Gifted Wildcats

Hello Wildcat GT Families!

I'm Mr. Brahm, Sotomayor's GT specialist and teacher for GT Leadership, Independent Study Mentorship, and Academic Decathlon. After over a decade of teaching Advanced English and Communication Application courses in Northside, I had the opportunity last year to move to a new phase in my career working with gifted students here at Sotomayor. Taking opportunities to do something new and exciting is one of the best parts of life, as your student may be finding out this year in a course like Independent Study Mentorship! Off-campus, I'm a husband and a dad with a three-year-old daughter named Maxine who ensures the house is always lively.

I hope you all had a great start to the school year, and I'm looking forward to everything that's ahead!

This honors elective class offers GT freshmen and sophomores a hands-on, active learning approach to leadership and organization, including college planning, resume writing, decision-making skills, problem-solving techniques and communication skills. Students enrolled in the course will apply these skills in dealing with peers, school administration, and the community. This course meets the high school speech requirement, if needed.

This honors elective class offers GT sophomores and juniors the opportunity to focus on service learning while allowing for global awareness and recognizing the contribution of responsible citizens and leaders through service projects. Students work in groups to develop products or events that connect their personal passions and interests, using a service based project. The goal of this course is to give students an opportunity to practice professionalism, leadership, and collaborative skills while learning about our community needs.

Gifted juniors and seniors may enroll in an Independent Study Mentorship class. In this honors class, students pursue an area of special interest under the guidance of a mentor for a full year. At the end of the year, students must do a presentation and product display to an invited audience including a panel of experts from the selected field of study. Students, parents, mentors, and college entrance committees report that this is the most useful preparation for the real world offered by the educational system.

Northside ISD honors GT students who continue to engage in GT elective courses in high school with a special graduation cord. Students who meet the requirements below will walk with this cord at graduation as a Northside GT Scholar:

• Student must complete GT1 or GT2 (or both)

AND

• Student must complete at least one year of ISM

GTEAC is a parent/educator/community advocacy group working to serve the needs of high-achieving student in the Northside Independent School District.

The mission of the G/T Enrichment Advisory Council is to enhance the opportunities and experiences of student students in NISD by sharing resources with parents and by expanding public opinion and awareness through communications, and by providing funds for grants and specialized GT projects.

GTEAC is starting the year by doing a fundraiser with Panda Express on Friday, August 28th! This will help raise funds to support student scholarships and teacher grants through a partnership with Panda Express.

To participate, order online from ANY Panda Express location and use the provided code at checkout in the Fundraiser Code box (Code: 9016406). Then pick up your order (or have it delivered) and enjoy! The best part is that this link works all day on August 28th and for ALL Panda Express locations NATIONWIDE! Share the information far and wide with family and friends! Please see the GTEAC Smore Link for more details.

Stay Connected:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nisdgteac/

Twitter: @nisdgteac

All students enrolled in GT 1 (9th Grade) will be taking the PSAT. The campus will be covering the fee and students will be registered during our class time. Students do not need to sign up.

Articles:

• The Superpower of Self Advocacy
• How to Develop Effective Study Habits for Gifted Students

• Questbridge

Email: benjamin.brahm@nisd.net

Phone: (210) 398-2700, ext. 029222
ISM Website: https://sites.google.com/nisd.net/ismsotomayor/home

Campus Website: https://www.nisd.net/sotomayor
Campus X: https://x.com/nisdsotomayor?lang=en