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OASIS Program Overview DISTRICT VISION The vision of Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools is to actively engage all learners in meaningful experiences that enable them to acquire the tools necessary to become productive, responsible citizens.PHILOSOPHY Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools acknowledges that students with superior intellectual ability require educational programming that will meet their unique needs, interests, and abilities. We believe gifted children need a learning environment that helps them go beyond the basics to develop their potential as independent learners and contributors to society.We believe in emphasizing the development of high level thinking and reasoning skills, research skills, self-awareness, and nurturing the innate creativity of each child by adapting the curriculum to meet the unique learning styles, learning rates, and developmental needs of gifted and talented students. IDENTIFICATION AND PLACEMENT Following state guidelines for gifted identification, and based on scores earned on nationally normed ability and achievement tests, any student with a combined School Ability Index of 130 or higher and a composite achievement score at or above the 95th percentile is eligible for OASIS. The district ensures equal access for all district students, including minority or disadvantages students, students with disabilities and students for whom English is a second language. Eligibility is based solely on test scores achieved within the preceding 24 months; subjective criteria may not used to exclude a student who would otherwise be eligible for services. Parents of recommended students are notified, and with their permission, students are placed in the program. Once admitted, a student remains in OASIS through the end of eighth grade, unless formally withdrawn. WITHDRAWAL Any request to withdraw a student from gifted services must be made in writing by the student's parent(s), to the Coordinator of Gifted Services, citing specific reasons for the withdrawal. A form for this purpose may be downloaded below. Once a student has been withdrawn, he/she will not be permitted to re-enter the program without re-qualifying based on current identification criteria. An application for re-entry form must be completed by the student. CURRICULUM OASIS students in grades 4, 5, and 6 meet one full day each week for a pull-out/resource room enrichment program at Lakeview. The OASIS curriculum is built around enhancing students’ regular academic experiences as well as meeting the social and emotional needs of the gifted child. Multi-disciplinary units may include: Brain, Ititorad, Story-Telling, Chocolate, Photography, Mythology, Law, Pioneers, Archaeology, Architecture, and Independent Research. A modified self-contained/ accelerated classroom provides the basis for the gifted education experience at the middle school. Students in grades 7 and 8 meet five days a week during one regular class period, as part of their Language Arts curriculum. The teacher does both curriculum compacting and creates assignments that involve higher level thinking skills in order to meet and exceed the regular curriculum requirements. OASIS units at Kimpton may include: Technology, Middle-Ages, Exploration, Making Ends Meet, Diversity, Dawn Project, Holocaust, Russian Revolution, Propoganda (including the Presidential Campaign, when appropriate), Public Speaking and Debate, Independent Research, Book Studies, Writing Projects, and Multimedia Projects. The OASIS students also write, tape, edit, and produce a daily news show on the television shown every morning in home room. Throughout the OASIS program, units of study differ in scope and sequence, content, and emphasis from the basic curriculum for other learners. OASIS units stress: * Developing thinking skills * Acquiring new cognitive skills * Capitalizing on student interest * Spanning academic curricular areas * Using the characteristics of gifted learners * Incorporating contemporary issues * Encouraging and teaching independent learning skills COMMUNICATION The OASIS teachers hold an orientation meeting/open house for parents and students in late August, and participate in parent-teacher conferences in October. In addition, teachers may also contact parents throughout the school year to discuss any concerns about student progress or behavior. Parents are encouraged to reciprocate. Any feedback concerning OASIS is greatly appreciated. It is also helpful to let the OASIS teacher know when there may be a situation occurring at home which could your child’s performance and attitude.An electronic newsletter comes from the coordinator’s office each grading period, featuring articles on OASIS activities and events. This newsletter is posted on the website. A paper copy of the newsletter will be provided to students or parents upon request. Classroom teachers are informed of OASIS topics, objectives, and evaluation procedures for each nine-week period. They are encouraged to discuss activities with their OASIS students and promote sharing within the regular classroom. RESPONSIBILITIES Fourth grade OASIS students will be pulled from their regular classrooms one day per week to attend OASIS at Lakeview Intermediate School. The District will provide bus transportation to and from Lakeview, according to District policy.On their OASIS day, fourth grade students will not be responsible for the completion of any school work or homework assigned in their absence. This does not excuse students from making up any tests or quizzes or from completing any long-term projects, but it does cover all work done in their regular classes or any specials they may miss. This policy has been set in the interest of the student. The OASIS program is designed to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of the academically gifted students, and these students should not be penalized with an increased workload for participating. Parents are made aware of this policy at the beginning of each school year. We also stress that OASIS is an optional program, which often involves choices. Although we try to minimize scheduling conflicts whenever possible, in the case of specials such as art or music, occasionally it is not possible to do both in 4th grade. OASIS students in grades 5-6 will also be absent from their regular classroom one day each week. The knowledge of any new concepts covered in the regular class is the responsibility of the student. OASIS students are not, however, required to complete ALL the written work covered in their regular class during the time they are in OASIS. Teachers are asked to consider that OASIS students will be doing class work pertaining to their OASIS projects on their OASIS days, and to modify assignments accordingly. Homework may be required if it is determined to be essential by the classroom teacher. If time is given in the regular classroom for students to begin on homework, these assignments should be modified for the OASIS students. Teachers, students, and parents are encouraged to keep the lines of communication open when discussing homework issues. Although teachers are asked to avoid the OASIS day for special events and tests whenever possible, there will be times when a child misses a special activity. Each child needs to understand that sometimes there are choices and trade-offs to be made. Hopefully the opportunities in OASIS, over the long run, will outweigh a single event or activity. REPORTING Students in OASIS at the elementary school level will receive a separate OASIS performance report each nine weeks, in addition to their regular report card. The performance report includes a student self-evaluation, as well as a teacher's evaluation of student performance. This separate report is done, in part, to create a risk free learning environment, and encourage self-reflection and responsibility. Students in OASIS at the middle school level receive grades that are reported on the regular grade card. These grades are specific to the curriculum and will be averaged with other grades for honor roll consideration. ACADEMIC/BEHAVIOR PROCEDURE In order for a student to be successful in the Oasis program, he/she must be motivated, responsible, and self-controlled. The mission and structure of the program requires an environment that is incompatible with behavioral and/or academic problems. Students who choose not to abide by Lakeview's Expectations or the District Code of Conduct will be subject to the same negative consequences used throughout Lakeview Intermediate School, and described in the T.E.A.M.S. Program Handbook, below.
O.A.S.I.S. Stow-Munroe Falls City School District
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