Gifted Reach Out (GRO)

The Gifted Reach Out Program (GRO) is a special program dedicated to nurturing and supporting the unique gifts and talents of our highly capable students. This enrichment program offers students the chance to interact with, to stimulate, and be stimulated by their peers, while remaining a part of the regular classroom setting.

GRO encourages independent learning, research and individual product development, using creative problem solving and critical thinking.

Testing for Gro

Parents of current first through fourth graders interested in having their child tested for the district’s gifted program (GRO) should send a written response no later than May 14, 2012 to their child’s classroom teacher.  Testing for those eligible will begin in June and results will be mailed home during the first week of summer vacation.  In conjunction with GRO testing, teacher and parent evaluations are considered in determining student eligibility.   Current kindergartners interested in the program will be tested in December 2012.  Please send requests next year to the appropriate first grade teacher.

The GRO program provides enrichment for students who have demonstrated high capabilities.  The work is represented above grade level and is rigorous.  Children are expected to fulfill their regular classroom and GRO proficiencies during the year. 

There are many definitions for giftedness. They all have one element in common: A gifted person is someone who shows, or has the potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression.

A person's giftedness should not be confused with the means by which giftedness is observed or assessed. A parent's, teacher's or student's recommendation, a high mark on an examination, a high IQ score, are not giftedness; however, they may be a signal that giftedness exists. [From: National Association for Gifted Children]

There are many very bright children that are not gifted learners. Differences between a bright child and a gifted learner include:

Message from Eastlake's GRO Teacher,
Mrs. Stephanie Dasti

The 2nd and 3rd graders have been involved in the “Math Sampler” unit.  It has been a fantastic collection of a variety of challenging math activities for the GRO students.  Essentially, problem solving at its best!  Students have explored game theory as we played games and learned through games.  We are in the process of concluding our unit by playing the student created Math games.

The 4th graders started the year by exploring the world and words of William Shakespeare. They have stepped back into Elizabethan times to gain a better awareness of the world in which Shakespeare lived and worked.   The students have developed a better understanding of the language he used, and learned to appreciate his contributions to modern language.  They will begin to read and analyze “Julius Caesar” in order to help them prepare for their performance.  Their culminating project will be to analyze either William Shakespeare or a character from Julius Caesar.

As you can see we are starting off with a spectacular curriculum full of fun and wonder. Just remember, "Asking questions lets me know you are ready for GRO! " Enjoy the year!