INSPIRE

Dear DVUSD Community,

It is my honor and a pleasure to welcome you to the 2024-25 school year! I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing and fun summer break. I am extremely proud to serve our DVUSD community as Manager of Gifted and Advanced Academics. Whether you are new to Deer Valley or a returning family, please know that Gifted Services is excited to partner with you to provide #EXTRAORDINARY educational experiences.

In this issue, you'll read about successes from over the summer and upcoming events.

In May, over 60 gifted educators participated in Depth and Complexity Training (Part 2) from The Center of Depth and Complexity. Teachers came together over a period of two days to learn instructional strategies for implementing DVUSD's Depth and Complexity Trainer of Trainers Team. Read on to learn how our teachers are differentiating to meet students' individualized needs.

This past June, DVUSD Gifted Services Department conducted Gifted Summer Testing with over 90 students. We also launched two Gifted Summer Camps! Both opportunities allowed DVUSD Gifted Services Department to connect with our students and families. Read on for additional pictures and information.

In July, over 50 educators completed DVUSD's Gifted Summer Study with Trevor MacKenzie's book, Inquiry Mindsets. Teachers learned problem-based learning techniques and strategies to support student-centered instruction. Scroll on for additional information.

Looking ahead, we have many exciting opportunities for our DVUSD families!

DVUSD Gifted Services is excited to offer two Gifted Parent Seminars this August. Our kick-off seminar will guide parents through understanding Deer Valley's Gifted Service Model. Subsequent opportunities will provide families with key strategies to support their child's cognitive skills, emotional competencies and social/ interpersonal skills. You won't want to miss our fall lineup! Take a look below for more information.

Gifted Testing is just around the corner. This year, Fall Gifted Testing will occur between August 19th and August 30th. Students in grades 1 and 3-12 are eligible to participate in Fall Gifted Testing. In addition to Fall Gifted Testing, DVUSD Gifted Services will be offering gifted testing throughout the school year. 1st and 2nd Grade Blanket Gifted Testing will take place later in the year. 1st Grade Blanket Gifted Testing is scheduled for November 4-22. Students may participate in 2nd Grade Blanket Gifted Testing between January 13-24. Gifted testing opportunities provide early identification and access to DVUSD Gifted Programming. Read on for additional information.

As Deer Valley continues to grow its gifted programming, we are excited to showcase our Gifted Pre-K Academy at Las Brisas Elementary! This unique program provides hands-on, developmentally appropriate instruction to meet the individual academic and affective needs of our students. Additional information is provided below.

DVUSD Gifted Services is excited to highlight our NEW Gifted Cluster Program at Boulder Creek High School. This past year, over 25 teachers and administrators at Boulder Creek High School participated in DVUSD's Gifted Endorsement Cohort. BCHS' commitment to gifted education allowed the campus to launch a variety of gifted services directly on their campus.

Ready to Launch... DVUSD Gifted Services is thrilled to provide Middle School Gifted Electives for students in grades 7-8. Gifted students at Highland Lakes School and Sonoran Foothills Elementary are among the first schools to provide these unique course offerings.

Starting back to school means realigning family schedules. Deer Valley Gifted Services has you covered with strategies and ideas to support healthy family practices! Check out the featured article 5 Ways to Support Gifted Learners at the Start of the School Year. Looking for additional ideas for how to support your gifted child? Be sure to read 30 Tips for Parents of Gifted Kids from Parents of Gifted Kids by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

We couldn't be more excited to start the year together!

Sincerely,

Aimee Sulit, Ed.D.

Manager, Gifted & Advanced Academics

Over 50 DVUSD gifted educators came together on May 23rd and May 24th to participate in Depth and Complexity Training from The Center of Depth and Complexity. Our gifted teachers learned how to promote students' ability to self-question and use evaluative thinking across all classroom contexts. Gifted teachers learned how to leverage the Depth and Complexity Framework to provide differentiated lessons and tiered assignments that allow students to be independent thinkers and creative problem solvers. Deer Valley gifted teachers will become Depth and Complexity Trainer of Trainers to support instructional rigor across each of our classrooms.

Each summer, DVUSD Gifted Services Department offers gifted testing for Deer Valley students and those residing beyond our borders. Gifted Summer Testing was offered between June 3-14. Over 100 students between grades K-9 participated in this in-person opportunity. Results from Summer Gifted Testing allowed DVUSD Gifted Services to place 49 students in one or more gifted programs. We are thrilled to support our students and families along their journey of success!

