Helicopter Challenge

Hidden Oaks 6th grader Elizabeth Nelson was among the top five Sikorsky Helicopter 2050 Challenge, a Synergy project facilitated in the advanced 6th grade physical science classes at Hidden Oaks and Twin Oaks. Students were challenged to create a helicopter of 2050 that helps overcome global issues.

Elizabeth's Idea: BlueCopter

More than 1 million gallons of oil ends up in oceans every year. The goal of the BlueCopter is to make the sea blue again by cleaning up oil spills and helping animals affected by the oil. It can spray a special polymer-like material that absorbs the oil in water and turns it into gel that can be collected, transported, and turned back into liquid. This copter is made mostly out of recycled glass, Kevlar, aluminum, and carbon fiber, and is fueled by hydrogen. Since the helicopter will mostly be working around water, its rotors, landing gear, and tail boom retract so it can transform into a speedboat.

Congratulations, Elizabeth!

The district gifted/talented program, called SYNERGY, helps students thrive by offering challenging and supportive educational experiences and services. Together, these programs and services nurture the academic, creative, artistic, leadership abilities, and social/emotional needs of gifted, talented and creative children.

Washington DC Trip - 2014

Current 7th Grade students click here for details.

Winter Middle School Strength Team

To register for the Winter Middle School Strength Team, all athletes in grades 7 & 8 can visit https://plfootball.sportngin.com/register/form/693323637 to signup.  

Registration is open now and the Strength Team starts on December 10^th. 

Prior Lake-Savage chapter of MCGT (SPAN)

The Prior Lake-Savage chapter of MCGT (SPAN) will host Dr. Richard Cash at our Monday Nov. 11 meeting.  The talk is described below and will take place at 7pm in the WestWood Elementary Media Center (5370 WestWood Dr. SE; Prior Lake, MN  55372). 
No childcare will be provided, but we will have teacher CEU certificates available.

Questions?  Contact Apryl at wlmailhtml:span.priorlake@gmail.com .

Beyond Ability: What it Really Takes to Be Successful
Many people believe that being smart is a critical component of success.  However, while aptitude and strong content knowledge may be requirements for advanced level courses in high school and in post-secondary, the new world of the 21st century places less emphasis on "books smarts" and more emphasis the skills of creativity, critical reasoning, collaboration and communication.  This shift in direction toward the encouraging student's drive, passion and fortitude is of extreme importance for our gifted learners.  The more our children apply themselves in difficult situations the more likely there are to become successful in the 21st century.  Join Dr. Richard Cash, an internationally recognized expert in gifted education, as he shares real and practical strategies that can assist you in enhancing your child's schooling and life experiences to prepare them for their future.

Dr. Cash is the past Director of Gifted Programs for the Bloomington Public Schools.  During his 13 years with the Bloomington schools, he realigned the serves for gifted students as well as developed the Dimensions Academy and Elements program for highly gifted students, in grades 2-8.  Dimensions Academy and Elements have become a model for gifted programming around the state and nation.  After 25 years in the field of education, Richard recently transitioned to a private consultant for school districts around the US and internationally.  His passion is in developing educational systems that nurture and encourage students to advanced levels of thinking and learning.  He is the author of Advancing Differentiation: Thinking and Learning for the 21st Century, and the co-author with Dr. Diane Heacox, a widely respected expert on differentiation and gifted education, on the newly released book Differentiation for Gifted Learners: Going Beyond the Basics. Richard may be contacted through his website at: www.nrichconsulting.com <http://www.nrichconsulting.com/