North Allegheny Senior High School
            Gifted Opportunities For Advanced Learning - GOAL

 

 

• Most but not all of the activities listed here will be available in a given year. Deletions and additions occur due to student interest, sponsorship availability and concerns, weather-related problems, etc.
  
• A number of activities are organized by one or more member schools of the Northern Area Gifted Consortium. The Consortium is composed of school districts north of the city of Pittsburgh, most of which lie between the Allegheny and Ohio rivers.
  
• Students indicate interest in specific activities in their annual GIEP conferences. Their actual participation depends on their attention to the GOAL activities calendar and bulletin board, timely registration in the GOAL Office for the actual events, and completion and submission of the necessary parental permission / teacher notification forms.

ACADEMIC TRIATHLON This is a competitive event to which each Northern Area Gifted Consortium district sends one or two teams of four students. The competition is divided into two major segments--the "College Bowl" and the "Identification Segment." In the College Bowl, two teams, using an electronic buzzer system, compete answering questions presented by a moderator. The Identification Segment is sub-divided into six or seven legs which test knowledge of pop music, classical music, art identification, literature, movies, current events, and foreign language; teams respond in writing to questions presented in written, audio, or video format.

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY SIMULATION This simulation gives participants the opportunity to interact with other students to determine a U.S. course of action and foreign policy in response to a world crisis scenario. Each student represents a person with a stake in the outcome -- e.g. Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, CIA Director, journalist, President of the U.S.

ARMSTRONG ACADEMIC CHALLENGE This Saturday competition is sponsored by the Armstrong Group (formerly Armstrong Cable Company). Area high schools in the Armstrong viewing area are invited to register a team of five students for this quiz bowl event. Quiz questions are drawn from all areas of the high school curriculum. The final round of competition with the top two remaining school teams is aired on cable television.

APPRENTICESHIPS Students learn more about a personal or career interest during the school year. These apprenticeships have been developed, offered, and coordinated by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit to which students must apply for acceptance into the program. Each apprenticeship features an average of six half- or full-day meetings during school hours. Students learn under the direction of professionals working in the selected area. In most cases, lectures are minimal, with the emphasis on interaction, field experiences, and student participation. Apprenticeships are:

• Acting
• Advertising
• Animation
• Anthropology
• Architecture
  Art Careers
• Astronomy
• Broadcast Journalism
• Business
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Conducting
• Contemporary Dance
• Dance Academy
• Education
• Engineering
• Film Making
• International Affairs
• Journalism
• Journalistic Writing/Reporting
• Marine Biology
• Memoir Writing
• Musical Theater
• Nursing
• Opera
• Photography
• Playwriting
• Poetry Writing
• Screenwriting
• Short Fiction
• Videography
• Visual Arts
• Web Design
• Zoo Animal Care

For more detailed information on each apprenticeship visit the AIU program description page.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE This program brings a professional artist or performer into the school to share expertise and enthusiasm with students. Past residencies have included architecture/building design, mime, pottery, musical composition, acting, fiction writing, and television production. A core group of students meets daily with the artist and works on a special project. Appropriate additional programs are developed for other classes and groups of students.

CALC-U-SOLVE In a half-day team-oriented mathematics competition, students individually solve two rounds of four problems. Once each problem is presented, clues are added at specific time intervals. More points are earned by earlier solutions. The final problem in the series is solved by the school team working together. Individual and team total scores determine the top teams and individuals.

CAREER EXPLORATIONS:

• SHADOW STUDY The Shadow Study program includes the shadow study experience and follow-up evaluation. It is designed to give the student an opportunity to observe a professional in a particular career for part or all of a day. The student also completes a questionnaire about the career during the shadow study.
• MENTORSHIP/EXTERNSHIP A student may observe several different career resource people in a given field or observe the same person over an extended period of time as an extension of the shadow study option.
• INTERNSHIP A more intensive career opportunity allows a student to actually perform work at a work site with a career professional as the student's supervisor. This option requires more of a time commitment on the part of the student than the above two options.

CHESS TOURNAMENT Both novice and expert players participate in a formal competition among the schools of the Northern Area Gifted Consortium. Each school team is composed of 4 players plus an alternate. Play proceeds according to an eight-position double elimination tournament. Students who are eliminated learn by watching games as top winners continue toward the championship match. Certificates are awarded for top individual and composite team scores.

COMPETITIONS (Individual Entry) Students receive information about a variety of contests and competitions for individuals during the school year in areas such as creative writing, art, scientific research, and academic achievement. Examples include: American Legion High School Essay Contest National History Day Outstanding Asian-American Student Award Pegasus Poetry Contest Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest (VFW)

COMPETITIVE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SEMINARS Admissions representatives from selective colleges and universities meet with interested students in small groups to discuss the admission process and particulars about their individual schools.

