New Horizons
BROCHURE

 Master the basic  skills of his/her current grade placement as outlined in state and parish curriculum guides.

Participate in extended learning activities that focus on his/her strengths to build on weaknesses.

Acquire and utilize effective study skills. 

Become proficient in the use of research and organization skills. 

Become adept in oral and written communication.

Participate in activities designed to develop higher level thinking processes.

Be encourage to become a self-directed learner to facilitate a life-long pursuit of knowledge.

Develop a positive self-concept through understanding of self and acceptance of others.

Interact with peers of comparable intellectual abilities with empathy and respect.

Develop the desire for excellence and a sense of responsibility to self and to society. 

Program Overview
 

The New Horizons Program in Rapides Parish is primarily divided into two components:  enrichment and academic. Both are child-centered where the teacher acts as a  facilitator. 

Enrichment:

1. The major impetus of the enrichment system is based on the development of cognitive and affective skills. 

2. These skills are introduced and reinforced through strategies appropriate for gifted students and differentiated teaching methods. 

3. Children in pre-school, kindergarten, first, second, and third grade participate in an enrichment program. 

Academic

1. The thrust of the academic program is acceleration through differentiated teaching techniques and curriculum compacting.

2.  Both vertical and horizontal enrichment activities are included in the academic element.

3.  Students in grades four through twelve are involved in an academic program. 

• Rapides Parish serves identified gifted students who are below kindergarten age.

•  We offer parents resource services at the nearest elementary school with a gifted class. 

• The curriculum for pre-schoolers is patterned after the enrichment program for grades kindergarten through third grade.

• We give a progress report to parents at the end of each grading period. 

• Parents are responsible for transportation for a child who is not enrolled in a Rapides Parish school.  

Kindergarten-Grade 3

• Primary gifted classes meet approximately one hour per day based on teacher schedules, and the instructor of the gifted gives no grades on the report card but does provide progress reports each grading period. 

• Children remain in the regular class for all math and reading academics in order to establish a strong foundation. 

• The most desirable time to pull the student from the regular classroom is during less academic times such as art and social living. 

• If a child is pulled during an academic subject due to scheduling difficulties, the teacher of the gifted will address skills associated with the missed subject.

• Emphasis is placed on enrichment activities. 

Grades 4-7

• Gifted classes meet approximately one period per subject per day with the teacher of gifted providing progress reports and grades on the report cards for each subject taught. 

• Teachers are required to address minimum competencies, as well as state and parish curricula. 

• The content should reflect a higher degree of complexity, emphasize abstract concepts, increase students' abilities to formulate and test new generalizations and/or products, and develop the students' understanding that learning in all subject areas is vital to the completion of products and success in the "real" world. 

• Emphasis is placed on:

  • Basic Skills-  teaching grade level skills through skill compacting with less drill and repetition

  • Acceleration --based on individual abilities in all subjects taught

  • High Level Thinking Skills in all academic areas

  • Enrichment Activities--see "Primary Students"

  • Continue the general examples, but carry to a more sophisticated level, and use and modify the specific activities when appropriate to the child's ability, age, and background. 

Grades 8-12

• Beginning in the eighth grade some courses are offered to New Horizons students for high school credit. 

• Teachers are required to address minimum competencies, state and parish curricula, and fulfill Carnegie Unit requirements.

• The teacher of the gifted will follow the criteria of the intermediate students and address basic skills, acceleration, high level thinking skills, and the general suggestions of the enrichment activities presented at a level and depth appropriate to the students' abilities.

• Emphasis should be placed on analysis, synthesis, evaluation, a higher degree of complexity, and working with the abstract concepts in a content area. 

• High school credits may be earned for Algebra I and Geometry, Physical Science and Biology I.

• Geometry, Physical Science and Biology I is offered only at Alexandria Middle Magnet.