Happy August, parents of gifted students in the PAMS gifted cluster program!  I hope your summer has been rejuvenating and FUN for your middle school student, and they are starting to get excited about the new school year.  [Now that it’s August, the Back-to-School sales signs don’t burn so much…]  Even at 35+ years in education, the beginning is always energizing (okay, and a little stressful…)!

A couple of heads-up:

I uploaded the email addresses that are in Synergy for this gifted program information test blast.  This blog is how I communicate important program information as well as opportunities for your child.  If you prefer a different address, you can easily add/delete on the main page of this blog.  For my regular email lists, please let me know if there are other addresses you would like for me to add or change.

Our new principal Andrew Filipowicz sent out a PAMS parent newsletter a few days ago.  If for some reason you have not received it (e.g. new email address that might not be in Synergy), please contact the main office for the link.  A lot of important details are included in the missive, so I hope you will take the time to give it a careful reading.

I do plan to have Gifted Club after school and Gifted Lunch again this year.  I have not yet set dates as I still need to meet with Mr. Clark for our activities meeting, but I promise to send out the dates ASAP with directions about how your child can attend the gatherings.  We have lots of fun with different activities, so please make sure to only sign up your child for Gifted Club activities that they want to participate in and will attend (board games; STEM challenges; art creatives).  With over 400 gifted students, spaces are limited each time, so no-shows do tend to put a crimp in our way of doing things!  If you would like to contribute to the supplies for our Gifted Club and Gifted Lunch activities, I do have an Amazon List of items that the students requested in June for this year: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3CRHBLGE14631?ref_=wl_share

Students have expressed an interest in hearing guest speakers about different careers, so if you would like to help our gifted learners understand how what they are learning now can impact their future career choices, I’d love to hear from you!  Students especially want to hear from medical/health practitioners, lawyers, engineers, artists (performing and visual), computer science/AI, and advertising.    Cathy.Smith@vbschools.com

Don’t forget that school begins on August 28 this year!  For our new sixth-grade students, please assure them that there will be plenty of adults and Panther Partners (student ambassadors) ready to help them find where they need to go on the first day of school.  I highly recommend that all sixth-grade students come to the orientation day on August 22 to get a sense of the building and to meet their teachers ahead of the big day!

If your child will be riding the bus, please have them take the bus on the first day of school.  It makes things go more smoothly when the student knows from Day 1 where the bus lets them off and where it will be parked in the afternoon.

I am excited to work with your children again this year!  I officially report back on August 21, but I’ll be in the building next week for various meetings and Panther Partner training.  The best way to reach me is through email.  If you have ANY schedule questions, please contact your child’s school counselor.  Looking forward to seeing you at Open House on 8/23 (6th grade) and 8/24 (7th/8th grades) from 5:30-7:30 PM!

Cathy Smith, Princess Anne Middle School Gifted Resource Teacher