March 19, 2009 Education digest

Ranchvale and James Bickley students win state gifted and talented championship

Sixth grade Destination Imagination Teams from Ranchvale and James Bickley Elementary schools won the state championship in Albuquerque on March 14.

Seven students from Ranchvale and 15 from James Bickley took the title.

Destination Imagination is a program for gifted and talented students that involves using creative thinking to solve problems.

The teams are headed to the Global Competition in Tennessee at the end of May and the students are raising funds for the trip.

To donate: Ranchvale at 985-2277 or James Bickley at 769-4450

Arts Academy at Bella Vista principal joins endowment institute

Shelly Norris, principal of the Arts Academy at Bella Vista, was chosen to be a member of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Education Leaders Institute, according to a New Mexico Arts news release.

The team of five is intended to focus on how the state’s arts education programs and arts resources can be used to reduce New Mexico’s dropout rate.

Education Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Liliana Castillo. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail: [email protected]