WelCOME to NHE AIG 2026-27
This is the AIG/ Enrichment Parent Communication Website for
New Hope Elementary School, Orange County Schools, NC
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2026-27 Back to School: Many thanks to those of you who have sent in supplies. NHE always appreciates your donations of: disinfecting wipes, tissues, notebook paper, pencils, erasers, binders, composition books and markers to make sure our scholars have a successful and safe learning environment!
For answers to specific student questions, please email me directly at:
katherine.szczesn@orange.k12.nc.us
Click below to navigate to the OCS AIG Plan 2025-28
2026-27 OCS AIG Referral Window Fall 2026 (this is district-wide)
REFERRAL FORM DUE BY: September 25, 2026
NDT Meeting Window: October 30-November 20, 2026
Single-subject acceleration opportunities are available for grades K-8. In grades K-7, students may single subject accelerate in one area, reading or math, only; students who need acceleration in both areas should pursue whole grade level acceleration. In grade 8, students may accelerate in more than one subject. Historically, opportunities for single-subject acceleration in math have been provided to students in grades K-8. That opportunity will continue in the 2025-2028 plan cycle. The AIG department, through communications and collaborations with district leadership, will work to strengthen the awareness of these opportunities to parents/guardians and families. The steps for single-subject acceleration in reading grades K-7 are outlined below:
Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and throughout the duration of the 2025-2028 AIG Plan, all requests for single-subject acceleration must be made by the parent/guardian in writing and received by the facilitator, principal, and school AIG specialist. All required assessments must be completed by June 15th.
About me:
My name is Katherine Szczesniak ("says-knee-ack"). I am a Master's level licensed Elementary Education (K-6) and Academically/ Intellectually Gifted Educator, spending most of my time in NC public school systems, since 1996. I have also held LD Master's level licensure here in NC.
I am excited to learn and grow with you and your scholars!
Fun Fact: My two children are 5th generation Tar Heels at UNC.
Go Heels!
Fall 2026 Highlight: Reading Resources
Helping Your Child Build Critical Thinking Skills About Text:
Families, many of you have reached out looking for ways to assist your child with building & advancing their reading skills. I am attaching a list of questions of varying difficulty levels and thinking modalities to assist you in talking with your student(s) about their reading. Questions progress from very basic in the "Level 1: Knowledge" questions which are pretty obvious answers, all the way through to the highest "Level 6: Evaluation" questions which tap into high level critical thinking skills.
A conversation around TWO questions, three to five times a week will really help your child build their ability to not only comprehend, but to also think critically about text while reading.
HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE: I would advise starting each conversation with a Level 1 or 2 question to acclimate yourself to the text and allow your child to refresh their memory. Then I would progress into Levels 3, 4, 5 or 6 as you see fit based on what is happening in the story/article/book. Levels 5 and 6 are more appropriate towards the end of a story or chapter book or informational text, rather than in the beginning of the book.
Linked Questions: Using Blooms Taxonomy to Promote Critical Reading and Thinking Skills.pdf
Download Using Blooms Taxonomy to Promote Critical Reading and Thinking Skills.pdf
**This is a PDF download and is best viewed on a lap-top or tablet, rather than a phone.
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At the beginning of the school year, AIG specialists in elementary and middle schools and staff at high schools will host an informational meeting for parents/guardians of AIG students. At the meeting, the service delivery options and tiers of services are explained, so that parents understand what is included in their child's Differentiated Education Plan or 4 Year Plan. After the meeting, parents/guardians are provided with a copy of their child's DEP, IDEP, or 4 Year Plan to review and sign. If parents have specific questions about their child's DEP or IDEP, they may set up an appointment for a phone call or parent/guardian conference with their school-based AIG specialist. DEPs and IDEPs will also be available in Spanish. If there is a need for written documents to be made available in other languages, parents/guardians may make this request through the district’s Family Engagement Team, the AIG facilitator, or through the school-based specialist.
NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Programs and Services Information Night 2026-27
October 1st, 4:30- 5:00 PM
Media Center (then 5:30-7 pm drop by)
Purpose: to share district information, meet Mrs. Szczesniak K-5 AIG Specialist, receive overview of what AIG Services look like at NHE
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