LJMS GT Center

News & Information

• The minutes from the February 27 meeting of the GT Center Transition Committee are now available for viewing here. The minutes from the January 9 meeting are also available. (February 28, 2008)
• LJ's Concentrated GT program is currently being featured in a segment on Red Apple 21's SchoolScene program. The segment focuses on how the program strengthens skills in analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving. It may be downloaded or streamed here. (January 15, 2008)




• Parents: our GT Center Informational Brochure is now available for viewing or download. (January 9, 2008)
• The presentation slides from the December 4 and December 13 Information Nights at Mosby Woods and Louise Archer Elementary Schools are now available for viewing or download (PDF). (January 9, 2008)
• The minutes from the November 28 meeting of the GT Transition Committee are now available online for viewing or download. The minutes for the October 24 meeting are available as well. (January 1, 2008)
• The next meeting of the GT Transition Committee will be Wednesday, January 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the LJ Library. (December 17, 2007)

• For those who were unable to attend the meeting or would like to review what was discussed, the minutes from the October 24 meeting of the GT Transition Committee are now available online for viewing or download. The minutes for the October 3 meeting are available as well. (November 9, 2007)
• The minutes from the May 2 meeting of the Transition Committee for the GT Center are now available for viewing or download. Thank you to secretary Denise Pensinger for providing the minutes. (Please note: Since our meeting we have hired a math teacher for the GT Center!) The next meeting of the Transition Committee will be Wednesday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m., in the Library at Luther Jackson Middle School. There will be a presentation on the foreign language program. New members are welcome to attend! (June 1, 2007)
• The minutes from the March 28 meeting of the LJMS GT Center Transition Committee are now available online. Please take a moment to view them. The next meeting of the committee will be May 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Library. See you there. (April 4, 2007)
• Burning Questions
  

  On March 14, 2007, an organizational meeting was held of the newly formed Luther Jackson GT Center Transition Committee. In addition to School Board members Phil Niedzielski-Eichner and Kaye Kory, the Cluster II Assistant Superintendent Phyllis Pajardo, and Cluster II Director Ulysses Cox, approximately 16 parents from 6 schools attended the meeting.

  During that meeting, parents were provided with an opportunity to ask and post questions regarding various aspects of the new Center at Luther Jackson. The following questions represent answers that were provided during the meeting or could be answered immediately.

  Questions posted but not listed will be addressed at the next meeting. Thank you for your interest and participation in the Transition Committee.

  Note: The next meeting of the Transition Committee will be Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 7:30 pm, in the Library at Luther Jackson MS. If you have not signed up to participate on the Transition Committee, or would like to share comments or reactions, please contact Principal Dr. Carol C. Robinson at carolc.robinson@fcps.edu.

  
  Question 1: "When will parents of rising 7th grade GT students be told that their child will be coming here?"

  A letter to the parents of rising 7th grade Center students was mailed on March 15. If you believe that you received the letter in error or if you know that your 7th grader's new GT center is Jackson MS but did not receive a letter, please email principal Carol Robinson so records can be checked and a letter sent/resent. (carolc.robinson@fcps.edu)

  
  Question 2: "When will the GT Center 6th grade students get to tour LJMS?"

  Students who are in elementary schools that feed Luther Jackson will/did tour the school with their base elementary schools. Luther Jackson will work with the additional feeder elementary GT centers to provide visitation dates for their students. A tentative date has been set for April 12, pending confirmation with schedules and buses. Other dates will be set if needed.

  
  Question 3: "My daughter was already asked to select electives at Frost. When does the process begin here?" "When will 6th graders get to pick out their classes?"

  We began sharing information with students on March 13 and will continue to do so through April 12. Orientation for parents of rising 7th graders in the GT Center will be April 17. The forms for the Center students will be due to Luther Jackson no later than April 24. A student orientation for new GT center students is being planned for June 2007.

  
  Question 4: "How will the Center's presence affect the base school population?"

  With the addition of the new GT center, Luther Jackson's student population is estimated to be around 950. New GT center teachers will be hired and classrooms will be allocated to accommodate our additional students. We are reviewing our library collection and technology equipment. Using the funds designated for the new center, new books and materials will be purchased.

  As we've always been a school that welcomes all students, we anticipate that the Center's presence will have a positive affect on the base school population! We are looking forward to our new students, more parent volunteers, enthusiastic support of school projects, and students' participation in challenging events/activities. We can't wait to have our new families here next year!

  
  Question 5: "How integrated with the GT Students be with the base school kids?"

  The Center students will be with a team of other Center students and include approximately 75 other students. The team consists of four core teachers (math, science, social studies, and English) and a counselor. All students are involved in team activities, such as Teacher Advisory, field trips, and recognition events.

  In a seven-period day, the Center students will have four periods with their core teachers. For the other three periods, the students are divided according to the electives (two periods) that they have selected as well as a period of PE. During those three periods, as well as lunch and after-school activities, the Center students will be with the base-school students.

  
  Question 6: "Will you be hiring experienced GT teachers for the Center?"

  We will screen resumes and interview potential GT center staff members who have successful experiences with advanced learners, such as Center or Honors experiences.

  
  Question 7: "Are students in compacted Math and GT at Camelot going to be in GT?"

  In July, Jackson administrative and guidance staffs will examine information regarding each student new to Luther Jackson. This includes test results, teacher and counselor information, report card grades, etc. We do this in order to provide a schedule that best matches the educational needs of the student. Students who participated in compacted math and school-based GT services in elementary school will be considered for Honors courses. Specifically, Honors Math 7 is offered on all of Jackson's seventh-grade teams.

  
  Question 8: "Will the 7th graders get a textbook for home also (one class set, one home set)?"

  Currently, our cores subjects have a set of textbooks in each classroom so that students can take their books home. It is our goal to annually add another classroom set in additional subject areas. This goal is, of course, contingent upon the annual district's budget.

  
  Question 9: "What issues will the Committee have input into?"

  The Transition Committee will serve in different ways during the three-year phase-in of the Center. The Committee will mainly serve as a sounding board to the Cluster II office and to Jackson's administrative team. Additionally, the Committee will determine areas of interests, offer advice, research questions, participate in subcommittee activities, provide leadership, and volunteer.

  A specific example of the Transition's Committee work thus far is at the March 14 meeting, during which attendees provided input the GT center staff selection by preparing a list of characteristics of Center staff. Additionally, attendees brainstormed a list of questions to use during the upcoming interviews.

  The next meeting (March 28) will include planning for the orientation for parents on April 17. We will continue to look for and embrace new opportunities for input or involvement as they become available as we create our new Center.

  (March 19, 2007)
• The next meeting of the GT Center Transition Committee will be Wednesday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Library. If you have not signed up to participate on the Transition Committee or would like to share comments or reactions, please contact Principal Dr. Carol C. Robinson at carolc.robinson@fcps.edu. (March 19, 2007)
• Luther Jackson is forming a Transition Committee for our new GT Center. Members of the Committee will consist of parents, teachers, and Cluster and Instructional Services staff. The purpose is to work together to create a high quality GT Center at Luther Jackson! If you are interested in being a member of the Transition Committee, please e-mail Principal Carol C. Robinson (CarolC.Robinson) by Monday, March 12. You will be notified of the first meeting via e-mail. We look forward to working with our newest members of the Jackson family! (March 6, 2007)
• Luther Jackson Middle School is proud to announce that it has been approved by the School Board to be a Center for Gifted and Talented students beginning Fall 2007! Welcome to our GT Center families!
  
  Stay tuned for more information on the new Luther Jackson GTC Transition Committee and orientations for students and parents. (February 23, 2007)