Welcome!

Welcome to our new Hopatcong Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) Program! We will be exploring a wide range of topics to grow and maximize learning in ways that go beyond the scope of grade level curriculum. Students will have opportunities to challenge themselves through interest-driven projects, exploratory activities and lessons, creative focuses, and diverse learning opportunities.

Our program will have a web presence through this new GATE website and our new GATE Twitter feed. This website will be in ongoing development with resources and information added as we move through the year. Our new GATE Twitter will also be a continuously developing resource that will highlight some of the learning and exploration your children will be experiencing as well as providing a source of supplemental resources and information that may be of interest to GATE students and families.

Welcome GATE students! I am your teacher, Ms. DeRose, and I will be working with you in our new Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program.

To introduce myself, I am a Hopatcong graduate and have spent the nearly 20 years since I was a Hopatcong student wearing many different "hats" in education including Social Studies Teacher, School Library Media Specialist, Research & Information Literacy Teacher, Computer Teacher, Academic Supervisor, Educational Technology Director, Instructional Coach, Curriculum Coordinator, Program Coordinator, School Administrator, Youth Services Librarian, Technology/Young Adult Services Librarian, and other roles in various schools, districts, and libraries. My academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in History (Secondary Social Studies Education track), a Master of Library and Information Science (School Library Media track), a Master of Educational Leadership and School Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Assessment. Professionally, I hold NJ DOE certifications as a Social Studies Teacher, School Library Media Specialist, School Supervisor, and Principal as well as a NJ Professional Librarian Certificate.

I returned home to our Hopatcong Schools in April of 2020 (right when we went virtual!) as the District School Library Media Specialist and have been thrilled to work with our faculty, staff, students, and parents. In our district, I have also taught 8th and 9th grade Social Studies and am currently Faculty Advisor for both the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. I am very much looking forward to working with the students in the GATE program to build and grow this learning community for Hopatcong’s gifted students!

SUPPLIES

• 1 inch (3 ring) binder with filler paper and 5 tab dividers (please make sure this is a separate 3 ring binder and is not part of one used for another class).

• Charged Chromebook

SCHEDULE

• Grades 2 & 3 - Wednesday/Friday

• Grades 4 & 5 - Tuesday/Thursday

• Grades 6 & 7 - Monday/Tuesday