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Gate Program

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Edgewood Teacher, Students 'Kiss the Gecko'

As part of their study of the environment, GATE students at Edgewood Elementary School presented an assembly on the rainforest—and raised money to save it with a 'Kiss the Gecko' contest.

With the theme from "Love Story" playing in the background and the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, it was the perfect setting for a romantic first kiss. But Edgewood Elementary School teacher Rochelle Seigfreid cringed as she neared the lips of Crosby, a gecko lizard she won the opportunity to kiss after her name was drawn by students during a Tuesday afternoon assembly. A few students followed her, bravely planting a kiss on the probably befuddled gecko. Then, surprisingly, Seigfreid returned for a second kiss. Kissing the gecko was only a part of the "Kiss the Gecko" assembly where Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program students Avery Matta, Elizabeth Alfieri, Maggie Scifo and Veronica Graham presented their project that included a …

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Woodland Hills Creative Convention Challenges GATE Students

From 'Spud Buds' to making environmentally friendly tree ornaments, these students had their thinking caps hot enough to, well, make french fries.

The elementary GATE Department's annual Creative Convention is another one of Woodland Hills' traditions. While each theme has varied over the years, the "Potato" theme for last week's gathering was certainly not a chip off the old block. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, about 42 students in grades 1-4 and about 40 fifth- and sixth graders from Edgewood, Wilkins, Fairless, Dickson and the Academy put their minds and creativity to work in a series of competitive events. One event challenged the students to "transform a lowly potato chip into something other than a munchy, crunchy potato chip," in the words of GATE teacher Cathie Pearson. Students were judged on elaboration, originality and using a creative title—and all doing something different…

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