Gifted
Newsletter: The FC Gifted Gazette Newsletter is now online! For all the latest news and information, check out our quarterly newsletter. Fall 2012 news coming soon.
The Gifted Program: First Colonial High School is proud to have over 300 students who have been identified as gifted due to their advanced intellectual or artistic capabilities. The Gifted Program offers gifted and talented students a wide variety of wonderful choices. Academically challenging classes, exciting music and theatre opportunities, and superior visual art experiences are just some of the many possibilities for students.
Gifted Courses: FCHS offers two semester credit courses for gifted students: SPARKS and Think Tank for Super Thinkers. Classes are led by the Gifted Resource Teacher and meet in the Gifted Resource Room (Room 219). These courses are designed to foster opportunities for gifted high school students to question, explore, cooperate, solve problems, and conduct discussions. Students’ learning experiences are differentiated in order to appropriately challenge and optimize learning opportunities for all. This is accomplished by means of a natural exchange among students utilizing whole class and small group discussions as well as individual thinking and writing assignments. To register for one of these unique semester credit classes, see your guidance counselor or the Gifted Resource Teacher in Room 219. Classes are offered during lunch/study block periods.
Governor's School for the Arts: Students in Grades 9 -11 are invited to audition for the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk. Held concurrently with our school year, participants come to FCHS for three blocks and then ride the GSA bus to Norfolk for their specialized studies in Dance, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, Visual Arts, or Vocal Music. Application for audition forms are available in Room 219. For more information visit the Governor's School website.
Summer Programs: Gifted and Talented students have the opportunity to attend one the Summer Residential Governor's Schools hosted by the Virginia State Department of Education. Three to five week immersions in visual and performing arts, humanities, foreign languages, mathematics, medicine, science, and technology as well as mentorship opportunities in marine science or engineering are offered at college and university campuses. One of the most important aspects of the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools programs is the opportunity for participants to live, study, and get to know other students with similar interests and abilities from across Virginia. Both co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are designed to encourage students’ interests and abilities. Recreation and free time are provided outside of the academic environment enabling students to enjoy what may be their first summer living away from home. For more information on Summer Residential Governor’s Schools, visit the SRGS website or see the Gifted Resource Teacher.
Gifted Resource: The Gifted Resource Room (Room 219) has two computers and twenty wireless laptops with Microsoft Office and Internet access, including a laser printer. There are computer programs to help students prepare for the SAT/PSAT, Calculus, and Chemistry, as well as a Gifted Resource Library stocked with books about colleges, scholarship opportunities, and other information that is helpful to both gifted students and their parents. Students are encouraged to sign in and use the room as a valuable academic resource.
Gifted Advisory Board: The gifted students of FCHS make up the Gifted Advisory Board (GAB). GAB offers opportunities for members to make new friends, improve their community, develop leadership skills, and make a positive difference in the world. GAB has supported Toys for Tots, Yoplait Lids for Breast Cancer Research, and the Adopt-a-Street Program. To join GAB, students may simply attend meetings, which are held the first Wednesday of each month beginning in October.
Gifted Testing/The Referral Process: Gifted testing is held three times during the school year. If you have yet to be identified and are interested in the process, please stop by Room 219 to obtain referral. A teacher, a parent/guardian, a peer, the student support team, or any person who has knowledge of the student’s abilities may initiate a referral. The Eligibility/Placement Committee meets quarterly (November, January, March, and May) to review parent and teacher recommendations and observations, test scores, and other information that will assist them with eligibility decisions. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the process.
