Exceptional products the result of creative students, great teachers, faithful parents
The Waco ISD Advanced Academics department hosted the first annual product fair on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at University High School. The fair began with opening remarks from Waco ISD Board President Pat Atkins, who addressed parents, students and teachers in the very crowded cafeteria.
"We take very seriously our responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind, and this charge includes the most challenged and needy students as well as the most capable and brightest students," Atkins said. "Every child deserves the opportunity to learn beyond his or her own expectations."
The fair featured an informal presentation of student work. Approximately 170 student projects were on display, representing 18 elementary schools and six intermediate or middle schools.
The process began earlier in the semester at the campus level for students in first- through eighth-grades.The challenge was for each student to complete an independent research project with a presentation on a topic of their choice. The assignment followed the guidelines of the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP), and students were limited only by their imagination.
Each campus conducted a mini product fair to evaluate projects using the grade-level appropriate TPSP rubric and selected two winners per grade level to attend the district-level product fair.
The project was required for all identified gifted and talented students. Other students in gifted and talented cluster classrooms or Pre Advanced Placement classrooms were invited to participate but not required.
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