School Sites - Middle Schools
Bernardo Yorba
Kicking things off, GATE is bringing Yes, You Can, a
highly motivational program, all the way from
In language arts honors classes, GATE students are
challenged with curriculum different in depth, complexity, pacing, and
compacting. Seventh grade students will
be diving into Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Eighth grade students will
be writing advanced research papers for History Day. Students will succeed in
being published in various anthologies and participate in and win local, state,
and national literary competitions. For seventh grade students, GATE
will sponsor a dramatic interdisciplinary demonstration by Tallon Knight.
This master falconer, dressed in period clothing from the English Renaissance,
brings with him live birds of prey and flies one over students’ heads!
This is one time not to raise a hand.
For eighth graders, Jim Lewis will be here to present a workshop on
“Storytelling, the Oral Tradition in Literature.” Jim is the director and
co-founder of the South Coast Storytellers Guild.
GATE social science students will be taking a flight to
The hard-working math department is planning a field trip
for their best and brightest to the
Our science department is planning a special presentation
for eighth grade GATE/DISCOVER students in the discipline of astronomy. This will be another great day with an
altogether different schedule and promises to enrich science instruction.
Membership in the National Junior Honor Society is another
special way we honor our highest achieving students. Approximately 50% of our students work their
way onto academic honor rolls!
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Kraemer Middle School
Kraemer Middle School has been an integral part of the Placentia-Yorba Linda community since 1959 and for more than 10 years has been designated the GATE magnet program for the middle school level. The district selected Kraemer for its diverse population, professional staff and unique opportunities for enrichment.
The GATE magnet program at Kraemer Middle school is unique in several ways. The core academic classes (math, language arts, social science, and science) are composed of GATE students only. This unique feature allows our GATE teams the flexibility to provide a more challenging, accelerated curriculum that utilizes multiple instructional strategies such as practical experiences, field trips, science experiments, debates, presentations, competitions in math and writing, direct connection to high school and university programs, and the opportunity to be socially active in our nationally acclaimed activities program.
In addition, our proximity to Valencia High School enables the program to offer a broad-based curriculum of math, science, and electives to our GATE students by affording them the opportunity of enrolling in Algebra Honors, Geometry and Geometry Honors on the Valencia campus. Other options at the high school include French, Japanese, Biology, Technology, and Speech and Drama. This “bridge program” is unique to Kraemer and a great number of gifted and talented students do take advantage of this partnership.
In recent years, GATE students have had the opportunity to participate in educational field trips to enhance cross-curricular units of study. Destinations have included San Francisco, Sacramento, Catalina Island, Museum of Tolerance, Bowers Museum, “Physics Day” at Knott's, Workshop in the Woods, IMAX Theater, the Performing Arts Center and visitations to colleges and universities. These field experiences enhance the classroom instruction and extend the learning to the larger community setting. Students have the opportunity to meet legislators, become part of a mock trial, visit with holocaust survivors and authors, and begin their networking as they prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.
In June of this year, our students will participate in our 8th annual "ShowTime." This unique event challenges students to perform at the highest pedagogical level of thinking… teaching. Students select an area of expertise and present a lesson to their peers, parents, and teachers to demonstrate their knowledge of a self-selected topic. The result is truly amazing! Please join us for the student presentations, awards ceremony and an ice cream social afterward. If you are interested in attending, please check the calendar of events on this website for the date and time. All are welcome!
For more information on the Kraemer GATE Magnet Program go to www.kraemerms.org/GATE
Travis Ranch Middle School
The Gate and Honors teachers at Travis Ranch have been extremely busy working on lessons dealing with depth and complexity. In the sixth grade we have been reading and analyzing the core novel, Bridge to Terabithia, noting literary devices such as similes, personification, metaphors, and foreshadowing to name a few. In addition we have added depth and complexity to our analysis of the two main characters. In social studies, students are researching and developing an ancient Egyptian artifact, creating their own realia, and will present it along with a written synopsis regarding the significance of their artifact to ancient Egyptian life and culture. We are going in-depth in our study of their religious beliefs/practices as we prepare to read The Golden Goblet.
