Mrs. Ellen Connelly
Gifted Support Grades 7-12

Logistics

• My role in the district's gifted services program includes teaching & facilitating gifted education and services at the middle and high school. 

• This year my middle school students are assigned to Phoenix, Ambition, Invictus, and Voyager teams.

• The seminar classroom is on the second floor, room 229.

• Middle school students will attend seminar classes on a weekly basis. Students involved in an independent study will meet in addition to the regularly scheduled seminar sessions. Students will also be able to work in the seminar room during regular ed classes when appropriate and available Wildcat periods.

• High school students have the scheduling option to enroll in an elective that is graded under an O, S, or U system. The grade is not calculated into the GPA but graduation credit is awarded. The elective period is used in a way that best meets the individual student's academic and/or personal goals and needs. The elective course falls in periods 1 or 2. All students in grades 9-12 remain on my roster and are offered individual advisory supports as needed. Students in 8th grade are re-evaluated upon entering 9th grade to determine eligibility (need) for continued services under gifted education. If specially designed instruction is required within the regular education curriculum of the high school to meet the student's academic needs then services continue and a GIEP is written for the 9th grade academic term. If an academic need and specially designed instruction is identified at any time after 9th grade, the student is re-evaluated and a GIEP (gifted service) is developed. Additional cognitive or normed achievement assessments are not needed to develop gifted services for an academic term. Current data and teacher, parent, & student input are reviewed by the home-school team.  

• Contact me at 244-4021 ext. 2229 or [email protected]

     Planning Ahead

• Students entering grades 8-12 may apply for Millersville University's Summer Science & Math Program. This program is designed for academically talented science and math students. Visit their Website for more information. The school receives information in the spring. Please contact me by phone or email if you are interested in this opportunity.

•  PA College of Art and Design (Lancaster) offers summer and Saturday courses in visual and digital art. Some are under a pre-college program.

• Students in grades 3-12 may apply for Millersville University Technology Camp . This is a summer program with innovative opportunities.

• SIG: Bryn Mawr for in-person classes/online options available as well

  https://www.giftedstudy.org/bryn-mawr-college

• Northwestern (online):

  https://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/           

• Johns Hopkins:

  https://cty.jhu.edu/summer/index.html 

  William and Mary:

  https://education.wm.edu/centers/cfge/  

• PA Governor's School for the Sciences for rising seniors (information in the HS counseling office)