Nov 2024 GATEWAY Depart Newsletter

GATEWAY (Gifted and Talented Education With All Youth) Vision Statement:

All Barnstable Public School students will experience joyful and inclusive learning environments that pave the way to continuous learning, curiosity, change-making and meaningful engagement with the world around them. We aspire to create a learning community with students and educators engaging in challenging, authentic, adventurous, meaningful, and affirming experiences so that learning, independence, and achievement may flourish for all.

Learning in GATEWAY will provide opportunities for students to

• develop talents based on interests
• engage in enrichment and extension, through thought-provoking topics, which reflect their own experiences and those of others
• engage in advanced, rigorous learning beyond the grade level standards
• think critically and creatively about their learning and communicate effectively with others
• build growth mindset and perseverance for task commitment
• develop civic mindedness that prepares them to make meaningful contributions in their communities and beyond
• experience connections in multiple content areas which align to instruction in various educational settings within a student’s day

Our goal is to create learning environments where educators and students achieve more than they imagined possible.

The specific question to ask is which tiered support in GATEWAY is my child currently receiving?

All students in grades K-7 have three tiers for support.

• Tier 1 - Interest Enrichment
• Tier 2 - Core Academic Extension & Enrichment
• Tier 3 - Pull-out Targeted Advanced Instruction

Students, families, and/or staff members can…

• submit an Action Information Message
• complete student surveys under the student tab on the website:

What are you interested in? English - Português - Español

How do you like to learn? English - Português - Español

• complete GATEWAY Family Survey: Available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish under the family tab on the website
• reach out to the GATEWAY specialist at your school for additional resources
• access links for enrichment and exploration on the GATEWAY Enrichment and Extension Resources webpage

Students who are exceeding the grade level standards may receive additional support to enrich their learning in their classroom. Enrichment may be based on interest level and/or added rigor to the grade-level standards. GATEWAY has multiple resources for teachers in Barnstable Public Schools to aid in this differentiation. Staff have the opportunity to request materials by contacting the GATEWAY teacher or Teaching and Learning office.

Students who are identified using multiple measures receive pull-out, targeted instruction by the GATEWAY Teacher.

All students attending Barnstable High School have the opportunity to

participate in a tier 1 support featured in two academic, competitive clubs;

Mock Trial and Future Problem Solving.

On November 5th, GATEWAY teacher Mrs. Debra Contrino offered a fantastic half day session on differentiation.

Participants were able to investigate differentiation strategies to increase student engagement and learning. Participants were able to apply their learning to a unit of their choice. This included discussing student perspectives based on the following questions:

• What are a few of the reasons you come to school?
• How are you smart?
• How do you like to learn?
• How do you like to show your learning?

Alignment with District Priorities:

• Culture of Belonging, A Safe and Inclusive Climate, and a Shared Vision of Student Success
• Rigorous Curriculum and Effective, Engaging Instruction Aligned with the Vision of a Graduate Support Development of the Whole Child through Social Emotional Programming

For more information, please see the attached flyers for more information:

English - Barnstable Intermediate School presents: Student Showcase

Portuguese - Barnstable Intermediate School presents: Student Showcase

Spanish - Barnstable Intermediate School presents: Student Showcase