GATE

What is GATE?

GATE include students who have strengths beyond academics, such as creativity and divergent thinking. GATE is not more work or working ahead. GATE is about exploring topics and concepts in greater depth, making connections across content areas, and collaborating to explore the complexity of ideas. We do this through the use of the GATE Depth and Complexity icons. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their learning through a variety of ways, including designing their own product to best express their creativity.

Depth and Complexity Icons

Mission Statement

Meet the Teachers

Mrs. Campbell – Amanda Campbell teaches 4^th grade GATE this year. It is her 10^thyear teaching and her 8th year at Palmyra. Previously, she has taught 3rd, 4th, 5th grade. She absolutely loves being at Palmyra and a part of the GATE program. She enjoys teaching science, incorporating the use of technology in her teaching, and loves studying novels with her class… especially Harry Potter (Hufflepuff Pride)! She stays very busy at home with her 2 sons. Holden is in 2nd grade this year and Harry is 4! Her husband, Brandon, is a high school Special Education teacher. Mrs. Campbell’s favorite things to do (while away from her classroom) are going to the beach, swimming, watching Angels Baseball, and finding fun adventures to take her boys on.

Email: Acampbell@orangeusd.org

Ms. Campbell - Lea Campbell is teaching the 6th grade GATE class this year. It is her 18th year in the Palmyra GATE program and her 27th year of teaching. She has taught at West Orange Elementary (5th grade) and McPherson Magnet (5th and 7th grade). She loves reading and math and is known for her slight obsession with pi. She has two sons, Jack (21) and Luke (18). She and her husband love to kayak and garden together and the whole family loves to go to the beach.

Email: Lcampbel@orangeusd.org

Ms. Rowe - Kim Rowe is teaching the 3rd grate GATE cluster this year. It is her 2nd year teaching GATE and her 22nd year at Palmyra where she has taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. She is proud to be a long-time Palmyra Pinto & overjoyed to join the GATE team this year. She enjoys finding creative ways to engage students in math & reading. She has a son, Gavin, who is in 12th grade and a daughter, Mia, who is in 9th grade. Outside of school, she enjoys yoga, hiking with their mini-Goldendoodle Roxie, and going to concerts.

Email: krowe@orangeusd.org

Mrs. Koo - Vivian Koo is teaching the 5th grade class this year. It is her 2nd year teaching GATE and her 5th year of teaching. She has taught 1st, 5th, and 6th grade. She is the founder and leader of the Newspaper Club at Palmyra. She and her husband David are parents to Michael (1) and are enjoying watching him learn and grow. They also enjoy trying new sushi restaurants, traveling, and watching shows together.

Email: vkoo@orangeusd.org

Characteristics of GATE Students

Gifted students generally demonstrate extraordinary talent or ability in the areas of academics, visual and performing arts, intellectual capacity, or leadership. The characteristics of an individual gifted student may include the following:

Observant - notice changes around them
Curious - they investigate discrepancies or happenings
Questioning - they want to know “Why”?
Logical - they see cause and effect relationships and connections
Expressive - they use advanced vocabulary and are quite articulate
Inventive - they reason in clever, unique ways to find original solutions to problems
Versatile - they may participate in lots of activities and adapt readily to new situations
Persistent - they stay with a task and become intensely focused
Sensitive - they are very empathetic to others
Perceptive - they see the essence of a situation

District Contact Information

GATE Orientation Slideshow - English

GATE Orientation Slideshow - Spanish

Designing Freshwater Collection Systems with Amplify Science

Fun Friday - Hungry Caterpillars Race

Math Centers

Divisibility Rules Game

Art Masters!

5th and 6th Grade VAPA Showcase