General:
What is different about the Center-Based Gifted Education Program?
What sort of special training is required for CBG staff members?
Will there be opportunities for parent involvement with the CBG program?
What is the average class size (pupil/teacher ratio)?
How is the "team approach" utilized?
May I defer my decision to enter my child into the CBG program until next year?
Is transportation provided?
Does my child have to re-qualify for the CBG program each year?
What resources are available to support the affective needs of the gifted learner?
Academics:
Are high school credit classes offered to CBG middle schoolers?
What sorts of academic and cultural enrichment are offered in the CBG program?
Will my child cover material required by the Virginia SOLs?
What about homework?
What courses are available for my child as a 6th grader in the CBG program?
How is accelerated mathematics placement determined for students entering sixth grade?
Will my child be eligible for the specialty high school/regional programs available in our area?
After School Activities/Social Concerns:
Are CBG students eligble for the athletic programs offered at the host schools?
Are co-curricular activities available at CBG middle school sites?
Will CBG students make new friends even though they don't know anyone?
Will CBG students have an opportunity to interact with students outside the program?
New Students' Common Concerns:
Will I have a locker?
How will get from class to class on time?
Do I have to take a shower in gym?
What about lunch?
Other:
If I have questions about the CBG program, whom can I ask?
If I have questions about the gifted ed program at my child's "home" middle school, whom can I ask?
In an effort to meet the needs of gifted learners, Chesterfield County provides a variety of service options for students. The Center-Based Gifted Education Program (CBG) is designed for students who demonstrate an exceptional level of ability and performance. Eligibility is determined using multiple criteria. Students who participate in the CBG program represent a student population with a narrow range of superior ability. The program is designed to meet the students' needs through differentiation of environment, content, process and product. Differentiating the environment includes relating to students both intellectually and affectively, opportunities for both independent and collaborative learning, emphasis on "risk taking", and application of learning to real world experiences. Content differentiation is based on needs and readiness. Curriculum compacting, acceleration and extension are commonly used. Broad-based issues, problems, and themes are a central focus. Curriculum is integrated across the disciplines wherever possible. Process differentiation focuses on critical and creative thinking skills, open-ended questions and activities, tolerance for ambiguity, development of inquiry, research, problem solving, decision making skills and metacognition. Product differentiation focuses on products that challenge; product development criteria which includes self, peer and teacher evaluation; use of real audiences and varied modes of expression.
The dedicated and skilled teachers are truly an asset to the program.
Many of the teachers hold Master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction or specific content areas.
A large percentage of our staff currently holds, or is presently working toward, endorsement in gifted education.
This endorsement requires successful completion of graduate level courses in Characteristics and Identification of Gifted Learners,
Instructional Strategies, Curriculum Development, Affective Needs of Gifted Learners and Contemporary Issues in Gifted Education.
skills are continuously developed and enhanced at team meetings, conferences, workshops and summer training sessions.
The administrators at the CBG middle school sites are certainly an asset. They are knowledgeable about, and supportive of,
gifted education and are true advocates for the CBG Program.
The Explorers Booster Organization (E.B.O.) offers a parent organization, which provides support to the CBG program.
This organization is a valuable resource to all CBG students, parents, and staff.
E.B.O. publishes a directory annually with student/family information (i.e. home address, phone).
They also maintain a current listing of e-mail addresses for families who choose to be included.
Permission to include a student's listing is requested via a summer mailing. Families, who have
indicated that they would like to be included in the directory, receive current information from the E.B.O.
Please visit the website for more information: www.cbgms.org
The CBG classroom teacher/pupil ratio adheres to the same guidelines as general classrooms do, for each grade level. The current average pupil/teacher ratio for the CBG program for the 2003-2004 school year is 22/1.
Following the middle school philosophy, each grade level of the program functions as an individual team with the sixth grade CBG students being known as the "Questors," the seventh as the "Discoverers," and the eighth as the "Trailblazers". The CBG program is collectively known by the name of "Explorers". The benefits of this approach are that each teacher is aware of what is happening within each grade level in addition to the program as a whole; cross grade level planning for programs, field trips, and presentations as well as interdisciplinary units is possible. The curriculum can be progressive and expansive because the teachers know what has been taught in each subject and at each grade level. With the teachers meeting weekly by grade level, student needs (as a group and individually) are discussed frequently and the program and curriculum adapted to meet these needs.
Yes, students may be enrolled at the beginning of each school year, providing they still meet the eligibility requirements. Parents would need to submit a written request to the Gifted Education Coordinator in their child's middle school. A request for change in placement requires the school's Identification and Placement Committee to review the student's profile. Additional testing may be necessary to update the student's profile.
Transportation is provided from a variety of pick-up points throughout the county. Questions concerning these routes in your particular area should be directed to the transportation office for your district:
1. Click on "find it quick",
2. Click on "bus routes",
3. Click on "specialty routes",
4. Scroll selections for your geographical area.
Bus routes may change from year to year especially over the summer as enrollment is finalized. The website offers a frequently updated venue for obtaining current information regarding transportation and other important school related information.
Some area libraries provide drop-off sites for students who have a short "wait-time" between bus drop-off and parent pick-up. Carpooling provides another option, which many parents have found convenient. The Explorers Booster Organization (E.B.O.) may be able to assist parents with setting up carpool contacts. (See above)
No, however, all gifted students are subject to review based on their performance. One of the goals of the CBG program is to provide support for success and to offer each child the service option that will best meet their intellectual and affective needs.
