Indian Lakes Inspiration

An Overview of Gifted Services

     If your child has been identified as intellectually gifted in VBCPS and you opt to keep him/her in their neighborhood school, they are placed in a gifted cluster classroom. 

     Every school has at least one Gifted Resource Teacher (GRT).  Every grade level has at least one Cluster Teacher (CT).  Intellectually gifted students as well as other students are placed in the cluster classroom where they receive ongoing gifted services.

     The CT receives training and support from the GRT.  The GRT provides after hours training for the CT four times a year.  Every week the GRT and CT plan collaboratively and at least twice a week they teach collaboratively.

Creating a Talent Pool in Grades K and 1

     Beginning in kindergarten, the GRT  works with the classroom teacher 2-4 times a month to deliver whole group lessons that encourage critical and creative thinking.  The classroom teacher may then extend the lesson with materials provided by the GRT.  These lessons continue throughout first grade.

      In first grade, every child receives screening from the gifted testing department.  Students who are identified gifted are then placed in the gifted cluster classroom beginning in second grade and throughout their elementary school education.  First grade teachers also receive training from the GRT four times a year to support their efforts to nurture students’ critical and creative thinking.

      More information about the first grade screening process will be provided by the gifted testing department in October.  At that time, a four-page flyer will be sent home to the parent of every ILES student. 

Hold Students

     If your child has been tested for gifted and you received notification from the gifted department that your child has been placed on “hold,” this simply means that they would like to gather more information before making a final decision about gifted identification.

      Students who were screened and tested by the gifted testing department in grade 1 and put on “hold” have been placed in the gifted cluster classroom.  These students will complete a series of performance tasks throughout the year and will be tested again in the spring.  The GRT and CT will work together to administer tasks in Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.  You will receive word from the gifted testing department about a decision by the end of the school year.

     After second grade, only students who have been identified as intellectually gifted are guaranteed placement in the gifted cluster classroom.

ODC Dance and Art Programs

     LES students will attend ODC Art and Dance Programs on Wednesday this year.  Students must arrive early to ILES so that they can catch the ODC bus that picks them up at 7:10 a.m.  Students are to attend ODC on all regular school Wednesdays with the exception of testing periods and the dates when ODC is working on their screening process for new applicants.  Both of these programs provide newsletters for their students.

     If you are interested in having your child apply for either the art or dance program, contact your GRT.  More information about the application process for these programs will be provided by the gifted testing department in October.  At that time, a four-page flyer will be sent home to the parent of every ILES student. 

Middle School Programs

     Will your child be moving on up to Middle School this year?  If so, he or she will have the opportunity to apply to the full-time gifted program at Kemps Landing Middle School (KLMS) as well as the Middle Years Program (MYP) at Plaza Middle School.            

     More information about the middle school options will be provided later this fall.  In addition to having the opportunity to attend info sessions at each of the middle schools, you will receive an invitation to attend a middle school info night at ILES.