Greenwood School

District 50

Schools of Choice

2017-2018

Choice and Magnet Options

Timeline for the 2017-2018

School Year Applications for all Choice and Magnet

Options will be posted to the Greenwood

District 50 website the week of December 12,

2016.

Applications for all Choice and Magnet

Options are due January 27, 2017. Late

applications will not be reviewed.

Schools of Choice- Students who are eligible to

attend Greenwood District 50 are eligible to apply to

choice/magnet programs.

ACTS

AVID

GSI

Montessori

STEMS

Transportation is available for all programs, except

for Montessori PK3 students.

Detailed information and videos for each program are

located at www.gwd50.org under the Schools of

Choice tab.

Marketing Magnet/Choice Programs

Informational parent meetings

Online videos

Print media

Internet and Social Media

Marquee

Letters

Phone calls

Update to District 50 School Board

ACTS Arts, Communication, and Theatre

School of

Greenwood School District 50

ACTS

Arts integration magnet program, school within a school model.

Admission into the program is based solely on results from a detailed application and interview process.

Serving fifth grade at Woodfields Elementary School.

Serving sixth, seventh, and eighth grade at Brewer Middle School.

Serving ninth-twelfth grade students at their high school or at Genesis Education Center as needed.

Applications accepted as rising fifth and sixth graders.

Students might be placed on a waiting list status. Wait list status

applies to the current school year only, through the first 5 days

of school.

Limited applications maybe accepted for other grades contingent upon space and availability.

ACTS

All ACTS students receive accelerated instruction in the four core academic areas.

Examples of year long fine arts focus classes offered at Brewer Middle School: Dance, Drama, Strings, Visual Arts, and Voice.

Year long or semester fine arts focus classes are offered at Genesis Education Center as needed.

Examples of nine weeks rotation classes offered at Woodfields Elementary School: Dance, Drama, Enrichment, PE, Strings, Visual Arts, and Voice.

Examples of nine weeks rotation classes offered at Brewer Middle School: Business Computer Application, Creative Writing, Communication/Production, Dance, Drama, Guitar, PE, Visual Arts, and Voice.

Approximately 70 students in fifth grade.

Limited number of 6th grade students will be selected based on score, space, and availability.

Overall Academic Focus

Problem Based Learning

Critical Thinking Skills

GT curriculum will be integrated within the state/district curriculum

Arts integration

Application Process Application Packet:

Application

Writing Sample

Recommendation Letter

Fourth Grade Information Form or

Fifth Grade Information Form

Interview: See application for dates

Audition: Live 1-3 minute audition for all performing art areas (dance, drama, instrument, music, voice). Student responsible for providing any technology required for the live audition. Portfolio for visual arts only.

AVID

Advancement Via Individual Determination

Greenwood School District 50

AVID

College readiness, school within a school model.

Admission into the program is based solely on results from a

detailed application and interview process.

Serving sixth – eighth grade at Northside Middle School.

Serving ninth-twelfth grade at Emerald High School and

Greenwood High School.

Special Class Model.

Students might be placed on a waiting list status. Wait list status

applies to the current school year only, through the first 5 days

of school.

Applications accepted as rising sixth and ninth graders.

AVID

All middle school AVID students receive accelerated

instruction in English language arts and mathematics.

All high school AVID students receive accelerated instruction

in English language arts, mathematics, Science, and social

studies. Students are required to take Honors or above

level classes.

GT curriculum will be integrated within the state/district

curriculum.

Year long AVID elective class.

The AVID elective class focuses on Writing, Inquiry,

Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR).

The AVID Student

AVID targets students in the academic middle -

B, C students - who have the desire to go to

college and the willingness to work hard.

Students who are capable of completing

rigorous curriculum and desire an opportunity to

grow their academic and leadership skills.

Acceleration, gifted and talented curriculum.

Approximately 50 students per campus.

The AVID Faculty

One key to a successful AVID program is a site

coordinator/teacher who is a respected site

instructional leader.

Committed to serving the needs of AVID students.

The coordinator/teacher also works with colleagues

to implement AVID methodologies.

Works with counselors to place students in college

preparatory curriculum, and to guide students

towards and through the college application process.

The AVID Elective

Students participate in the AVID elective class for one

period each day.

They learn organizational and study skills, work on

critical thinking and asking probing questions.

Tutorial facilitators assist students with academic needs.

Students participate in enrichment and motivational

activities that make college seem attainable.

Students work to improve their self-images and to

become successful academic leaders.

The AVID elective class is facilitated by a highly trained,

AVID elective teacher.

Application Process

Application Packet:

Application

Writing Sample

Letter of Recommendation from teacher or guidance counselor. Parent or student must ask teacher or guidance counselor to write a Letter of Recommendation.

Interview: See application for dates.

