Unlimited Horizons Program Now Accepting Applications

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District is proud of continued student achievement in the Unlimited Horizons Program at Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School. The Unlimited Horizons Program presents a unique opportunity for students in kindergarten through sixth grade to learn at an accelerated rate. The school is currently looking for students who excel in all academic areas and who achieve above and beyond the levels of their peers. Targeted students are intrinsically motivated, exhibit leadership ability, and possess the potential for exceptional intellectual ability and creativity.

Screening for entrance into next year’s Unlimited Horizons Accelerated Academic Program K-5 at Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School, 137 Montgomery Street in the City of Newburgh and grade 6 at South Middle School, 33-63 Monument Street, in the City of Newburgh, will take place on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 9 a.m. at Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School.

Unlimited Horizons is the school district’s only academically-accelerated program on the K-6 grade level. Horizons-on-the-Hudson is in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate School. International Baccalaureate is a globally recognized program that develops inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The International Baccalaureate Organization works with Horizons to provide the students with challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. South Middle School is currently exploring the possibility of implementing an International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Students from all over the district who are eligible for Unlimited Horizons are encouraged to attend one of the screenings, which includes a group-administered ability test battery to assess each student’s abilities in reasoning and problem solving. Incoming
students in grades K-2 will be interviewed as well and incoming students in grades 3-6 will complete an essay in addition to being interviewed.

Each class in the Unlimited Horizons Program follows an accelerated-pathways, honors-prep program which involves the students in curriculum work advanced by one year. Kindergartners, for example, follow a strong 1st grade curriculum. Sixth graders are better prepared to go into 7th Grade Honors classes at the middle school. Strong parental involvement is a crucial requirement of the program.

Since a limited numbers of seats are available for each grade level, the application process for the Unlimited Horizons Program requires interested students to demonstrate their ability to succeed in the program. Along with the testing mentioned above, criteria for entrance include high academic standing as shown by report card grades and teacher comments. Pre-K attendance with outstanding assessment is an indicator of success in this program. Attendance and discipline records will be part of the selection process. For further information about Unlimited Horizons, call Horizons-on-the-Hudson Magnet School at 563-3725.

From Kerry Butrick

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