Challenge Programs
ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS
The Elementary Challenge Program is for K-5th grades. The Program(s) offered will vary at each building as the weekly program is developed to meet a particular building's needs. The program is a pull-out class that meets with students approximately 45 minutes each week.
Accelerated Math - Accelerated Math begins at the 6th grade level. Students are selected for further testing through standardized achievement test scores at the 90th percentile in the math area and teacher recommendation. Once accepted into the program, the student advances one year in mathematics taught by the classroom teacher.
Literature Units - This Program consists of selected novels and Junior Great Books at the 1st - 6th grade levels. These units help students learn to write interpretive questions, put their ideas on paper, learn from one another, articulate ideas, and provides a wide range of creative and high level thinking skills. The Junior Great Books is a reading collection of outstanding traditional and modern literature ranging from sixth century B.C. to modern times.
BESTS - The Belin Elementary Student Talent Search (BESTS) is initiated by Belin-Blank Center through the University of Iowa. The BESTS strives to assist with the development and encouragement of elementary grade students' academic talents. To take part in BESTS, students must have achieved at the 95th percentile or above on the national norms of a standardized achievement test.
Habitat - is for 2nd grade students who study habitats and learn all the elements necessary to a healthy environment. The students uncover many interesting facts, such as animal camouflage and the need for it, why some animals are poisonous, how a food chain works and the differences between domestic and wild animals. The students attend a fieldtrip, during the school year, to the Pioneer Park Nature's Center in Lincoln, NE.
Knowledge Master - The Knowledge Master Open was designed to stimulate enthusiasm for learning and recognition for academic accomplishment. Knowledge Master involves teamwork and quick thinking, as it is a timed event using a computer. This is an opportunity for academically gifted sixth graders.
Math Days - The sixth grade Accelerated Math students meet twice a year to study math usage in the "real world." At their first meeting, students learn about and study the Stock Market. Each is given "play money" to invest in the market. They are to keep track of their stock purchases and the price increase or decrease over a period of time. At their second meeting, the students study budgets. The students will then find a job/salary, learn how to budget their earnings, for all expenses, including purchasing a car, loan payments, insurance, gas, and maintenance.
4th & 5th Grade PhotoShop- In this one-day session, your student(s) will be learning how to make a photo collage on the computer. After they learn how to run the program, each child will use the pictures to make their own unique collage. They will then make a copy of their collage to take home.
Theater - Fourth graders get the opportunity to study the theater. They attend a children's play at the historic Rose Theatre in Omaha. NE. To add to the overall theater experience, students attend a two-hour workshop following the play held at the Central Office. Here, they are led by the actors in an exploration of dance and drama techniques. The students also experience technical demonstrations of lighting, scenery, costumes, and make-up. Everyone has the chance to "be an actor or actress" as they take part in a variety of theater grames and activities.
ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY PROGRAMS
Summer Sessions for High Achievers - A one-week program called, Summer Sessions for High Achievers is offered twice during the summer; one week in June and one week in July. Different classes are offered each week to students in grades 1-9 from all schools within a 30-mile radius of the Norfolk area. A wide variety of classes are offered, such as, theatre, crafts, science labs, computer labs, sign language, exploring watercolors, exploring the American Frontier, star formations, and much, much more! Approximately 425 students from different schools are involved in this program.
Middle School Program
Talent Identification Program (TIP) - Participation in any of the Talent Identification Programs (TIP) is completely voluntary. Our goal is to assist young people who have excellent mathematical, verbal, or general intellectual ability by providing them with information about educational options beneficial to them. The TIP participants will complete SAT or ACT assessment tests originally designed for high school juniors and seniors. While far too difficult for the average 7th grader, these tests have proven to be helpful in discriminating the abilities of 7th graders who are already scoring at or above the 95th percentile on other standardized achievement or aptitude tests. The TIP results are used to invite students to NSA (see below). There are approximately 70 students identified for this program.
SECONDARY PROGRAMS
Nebraska Scholars' Academy (NSA) - The Nebraska Scholars' Academy (NSA) is a one-week summer instructional program designed to provide gifted students challenging enrichment opportunities in mathematics, communications and science, which is sponsored by Hastings College in Hastings, NE. Students are eligible to attend if they will be in the eighth grade the following school year and are invited to participate on the basis of their abilities, potential contributions to NSA, and as a result of their ACT or SAT score(s), which are compiled by Duke University. Four to six students, out of 175 eligible students, will come from the Norfolk Public Schools system.
Summer Sessions for High Achievers
The Summer Sessions for High Achievers Program has been developed to serve the needs of students in Northeast Nebraska who possess exceptional characteristics, potential, or abilities and who are willing to commit themselves to the pursuit of demonstrated excellence, using these qualities to their fullest potential. The Summer Sessions for High Achievers Program is for students in grades 1-9. Classes are held for one week in June and one week in July at the Middle School, 1221 First Street in Norfolk, Nebraska. The Summer Sessions brochure and application information are provided in the links on the icon, Summer Sessions for High Achievers
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