Academically or Intellectually Gifted: Gates County Schools
  • AIG Blog
  • Program Overview
  • ID + Services
  • More
    • CMS Advanced Math & Science Pathways
    • CogAT Testing
    • FAQ + Glossary
    • Organizations + Websites
    • Remote 20-21
    • Student Links
    • Teacher Links
  • Contact

WELCOME!

Please use our website as a resource to keep up with current legislation, our local program and plan, resources,
​and most importantly - what our AIG students are up to! Enjoy!

Barcelona 2020 - ¡Ole!

5/21/2019

 
You are cordially invited...
Picture


Picture
Hope to see you there!

AIG Night 2019

5/17/2019

 
Our AIG students successfully hosted their first annual AIG Night on Thursday, May 16, 2019. What a phenomenal experience! Keep scrolling for all of the details.

recognition of new AIG students

We began the night in the GCHS Media Center, where we recognized 83 new students and invited them to join our county AIG Program. Pictured below were the attending students in grades 3-5, grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8. We can't wait to see what next year holds for our new crop of AIG students!

AIG Night - A showcase of our students

AIG Night was a chance for our AIG students to SHINE and show their teachers, parents, and
community all of the awesome things that they have been doing this year. The event, held at the GCHS new gym, gave guests the opportunity to float from table to table, all planned, designed, and manned by our AIG students. Each table was devoted to an AIG-related activity, experience, opportunity, or information. Our guests circulated and listened to our students present their information.

The tables

  1. Welcome Table, Program Info: Addison Riddick (GES), Jacob Ross (BES), Hudsen Ward (GES) 
  2. 20% Project Showcase- Project Bluebird: JT Riddick (TSC) *
  3. 20% Project Showcase- The Downfall of Hetholia: Benjamin Ross (TSC)
  4. 20% Project Showcase- Can You PARDUE Long Division? I’ve BEN Able To!: Ben Pardue (TCS)
  5. 20% Project Showcase- Tees for Turtles: Avery Hall (BES)
  6. 20% Project Showcase- A Magical Cure: Semiyah Saunders and Shala’ Jah Stallings (BES)
  7. 20% Project Showcase- Why Am I Doing This?: Ashlynn Spruiell (CMS)
  8. 20% Project Showcase- My Harmonica Adventure: Rylee Byrum (CMS)
  9. 20% Project Showcase- Learning Japanese: Xavier Silvers (CMS)
  10. 20% Project Showcase- Building My Pond Adventure: Jasmine Holcomb (CMS)
  11. 20% Project Showcase- The Joy of (Digital) Painting with Chris: Chris Carl (CMS)
  12. Hands-On Team Building: Camille Cullipher and Cadence Rowe (CMS)
  13. Straw Tower Challenge: Ace Austin and Logan Kronbauer (CMS)
  14. Math Champions: Charles Ross (CMS)
  15. CMS Escape Room Field Trip: Alexia Austin and Katelyn Jones (CMS)
  16. CMS Soars at iFly: Gavin Britt and Mason Williams (CMS)
  17. 50/50 Raffle (Half of all proceeds go to Open Wide Outreach): Jared Hobbs (GCHS)**
  18. GCHS Takes on Escape Room Virginia Beach: Jordan Eason (GCHS)
  19. AIG Goes International: Jordan Mitchell and Cailyn Nowell (GCHS)
  20. What Does it Mean to be AIG?: Camryn Byrum and Bryce Hawkins (GCHS)
 Special thanks to Jacy Keith and Jaelynn Lawrence of CMS for helping behind-the-scenes!

* AIG students in grades 4-8 explored their passions through an independent, self-selected study called the “20% Project.” Throughout this journey, the practice skills such as time-management, creativity, self/peer assessment, discussion board etiquette, and public speaking.

**The winning ticket receives half; the other half goes to Open Wide Outreach, voted on by our AIG students. This organization feeds local students weekly with backpacks full of food.

Elementary 20% Projects - A Pursuit of Passion!

5/10/2019

 

THE BACKGROUND INFO - DID YOU KNOW...

In the 1950s, the 3M Company started a "15% Project," which allowed employees to peruse an idea that interested them and would benefit the company. Out of this 15% time came Post-it Notes and masking tape. Building on 3M’s idea, Google instituted a "20% Project," which gave their employees one work day a week to spend on a pet project that they would not normally work on the other four days. Because of this program, almost 50% of Google’s products come out of the 20% time, including Gmail, AdSense, and Google News. This idea of pursuing a passion project has now spilled over to the classroom. Teachers are allowing students to do something that really interests them that they wouldn’t normally be able to do at school. The 20% Project fosters creativity, innovation, ​awareness of self and community, and executive skills in a cross-curricular way. (©2014 Learning Highway.) ​

WHAT ARE OUR Elementary KIDS PASSIONATE ABOUT?

Our county's 4th and 5th grade AIG students in grades have been exploring their passions through an independent study of their choice. With an end goal in mind, they have practiced skills such as time-management, integration of technology, creativity, and public speaking. 

​THE SCHEDULE: A BRIEF RUNDOWN

Week 1: Introduction and Topic Selection
Week 2: Making a Plan
Week 3-4: Developing a Pitch Proposal and Posters
Week 5-6: Planning a TED Talk
Week 7-8: TED Talks

PITCH PROPOSALS and Posters

After our students selected a topic a made a plan, they were required to "pitch" their idea proposal to their peers, highlighting their plan and using a self-made poster as a visual. The pitch planning required lots of thought and creativity, which our students enjoyed!

