GT Academy Newsletter
Pearland ISD / April 2026
GT Awareness Week: April 6-10
"G/T Awareness Week takes place the first full week of April every year and highlights the importance of gifted education across Texas. The week encourages educators and advocates to celebrate gifted learners, strengthen understanding of advanced learning needs, and elevate the impact of strong gifted programs. The statewide recognition was established through the passage of HCR 64 (Curry and Parker), a resolution championed by TAGT that designated the first full week of April as G/T Awareness Week in Texas for 10 years. Throughout the week, TAGT shares resources, sparks conversation, and invites educators to share why gifted education matters using #whyGT." - from the Texas Association for Gifted & Talented website
5th Grade- Fabric squares have been cut and students are beginning to sew them into rows for their quilt. This process takes patience and focus, and students are doing a great job. Once rows are sewn together groups will begin to design appliques that tell the story of their research. They can't wait to share their beautiful quilts with the community at the Showcase in May!
6th Grade - The scrapbooks, game boards, maps and banners are looking really good! Students are paying attention to details and working as a team to make sure all components are ready for the Showcase. Once products are complete, students will prepare an elevator pitch for the Showcase.
7th Grade - Essays explaining students' research on topics they are passionate about have been submitted and now they are putting their newly acquired knowledge in to action! Students are working diligently to finish creative mosaics and stained glass and will begin thinking through their Action Plan. Because our next mini course session is starting soon, students needing more time to finish mosaics and stained glass can stay after school for work sessions on April 9, April 13, or April 15.
8th Grade - Students have chosen interesting topics and the display boards are looking great! Multimedia presentations, medical conference presentations and civics speeches are being fine-tuned and will be presented to evaluators April 20-30. Students have been working during Advisory time and participating in after school work sessions to get the job done. All 8th grade projects are due April 8th.
Please refer to the "2026 TPSP Schedule" document below for an overview of when students are scheduled to present at the Showcase.
TMSCA
More than sixty Sab and PJHW students will be traveling to San Antonio for the TMSCA state competition in April. They have been working hard all year to qualify in Number Sense, Calculator, General Math or General Science and are ready to go!
Future Problem Solvers
Two busses filled with Sab and PJHW Future Problem Solvers will travel to Waco for the FPS state competition April 10-12. We are so proud of the work that these students have done to prepare. Good Luck!
Robotics
Quiz Bowl
Chess
Destination ImagiNation
Ten GT Academy teams represented Pearland ISD at the Gulf Coast Regional Destination ImagiNation tournament in Katy ISD.
Vet Science
If you know Ms. Singleton, you know she loves animals. Students in her Veterinarian Science mini course were thrilled to get lots of hands on experience with animals throughout the course.
While visiting the Houston SPCA, students learned about careers at the SPCA, toured the facility and vet hospital, met a variety of animals, and even saw a vet in action spaying a cat.
Watercolor
Chess
While at Rice University, students had the opportunity to play chess with the university’s chess club, engaging in friendly competition while sharpening their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Future Cities
Congratulations to Iris Wu and Cathy Gu! Both girls showcased their Rodeo artworks in front of a live auction audience at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo while donors from all over Texas bid on their artwork. Iris Wu's piece "Side by Side" sold as Lot 15 Reserve Class Champion for $86,000 and Cathy Gu's piece Lot 75 "Basking at Dawn" sold for $18,000. Both girls get a portion of this sale. Additionally, Violet Haddock just received the "Texas Art Supply Art Award" of all the pieces in Houston submitted for Scholastic Art & Writing. Her artwork "Glance into the Past" has earned her a check for $500 and was featured at a special award ceremony.
Read more about Pearland ISD's rodeo artists, including GT Academy alumni Leah Hong, Ian Chiang, Grace Ji and Emerson Ji below.
The 2026 GTAB Winter Hoopla was the place to be on February 20th. Families filled the Sablatura cafeteria to bid on baskets and teacher experiences and were entertained by talented students. Honors band members started the show strong. Iris elegantly played the guzheng, Olivia proved she is ready to sing on Broadway, and the Dancing Divas closed the show with their group dance. These were just a few of the exceptional acts from the evening. Audrey and Katherine led the evening as Masters of the Ceremony and the backstage crew kept everything running smoothly.
We are so grateful for the overwhelming support of our parents and community for helping us exceed our fundraising goal this year. Thank you to our entire GTAB board, and especially Mrs. Buchanan, the Hoopla Queen! With the help of Ms. Gaines, sponsorship chair, Mrs. Soni, bake sale chair, Mrs. Cornwell, communications chair, and Mrs. Zimmer, balloon artist, and of course Mrs. Lanier, the event was a success.
Alex had his eye on several baskets, and was the highest bidder for "Mrs. Mueller for a Day."
April 6-10 GT Awareness Week
April 7 TAGT Parent Webinar @ 6:30 p.m.
April 9 STAAR RLA 5th-8th grade
April 9 PJHW TPSP work session 4:00-6:00 p.m.
April 10-12 TMSCA State @ San Antonio, TX
April 10-12 FPS State @ Waco, TX
April 13 PJHW TPSP work session 4;00-6:00 p.m.
April 14 BIG Love Community Service Project @ PJHW 4:00-5:00 p.m.
April 15 PJHW TPSP work session 4:00-6:00 p.m.
April 16 STAAR Science 5th & 8th grade
April 16 Civics Bee @ Nolan Ryan Center 6:00 p.m.
April 18 Baylor TIP Ceremony in Waco
April 20-30 PJHW TPSP Evaluations
April 20 GTAB Membership Meeting @ Sab 7:00 p.m.
April 21 STAAR Social Studies 8th grade
April 22 STAAR Math 5th/6th grade
April 23 STAAR Math 7th/8th grade
April 23 Sab STEAM Night
May 1 Sab Robotics to FIRST World Robotics @ GRB
May 6-8 GTA Student Showcase @ ESC 6:00-7:30 p.m.
May 13 PJHW 8th Grade Awards 6:30 p.m.
May 15 - Sab GTA Game Night (FPS Fundraiser) 4:00-6:00 p.m.
May 18 GT Academy Awards (Sab) 5th @ 9:00 a.m. / 6th @ 1:30 p.m.
May 18 GTA Senior Reception 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
GTA Boot Camp will be July 20-24 at PJHW. This camp is for incoming 5th and 6th GT Academy students. More information coming soon!
Baylor TIP has some great options in person and virtual for Baylor TIP scholars.
UHCL KidsU Summer Camp offers courses at Pearland and Clear Lake campuses.
Smart Core Labs is always a smart choice for coding and robotics.
Pearland ISD Camp Invention - June 15-19 or June 22-26 / See link below.
GTA Spotlight
- "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." — Edith Wharton
Himesh M.
Audrey P.
Trung V.
Mr. Murphy
Mrs. Ketterer
Mrs. Ketterer brings a wealth of experience to our GTA team. Her calm, steady demeanor and nurturing presence make a lasting impact on everyone around her. Students enjoy her Watercolor and Breaking the News mini courses and have become stronger writers because of her teaching. She has guided multiple Future Problem Solving teams to international competition, spending weeks each summer on university campuses as her students compete among the top problem solvers in the world. We are deeply grateful for your dedication and commitment to our students, Mrs. Ketterer!
Mrs. Cornwell
