HiCap Parents Council
September
Meeting
District
Office
9/19/2023
- 10 AM - 12 Noon
In Person Attendance: Carson S, Katie M, Becky
D., Ashley W., Lynn D., Lyn T., Holly M., Amity B., Elizabeth W., Angie M., Jen
C., Jennifer S.,
Zoom Meeting Attendance: ________
Podcast
Suggestion & Discussion - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gNFbnMDAgqk
●
Carson - “No one should have to
mask. And everyone should have an appropriate level of challenge for them.”
This is an invitation to consider your why for joining the council.
●
Discussion of perfectionism, the
intersection with giftedness, and its avoidant side (ex. I’m not going to try
because the outcome will not be what I want).
●
This perspective is a shift for
classroom teachers because so much focus is classroom management; how can
teachers stretch accommodation now that rooms are more integrated?
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Not only do we need to work with
teachers, but also with parents.
●
Feedback received: Feels like EAP
is a math acceleration program.
Amity
Updates
●
Kindergarten - Screening has
traditionally been done, but (1) the children identified as potentially Hicap
are then not receiving services and (2) they must be tested again in first
grade to receive Hicap Designation and be eligible for services. Kindergarten
students will no longer be given the Naglieri this year. First grade will be
administered universally.
○
How will screening referral
process be? Every kid is 1 and 5th grade is screened, along with any kid that
moves into the district 1-7. Refer to website 2-4 graders and older kids.
Anyone can refer for those K (now), 2,3, 4, 6 and 7th graders (parents, teachers,
friends, and adults). https://www.nsd.org/schools/programs-services/highly-capable-services/eligibility
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Training for elementary teachers
○
Training for teachers is now
mandated for teachers who have integrated classrooms. Some is direct (live or
watching video), some is done by lead teachers at each school being trained and
bringing it back to their teacher peers.
○
Emily Kircher-Morris training in
the summer was great and well received by teachers. About 100 for elementary
level, and about 25 for older years. Her podcast is excellent.
■
Amity’s office will check to see
if HiCap Council can have access to this content. She has lots of free content
available as well: http://www.emilykirchermorris.com/
●
NSD HiCap Website is currently
being updated.
●
Proctors: Request is out for new
testing proctors. Many from HiCap Council serve. Referrals are also coming in.
●
Integration update:
○
Elementary level where schools
have integrated: First place for anxious parents to
start is with the teacher. Third grade is likely to be the most difficult
transition point with Hicap students that are now integrated.
○
Elementary schools where
integration has not happened yet: It is planned to
come to every school. It will likely start with 2nd or 3rd graders, but current
students in EAP will continue moving through with EAP. Amity is willing to come
out and speak at schools. Amity will be speaking at Hollywood Hill in November.
○
Middle school: Decisions about integration are still ongoing. Current change is that
classes have not been backfilled, so class sizes are variable and some students
are unhappy.
●
Data Plan: Kids in integrated
classroom versus kids in separate classrooms. They are looking for growth over time. Additionally, all
different kids will be pulled in for data.
○
HiCap can help by providing
information from the survey we created. Also, Amity may request help in
creating parent surveys/distribution.
●
Math Progression
○
5th grade transitioning into 6th
grade is where people have a choice. After this, your student is on a path
through high school. A good question is, “Where do you want them to be as a
senior?” Once you hit high school, there are very limited off ramps.
○
Check out Pathway Flow Charts, not
only for Middle School, but for High School: https://www.nsd.org/schools/academics/subject-areas/subject/~board/mathematics/post/mathematics
○
Note: Question about HS Science
progression. This is not as strict. There are occasional prerequisites for a
course (typically math or a traditional version of a science before the AP
version); check your children’s associated high school course catalogue.
●
I-Ready
○
Will continue to be 3 times per
year for testing. This is valuable data for the district. The teacher should
not continue using it for curriculum once the child tops out. It tops out in
8th grade.
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Summer work in high school
○
Varies school to school. No
consistency.
○
Suggestion: Get together with
members of council in your cohort and have smaller conversations. If something
is or isn’t working in your school, when you learn what happens in others, it
can make you a stronger advocate.
Additional Discussion
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Playdates
○
Turn in receipts to Lyn T.
○
Parking was an issue for some
schools, so something to consider.
○
Have them as early in the summer
as possible to avoid smoke and to ease children’s stress, fear, and anxiety
about new schools.
○
In March or so, we will need to
inquire about facilities fees and see if we can continue hosting at school.
○
Relevance of playdates going
forward is in question as integration continues. Might be regional playdates
instead, etc.
