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Enrollment Information


APPLICATION PROCESS - We will start accepting applications for the 2010 - 2011 school year starting Tuesday, December 1, 2009 through Friday January 29, 2010.  Applications will be available starting December 1, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. till 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday in front foyer of school or on-line at www.hulstrom.adams12.org.  Students are selected by lottery and space availability. Remember a parent information night must be attended in order for the application to be considered.  Questions and answers with staff and visit to classroom is done at this time.  Information nights are :  Wednesday, January 13, 2010, for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  Tuesday, February 9, 2010 for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, February 24, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  All information nights are 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria.  Be sure to sign in.

 A sibling list is created for siblings of currently enrolled Hulstrom students.  These applicants are given a priority status, but these students are held to the same admission screening standards as non-sibling applicants.  Kindergarten applicants are assessed using a kindergarten readiness test to determine whether Hulstrom is an appropriate placement for that applicant.  If the screening determines that Hulstrom is an appropriate placement, the student will be considered for admission.  We will contact applicants to schedule appointments for kinderdergarten screening. There are four kindergarten classes.  One Full Day GT, One Full Day AAP, One 1/2 day GT, One 1/2 day AAP. Each kindergarten class has a capacity of 25 students.

Full Day kindergarten is a tuition based program. There is a projected monthly tuition of $250.00 a month with $25 registration fee and a $25.00 late fee for payments not paid by the first of every month. Half day kindergarten has no fee.

"Hulstrom Kindergarten is not considered a "Day Care."

 

Hulstrom does not accept out of district students
A Child must be 5 years of age no later 9/15/2010 - No exceptions

More information will be given at required parent information night. Wednesday, January 13, 2010, for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  Tuesday, February 9, 2010 for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, February 24, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  All information nights are 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria.  Be sure to sign in.  

 

More information at required parent information night.Information nights are: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  Tuesday, February 9, 2010 for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, February 24, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  All information nights are 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria.  Be sure to sign in. 



The Gifted Options Program is designed to give gifted and talented students in grades K-8 the opportunity to learn at an accelerated pace, in a creative environment, and with high ability peers.   Students find that the Gifted Options Program provides them with a more appropriate pace, a greater depth of study and a higher complexity level of thinking.  This program, while accelerated, is standards-based, highly rigorous, and structured through interdisciplinary instruction.  In this environment, students are encouraged to collaborate with other students and to incorporate their interests into their learning.  The instructional models are based on best practice research in the field of gifted education as defined by the National Association for Gifted Children.

When considering whether a child is an appropriate candidate for Gifted Options, parents should take into account the rigorous pace of instruction, the high expectations,  and the level of independence sometimes required.   
The Advanced Academic Program is designed to provide a research & standards-based  approach to education for average to high ability students.  Students enjoy a structured, rigorous approach combined with inter-disciplinary thematic studies.  Students focus on basic skills in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.  However, creative endeavors and opportunities for students to create projects to demonstrate their learning is also provided.   Students receive instruction on grade level or higher and address the state and district standards through their learning.  Differentiated learning is provided for students whose advanced abilities are qualitatively different enough to need differentiated opportunities within their learning environment.       
   
Hulstrom Options K-8 School  is most successful with students who exhibit the following characteristics:· Motivation· Independence· Emotional and social maturity· Enthusiasm for learning· Risk taking· High potential for achievement and production· Creative and critical thinking· Strong parental support

· Students within the Gifted Options Program  need to be challenged beyond what they find easy or comfortable.  Optimal learning for gifted students happens when they have a genuine challenge and appropriate support to successfully meet  it.  The Gifted Options Program offers students an accelerated instructional model  that is standards-based and highly rigorous. Students are able to utilize creativity and problem solving to real world learning opportunities.

· The Advanced Academic Program is a focused, highly rigorous, structured program that is a standards-based curriculum model. Curricular materials are used to support an integrated,  thematic approach to education. Finally, the program focuses on the application of higher-order thinking skills, deductive reasoning, and analytical thinking.

 

More information will be given at the required parent information night. Information nights are: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  Tuesday, February 9, 2010 for kindergarten through 8th grades. Wednesday, February 24, 2010 for kindergarten through 2nd grades only.  All information nights are 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria.  Be sure to sign in.

 

How do I know I'm making the right choice?

  • Trust your own knowledge of your child.
  • Trust your own feelings and instincts about a school.
  • Remember that your child must be prepared for a world very different from the one you experienced as a young child.
  • Remember that school is not like it was when you were there.
  • Include your child in the decision-making process.
  • Seek many different opinions.
  • Be cautious about making a decision based on only one factor.


Other Web Sites
www.kpirc.org/Downloads/Questions.pdf
www.austega.com/gifted/parents/choosingschools.htm
www.eduville.com/choosing.html
www.the-old-pro.com/rtschool.htm


Chinese Language and Culture at Hulstrom Options K-8

We are pleased to announce that Hulstrom has been awarded a Mandarin Chinese Language teacher grant from College Board. Hulstrom welcomes our full-time Mandarin Chinese teacher! Ms. Yanxia Xu joined our staff in January 2008.  She will stay with us as a part of our staff through the 2009-10 school year and offer Mandarin Chinese instruction to our students in grades 3-5 this year, and 3-8 next year. This grant was highly competitive and we are honored to have been selected by College Board. This grant really helps Hulstrom to get world language instruction implemented in our K-8!

Here are some resource links supporting this decision:
Going Global, Scholastic News - May 8, 2006 www.scholastic.com/news
Chinese Foreign Language Programs Grow at Schools - St. Petersburg Times - April 25, 2005
Learn Why Chinese Language Matters to Americans - Chinese Language Programs in American Schools
Why Chinese?  Chinese Language Programs in American Schools

 

Next year we will continue to have two classes of half day kindergarten (am & pm) and two sections of full day kindergarten that are tuition based.  However, in evaluating our application and enrollment trends, we have decided to make some programmatic changes.  New, incoming kindergarten will be divided into two programs, rather than the current three program model.    First, we will have two classes of kindergarten Gifted Options.  One class will be half day in the afternoon and one will be full-day.  The other two classes will be the biggest change we are making going into the new school year.  The school staff has spent the past six months looking at our data, our applications, research, best practice and the needs of our students.  In this evaluation, we have decided that it is appropriate to make changes to our programs at this time.  We know that our families are interested and supportive of our rigor, acceleration, and high expectations for students. Therefore, we have decided to re-design the program offerings in our school.  We will no longer offer Young Scholars and Connections, but will offer a program that embraces an advanced academic approach, therefore the new program will be the Advanced Academic Program or AAP.  This program will begin operation in kindergarten next year with one half-day class in the morning and one full-day, tuition based class.  At this time, we are considering possible implementation of the program for our current kindergarten as they transition into first grade.  Our decision will be based on what will best serve the needs of the students within that grade level with consideration of research on best practices and input from parents.  The AAP program will build each year as those students move forward in grades.