In the eighth grade, we have been studying the U.S. Constitution. The students have studied the three branches of government and connecting to current times. The students will also be studying the amendments in depth and then preparing their resumes in their Language Arts classes in preparation for the Mock Trial in their Social Studies class. The students will be expected to prepare a resume, learn interview techniques and apply for their role in the trial. Students will be interviewing for the jobs of defense and prosecuting attorneys, witnesses, jury members and of course-the judge. The mock trial will begin after the return from the winter break.
Tuffree Middle School
Tuffree Middle School’s GATE program provides an expanded and enriched curriculum. At Tuffree, gifted students are offered the complexity, depth, and individualized attention that they need to mature into the positive, productive, engaged thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. The staff and the community are committed to providing Tuffree students with a rewarding experience…the Tuffree Experience.
Gifted students who attend Tuffree have numerous avenues open to them for intellectual stimulation, creative expression and personal growth. For example, GATE students in both grades have the opportunity to tackle the Orange County History Day project, a countywide academic competition that encourages students to practice the scholarship that will serve them (and us!) so well in the years to come. This is the third year that Tuffree has participated in this “intellectual track meet” for student historians, open to all gifted and honors students, and requiring a significant amount of complex thinking, independent preparation and personal dedication. These students are supported by regular contact with the program advisors, and the discussion, brainstorming, troubleshooting and other, often less serious activities that build esprit de corps.
GATE students have other opportunities to pit their intellectual wits against those of their peers. On-site contests including the Constitution Bowl, Kids’ Philosophy Slam, Nixon Geography Bee as well as writing contests sponsored by such organizations and institutions as the Library of Congress, Chapman University, the Fleet Reserve Association, Project Wisdom, Orange County Performing Arts Center – all of these opportunities give gifted students engaging and purposeful avenues to direct their learning. Other extras have included numerous guest speakers, the Disneyland Creativity Challenge, and visits to such locations as Medieval Times, the Fullerton Justice Center, and the Nixon Library. Tuffree also continues its tradition of hosting major community evenings with the Tuffree Multi-Cultural Faire in April. Furthermore, some gifted students have elected to participate in the year's drama productions.
Tuffree’s smaller size allows its GATE teaching team to get well acquainted with the students. Eighth grade GATE students have the opportunity to take geometry classes on campus; all gifted students use the IMMEX Science Grant laptop computers in their science labs, and all have access to our $2000,000 SMART Lab. The list of electives includes Spanish, art, yearbook, leadership, peer-assistance leadership, creative writing, cooking and drama. The majority of Tuffree’s GATE group is also involved in the award-winning vocal and instrumental music program.
The Tuffree GATE program continues to be an academic and personal approach designed to nourish the development of the whole student.
Yorba Linda Middle School
Yorba Linda Middle School’s GATE program is off and running for 2005-2006. This year’s program offers our students more opportunities to strengthen their leadership qualities and be recognized for their outstanding talents throughout the curriculum. In addition to the regular honors program offered in language arts and math, honors science classes give students the unique opportunity to interact with laptop computers as part of the IMMEX Science grant. Our science teachers all trained vigorously for this program, and are experts in teaching this enriching science/technology curriculum.
All students in 6th – 8th grade this year will participate in the school-wide student-led conference program in January. Students have prepared their own portfolios, drafted personal and academic goals, and wrote reflections for their entire course of study. They will present their portfolios to their parents during their assigned conference time. YLMS is the first middle school in PYLUSD to conduct this exciting student program!
Additional educational experiences are offered at YLMS to enrich and nourish GATE students. Science teachers will accompany the best and brightest 8th grade girls to Fullerton College’s Bridges to Tomorrow program for careers in math and science. Students are also encouraged to participate in the after school program FSEA, Future Scientists and Engineers of America. Additionally, a special field trip is planned for April to see visit the world renown Getty museum.
In addition to honors level classes, language arts and social science departments also offer unique opportunities to showcase exceptional talent. Language arts students and their families will be again showcasing their poetic talents in this year’s Poetry Night. This year honors language arts students entered the PTA Reflections Contest, submitting more than one hundred exceptional pieces and to date several sixth graders have won first place at the school and district level. Seventh grade social science students will continue to participate and compete in the Richard Nixon Geography Bee in April.
Yorba Linda Middle School students continue to show their true dedication to academics, exceptional work ethic and a consistent commitment to excellence.