School Resources

It’s time to register for this year’s Advanced Academic Programs (formerly G/T) Seminars! Before you register using the links below, please review the basics of AAP Seminar participation before you register:

• Any interested student may sign up for an AAP seminar. You do not need to be enrolled in any advanced classes to participate.
• Students who do not have a music sectional may take up to two AAP seminars at a time. Students who have a music sectional may take only one AAP seminar. Please only register for one or two AAP Seminars based on your sectional participation.
• AAP Seminar meeting dates will be posted to your Canvas Calendar on a quarterly basis.
• Students are expected to inform their classroom teacher in advance of their AAP seminar meeting times. Students are also responsible for reporting to Ms. Page for their AAP seminar at the start of the class period/meeting time. At the end of the AAP seminar meeting, students are dismissed to their regularly scheduled class for the last 10 minutes to hand in any work that is due and to collect work that was missed. The work that was missed should be completed at home and returned the next day. Additionally, regular seminar participation is required. While students who have been ill, or have a scheduling conflict with a sectional or standardized testing are excused, students who do not attend regularly will be removed from their seminar.
• Unfortunately, space is limited in our AAP Seminars. If you would like to be added to a wait list for a particular seminar, please message Ms. Page in Canvas.
• ONLY students may register for an AAP seminar(s) using the links in the Canvas Student Resources announcement. Parents do not have access to the registration forms. In order for students to have an enriching and enjoyable GT experience, they must choose to participate.
• AAP Seminar registration opens in Canvas on Wednesday, August 26. Students can access the registration links via Ms. Page’s announcement in the Student Resources course. The deadline to register for AAP Seminars is Tuesday, September 8, at 3:15 p.m.

Here are the 2026-27 AAP Seminars!

BMMS Press  (Sept. - June) - In the BMMS Press Seminar, students will create booklet-size mini magazines on a variety of self-selected topics. Participants will develop their communication skills by using literary and artistic elements for self-expression. Through their creative and expository writing and visual art (including drawing, collage, photography, and digital design), participants will produce zines that inform and delight their readers.

Book Club (Oct. - May) - Book Club is for students who love to read and discuss challenging books.  Participants will read 7 exciting and thought-provoking books, then meet once a month to share their ideas with the Club.  

Debate (Sept. - April) - Debate Seminar provides students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful, persuasive discourse about contemporary issues, thereby strengthening their leadership, critical thinking, and presentation skills. Students use research skills to develop logical arguments supported with evidence to be applied to debates following a prescribed format. 

Forensics (second semester): This seminar is designed to explore key topics in forensic science. Throughout this seminar there will be both virtual and hands-on experiences using a variety of forensic tools and technology resources. Students will systematically obtain data and apply scientific processes to understand the details of a crime using fictional, age-appropriate, crime scenarios to understand concepts and processes. Registration for this seminar opens in January. The seminar will run second semester.

STEM Explorers (first and second semesters): Participants in this seminar will have full access to the BMMS Ripken STEM Center equipment and will be introduced to:

• Modeling and printing 3D designs on the Robo 3D printers
• Coding MicroBits to follow basic commands
• Programming Sphero Bolts and RVR+s  to travel an obstacle course
• Applying the Engineering Design Process to prototype a moving machine using a STEM Pathways lab
• And much more!

Model United Nations (Sept. - June) -  Students interested in learning about world politics, diplomacy, research, and public speaking should join the Model United Nations (MUN) Seminar. 

Stock Market Game (first and second semesters) - Students participating in the Stock Market Game Seminar will compete with a team to invest in the Stock Market in real-time (with fake money!) while learning about economics, investing, and personal finance. This seminar will be offered first and second semesters. Students who register will be assigned to either the first or second semester session. Ms. Page will notify participants on September 11 as to which semester they have been assigned.

Television Production (Sept. - June) - Television Production Seminar students are asked to think and work like media producers, utilizing the media production process and industry-standard tools to entertain, persuade, inform, and instruct. Participants in this seminar will contribute to the daily Bobcat News morning broadcast, which serves as an example of a high-quality product wherein students emulate practicing professionals in the field.