WINTER NEWS!
Dear DVUSD Community,
I hope you and your family enjoy the warmth of family and friends this Winter Holiday season. As we approach the second half of the school year, I am reminded that starting a new semester brings opportunities for fresh beginnings. Gifted Services is excited to partner with our families and community to provide #EXTRAORDINARY educational experiences.
In this issue, you'll read about our upcoming Gifted Parent Seminar. DVUSD Gifted Services is excited to offer nine Gifted Parent Seminars this year. We'll start January with Gifted Parent Seminar #5, Executive Function and the Underachiever. Dr. Paul Beljan's seminar will guide parents through understanding how executive function impacts gifted learners' abilities to thrive in educational settings. You won't want to miss Dr. Beljan's practical tips and strategies! Take a look below for more information.
Did you know that DVUSD Gifted Services is online?... Follow DVUSD Gifted Services online on Facebook at DVUSD Gifted Services and Instagram at DVGifted. Each week Gifted Services shares information about our gifted programs, helpful hints for parents, and pictures of our students and teachers. We also share a wealth of information on our Gifted Services Website at dvusd.org/gifted .
DVUSD Gifted Services will be launching two opportunities for Gifted Testing. SPRING Gifted Testing will occur between January 22 and February 16. Students in grades K-1 and 3-11 are eligible to participate in Spring Gifted Testing. Registration for Spring Gifted Testing closes on January 1. Second Grade Blanket Gifted Testing will occur at the same time. Parents may opt their children out of the "blanket" or "universal" testing between now and January 1. Read on for additional information.
As Deer Valley continues to grow its gifted programming, we are excited to showcase our Gifted Pre-K Academy! This unique program provides hands-on, developmentally appropriate instruction to meet the individual academic and affective needs of our students. Students are eligible for placement in the Gifted Pre-K Academy upon completion of Gifted Pre-K Testing. Additional information is provided below.
Teacher training is the heart of our Deer Valley Gifted Programs. Teachers who are new to Deer Valley participate in our two-year Gifted Mentor Program. Beyond mentoring, DVUSD Gifted Services provides teachers with professional development and training to earn their Arizona Gifted Endorsement. Teachers participating in the DVUSD Gifted Endorsement Cohort are able to earn their gifted credential at no cost.
Heading home for the holidays? Deer Valley Gifted Services has you covered with strategies and ideas! Check out the featured article Three Ways Parents Can Engage Gifted Students During the Holiday Break by the Institute for Educational Advancement. Students and families interested in learning about the Winter Solstice can learn more with our Winter Solstice Activities. Looking for additional ideas to help your child get that good night's sleep? Be sure to read Tips for Low Stress Holidays for Gifted Families.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2024!
Sincerely,
Aimee Sulit, Ed.D.
Manager, Gifted & Advanced Academics
PARENT SEMINAR #5: Executive Function and the Underachiever
Presenter: Dr. Paul Beljan, Founder of Beljan Psychological Services
This session focuses on the brain basis of attention and executive functioning. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is as widely misdiagnosed as it is misunderstood and mistreated. The high rate of false positives associated with this condition places children at risk for being further mislabeled and mistreated as they fail to respond to traditional ADHD interventions.
This lecture will provide an understanding of all of the components involved in an intact attention and executive function system, enabling caretakers and school staff to not only determine what is willful behavior and what is not, but to also generate appropriate interventions and expectations of children with ADHD.
The influence of attention and executive functioning will be used to answer questions about:
- Alcohol/Drug Related Neurodevelopmental Deficit
- Pediatric traumatic brain injury and recovery
- Learning disorders
- Why traditional talking therapies are generally ineffective in treating ADHD
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Parenting
- Classroom Behavior
Date/ Time:
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (6:00 – 7:30 p.m.)
Location:
Deer Valley USD Governing Board Room (20402 N. 15th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85027)
Registration:
Instagram - dvgifted
Facebook - DVUSD Gifted Services
Gifted Services Website - https://www.dvusd.org/gifted
This year, Spring Gifted Testing will occur between January 22 and February 16. Students in grades K-1 and 3-11 are eligible to participate in Spring Gifted Testing. Families of second grade students do not register for gifted testing. This is because ALL second grade students will be automatically enrolled in Second Grade Blanket Gifted Testing.
SPRING GIFTED TESTING (2024)
REGISTRATION: October 1 - January 1 (*Parents register on our DVUSD Gifted Website. )
FALL TESTING: August 21 – September 9, 2023
GRADES: K-1 and 3-11
TEST PROCTORED: CogAT
Universal testing or "blanket" testing is a research-based approach for supporting equitable placement of students into gifted and talented programming. With a universal testing opportunity, ALL students are included in the opportunity. Universal testing is more effective than the traditional teacher and parent referral system because it removes barriers to access. Universal testing increases access across all populations of students, including those living in poverty and culturally diverse families.
This year, Second Grade Blanket Gifted Testing is scheduled at the same time as Spring Gifted Testing. Students will participate in testing between January 22 - February 16. Parents do not need to register for this testing opportunity. Parents who do not wish for their child to participate in Second Grade Blanket Gifted Testing may opt-out of the opportunity between December 4 - January 1.
(Click HERE for Parent Letter)
ELIGIBILITY: Students are eligible to apply for Deer Valley's Gifted Pre-K Academy when they score at the 88th percentile (or higher) on a state-approved gifted assessment.
TOUR: Come see what all the BUZZzzz is about! Gifted Pre-K Academy Tours are available monthly.
GIFTED PRE-K TESTING: Interested in registering your young scholar for Gifted Pre-K Testing? Use the link below to register for a one-on-one testing session with a Deer Valley certified psychologist. Students must be 4 years old to complete testing.
(Click HERE to Share the Flyer)
In addition to our Gifted Mentors, DVUSD Gifted Services provides a pathway for educators to earn their Full Arizona Gifted Endorsement. This opportunity is completely free of charge. As teachers work and learn together, they progress in understanding along a vertically aligned course sequence. Teachers are able to earn their AZ Gifted Endorsement in 2-3 years!
NAGC Gifted Conference
4th Grade Blanket Gifted Testing
Contact DVUSD Gifted Services
Email: giftedservices@dvusd.org
Website: https://www.dvusd.org/Page/40276
Phone: (623) 445-5588