Gifted Reach Out Program

Welcome Spring!

First, Second and Third Grade:

First, Second and third graders are nearing completion of their Medieval Times Unit.  Throughout this unit we visited our own medieval festival, learned the code of chivalry and dressed our own knights.  We also learned about the art and architecture of the Middle Ages through studying castles and stained glass windows…What an adventure we had!

Next, we will begin a unit on Puppetry.  In this unit, students will learn about and create a wide variety of puppets.  We will also work to write our own dialog for our puppets to perform.  The students will view their puppets as an extension of themselves to tell original stories and retell old tales. 

For this unit, I will be looking for materials from home.  If you have any odds and ends that you think will help us create puppets (felt, yarn, buttons, feathers, ribbon paper lunch bags, old mittens and/or gloves etc.) I would greatly appreciate you sending them in to school.  All students will be required to bring in one long sock, which will be used to create his/her own sock puppet.

Fourth Grade:

Fourth grade students have completed their unit on Shakespeare. Each group rewrote an act from Julius Caesar and did a wonderful job performing it for their fourth grade classmates!

Currently, they are experimenting with diverse methods of creativity as they work through our Visual Arts Unit. They will learn to express themselves through various artistic techniques. Students will study the masters and be able to critique their style, design and composition, as well as create their own artwork in the style of the artists studied. The culminating project for Visual Arts has the students creating an “autobiography” of an artist of their choice.  Fourth graders will dress as the artist, and present their life story at our “Artist in Residence” presentation.  They will also create an original piece in the designated style of their chosen artist.

Fifth Grade:

The fifth grade GRO students have recently finished their unit of study on Archeology.  We thank the Mt. Tabor faculty, students and families for attending the “Museum Day,” which showcased their knowledge on ancient cultures.

In the next unit called BRAIN/MIND CONNECTION, students will explore the knowns and unkowns about the human mind.  We may not have all the answers concerning our brain, but what’s most important is to persevere in our efforts to use our brain to study the brain.  Our brain is the only organ that can study itself!  It seems that the more we know, the more we want to know.  As students pursue some of the activities in this unit, they may come to a new awareness of their own tremendous potential and hidden personal abilities.

Evaluations for the Gifted Reach Out Program

The GRO program provides enrichment for first through fifth grade students who have demonstrated high capabilities.  The work presented in the GRO curriculum is above grade level and rigorous.  Children are expected to fulfill their regular classroom and their GRO proficiencies during the year.  Teacher recommendations, parent input, work folders, and aptitude test scores are considered in determining student eligibility.

Parents of current first through fourth grade students interested in having their child evaluated for the district gifted program (GRO) should speak to your child’s teacher at conferences, and then send a written request no later than May 1, 2012 to your child’s classroom teacher.  Evaluation of eligible students will begin in June for the next school year.  Current kindergartners interested in the program will be considered in December 2012.  Please send requests next year to the appropriate first grade teacher.