Please visit the Gifted Auxiliary for the latest news and information including the current and back issues of the FC GazeTte.
What Is the Gifted and Talented Program?
The Gifted and Talented Program incorporates personalized instruction with experiences designed to enhance thinking abilities, academic performance, and special talents. The resource teacher serves as the advocate for the gifted and talented students in the school.
What Are the Types of Gifted and Talented Identification?
Teachers, students, and parents are encouraged to refer students for identification by giving names to the gifted resource teacher. Students may be identified as
1. Intellectually gifted
2. Artistically talented (music, dance, visual arts, theater)
What Services Does the Gifted and Talented Program Provide?
· Individual and Group Conferences – available upon request
· After-School Gifted Program Credit Courses
· Independent Studies
· Arts Programs – enrichment classes in the arts
· Governor’s School for the Arts – a year round magnet school at Old Dominion University in dance, theater, music (vocal and instrumental), visual and performing arts.
· Brickell Scholars – a seminar program for selected academic students offered by the Rotary Club.
· Governor’s Residential School for the Gifted – a summer residential program in the humanities, sciences, agriculture, and the arts at major Virginia universities.
First Colonial’s Gifted and Talented Program Offerings
· Resource room - many academic resources and library
· Monthly Newsletter – The FC GAZETTE is published monthly with information for the gifted and talented written by students; it is distributed through homerooms.
· Lunchtime Activities – include lunchtime competitions, games, technological support, academic coaching, and small group discussions.
· College Prep Assistance – this focuses primarily on résumé writing and scholarship information.
· PSAT/SAT Prep – computer programs and books are available for students.
· Gifted Advisory Board – GAB plans activities such as community and school service projects. The FC Gifted Advisory Board has representatives from all grade levels.
Gifted Program Service Projects
· Toys for Tots
· Middle School Exchange Program
· The GazeTte
· Yoplait Lids
· Gifted Loves AC Day
Seminars for Gifted Students
· SPARKS – The Students’ Perspectives, Awareness, Reaction, and Knowledge Seminar is a one-half credit semester course. SPARKS is only open to juniors and seniors and is designed for students who enjoy researching and discussing controversial issues.
· ThinkTank for SuperThinkers – This seminar course is also a one-half credit, semester course. TTST is similar to SPARKS; however, it is designed for freshman and sophomores.
* Note: Both SPARKS and ThinkTank are unique courses in that they have the flexibility to be completely organized by students. Students may select, design, and present topics in which they are interested. Topics in the past have included nuclear threat, the ideal learning system, and women’s rights.
Gifted Program Credit Classes
The Gifted Department offers the following after-school classes that are each worth half a credit. To take a gifted program credit class, see Angela B. Kruh, the Gifted Education Resource Teacher, to get an add/drop form. Since these classes are offered around the city, students will need to provide their own transportation.
· American Legal Systems
· Chesapeake Bay Ecology
· Creative Writing
· Criminal Psychology
· Human Anatomy
· Photography
· Independent Study
*The availability of these courses is subject to enrollment.
· Independent Study (one-half credit) – Students design research projects that culminate in papers, presentations, seminars, and/or exams.
For more information about any of these courses, please see the Virginia Beach Curriculum Guide, pages 53-54. Any further questions should be directed to Angela Boubouheropoulos, Gifted Resource Teacher in Room 219.
Phone: (757) 648-5300 ext. 57464
Fax: (757) 496-6719
Email:Angela.Boubouheropoulos@vbschools.com
