Letter for Fifth Grade Families

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Home this week:
Asheville City Schools
Academically - Intellectually Gifted Program
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Ira B. Jones Elementary
September 2016
Dear 5th grade Parents and Supporters:
Welcome back to Jones for what promises to be an outstanding year! It’s been great to get to know the new members of our amazing fifth grade team and see our fifth grade seniors.
As I’m sure you know, fifth grade classes are departmentalized this year. Classes will rotate between all three teachers each of whom teaches a specific subject. Here is a snapshot of our plans for AIG services:
Math and Reading:
I am working with fifth grade teachers and Ms. Brown (our math specialist) to use existing blocks to provide advanced content for AIG students. This service may look like team teaching within the classroom or in a separate setting. We will continue our work with Junior Great Books.

Enrichment:
Qualifying ESG and CSG students will continue to meet with me in a separate setting, exploring multi-curricular topics. We have begun this week by reviewing 24 character strengths. Students will initially rank these and then participate in a formal seminar focused on their values. We’ll move to write plans for developing these strengths. Our first official unit will be a simulation, The Great Ocean Rescue. More to come!

Our goal is to provide the most appropriate and best opportunities for students to be challenged and grow.
Every three years each school system reviews and revises its AIG plan. Our current AIG plan is different than when your students qualified. We will continue to administer and use an aptitude test in third grade, but we are now moving to look for patterns of 90th percentile or greater in reading/math data. As students enter Asheville Middle School, they will undergo a new evaluation, including the aptitude measure, to re-write their AIG services. There will be meetings later in the year to provide more information. I’m also happy to chat at your convenience!
Please never hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns. Thanks for your support of the AIG program!
I remain yours
Sincerely,



John M. Pruett
828.350.67233

@pruett_john

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