GT Academy Newsletter

As we complete another school year, we reflect with pride on the curiosity, creativity, perseverance, and tremendous growth our students have shown along the way. This year has been filled with memorable experiences that highlight the spirit of our GTA community.

The legendary soccer player, Pelé, said, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” This year, our students demonstrated success in many ways:

• TMSCA team traveled to San Antonio for the state competition and placed 3rd overall for 6A schools.
• Future Problem Solving teams had another strong season. Project H.E.A.L and Himesh will be attending the International competition with Ms. Shapiro in June, and Ms. Maldonado and Mrs. Ketterer were named Texas FPS coaches of the year!
• 5th & 6th grade teams earned 1st place in the Pearland ISD Quiz Bowl Theme category.
• Mars Rover team ChairBenders placed second and team MCE placed third at the Mars Rover competition at Space Center Houston.
• Robotics teams continue to impress us with their engineering skills. This year all three FLL teams advanced to the regional competition and RoboTots advanced to state.
• Our Sablatura team was victorious at the first annual Battle of the Bluebonnets!
• One of our PJHW Stock Market Game teams is currently first place in the state. Keep up the great work!
• We continue to build strong community connections. Supporting childhood cancer awareness means a lot to us. We are proud to raise funds for Candlelighters, support Go Gold projects with B.I.G. Love, and donate homemade fleece blankets to The Linus Project. We have enjoyed building local partnerships with the Brazoria County Master Gardening Association, The Harbor Assisted Living, Sundance Yoga and our quilting and crochet volunteers.

We hope you take time this summer to enjoy family, connect with nature, read a few good books, and explore a new hobby. We wish our 8th graders all the best in high school and look forward to meeting our new 5th graders.

Each year, we invite students and parents to share thoughts about their GT Academy experience. Overall, this year's student survey results suggest the GT Academy environment successfully fosters both academic and social belonging.

• 85% of all GT Academy students were involved in a club this year. TMSCA and FPS had the highest involvement.
• When asked to rate different aspects of the GT Academy, the highest-rated areas included teachers being knowledgeable in their subject area, making new friends, and feeling academically challenged.
• Students reported the most growth in public speaking (71%), collaboration (71%), research skills (66%) and creativity (66%).
• Students rated mini courses, class discussions, ALEKS, TPSP, and novel studies as the most helpful learning experiences.
• Some of the favorite mini courses this year were marine biology, genetics, D&D, veterinary science, crochet, horticulture, yoga, creative writing, and the stock market game.
• Suggested future mini courses included culinary arts, video game design, debate, digital art, chemistry, and architecture.
• When asked what they would change about the Academy, most students said they "like it just the way it is." A few suggestions included adding recess, more time for TPSP, less homework, and being mindful of overlapping project due dates.

We appreciate everyone's feedback and will use it as we plan for next year. Now parents, it's your turn.Use the link below to submit your survey. Thank you!

After walking the halls of their elementary schools, graduating seniors reunited with GT Academy classmates and teachers in the Sablatura library. What a walk down memory lane it was to see photos of these amazing seniors as fifth and sixth graders working together in mini courses, TPSP groups and clubs.

A special shout out to our Top Ten graduates who were GTA students. From Turner High School: Lorelei Boughton, Adon Jimy Kumbattu, Miranda Montenegro, Manna Oommen, Dhylan Patel, Luke Pathasema, Aabish Sikandar. From Pearland High School: Madelyn Dinh (Valedictorian), David Torres (Salutatorian), Evan Lozado and Sarah Muhammad. And all ten from Dawson High School: Sophia Budimlic (Valedictorian), Tanishta Anbu (Salutatorian), Efran Zhao, Nuhan Hasan, Zoe Yang, Amy Zhang, Caleb Ni, Jerry Zhu, Noan Dinh, and Stephanie Nash.

We are proud of your growth and accomplishments and wish you success in all that comes next.

Way to go, students! After months of hard work, you showed parents and the Pearland community what excellence looks like. Although they did not see the hours of focused research, editing and revising, collaboration, conflict resolution, product development, and presentation practice, your commitment to excellence was evident as you presented final products at Showcase. Well done.

There is always A LOT going on at the Academy, and we could not do it without the support of our volunteers. From setting up Showcase, chaperoning field experiences, sharing quilting expertise, planning Winter Hoopla and Color Run, supporting TPSP, organizing bake sales, evaluating projects, or serving on our GTAB board, we appreciate you. Thank you for your time, energy and positive influence on our students.

Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Sadler: Thank you for the countless ways you have supported and inspired our students. In addition to your exceptional ability to teach math, your kind hearts have touched many lives. While we will miss you both greatly, we are excited for the opportunities and adventures ahead—whether in retirement or at a new school community. Best wishes for continued joy and success.