SCIENCE FAIR at Atkinson!

The Atkinson Science Fair is coming soon! If your child is interested in submitting a project for the Science Fair, keep an eye out for information that will be coming home soon. The Science Fair is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 7.

ACCESS Academy

Portland Public Schools has a magnet program for students who score in the 99% on TAG testing and may be struggling to have their needs met in a standard school setting.
If you feel that your child would be a good candidate for ACCESS, please see their website for application details and requirements:
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/access/

Stop Motion Animation Fun!

The students in our after school enrichment class are having a great time creating stop motion movies!  Check out the hard working students below:

TAG Identification Process

TAG identification is a process that begins in the fall of every school year.  Children can be nominated by teachers or parents who think a child shows indications of "giftedness."  When a teacher or parent wants to move forward with a TAG nomination, the best place to begin the process is often during fall Teacher/Parent Conferences.  Once teachers and parents have agreed to pursue TAG testing, the parent fills out their portions of an IDPF form and turns the form into the classroom teacher.  IDPF forms, in a variety of languages, are located online and in front of the school office. The teacher will gather work samples and other data to support the nomination.  

IDPF due dates vary from year to year, but they are generally due sometime in November. 

Parents may choose to nominate in any (or all) of three categories: Intellectual; Reading; or Math. Bilingual students (Spanish/English) will need to test in their strongest language.

In addition to the above process, all PPS 2nd graders are given a TAG screener every fall.  This screener is designed to alert teachers to possible TAG candidates that might otherwise escape their notice. Teachers do not generally share the screener results with parents unless the results indicate that further testing might be beneficial.  If a parent is interested in finding out how their child did on the screener, they should ask the child's teacher at conferences.

Once IDPFs and work samples have been turned into the district TAG office in November, specific tests are ordered and plans are made for the testing to take place.  Atkinson is allotted two days each winter/spring for testing.  District personnel come to the school and pull children from their classes to take the tests.  PPS also offers make-up tests for students who are sick or have emergencies that keep them from school on the assigned testing days.  Families must arrange for make-up testing through the TAG office by calling 503-916-3358.  

Once tests are taken, they are sent away for grading. This is usually a 4-6 week process, but varies from year to year. Results are then sent to the school where the Atkinson TAG committee determines who has qualified for the program.  Letters indicating results are sent to families from the TAG Department as soon as decisions are made.

More information on the TAG Nomination and Identification Process can be found by clicking here.

Spring Break and Summer Camp by Saturday Academy

Saturday Academy is offering Spring Break classes as well as a TAG Challenge Camp this summer.
Please click the link below for more information:

Saturday Academy Class Information

2nd/3rd Grade Saturday Academy Class Off To A Great Start!

Computer Graphic Art and Design started today for the 2nd and 3rd grade students who signed up! They worked busily in the library creating colorful images on the computers provided by Saturday Academy!

TAG Testing

If your child was nominated for further TAG testing (IDPFs for testing were due in November), the testing is scheduled to take place on February 3 and 4.  The TAG Department will be sending testers to Atkinson on those days.  If your child will be testing, please have him/her get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before school on those days.
I do not know when scores will be expected back, but will post the information as soon as it is available.