‘Did You Know?’
‘Did You Know?’ is a communication geared to educate parents on terms and programs provided in the Goochland County Public Schools. This information is provided by the Gifted Advisory Committee.
I/E Block
Goochland County Public Schools strive to meet the needs of your individual child everyday. You have probably heard your child mention the term I/E block this year. I/E stands for intervention and enrichment and this 45 minute block of time is used to provide additional opportunities to help meet the needs of the students. Based on assessments and other data, groups of students are given targeted instruction during the I/E block. It also provides a time for eligible students to receive services outside the classroom such as speech or PALS remediation services without missing core classroom instruction. Every three weeks, the specific needs of students are reassessed by the teachers and the groupings and areas of focus for the I/E block is adjusted.
Utilizing the I/E block; students can receive intervention to boost skills or enrichment to dive deeper into a skill. Students who have mastered a skill beyond the current classroom may receive enrichment lessons to move beyond the SOLs and the classroom curriculum. In addition, students who have been found to need more time to master a skill (e.g. division facts) would be placed in an intervention group to receive more practice time in this area. Throughout the year, a child could receive intervention in one content area and enrichment in another content area as these groups are flexible and student-centered.
The I/E block is designed to assist students in achieving excellence in all areas and to provide an environment that is responsive to students learning needs during the academic school year. The I/E block is a relatively new initiative in the Goochland County Public School systems that will continue to adjust and develop to provide the greatest impact.
Internships and Independent Studies
A new program was launched at Goochland High School in 2007 often referred to as IIS. Students have intellectual, artistic, or career interests which cannot be fully pursued within the existing high school curriculum and the Internship and Independent Study Program (IIS) encourages students to pursue these interests.
The Internship Program is available to 11th and 12th graders. It is a field-based experience that gives an opportunity for students to gain a realistic perspective of a career or profession. With the aid of an adult mentor from the school or the community, a student designs a course of study that can be completed in one semester (.5 credits) or in two semesters (1.0 credit). Students are expected to acquire knowledge gained through observation and participation in a professional setting. An example of a field-based internship is learning about Veterinary Science by working in a vet’s office and writing a study paper, keeping a journal, or preparing visual presentations on the experience.
The Independent Study Program is available to 9th-12th graders. Independent Studies are an on-campus explorations of a topic of the student’s choosing under the mentorship of an adult willing to supervise their studies. A student may also elect to enroll in an online or distance learning course, though tuition and materials costs may be involved. Students are expected to seek new activities that expand areas of personal talent and interest, and that can be of benefit to their mentor, the field site, or their school and personal advancement. An example of an Independent Study is Readings in Contemporary Literature.
The IIS program was designed for all students who have a desire to pursue an interest or hobby outside the regular curriculum. To participate in the program a student must have at least a 2.0 GPA and be able to work independently and complete a project. Jesse Hernandez is the Independent Study and Internship Coordinator at the high school and you can contact her at for more information about the program.