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Battle Creek Public Schools is proud to offer the Advanced & Accelerated "REACH" Program especially designed for high-ability learners. This program offers qualifying students in grades 4-8 with classes dedicated to nurturing their gifts and developing their talents.  Ours is the only fully-implemented core-content program for gifted and talented students in Calhoun County.

REACH  provides research-based advanced and accelerated curricula specifically designed to challenge the high- ablity learner. Other benefits include options such as participation in the Midwest Academic Talent Search and coordination with local programs at  Western Michigan University (link to MATS and ATYP information).  Middle school REACH classes are geared toward assisting students in fulfilling high school requirements while in middle school.

Parents of any student in grades 3-7 in Calhoun County who needs academic challenges beyond the grade level curriculum are welcome to contact Carol McNally at 269-965-9640 or amcnally@battle-creek.k12.mi.us  for further information. Testing dates as well as registration information will be posted on this web page when they become available in the spring of 2013.

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Click on link for important information parents and students should know about Characteristics of Gifted Children

Informational Power Point on the middle school REACH program presented at the superintendent's Advisory Council Meeting on December 12, 2012

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SMS REACH students participated for their sixth year in National Novel Writing Month.  This year the REACH program has been awarded a Binda mini-grant from the Calhoun Intermediate School District to publish two copies of each student's novel --one for the classroom libriary and one for the student to keep. 

Below are images from our NaNoWriMo Celebration on December 5, 2012. 

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              Middle School REACH Program

Printable Documents:

REACH 2012-2013 Middle School Handbook

REACH 2012-2013 Compact

Renzulli Learning

Links:

Mrs. Lantinga's 6th Grade REACH Science Webpage

Mrs. Lantinga's 7th Grade REACH Science Webpage

Mrs. Lantinga's 8th Grade REACH Science Webpage

6th Grade Camp Pictures

The REACH program functions as a school within a school at:

Valley View Elementary School (grades 4 and 5)

Springfield Middle School (grades 6 through 8)

Advanced and Accelerated Programming is offered at Battle Creek Central High School and the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center through an array of honors and Advanced Placement Courses.

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                                                       Link to PLUS Web page

PLUS of SWMI Presents:

Raising Gifted Children:

What I Wish My Parents Had Known

Do you frequently wonder if you’re doing the right thing for your gifted child?

Do you sometimes wish your 5, 10, or 13-year-old could verbalize what works

 for them – and what doesn’t – in the classroom? How do you know if what

you’re advocating for is really what your child needs?

·        What were some of the unique challenges they faced?

·        What did their parents do that was particularly helpful?

·        What did their parents do that really did NOT work?

·        If they could go back and change one thing about their education,

what would it be?

. A panel of older teens and adults who were gifted children answer

your questions regarding raising gifted children!

                          This FREE presentation is open to the public.                         

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency

1819 E. Milham Ave., Portage

(located between Lovers’ Lane and Portage Rd. on the north side of the street)

For more information, call269-353-3757, or visit our website atwww.plusofswmi.org.

This free program is presented by Partners in Learning for Unlimited Success of Southwest Michigan, a support and advocacy group for the families for advanced and accelerated students. PLUS is an affiliate of the Michigan Association for Gifted Children.

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