Nearly 400 campers in grades 1-8 joined us for Gifted Camp EXPLORE and Gifted Camp Investigations! Gifted students from across Deer Valley (and beyond) participated in 1 to 2 weeks of hands-on inquiry, robotics, aviation, puzzles, STEM design, improv arts, chess, coding, and MORE! Students enjoyed personal interest exploration, created new ideas, and tested hypotheses.

Over 30 DVUSD educators participated in a Gifted Summer Study analyzing principles of Inquiry Mindset. Teachers learned how to leverage Provocations and other instructional routines to foster students' imagination and discovery. Utilizing the Inquiry Cycle, teachers scaffold instruction that aligns with content area standards and builds from "wonderings" and cross-curricular connections.

Deer Valley identifies students for placement into gifted programs based on identification from a state-approved gifted assessment, using age-level norms. Students are identified in the areas of Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal reasoning.

DVUSD Gifted Services offers gifted testing opportunities throughout the school year to meet the needs of our students. Parent registration is available on our Gifted Services Website. Information about Fall Gifted Testing and 1st/ 2nd Grade Gifted Testing are provided below.

FALL GIFTED TESTING

***Parents MUST register to request Fall Gifted Testing.

Test Proctored: CogAT Online

Grades Available: Grades 1, 3-12

Parent Registration: July 8 - August 9

Testing: August 19 - August 30

FALL Gifted Testing Flyer ENGLISH

FALL Gifted Testing Flyer MANDARIN

FALL Gifted Testing Flyer SPANISH

1st GRADE BLANKET GIFTED TESTING

***Parents MUST opt-out to remove their child from Blanket Testing.

Test Proctored: NGAT Online

Grades Available: Grade 1

Opt-Out Request: October 7 - 18

Testing: November 4 - 22

2nd GRADE BLANKET GIFTED TESTING

***Parents MUST opt-out to remove their child from Blanket Testing.

Test Proctored: CogAT Online

Grades Available: Grade 2

Opt-Out Request: December 2 - 13

Testing: January 13 - 24

***Registration COMING SOON on our DVUSD Gifted Services Website

Presenter: Dr. Sarah Bald, NEST Psychological

Join Dr. Sarah Bald as she discusses the significance of peer relationships and friendships among our gifted youth. Dr. Bald will share options and opportunities for families seeking to promote positive social relationships at home and school.

Date/ Time:

Thursday, August 8, 2024 (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)

Location:

Deer Valley Governing Board Room (20402 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027)

Registration:

Call DVUSD Gifted Services to Register at 623-445-5588.

Presenter: Dr. Aimee Sulit, Manager of Gifted & Advanced Academics

Join Dr. Aimee Sulit as she provides an overview of the continuum of gifted services available in DVUSD. Parents will gain insights into various program models to determine which services best fit their children’s distinctive needs.

Date/ Time:

Thursday, August 29, 2024 (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)

Location:

Deer Valley Governing Board Room (20402 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027)

Registration:

Call DVUSD Gifted Services to Register at 623-445-5588.

The Gifted Pre-K Academy at Las Brisas Elementary School is in FULL swing! Deer Valley's Gifted Pre-K Academy at Las Brisas provides an enriched academic foundation for gifted and talented learners. The Gifted Pre-K Academy environment is structured to provide a personalized approach to learning within socially appropriate contexts. Come see what all the BUZZzzz is about! Our first Gifted Pre-K Academy Tour starts in September.

Over 25 Boulder Creek High School teachers and administrators participated in DVUSD's Gifted Endorsement Cohort. BCHS teachers' commitment toward meeting the needs of Gifted/ ALL students provided the spark for establishing meaningful gifted programs for the 2024-25 academic year. Great work, BCHS Jaguars!

Two NEW Middle School Gifted Electives were added to the course guide for next year -- Gifted Investigations and Gifted Humanities. Both courses are optional electives that schools may add to their campus offerings. Gifted students at Highland Lakes School and Sonoran Foothills Elementary are among the first schools to provide these unique course offerings!

Gifted Investigations

Get lost in self-discovery! ... Gifted Investigations incorporates a PBL/ Genius Hour format to engage students in meaningful research and exploration of a topic based upon individual interest. Students plan an Investigations Showcase to exhibit their learning with multimedia presentations or demonstrations as best suited to their research.

Gifted Humanities

Add to your knowledge of the world! ... In this project-based course students will apply an interdisciplinary approach as they explore significant themes (people, conflicts and cooperation, social movements and change, scientific and literary innovations, etc.) that have shaped societies and cultures throughout history. Upon completion, students will present their research findings.

Email: giftedservices@dvusd.org
Website: https://www.dvusd.org/Page/40276
Phone: (623) 445-5588