Dhara javia and robin estavan

RENZULLI’SDREAM

ACADEMY(RDA)

BY: D H A R A J AV I A & R O B I N E S TAVA N

DESCRIPTORS OF RDA

• At RDA, we believe that engagement, enthusiasm and enjoyment increase academic achievement!

• Accredited: School With A Special Purpose- Gifted Education• Renzulli Learning is based on the belief that…one shoe does not fit

all• Private K-12• Enrollment approximately 800• Suburban Community

FUNDING PLAN Tuition for 2016-2017Elementary School (K-4) _$17,000 Middle School (5-8)_$20,000 High School (9-12) _$23,000Tuition and fees cover approximately 90% of the school’s operating expenses. The remainder 10% comes from the support of our families, staff, trustees, and friends who contribute to the Annual Fund and Auction. Tuition covers everything, with the exception of the overnight trips, before and after school care, transportation, and any extracurricular activities.• Annual Fund and Auction• Grant Maintained• Financial Aid_ Our purpose of Renzulli’s Dream Academy’s financial aid program is

to provide financial assistance to families for whom, without such assistance, an RDA education would not be an option. Financial Aid is awarded on the basis of a family’s financial need. A variety of criteria are considered, including income, assets, number of dependents, age of parents, number of children attending tuition-based schools, number of working parents. This information is balanced with data about living expenses, medical costs, indebtedness, and other factors.

PHYSICAL SPACE DESIGNElementary School Middle School High SchoolTeam Zones–Collaborative Learning Spaces in Action

Fluid and High–Tech Middle and High School Classroom Model

Open Environments–Flexibility for Team or Personal Study

3 concepts are emphasized

1. self-contained classroom neighborhoods 2. flexible collaboration spaces 3. multiple outdoor learning environments

Open collaboration space in the middle with the classrooms surrounding it.

All classrooms surrounding the stairs will have glass windows, so teachers have more visibility to see students as they work in the space.

Learning stairs, which will serve multiple roles. a. Used for small group

collaboration, lecture seating and a study area.

b. Learning stair that ties the 2 floors together

Flexible seating and student-centered classrooms.

3 internal courtyards Designated for sciences, outdoor eating, and performing arts use

A cafeteria, fine arts spaces, and a competition and practice gymnasium.

ELEMENTARY_ K-4

MIDDLE_ 5-8

HIGH_ 9-12

MISSION STATEMENT The principal goal of education is to create men and women who are capable of doing new things,

not simply repeating what other generations have done.—Jean Piaget—

• RDA nurtures and challenges students of high intellectual ability and inspires them to new levels of academic excellence, creativity, and personal growth.

• Our academy is dedicated to nurturing gifted children’s social and emotional needs. Supporting the whole child is the foundation of our philosophy, and our school is founded on the basic principle that our students are “children first and gifted second.”

• RDA is committed to preparing students for success in a diverse, changing world. We seek to offer our students a learning environment that is representative of our community: socially, culturally, and economically.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICYRenzulli’s Dream Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, or other status legally protected by local, state, or federal law; in admission of otherwise qualified students, or in providing access to the rights, privileges, programs or activities generally available to all students and their families, including educational policies, financial aid, and other school administered programs. Similarly, RDA does not discriminate in its hiring, discharge or other terms and conditions of employment.

Renzulli’s Dream Academy is Focused on Mind and BodyExercise improves both the students’ physical condition while helping to sharpen mental focus and increase concentration levels. The RDA provides a state-of-the-art fitness center staffed by personal trainers who develop personal fitness plan with each student. Some of the other things we offer are supplemented by fitness games and visiting instructors or experts for everything from karate, yoga, and Zumba. Students also have access to the fitness equipment whenever they’re on-site.

STUDENT SELECTIONRenzulli’s Dream Academy is designed to meet the needs of intellectually gifted students and has a clearly defined Admissions Policy that reflects the mission of our school. We take great care to preserve the integrity of the process to ensure success for all students. We consider both formal and informal measures included but are not limited to, the following: indications of high intellectual ability advanced achievement critical thinking skillsappropriate maturity and social skills individual talents and interests • Application Process and Interview• IQ Testing and Achievement Testing• RDA requires all applicants to submit an IQ test with a full scale score in the 95th

percentile or above. A composite score may also be considered. Students applying to 3rd grade or above must submit achievement testing. For applicants 5th through 8th grade, we require either the Independent School Entrance Exam or the Secondary School Admission Test.

TEACHER SELECTION• Recruitment and Invitation• Teacher Application and Panel Interview Process (Panels consists of Administrators, teachers, and parent representative)• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Education or concentrated field• Teacher Certification in content area required • Endorsement in Talented & Gifted Education• Experts in the field_ Contracted

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT• Ongoing• Innovative Ideas for

Gifted • In-house, Local,

Statewide, and National• http://

www.tagonline.org/

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT• Participates in local competitions and programs• Community Service Programs• Volunteer: food bank drives, health fairs, &

Relay for Life, etc• Board meetings, City council meetings, & Local

PTA

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Highly Involved Highly Empowered Partners in Education

Volunteers with Two (2) events per semester

Seminars & workshops(social & emotional support groups and

counseling)

Representative on all school committees

Attends local, state, and national workshops for NAGG

Online Webinars & Training

(instruction & parenting)

Voice in Developing Individual Student Plans

Assist and coaches gifted competitions such as: Science Olympiad, Academic Bowl, Robotics, First Lego League, & High IQ

Career Festivals&

College Fairs

Resource in bringing in-house fieldtrips, internships, and other needs

GIFTED EDUCATION SERVICES• College Preparatory• Internships & Work Study• Leadership & Global Awareness / Environmental Clubs• Advance Placement & Honor Courses• Career Technical Education

Music Health & Fitness Electives Orchestra / Band Dance / Gymnastics Home Economics /

Automotive

Chorus / Guitar Culinary Arts Journalism / Photography

Piano / Keyboarding Fencing / Golf Foreign & American Sign Language

Performing Arts / Drama

Swimming / Areboics Woodworking

Gifted behavior occurs in certain people, at certain times,

under certain circumstances.Joe Renzulli

MODELS AND SERVICE OPTIONS• Independent Studies_

• Models such as Renzulli’s Enrichment Triad Model• Duo and small group Investigations• S.T.E.M. and S.T.E.A.M. models• Humanities across disciplines• Mixed model_ grades k-2; 3-5, 6-8; 9-12• Acceleration occurs when students move through traditional curriculum at

rates faster than typical. It means matching the level and complexity of the curriculum with the readiness of the student.

• Looping or multiple years refers to the practice of a teacher remaining with the same group of students for more than one school year.

REFLECTIONEducation is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. Sydney J. Harris

RESOURCES

• http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/schools.htm Teaching Gifted Students• Through Independent Study by Susan K. Johnsen and Krystal K. Goree• Graphics_ www.google.com• https://www.nagc.org/ The National Association for Gifted Children• The Enrichment Triad Model: A Plan for Developing Defensible Programs for

the Gifted and Talented Renzulli, Joseph S. Gifted Child Quarterly, 21, 2, 227-33, Sum 77