival.The event displayed more than 80 students’ works of art from across the district. For five weeks, students in grades 4-8, participated in art classes led by WJUSD teachers. Classes included a Cool Color Class (Jayme Myers, Woodland Prairie Elementary), Papiér-Mache Monsters (Justin Krahn, Lee Middle School), Art Adventure (Kristina Weston, Lee Middle School), Around the World in 10 Days (Madeline Garcia, Maxwell Elementary), Under the Sea (April Meyer, Tafoya Elementary), and Write and Illustrate a Children’s Book (Pat Welty & Deborah Bachman, Springlake Elementary).

GATE Art Show - Under the Sea ArtworkGATE Art Show - Papier-Mache MonstersGATE Art Show - Cool Color Class artwork
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*Congratulations 2022 GeoBee participants! --Check out the press release from our annual competition at https://www.wjusd.org/Announcements/?capostid=48341
 
GATE General Information
The purpose of the GATE program is to provide challenging curriculum and instruction for students who are capable of achieving at a level significantly beyond that of their grade level. Each year a short test called the Raven Progressive Matrices is given to every third grade student in the district to determine whether the student may be eligible for this program. Absent students are able to take a make up test in January. Students that are new to the district, in grades 4-8, are also tested. Parents are notified in writing if their child is determined to be GATE eligible. 

GATE identified students, in grades 4-8, are invited to participate in after school GATE enrichment classes. Annually we host a Geography Bee, Art classes, and summer Enrichment Academy.  Eligible students will receive an invitation for each enrichment program along with instructions on how to sign up. For more information, contact April Guse at april.guse@wjusd.org

For a list of GATE resources, please visit the California Department of Education's GATE website.
Additional resources:
www.hoagiesgifted.org (Hoagie’s Gifted Education Page)
www.cagifted.org (California Association for the Gifted)
www.nagc.org (National Association for Gifted Children)
www.sengifted.org (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted)
https://www.byrdseed.com  (Ian Byrd's webpage with GATE resources)
 
For information about district GATE programs, please contact:
DeAnn Tenhunfeld, District Expanded Learning and GATE TOSA (530)406-3252 Email
 
For school site services, please contact your school site Principal or GATE liaison.