High Ability Parent Newsletter

Fall 2024-2025

Dear Parents,

My name is Catherine Saylor and I am the high ability coordinator for NPUSC. I am also an art teacher at Olive Elementary School and Prairie View Elementary School. I have been teaching in the corporation for 7 years now. I stepped into both of these roles during the 2023-2024 school year. I am very excited to continue to grow in this role for students, teachers, and parents. I look forward to another amazing year!

Catherine Saylor

NPUSC High Ability Mission

Our mission is to provide a rigorous and challenging curriculum for our high ability students to support accelerated learning.

NPUSC High Ability Website Link

Here is a direct link to our corporation website where you will find more information regarding our high ability program.

What does high ability mean?

"Some high achieving students may meet nationally recognized criteria for high ability identification. These students perform at, or have the potential of performing at, outstanding levels of accomplishments in one or more academic area when compared to other students of the same age, experience, or environment. This may be in math and/or language arts."

These traits are commonly seen in students that are recognized as high ability...

- at times, judgment seems mature for age - keen powers of observation - good problem solving and reasoning skills - rapid learning ability - early or avid reading ability - concerned with justice, fairness - tends to question authority - shows ability with numbers - high degree of energy - preference for older companions - vivid imagination - high degree of creativity - wide range of interests - great sense of humor - unusual curiosity - persevering when interested - extensive vocabulary - excellent memory - long attention span - personal sensitivity - compassion for others - perfectionism - intensity - moral sensitivity - good at visual puzzles

How Parents Can Nurture Healthy Brain Development

"When the average, powerful, yet complex-brain belongs to a high ability child, parents encounter a different set of challenges, including increased perfectionism or being mislabeled, misrepresented, and misunderstood by others. Understanding how your child's brain works is as crucial as comprehending their personality. Your child's brain development cannot be forced, but can be bolstered through knowledge and patience. Parents of older teens should keep in mind that the prefrontal cortex in your brain is not fully developed until about age 25. So, while older kids turning 18 and 21 are legally adults, they still need support as they develop just as much as preteens who are 12 and 13. The following strategies support brain development, academic achievement, motivation, and temperament."

Parenting for High Potential

Targeted Conversation Starters

"Tell me about (insert specific content) class today. Did you learn anything new? What did you review? What goals do you have for that class and how can I help you reach them?
Tell me about your favorite task or assignment from today.
Tell me about your relationships with your teachers.
Tell me about your relationships with your friends.
Tell me about your homework. Do you think you have enough time to complete your assignments each night?
Tell me about the pace of your classes. Do you think the learning goes too fast, too slow, or just right?
Tell me about your favorite thing to do that is not related to school."

Parenting for High Potential

Openness in Expression Strategies

"Allow your children to decorate their rooms in ways that express their interests.
Provide multiple opportunities (after school, weekends, summers) for children to identify and engage in their interests, like sports, music, arts, media, and other fields.
Allow children to design, select, and wear clothing they choose, within reason, of course."

Parenting for High Potential

Extracurricular Ideas for High Ability Students

"High ability students require unique opportunities to reach their full potential. Enrichment activities allow a child to holistically address their needs. This increases awareness and improves well-being. A healthier sense of self and a growth mindset will allow them to focus on their strengths and overcome weaknesses. Extracurricular activities generally refer to activities outside of the regular curriculum and include a broad range of subjects. Extracurricular activities can also relieve stress and help gifted learners decompress from a rigorous education. With numerous enrichment options available online, in schools, and throughout communities, gifted students can ignite their passion in the arts, athletics, citizenship, STEM, competitions, and greater academic studies."

Here are just a few examples of extracurricular activities and their benefits to high ability students.

"Academic Quiz Bowls - Stimulates intellectual curiosity and expands one's knowledge of various topics and subjects. Encourages quick thinking, analytical reasoning, and effective communication and collaboration.
Archery - Promotes focus and precision and requires mental discipline and physical control. Improves coordination and fine motor skills and can nurture goal setting and achievement.
Art (3D, Animation, Film, Fashion, Painting, Sculpting, Pottery) - Fosters creativity, finding deeper meaning, and expression. Can be a valuable outlet to share thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
Chess - Develops critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Enhances memory, concentration, and planning abilities. Fosters patience, resilience, and good sportsmanship.
Coding/Gaming - Encourages logical thinking and reasoning. Helps with creating structures, plans, and systems. Utilizes self-directed learning, interest in technology, and can improve hand-eye coordination.
Dance - Promotes physical fitness, coordination, and flexibility. Enhances creativity, self-expression, and spatial awareness. Requires a strong sense of commitment and can be a platform to express artistic abilities.
Mock Trial - Creates a sense of global responsibility and professionalism. Strengthens critical thinking, public speaking, and analytical skills. Provides a deeper understanding of legal concepts and a platform to work with others on current, real-world issues.
Music - Enhances spatial-temporal skills, motivation, and achievement. Aids in identifying emotional connections, relieves stress, and can be a pathway to further artistic expression.
Robotics - Provides hands-on learning through the design engineering process, is intellectually challenging, and fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. Promotes teamwork and collaboration and encourages application of theoretical knowledge to real-world settings.
Science (STEM, Recycling, Nature, Agricultural, Gardening) - Nurtures curiosity, innovation, and a deeper understanding of scientific inquiry. Can inspire individuals to do more and be more for their community and the world.
Student Council - Develops civic responsibility and advocacy. Can include strategic planning, problem solving, and positive transformational change.
Theatre Arts/Improvisation - Allows freedom to be creative, expressive, and confident. Improvisation hones their ability to adapt to different challenges and situations by thinking on their feet. Instills greater emotional intelligence and helps connect to diverse thoughts and feelings."

Parenting for High Potential

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Webinars

You're invited to join!

"Join the SEL and PFC Networks to hear more strategies for parents and caregivers to better understand perfectionism and the many ways they can offer support to your gifted child."

Webinar

From the Sidelines: Suggestions to Support Your Perfectionistic Gifted Child

February 27th, 2025 - 6:00 PM CST - Free and Open to Everyone

Go to this website to see more information and to register for this webinar.

The webinar will be hosted on Zoom.

https://nagc.org/page/webinars

Team Child

"The goal is to remember that everyone is on "Team Child." All parties (parents, teachers, administrators) want to work together to help the student meet their potential."

We want to see ALL students succeed, not only academically, but emotionally as well.

We are here for you and your child!

Upcoming Events

December 9th - 20th - iReady K-8 Winter Testing
January 15th - Nominations Due for High Ability Consideration

More information to come on steps to take as a parent!

Contact Information

Please reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or anything at all regarding the high ability program for our corporation.

Email: catherinesaylor@npusc.k12.in.us

Website: https://www.npusc.k12.in.us/high-ability-program/
Phone: (574) 654-0492

High Ability Parent Newsletter

Fall 2024-2025

Dear Parents,

NPUSC High Ability Mission NPUSC High Ability Mission

What does high ability mean? What does high ability mean?

How Parents Can Nurture Healthy Brain Development How Parents Can Nurture Healthy Brain Development

Targeted Conversation Starters

Openness in Expression Strategies

Extracurricular Ideas for High Ability Students Extracurricular Ideas for High Ability Students

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Webinars National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Webinars

Team Child Team Child

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

Contact Information

NPUSC High Ability Mission

What does high ability mean?

How Parents Can Nurture Healthy Brain Development

Extracurricular Ideas for High Ability Students

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Webinars

Team Child

Upcoming Events