FOCUS
F- Fostering
O-Originality
C- Creativity
U-Understanding
S-Self- Awareness
The Gifted Student:
A student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual, creative abilities, exhibits an exceptionally high degree ofmotivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.
This gifted program provides academic challenges for those who are intellectually and academically advanced. The classes offer enriched curriculum experiences that extend Gwinnett County Public Schools AKS. It also provides opportunities for developing creative expression, thinking skills, decision-making, research and reference skills, communication skills, and problem solving.
Gifted Placement
Students are identified and placed in gifted education based on criteria established by the Georgia General Assembly and the state Board of Education. Students who transfer from gifted education programs within the state will be placed into the Gwinnett program, providing the original placement was correctly completed. Students who transfer from out of state must meet Georgia requirements.
The eligibility criteria for the gifted program is collected from four categories : mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Performance standards must be achieved in each area for a student to become eligible for gifted education services
For more information or specific testing guidelines please refer to Georgia’s Department of Education site
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Gifted-Education.aspx
GCPS Gifted Elementary School Program
Gwinnett County’s Gifted Programs serve students by providing academic challenges for those who are intellectually advanced. The gifted program is called FOCUS at the elementary school level. The program is designed to help each child reach his or her full potential. Students participating in the program receive additional instruction during their school day. This instruction may be in the form of a gifted education resource class, cluster group class, and/or content based class. The classes offer accelerated learning and enriched academic curriculum experiences that focus on and extend Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Academic Knowledge and Skills.
The gifted curriculum standards are divided into seven areas: (1) Creativity, (2) Thinking Skills, (3) Problem Solving, (4) Autonomous Learning, (5) Discovery, (6) Leadership and (7) Research. These seven areas are fundamental to Gwinnett County Public School’s curriculum for gifted students. Learning experiences that develop the use of the seven areas of curriculum standards enable gifted students to make informed decisions, to understand and apply concepts, to make reasonable judgments and to define, create and implement strategies for solving problems.
The FOCUS program at Suwanee Elementary
When, Where, and How:
FOCUS students meet with their FOCUS resource teacher each week. Students attend lunch and special area classes with their homeroom class. Some students will also attend a gifted math or reading class each day.
Communication:
In addition to the report card, parents may also be contacted by e-mail, phone and conferences.
Keeping You Informed...
Once a child is placed in the FOCUS program, he/she does not have to be retested and is automatically placed in the program again the following year. Parents are notified before any action is taken. Also, parents have the right to request their child be exited from the FOCUS program if they feel that is beneficial to the child.
Grades:
All FOCUS work is evaluated on a rubric or scale: We will grade based on an E/S/N/U. Grading Scale.
Suwanee FOCUS Teachers
Olivia Harbin & Valerie Munson
Return to the Suwanee Elementary Special Education homepage
O-Originality
C- Creativity
U-Understanding
S-Self- Awareness
The Gifted Student:
A student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual, creative abilities, exhibits an exceptionally high degree ofmotivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.
This gifted program provides academic challenges for those who are intellectually and academically advanced. The classes offer enriched curriculum experiences that extend Gwinnett County Public Schools AKS. It also provides opportunities for developing creative expression, thinking skills, decision-making, research and reference skills, communication skills, and problem solving.
Gifted Placement
Students are identified and placed in gifted education based on criteria established by the Georgia General Assembly and the state Board of Education. Students who transfer from gifted education programs within the state will be placed into the Gwinnett program, providing the original placement was correctly completed. Students who transfer from out of state must meet Georgia requirements.
The eligibility criteria for the gifted program is collected from four categories : mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation. Performance standards must be achieved in each area for a student to become eligible for gifted education services
For more information or specific testing guidelines please refer to Georgia’s Department of Education site
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Gifted-Education.aspx
GCPS Gifted Elementary School Program
Gwinnett County’s Gifted Programs serve students by providing academic challenges for those who are intellectually advanced. The gifted program is called FOCUS at the elementary school level. The program is designed to help each child reach his or her full potential. Students participating in the program receive additional instruction during their school day. This instruction may be in the form of a gifted education resource class, cluster group class, and/or content based class. The classes offer accelerated learning and enriched academic curriculum experiences that focus on and extend Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Academic Knowledge and Skills.
The gifted curriculum standards are divided into seven areas: (1) Creativity, (2) Thinking Skills, (3) Problem Solving, (4) Autonomous Learning, (5) Discovery, (6) Leadership and (7) Research. These seven areas are fundamental to Gwinnett County Public School’s curriculum for gifted students. Learning experiences that develop the use of the seven areas of curriculum standards enable gifted students to make informed decisions, to understand and apply concepts, to make reasonable judgments and to define, create and implement strategies for solving problems.
The FOCUS program at Suwanee Elementary
When, Where, and How:
FOCUS students meet with their FOCUS resource teacher each week. Students attend lunch and special area classes with their homeroom class. Some students will also attend a gifted math or reading class each day.
Communication:
In addition to the report card, parents may also be contacted by e-mail, phone and conferences.
Keeping You Informed...
Once a child is placed in the FOCUS program, he/she does not have to be retested and is automatically placed in the program again the following year. Parents are notified before any action is taken. Also, parents have the right to request their child be exited from the FOCUS program if they feel that is beneficial to the child.
Grades:
All FOCUS work is evaluated on a rubric or scale: We will grade based on an E/S/N/U. Grading Scale.
Suwanee FOCUS Teachers
Olivia Harbin & Valerie Munson
Return to the Suwanee Elementary Special Education homepage