">Damascus Middle School
GATE Program
Scroll down to see current events and announcements.
Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) is an umbrella term used to describe
the program that serves the needs of gifted and talented students in Washington
County Schools. The services include differentiated instruction, enrichment
activities commonly called EPIC (Expansion Programs for Individual
Capabilities), and other associated middle and high school activities, including
Governor’s Schools, regional and state band and chorus, and Advanced
Placement classes.
Instruction is differentiated when the teacher adapts coursework to challenge
gifted students within the context of the classroom.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GATE PROGRAMS
Middle School - Programs for middle school age gifted
students are based upon differentiated classroom
instruction. Acceleration and enrichment are offered
as deemed necessary. Gifted education funds pay for
fees and other expenses permitting eligible students to participate in the
Regional and State competitions for band and chorus. Students who qualify
may enroll in World Geography, Algebra I & Spanish I for high school
credit. Middle school students are eligible to attend the Emory & Henry
Summer Scholars program, along with the Washington County Summer
GATE Camp.
IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
Students are referred for the Gifted Identification Process by screening of
standardized test scores, as well as by referrals from school staff, parents,
and students. The areas of giftedness served include: General Intellectual
Aptitude (K-12), Specific Academic Aptitude (6-12), Visual and Performing
Arts (6-12), and Technical and Practical Arts (9-12).
Following the screening process, students are evaluated using a combination
of objective testing, subjective rating from teachers and parents, and
examination of the student’s work. Upon scoring, the results are graphed.
Determination of eligibility is made without weighing any one measure more
than another. An appeals process for identification decisions is available.
Once a student is identified as gifted, he/she is eligible to remain in the
program until he/she graduates from high school. Students who transfer
and have been receiving services for gifted education from a district outside
the county are referred for evaluation. They are then evaluated for GATE.
A student may cease to participate in the GATE program through parental,
teacher or staff request, following appropriate procedures.
Washington County Schools GATE information. Click on handbook for parent information.
Below are some photos from previous GATE units.
Students are traveling to St. Louis, MO after studying a unit on Westward Expansion this year.
Students visited Washington, DC after studying the Election Process.
Last year, the GATE students completed a unit of study about the Amish people. We learned how to can and how to knit. At the end of the year, we took a culminating trip to Philadelphia and to Lancaster.
GATE students spent three nights on the aircraft carrier, "The Fighting Lady" located in the Charleston, SC Bay..
GATE students traveled to New York City lt was a culminating activity to their unit on Immigration. Students toured the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Little Italy, China Town, and two Broadway productions.
Current Announcements are listed below.
GATE meetings are held 2-3 times per month. Students are required to attend the meetings, especially if they wish to attend the yearly field trips and end-of-year trip. If a student is unable to attend a meeting, they should send a note/email to Mrs. Mossholder stating the reason. GATE meetings are always announced by email and during the morning and afternoon announcements. If you are not getting the GATE emails, please send your email address to rmossholder@wcs.k12.va.us.
We try to schedule meetings around the sports/band schedules but this can't always be avoided. If you are on a sports team, you are required to attend GATE meetings until 4:00. If you have a game on the day of the meeting, you are excused.
Below is a photo from a prior trip to the National Story Telling Festival.
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