THE TED TALKS

I cannot express in words how proud I am of our elementary students! These students may be young, but they are certainly fierce! Our fourth and fifth graders have researched, planned, designed, and presented; they put in the time and effort not only at school, but at home and in the community, as well. Much like our middle school 20% Projects, THESE PROJECTS WERE NOT GRADED. The reward from the hard work was the fruit of a new skill, new knowledge, and/or self-exploration. Let me say it again - I AM PROUD OF YOU!

Click below to see some of our awesome presentations!

Avery Designs a Tee for Turtles
Ben Gets Hands-On with Long Division
JC Learns Russian
Benjamin Writes a Book (1)
Benjamin Reads an Excerpt (2)
JT Builds a Birdhouse
Semiyah and Shay Design a Shirt for Cancer Research
Tyler Videos Best Batting Practices

DOn't mind us... we're just doing what we love.

Freshman English puts on a show

5/10/2019

 
Are you familiar with dramatic poetry? This genre of poetry typically contains an emotional story meant to be acted out. While learning about "Incident in a Rose Garden," by Donald Justice, Kariya Morings, Nyree Outlaw, and AJ Riddick took the extra step to put on a performance. While doing so, these honors students had a lot of laughs... it was fun! (Especially since we had to record it three times... but we won't go into that right now.)
Read "Incident in a Rose Garden" by Donald Justice

AND NOW, INTRODUCING POSSIBLY THE COOLEST FIELD TRIP EVER

5/10/2019

 
If you're a thrill seeker, then WHOA - do our students have the experience for YOU! This past Friday, our CMS AIG students in grades 6-8 took their AIG end of year field trip to iFLY in Virginia Beach. IT. WAS. AMAZING. Everyone participated in a STEM presentation, lab activity, ball demo, flight class, and then took to the wind tunnel, flying for a minute - the equivalent of 1 1/2 skydives!
From iFLY’s website: “Our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program uses our state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel to inspire and educate students. Trained and reviewed STEM educators will guide your students through an interactive presentation, demos in the wind tunnel and grade-appropriate lab activities.”
Picture
Picture
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL IFLY PHOTOS

CMS 20% PROJECTS (PART 2 - The Ted Talks)

5/9/2019

 

WHAT ARE OUR KIDS PASSIONATE ABOUT?

For those that didn't catch our last blog post, our county's AIG students in grades 4-8 have been exploring their passions and practicing skills such as time-management, self/peer assessment, discussion board etiquette, and public speaking along the way to develop this year's independent study - an accomplishment that we like to call the "20% Project." Be sure to scroll back and check it out!

The Schedule: A Brief Rundown
Week 1: Introduction and Topic Selection
Week 2: Making a Plan
Week 3-4: Developing a Pitch Proposal
Week 5-6: Pitch Presentations with Posters
Week 7: Planning a TED Talk
Week 8: TED Talks - We made it, guys!

The TED Talks

This is it. This is what we've been waiting for! I cannot express in words how proud I am of the students that took the time over the last two months to research, plan, and put the time and effort in NOT ONLY at school, but at home, as well. Let me remind you - THESE PROJECTS WERE NOT GRADED. The reward from the hard work was the fruit of a new skill, new knowledge, or self-exploration. Let me say it again for the folks in the back - I AM PROUD OF YOU!

6TH GRADE PRESENTATIONS - click below!

Ace Learns Japanese
Brooke Plans & Prepares a Meal for Her Peers
Cadence Raises Awareness for Needy Animals
Camille Creates a Website Dedicated to Her Art
Katelyn & Emma Perform a Choreographed Dance
Logan Speaks Russian
Madison & Alexia create a Nature Book
Mason Fundraises for the NEST Foundation (1)
Mason Fundraises for the NEST Foundation (2)

7TH GRADE PRESENTATIONS - CLICK BELOW!

Jasmine Designs a Fish Pond
Brycen Serves Senior Shut-Ins
Jacy Explores A Future Career
Nyghel & Michael Design a Comic Strip
Rylee Learns to Play the Harmonica

8TH GRADE PRESENTATIONS - CLICK BELOW!

Ashlynn Conquers a Fear
Chris Channels His Inner Bob Ross
Bradley Gets Scientific
Makayla Becomes a Food Critic
Charles "Flips Out"
Xavier Learns Japanese

Don't Mind us... we're just doing what we love.

GCHS Students Take on Escape Room VB!

5/9/2019

 
When GCHS students heard that they would have the chance to test their problem solving, leadership, teamwork, communication, and motivation, they were totally up for the challenge! Take a peek at our Escape Room Virginia Beach experience. We came, we saw, we escaped!

    Archives

    September 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All
    20% Projects 2019
    Escape Room Posts
    Ice Skating Posts
    Rubiks Cubes 19 20
    Spheros 19 20
    Spheros 19-20

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • AIG Blog
  • Program Overview
  • ID + Services
  • More
    • CMS Advanced Math & Science Pathways
    • CogAT Testing
    • FAQ + Glossary
    • Organizations + Websites
    • Remote 20-21
    • Student Links
    • Teacher Links
  • Contact