"What is unique about the NAMS GT Center 6-8th grade experience versus what I might experience at another middle school?"
A: There are three primary differences between what a student in NAMS GT Center would experience that they will not find anywhere else.
1. You will take all of your core classes (Social Studies, Math, Language Arts & Science) with students who are either formally identified as gifted, or are well on their way. This gives students a built in peer group that speaks a similar cognitive language. Meeting and engaging in school with other gifted students is often the number one reason that GT students love their time at North Arvada.
2. All of your core class teachers are either fully certified in gifted education, or are on their way. It is an extensive process, so it can take some time to complete all of the necessary graduate credits. This means that your teachers, the people who you will spend the majority of your time in middle school learning with have spent significant time and resources to make sure that they fully understand how best to work with GT students. Most middle schools in Jeffco have zero GT certified teachers. Additionally, NAMS GT Teachers spend four days per school year at trainings specifically tailored for Jeffco GT Teachers.
3. All GT students at North Arvada have access to a GT counselor who is uniquely trained to work with the complexities of gifted students. GT counseling services are offered in addition to all of the regular counseling services that a middle school offers.
"Are NAMS GT Center students prepared for high level course work in high school?"
Students who go through the NAMS GT program are fully prepared to succeed in International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and Co-Enrollment college courses. By providing students with a rigorous, engaging course load in middle school, that is uniquely programmed to meet the needs of a gifted student, GT Center students from North Arvada have the tools to succeed in high school.
"What does it mean that NAMS GT Center is a "School within a school model?"
During a typical school day, students will take six classes in addition to their PRIDE class which is a short homeroom at the start and end of the school day. During their four core classes (Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, & Science) GT Center students are all together with GT Center teachers. During lunch and students two electives, they take courses with students from all over North Arvada.
How does math at North Arvada work?
North Arvada stands alone in Jefferson County as the only school to offer a 100% autonomous learner model math class. Our math teacher, Mr. Heimbigner has developed a style of teaching math that allows students to receive personalized math instruction for a student's exact learner level every day. Students are placed using a combination of previous learner data and a placement test when they enter NAMS, and have the opportunity to advance themselves through as much math material as they can finish during middle school. We are currently programmed through Algebra II (11th grade equivalent). Students who are highly motivated in math absolutely soar in this environment.
Does NAMS GT only accept students from Hackberry Hill and Sheridan Green GT Center?
While a majority of our students come from Hackberry Hill and Sheridan Green, we also accept a significant number of gifted students from our regular neighborhood elementary schools. For more info, check out the "How to Get in" tab at the top.
What planned elective offerings are in place for 6th graders for the 2020-21 school year?
Physical Education
Family and Consumer Sciences
Music
Choices (A social emotional learning class)
Visual Arts 1
Computer Literacy (which will likely include Computer Learning Systems, Digital Design and Communications Technology)
Engineering & Technology
World Languages & Cultures
All sixth graders are placed on an electives "wheel" where they try out two electives per quarter for the whole school year. If a student is a musician, music is taken as one of the two elective choices all year.