The CBG program has the advantage of having guidance and school psychology services specifically assigned to assist the program. Such support is very important in addressing the affective and educational needs of the students, whether it be in areas of social/peer relations, study/organizational skills, high school applications, scheduling, or parenting issues of raising a gifted child.
The large concentration of gifted learners allows for the offering of Carnegie unit courses for high school credit, within the school. Many students take earth science, advanced mathematics or a variety of world languages without the need to travel to another school location.
The teachers in the CBG program continually strive to provide learning opportunities for the students that extend the curriculum and develop skills that are applicable to real world situations and personal interests. Future Problem Solving, County and Richmond Metro Science Fairs, Virginia Junior Academy of Science, Model United Nations, Math Counts, and field trip experiences are offered to our CBG students throughout the year. These options provide unique opportunities for academic and cultural enrichment for our students.
All Virginia students take SOL tests to demonstrate mastery of learning. Compacting and acceleration eliminate unnecessary repetition of previously mastered material allowing the CBG staff to provide additional learning experiences through enrichment and extension activities.
Teachers follow the guidelines published by CCPS for the amount of homework. The type of homework per content area varies. The emphasis is not on more work for gifted students, but rather different types of assignments geared to student needs and the enrichment of topics studied. Teachers attend team meetings on a regular basis and every effort is made to coordinate long-term projects and tests thus maintaining a manageable workload.
The middle school CBG science program is unique among the CCPS middle schools. Students participate in a spiraling curriculum, which allows for in-depth explorations of science topics at the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade levels. Essential foundations in content and laboratory skills are built upon at the sixth grade level and pursued in greater depth in seventh and eighth grades. The emphasis is on an integrated approach to science during all three grade levels. Topics in physics, biology, chemistry and earth science are incorporated into the science lessons at each grade level. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade SOL's are mastered and enriched throughout the three grade levels. Eighth grade students with a high aptitude/interest in science may be eligible to take earth science (a high school credit course) in addition to eighth grade science, during the eighth grade.
Sixth grade CBG students also choose one elective from the following options: band, chorus, orchestra, OR exploratory. (The exploratory course provides students with the opportunity to investigate drama, technology, art, and work and family studies on a nine-week rotation.)
All CBG students interested in athletic programs are eligible for participation in the sports available at the host schools.
Available sports programs may include: (fall) Boys/Girls Cross-Country, Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Cheerleading, Running Club,
Steppers; (winter) Boy's Basketball, Cheerleading, Steppers; (spring) Girls Soccer, Boy's/Girls Track, Tennis Intramurals.
*Please note that athletic offerings vary from year to year based on teacher sponsorship and student interest.
Yes. The CBG Middle Schools offer a wide variety of co-curricular activities.
The following list of clubs currently available addresses a wide range of interests and offers exciting opportunities
for exploration in new areas: Aerospace Club, Boy's Chorus, Challenge 24, Chess Club, Conflict Management, Crime Solvers,
Do Something Club (students working to make a positive difference in our world), Drama Club, Environmental Helpers,
Espanolizacion Club, French Club, French Congres, German Club, Harry Potter Book Club, JROTC, Latin Club, Literary Magazine,
Magic the Gathering, Math Counts, NJHS (National Junior Honor Society), Pocoshock Creek Club, Prejudice Awareness Team,
Peer Tutoring, Running Club, Spanish Club, SCA (Student Council Association), Step Club, Technology Student Association,
Tennis Intramurals, VJAS (Virginia Junior Academy of Science), Yearbook, and YU-GI-OH Club.
*Please note that co-curricular offerings vary from year to year based on teacher sponsorship and student interest.
Most of the students who attend the CBG program continue to maintain the old friendships formed in elementary schools and neighborhoods. They also form new friendships with other students in the CBG program. The CBG students often report having a feeling of "understanding, acceptance, and support" from their peers for the first time. The opportunity to interact with intellectual peers on a daily basis provides opportunities to form strong friendships based on acceptance and appreciation.
The CBG students attend all core classes (mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, and international languages) with other gifted students enrolled in the program. Additional classes such as world languages, band, orchestra, chorus, health/physical education, work and family studies, art, drama and technology provide opportunities for interaction with students from other "teams" in the host middle school.
Yes. All students are assigned a locker.
There really is enough time built into the schedule to allow for travel between classes (approximately 4 minutes).
The teachers are very aware of the many adjustments students make transitioning from elementary to middle school.
During the first several weeks of school, the teachers work very hard to assist students in acclimating to the new environment.
Within a few short days, everyone is a "pro" at locker combinations and getting around the school.
Students are not required to take showers in gym. Lockers are also provided in the gym for storage of personal items.
Currently, the majority of the CBG students eat during the "D" lunch period (12:40-1:08 p.m.).
Student lunch schedules are adjusted as needed. (Due to the late lunch schedule for most CBG students, the teachers allow
students to have a light snack some time during the morning.)
The following people work very closely with the CBG program and can answer additional questions about the program:
Jean Zimmerman, Instructional Consultant for Gifted Education (675-0401)
Terresa Perry, CBG Guidance: Grade 6 (674-1388)
Carolyn Mallory, CBG Guidance: Grades 7 and 8 (674-1388)
Barbara Havens, School Psychologist (674-1385)
Contact the guidance department of your child's home middle school.
The Gifted Education Coordinator at your child's home middle school will be glad to explain the program
of studies offered for gifted students at that location.