Celebrating Gifted

Welcome to September!

We are excited to share this month’s newsletter, packed with all the latest updates on our GT programming across the District. We warmly invite you to get involved with our GT Parent Advisory Committee—your insights and participation would be greatly valued! Check out the details below to learn more.

As we settle into the new school year, take a moment to explore (or revisit) our GT Learning Plans, Innovation Hour, and TPSP (Texas Performance Standards Project) information. We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and cannot wait to share all the exciting developments with you as the year progresses.

Sincerely,

FBISD GT Department.

The Gifted and Talented team is now recruiting parents to serve on the GT Parent Advisory Committee (GTPAC) for the 2024-2025 school year. The Gifted and Talented Parent Advisory Committee (GTPAC) is comprised of parents of gifted students in Fort Bend ISD who support the GT program offered by Fort Bend ISD. The GTPAC allows parents the opportunity to collaborate with the Fort Bend ISD Gifted and Talented Department and provide feedback related to Gifted and Talented programming. We will be conducting our GTPAC Membership Drive in 2024-2025 beginning on August 1st and ending on September 15th. If you are interested, please take a moment to complete the GTPAC Interest Form by September 15, 2024. For additional information, please contact Aisha Coleman-Holmes (Aisha.ColemanHolmes@fortbendisd.gov).

For more detailed information please visit the GT PAC Web Page.

Every student who is identified for gifted and talented services is automatically added to a Schoology Course titled "GT Communications." This course is used by both campus and district GT personnel to send messages or store files GT-identified students may need to access. The Gifted and Talented Department also posts the Monthly Newsletter and the Quarterly Report in these courses.

Curricular Alternatives are offered to any elementary student who achieves proficiency in a unit or concept taught in core classes. For students who demonstrate early mastery, an alternate assignment will be provided, allowing them to explore the concept with greater depth, breadth, and original thinking. This alternative assignment will replace the material they have demonstrate proficiency on and will be completed during class time. While engaging with Curricular Alternatives, students work independently, with the teacher facilitating the learning experience alongside regular instruction. These alternatives provide a different learning experience, not additional work.

The Texas Association of Gifted and Talented is offering a FREE Parent Webinar on Tuesday, September 10, at 6:30 p.m. The webinar is titled "Balancing Brilliance: Nurturing Executive Function and Mental Health in Gifted Kids," and will be led by expert Dr. Erika Lucas. This transformative hour-long webinar is specifically designed to empower parents with the knowledge and skills needed to better understand and help their gifted children develop and enhance their executive function abilities.

To learn more about the webinar, Dr. Lukas, and to RSVP (required), please see the TAGT Webinar Web Page.

TAGT (Texas Association of Gifted and Talented) is now offering a podcast series supporting the GT community by providing a platform for insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and valuable resources. Podcasts include interviews, insights, parenting support, advocacy and action, and spotlights. Please see the TAGT Podcast web page for details on programming.

TAGT Podcast Web Page

Fort Bend ISD's Community Education department is offering courses for high school students through an SAT Power Camp (grades 10-12) and a College Essay Writing Workshop (grade 12). Please see course information, including dates and fees, on the Extended Learning Web Page.

As we launch the 24-25 school year, we would like to welcome our Innovation Hour campuses that will be joining us and those that are continuing to participate. Our Innovation Hour campuses for this year include:

Arizona Fleming

*Brazos Bend

Goodman

Madden

Oakland

*Scanlan Oaks

Secondary Campuses

*Bowie Middle School

*New campuses for 2024-2025

For more information on Innovation Hour, please visit the Innovation Hour Web Page.

The Texas Performance Standards Project (GT Showcase) aims to offer Fort Bend's Gifted and Talented students challenging, differentiated research opportunities that align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). TPSP projects are available to every gifted and talented student on every campus. Participation in TPSP is mandatory for students in grades 1-9 and optional, though strongly recommended, for those in grades 10-12. These projects are designed to help students meet the state's goals for gifted and talented education. Each month, the newsletter will highlight the specific TPSP tasks to keep both parents and students on track with the project's timeline for the school year.

August

Introduction to students

Student Profile and Participation Agreement (forms received by students at school)

September

Letters to Students and Parents

Topic Submission Form

Research Plan/Proposal

Please see the campus GT webpage for specific dates for your child’s campus.

District TPSP Web Page

This year the Gifted & Talented Academy, or GTA, at Quail Valley Middle School welcomed 170 GT-identified 6th graders into the fold. The GTA has been housed at QVMS for over 15 years as a unique school-of-choice program for middle school learners. It offers specialized programming tailored to the learning needs of middle school students who are GT-identified by FBISD. Students apply each year as 5th graders in February to secure a roster seat in the program. For more information about the GTA, consult the GTA website at https://www.fortbendisd.com/gtacademy. We look forward to sharing information about the GTA in upcoming newsletters.

Our GT teachers across the District engaged in many different sessions this summer at both Bush High School and Crawford High School, adding to their teaching practice in engaging GT learners. The sessions below were offered face-to-face throughout the summer, and it was great to see their level of participation and excitement about this new learning.

GT students will continue to set academic and social/emotional goals this year. Establishing goals as part of their GT Learning Plans assists students in developing objectives that provide them with a clear focus and direction for the academic year. Students will set goals and create action plans during the first three weeks of September. You may assist your child in creating the measures they need to take to achieve their goals by discussing their goals or asking questions about the GT Learning Plan goal setting process. Parents may be invited to provide feedback on student goals by email, GT Learning Plan Goal document, phone call, or parent-teacher conference September 23-27. GT Learning Plan Signing Day for Parents is October 3, 2024.

GT Learning Plan Web Page

Lone Star Leadership Academy Representatives

The GT Mentorship Program is pleased to partner with Memorial Hermann and Houston Methodist hospital systems for the fifth consecutive year! Students in the mentorship program are offered a multitude of experiences with medical professionals throughout the spring semester, and we are grateful for their partnerships with Fort Bend ISD GT.