CAREERS IN COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM Students from gifted consortium schools join NASH students in seminars with career professionals in various communications fields. Past presenters have included a TV sportscaster, TV meteorologist, newspaper photographer, TV cameraman, newspaper editor, and animation specialist.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE BOWL A team of 4 students plus an alternate is selected to compete in the Western Pennsylvania Regional Science Bowl, a buzzer-style quiz bowl competition covering a broad spectrum of science topics. In 2002, the NA team advanced to the final round before elimination--just one team away from the national finals in Washington, D.C.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND TUTORING At the beginning of the school year, students indicate an interest in sharing their talents and interests with elementary age children. In response to teacher or parent requests, GOAL students visit elementary classrooms to supplement class units and interest day activities or visit children's homes and schools to do subject area tutoring. Students might also have opportunities to become instructors in after-school enrichment programs such as Introductory Chess.

ENGINEERING CAREER DAY This career program brings together professional engineers from the following disciplines: architectural, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, and mechanical in an opening panel discussion. Students then choose to attend three seminars in fields of interest to learn about the specific job requirements and responsibilities within the individual disciplines.

GENETICS UPDATE CONFERENCE Dr. Sam Rhine, a nationally known genetics educator from the Genetic Education Center in Fortville, Indiana, presents a one-day Genetics Update Conference which details the latest advances in genetics. Topics have included such topics as genetic and acquired causes of disabilities, the Genome Project, human embryology, transgenic technologies, cloning. Students from throughout Western Pennsylvania attend the program hosted by NASH GOAL.

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE Sophomores and juniors may apply to one or two of these Pennsylvania Governor's Schools: Agricultural Sciences, Arts, Global Entrepreneurship, Health Care, Information Technology, International Studies, Sciences, and Teaching. Each residential program provides a five-week living/learning experience on a Pennsylvania university campus. The Governor's Schools provide selected high-ability students with advanced-level study under the guidance of master teachers. The full scholarship provides room, board, tuition, activities fees, materials, and supplies. The application process, coordinated through GOAL, begins in October with an orientation program. Former Governor's School participants speak about their experiences and answer questions. GOAL staff remains available to students throughout the semester for application advice.

HOSPITAL TOURS Small groups of students are introduced to medical procedures as part of hospital career awareness programs. NA students have gone to UPMC Montefiore, Mercy and UPMC Passavant and Presbyterian University Hospitals.

INTERNATIONAL FORUM is held each year at NASH and features distinguished speakers from the Pittsburgh region to speak on timely international topics--focusing on economics, business, culture, politics, and hot issues of the day.

JETS/TEAMS COMPETITION TEAMS is the engineering team-based "Tests of Engineering Aptitude Mathematics and Science" of JETS, http://www.engineeringnet.org/jets/welcome.htm the "Junior Engineering Technical Society". The event consists of two parts—a set of problem statements with multiple-choice responses followed by a related set with open-ended responses. The problems are solved by teams of up to eight students who organize themselves into engineering project groups. The use of references and calculators is allowed and encouraged since the problems being investigated reach beyond the bounds of the standard high school curriculum into several engineering disciplines. The results of top-scoring schools in the regional competition are sent to the national JETS headquarters for scoring and ranking.

KDKA Giant Eagle Hometown High Q A team of 3 plus alternates is selected to compete in this yearly series of 3-team competitions among area high schools, taped on Saturdays. Winning schools advance to later rounds (and taping dates) in this fast-paced buzzer-style quiz program hosted by Ken Rice.

KNOWLEDGE MASTER OPEN This 200-question competition is presented and scored by a computer. Questions test the ability to recall, analyze and apply knowledge of a very broad range of topics. Students work together to discuss, determine and enter their answers. The contest is automatically scored for speed and accuracy. The results are reported by telephone to the Academic Hallmarks' national headquarters. Approximately 1600 other high schools worldwide (approximately 100 of which are in Pennsylvania) compete twice a year in the KMO. NASH hosts the event after school in the GOAL office twice a year (fall and spring).

LANGUAGE WORKSHOP DAY Following an opening kick-off presentation, each student participates in three workshops on languages not usually offered in the high school curriculum. Past seminars have included such languages as Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Swedish, Classical Greek, Polish, Hungarian, and Vietnamese. At the conclusion of the workshops, students reconvene for a cultural presentation in the universal language -- music.

LAW FORUM Attorneys, judges, and recent law school graduates give an overview of the legal profession, differences between civil and criminal law, and educational information to aid students in career decision-making.

MATH DAY AT KENNYWOOD Students complete a packet of applied math problems to be solved in Kennywood Park. A challenging and enjoyable day is spent measuring, calculating, and estimating.