GSI

Greenwood School of Inquiry

Greenwood School District 50

GSI-Greenwood School of Inquiry

School wide, preparatory model.

Admission into the program is based on application,

lottery, and available space.

Serving kindergarten – fifth grade at Hodges

Elementary School.

Students might be placed on a waiting list status.

Wait list status applies to the current school year

only, through the first 5 days of school.

Applications accepted as rising 5K-fifth graders.

How does inquiry based instruction

impact student learning?

Students learn through authentic investigations.

Students gain in-depth knowledge of their fields of

study through project-based learning.

Students' knowledge is structured to be transferable

and applicable to a variety of situations.

Students learning will be accelerated and enriched by

building on individual interests and prior experiences.

Students approach learning as scientists,

mathematicians, social scientist, and writers.

The Montessori Program

Greenwood School District 50

Montessori

Greenwood School District 50

Core Philosophy: Children have everything

they need within themselves to learn and

grow. The educator’s job is to prepare the

learning environment and guide students in

their learning process.

The goal of the Greenwood 50 Montessori

program is to “teach children how to learn” so

they may become independent learners.

Montessori

Greenwood School District 50

All Montessori classes are located at Lakeview

Elementary.

Classes are available for students in PreK3-fourth

grade

PreK3’s must be three by September 1, 2017 and potty

trained. Transportation is not available for 3 year olds.

Admission into the program is based on application,

lottery, and available space.

Students might be placed on a waiting list status. Wait

list status applies to the current school year only,

through the first 5 days of school.

Characteristics of a Montessori

Classroom

Children in a Montessori classroom:

are taught a standards based curriculum in a

multi-age classroom.

spend the majority of their time working

individually or in small self-selected groups.

remain with the teacher for several years.

make choices about their work.

work in a calm, quiet environment.

are taught an integrated thematic curriculum.

APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLICATION

ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS

* Primary Level Students

* Students New to the District

STEMS

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics School

Greenwood School District 50

STEMS

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics magnet program, school within a school model.

Admission into the program is based solely on results from a detailed application and interview process.

Serving sixth - eighth grade at Westview.

Applications accepted as rising sixth graders.

Students might be placed on a waiting list status. Wait list status applies to the current school year only, through the first 5 days of school.

Accepting approximately 50 students.

STEMS

All STEMS students receive accelerated instruction in the four core academic areas.

Examples of rotation classes offered to STEMS sixth graders: Gateway to Technology, Design and Modeling, Art and Design, Electronic Music, Business Computer Application, PE, Science of Technology, and Communication and Technology

Examples of rotation classes offered to STEMS seventh graders: Digital Media, Magic of Electrons, Automation and Robotics, Medical Detectives, Gateway to Technology, Video Technology, PE, and Research and Exploration.

Overview of the Gateway to Technology Classes *

The Magic of Electrons

Engaged in relevant hands-on projects, students unravel the mysteries of digital circuitry.

Automation and Robotics

Students design and build automated systems that incorporate the principles of electrons, physics, and robotics to gain an enriched understanding of the contemporary mechanical world.

Design and Modeling

Students use geometry, problem-solving, teamwork, and project management skills to design and develop product prototypes.

The Science of Technology

Students apply scientific principles and concepts of simple machines and energy to solve real-world problems.

Flight and Space

Developed with NASA, this unit explores the technology of aeronautics, propulsion, and rocketry. Students see connections between hands-on projects and academic subjects such as math and science.

Medical Detectives

Students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they analyze genetic testing results to diagnose

disease and study DNA evidence found at a “crime scene.” They solve medical mysteries through hands-

on projects and labs, investigate how to measure and interpret vital signs, and learn how the systems of

the human body work together to maintain health.

Project Lead the Way-Introduction to Engineering Design

Additional Gateway to Technology classes will be offered base on Project Lead the Way, state affiliates'

decisions.

*GTT units of study may change contingent upon recommendations from SC PLTW.

Overall Academic

Focus

Accelerated, rigorous curriculum

Problem Based Learning

Project Based Learning

Critical/Creative Thinking Skills

GT Curriculum

Gateway to Technology

Project Lead the Way

Application Process

Application Packet:

Application

Writing Sample

Recommendation Letter

5th

Grade Information Form

Interview- See application for dates

And Portfolio information

Additional information on all Choice or

Magnet Programs is posted at

www.gwd50.org under Schools of Choice.

The application process, application, and

interview dates will be posted at the

above location the week of December 12,

2016.

Greenwood School District 50

Thank you for your interest in the

Choice and Magnet Options that

Greenwood School District 50 is

pleased to offer our students.

Contact Information:

Cathy S. Chalmers, Director for Gifted

and Talented/Choice and Magnet Programs

chalmersc@gwd50.org, 864-941-5412