Vision & Mission

Our vision for the Weld RE-1 Gifted Program is that all gifted students will accomplish challenging post-secondary work/force goals and become productive, creative citizens capable of succeeding in their area of strength.

Our mission for the Weld RE-1 Gifted Program is to ensure gifted student growth and achievement through systems of support, programming, and advocacy

Parents, Guardians, and Students

August 2, 2023

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:

Welcome to an exciting year of Gifted/ Talented activities! I am Mary Alice George, the G/T Coordinator in Weld RE1. I’m really looking forward to working with these great kids! My background in GT includes eight years of self-contained GT instruction in Kearney Public Schools (Nebraska), plus one year of teaching/ administrating the program in RE1. My Master’s degree is in English education, with a licensed endorsement in Gifted Education. This is my 41st year of teaching.

I am easiest to reach by email, which I see several times a day: georgem@wcsdre1.org . For emergencies, my cell number is 303-990-4966.

A G/T Parent/ Student Information Night for grades 3-8 will be held on Tuesday, August 15th, at 6 p.m. at Valley High School room 141. Much excellent information will be shared, and I hope you can make it.

I believe a high ability learner program must have rigor. Students come to GT for enrichment, to learn above and beyond the grade-level curriculum. GT is ambitious: it’s acceleration, differentiation, critical thinking, confidence-building. It should NOT be a cakewalk for the student! Many GT students find school easy and effortless and believe it should always be so. The goal of GT services is to provide the appropriate level of work that will challenge them. If we don’t raise the bar for them now, we can set them up for failure once the classwork truly gets difficult. Middle and high school will present GT students with opportunities to pursue accelerated math, honors, AP, and dual-credit college courses (for free!). Over the years it’s been thrilling to see many high ability learners go on to successful careers in medicine, law, politics, architecture, engineering, and fine arts, to name a few. But…they learned how to overcome struggles. As a parent of two GT children, I can promise you that was the most important thing they learned in advanced instruction.

I look forward to visiting with you on the 15th.

Sincerely,

Mary Alice George
GT Coordinator
Weld School District RE1

Parent Handbook

The parent handbook, located in the GT Files, provides parents with useful information and guidance on the identification process and types of giftedness. The forms located at the end of this handbook explain how to nominate your child for potential identification of giftedness.

Board of Education policy guides how the District supports Gifted Programming. Policies are found under the Board of Education tab on the District website: Policy IHBB and Policy IHBB-R.

Gifted & Talented Staff
Overview of GT Program 2023-2024
What is gifted education?

Gifted and talented students should be provided opportunities to perform and learn at the highest level possible. Effective educational practices provide a supportive learning environment in the classroom. Diverse programming and enrichment opportunities are available to meet the needs of these students. Gifted students are those persons whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so outstanding that they require special provisions to meet their educational needs. Talented students typically demonstrate some characteristics of being gifted and high performance levels. We strive to meet the needs of both gifted and talented students. Not being identified as gifted will never limit a child’s opportunities.

Effective Practices in Gifted Education

There are many ways the school staff may provide challenge within the regular classroom/curriculum by means of differentiation, content acceleration, and cluster grouping. We can differentiate what they learn, the way we learn, or the final product. Activities can be differentiated based on readiness level, interest, and learning style. These principles apply to all students. Gifted and talented students typically need differences in the thinking level of the assignment, choices in the work procedures and real-world product expectations. Content acceleration allows gifted and talented students to learn at their own pace. This is accomplished either within a balanced classroom through advanced reading assignments, individual math work, and independent study or through honors/advanced class placement. Cluster grouping provides opportunities for gifted students to work with other gifted peers as a “cluster” within a larger, balanced ability class and is a highly effective strategy.

Youth Leadership