B.A.S.H. Gifted Education Program

June 2025 Newsletter

• Sun. June 1 - Senior Baccalaureate Services
• Tues-Thurs June 3-5 - EOCAs (End of Course Assessments) for Underclassmen
• Weds. June 4 - Mandatory Graduation Practice at BASH (NAUD 8:00-11:00 am)
• Thurs. June 5 - Graduate Walk at Elementary & Middle Schools
• Fri. June 6 (6:00pm) - Graduation Ceremony @ Santander Arena
• Summer 2025 Opportunities

Students taking AP Courses at BASH during the 2025-26 school year may have some summer work assigned. At this point, students should have already joined the AP & DE Courses Google Classroom. In there, each teacher has posted information about their courses and any potential summer assignments. Please have your student check the Google Classroom and pick up any assignments before the end of the school year.

AP Chemistry is an advanced second year chemistry course which introduces students to the concepts of kinetics (how fast), thermodynamics (how hot), and equilibrium (how far). Students will build and refine their knowledge from first year chemistry, which enables them to understand the building blocks of matter, atoms and molecules, and build on it to better understand the nature of reactions. Students use their knowledge to help fine tune their ability to better predict and explain chemical phenomena in their world. The knowledge gained in this course will help prepare young scientists to plan and perform new experiments safely, a powerful set of skills in chemical research. Eligible students can earn between 4-12 college credits at a participating university depending on their portfolio of work and their AP Exam score.

AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.

This course encourages student development of inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and justifying arguments using evidence. It will also help students develop the reasoning skills necessary to engage in the science practices used throughout their study of AP Biology. The result will be readiness for the study of advanced topics in subsequent college courses.

REEL strives to ensure twice-exceptional (2e) students thrive in school by raising parent and educator awareness and understanding of practical, research-based strategies to address their needs successfully. We support 2e kids by building bridges between educators and parents. For educators, we create and curate resources, workshops, and programs to help them make school a place that 2e learners can be successful. For parents, we organize and disseminate events and tools to help parents learn to advocate for and support their 2e kids.

At the bottom of their homepage, you can sign up for their newsletter and receive their white papers.

1. Gifted learners are not always at the top of their classes. Being gifted does not guarantee high academic performance. Some gifted learners underachieve for various reasons, including having a co-occurring exceptionality, difficulties with motivation, lack of engagement, or difficulties with executive functions.
2. Gifted learners may not be fine on their own. Gifted learners require appropriate educational environments that challenge and enrich their learning experiences. If not provided with adequate support and stimulation, gifted learners can become bored and disengaged, which may lead to underachievement and not reaching their potential. Without the appropriate educational opportunities that nurture their unique abilities, gifted learners may not thrive academically and may even experience frustration or disinterest in their studies.
3. You can be gifted if you have a learning disorder. As stated above, gifted learners with a learning disorder are referred to as twice exceptional. Twice exceptional individuals face unique challenges and strengths. Their giftedness may mask their learning difficulties, or their learning difficulties may mask their giftedness, making identification and support essential. For these students to reach their full potential, developing appropriate supports that address their specific needs is crucial.
4. Gifted children do not all exhibit the same characteristics. Giftedness is usually determined as being among the top 2% of the population based on intellectual abilities, but within this group, there is significant variability in characteristics and abilities. Gifted learners can display a wide range of strengths and challenges. Some may excel in social-emotional aspects, while others might face difficulties. Similarly, some gifted learners may have a more balanced set of cognitive processing abilities, while others might have specific strengths and weaknesses in different cognitive domains. A psychoeducational assessment is a valuable tool for identifying the specific strengths and areas of need in gifted learners.
5. Gifted learners may or may not prefer to socialize with their same-age peers. While most children’s intellectual, emotional, social, creative, and physical development occurs at a similar rate, some gifted children experience asynchronous development. This means that different aspects of their development may not occur simultaneously or at the same pace. Asynchronous development can lead to variations in the level of maturity among gifted children and adolescents. Some may be more mature than their same-age peers, while others may have similar maturity levels. Consequently, their preferences for socializing and engaging in activities can differ significantly. It is essential to recognize that every gifted child and adolescent is unique, and their social preferences and interests can vary widely. Some gifted learners may prefer to socialize with peers with similar interests and intellectual pursuits, regardless of age. Others may enjoy interacting with same-age peers and participating in activities typical for their age group.

Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, 3rd Edition by Christine Fonseca

Teaching children how to manage their intense emotions is one of the most difficult aspects of parenting or educating gifted children. Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students is an indispensable resource for parents and educators seeking to understand why gifted children can be so extreme in their behavior and how to manage the highs and lows that accompany emotional intensity.

• Mr. B. Burychka (bburychka@boyertownasd.org)

• Mrs. M. Gramp (mgramp@boyertownasd.org)

• Mr. J. Mauer (jmauer@boyertownasd.org)

• Mr. J. Valick (jvalick@boyertownasd.org)

• Informational Documents
• 12 Traits of Giftedness
• Books:
• Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child by Julie Skolnick
• Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, 3rd Edition by Christine Fonseca
• Websites:
• PA Department of Education
• Pennsylvania’s Chapter 16 Gifted Education Regulations
• PAGE - Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education
• NAGC - National Association for Gifted Children
• Articles:
• A Leader Who's Busting Down Barriers to Gifted Education
• Videos:
• Australian Government video on the topic of “Recognizing gifted and talented students”.
• Past BASH Gifted Newsletters
• May 2025 Newsletter
• April 2025 Newsletter

Will your student be taking the SAT in the near future? There’s lots of free and low-cost resources available. Check out this article for some ideas and resources. Here’s a few of the highlighted resources in the article:

• BlueBook Exams App

• Khan Academy

• College Board Question Bank

It is recommended that students start early, take official practice tests, focus on their weaknesses, and create a study plan.

• Go to pages 14-16 in the Program of Studies titled “Enrichment Courses” This section covers the gifted program, honors/AP courses, dual enrollment, etc.

• The Counseling Dept. also hosted a Financial Aid Presentation earlier this year. You can view recorded past presentations on the site. The Virtual FAFSA Support information is also listed here.
• Student Aid Guide - This comprehensive guide (which has been updated for 2025-26 school year) provides a complete overview of the financial aid process with information on most of Pennsylvania’s financial aid programs and services.