MATH TEAMS Students in grades 9 through 12 (all are welcome) may choose to participate on NA's teams in either or both leagues: Travel League: Meets consist of individual and team-based problem-solving components. NA competes monthly with Fox Chapel Area, Shady Side Academy, and Taylor Allderdice High Schools from October through March in Section 7 of the Senior High Mathematics League of the Mathematics Council of Western Pennsylvania. Up to four teams of six students each are fielded. Top teams are invited to the April playoffs. Postal League: Meets consisting of individually solved 6-problem tests are open to any student wishing to take any or all of the monthly (November through April). Top scores are reported to the state organization which publishes a monthly report of school standings.

MEDICAL ADVANCES PROGRAM Allegheny General Hospital hosted this event for the first time during 1997-98 for Northern Area Gifted Consortium students. The program began with a presentation by an AGH cardiac surgeon on advances in the field, followed by informative presentations on advances in orthopedic surgery, oncology, neonatal intensive care, and neurosurgery.

MEDICAL SCHOOL UPDATES Medical school personnel or former NA students now enrolled in medical school meet with students to give an overview of the day-to-day schedules and education of medical students.

MISCELLANEOUS SEMINARS AND FIELD EXPERIENCES Each year, new opportunities arise or must be developed to meet the needs of individual students or small groups. The number and type of experiences depend on supply and demand.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS Both Pitt and Duquesne University host Model U.N.'s for area students. NASH students form delegations to represent countries at the Model United Nations, with each student serving on a different U.N. committee. Committees have included such areas as Security Council, Human Rights Committee, Committee on Refugees and Decolonization. Students may receive awards for work as individual delegates or as delegation units.

PENNSYLVANIA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES Students apply in the spring for the Saturday workshop series held at local universities in the fall through PJAS. Topics have included areas such as cryogenics, genetics, polymer chemistry, radioactivity, chromatography, astronomy.

PENNSYLVANIA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE RESEARCH Individual students participate in scientific research and develop original ideas by completing scientific projects. They submit abstracts indicating project title, purpose, and procedures. After several months of experimentation, students summarize their project results and analyze data. At the regional competition they make oral presentations of their findings to a panel of independent judges. First place winners present their projects in May at the State Competition held at Penn State University.

PERFORMING ARTS TICKETS On occasion GOAL students may purchase discounted tickets for ballet, symphony, concert, or theater performances.

SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS CAREER DAY The Carnegie Mellon chapter of the Society of Women Engineers annually sponsors a day-long workshop for girls interested in engineering careers. Female engineering students, faculty and professional engineers participate in presentations, demonstrations, and a panel discussion about the nature of several engineering disciplines, engineering education and career options.

SUMMER PROGRAMS Throughout the school year, information about summer programs and college courses is compiled as it arrives and is made available to students. Selected programs are highlighted at GOAL Focus Group meetings. Interested students can obtain specific program and application details for programs of individual interest.

TUTORING Students can register during GOAL orientation (or later) to be "on call" as tutors in the subjects areas of their strengths. Students of any grade level in need of tutoring can contact GOAL for the names of available tutors. Students who tutor after school hours receive monetary remuneration.

WESTINGHOUSE SCIENCE HONORS INSTITUTE WSHI, now over 40 years old, is a series of 13 Saturday morning lectures from October through February at the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center in Churchill. The sessions often include topics, content or demonstrations impractical or impossible to incorporate into the high school curriculum. Topics have included Semiconductor Devices, Materials Science, Plasmas, Enzymes, Lasers & Coherent Optics, Vacuum Technology, Arachnids: Ticking with Ticks, Applications of the Computer: CAD/CAM, Nuclear Science, Polymers, Genetic Engineering, Low Temperature Physics, Antarctica. At the conclusion of the WSHI series in recent years, a voluntary competitive examination has been administered. Each year, the highest-scoring students are awarded prizes ranging from summer jobs at Westinghouse (for the top two scorers) to Palm Pilots. Most recently and additionally, interschool groups have been arranged and a small group project has been assigned, with awards going to the top-performing group.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL WAC sponsors in-school programs which may feature visiting government officials or university professors. In addition, one-hour "Noon Briefings" offer a downtown setting for lunchtime lectures open to students and the public. Special events sponsored by WAC include both the fall and summer World Affairs Institutes and International Business Forums.

WORLD QUEST is a knowledge-based, team competition with questions focusing on international affairs, current events, the global economy, geography, world history, and general knowledge about the world. Teams consist of four students. The 1st place team will go on to the National Academic WorldQuest competition to be held in Washington, DC. This event is sponsored by the World Affairs Council.

ZOO--BEHIND THE SCENES & ZOO CAREER DAY PROGRAMS GOAL participates in two separate programs at the Pittsburgh Zoo. The Behind the Scenes program enables students to visit areas of the zoo ordinarily not viewed by zoo visitors such as the lions' bedrooms, the tiger cage area, the baby white rhino section, and the reptile. Animal handlers present information about animal care and zoo career opportunities. The Zoo Career Day program is an educational presentation on various zoo career options such as veterinarian, curator, education specialist, and animal handler.