Celebrating Gifted

Happy New Year and welcome to the Spring Semester! We are excited to embark on another semester of growth, learning, and new opportunities. As we begin this season of exploration, we want to express our gratitude for your continued support in making this journey a success for your child.

This semester promises to be full of engaging experiences, both academically and personally. We are committed to nurturing each student's potential and ensuring they feel supported in all aspects of their development. With your partnership, we are confident that this will be a rewarding and memorable time for all.

We look forward to a successful spring and working together to help all of our students thrive!

Sincerely,

FBISD GT Department.

REMINDER! If you have registered for the Family Series Winter Challenge, please remember that your video submissions are due by Friday, January 17, 2025!

Family Series Web Page

Fort Bend ISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) is thrilled to invite you and your child to the STEM Fest & CTE Expo on January 11th at First Colony Middle School from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm! This exciting event is packed with interactions that will spark curiosity and inspire your child’s journey.

This event is a hands-on adventure for your child, filled with engaging, interactive activities that showcase each of our CTE pathways. From Engineering and Computer Science to Business, Law & Public Service, and more, your student will get to experience what it’s like to step into these unique fields—and have a blast doing it! Plus, students have the opportunity to win exclusive prizes for participating in activities and showcasing their skills!

Parents, there is a special section just for you! Here, you’ll have the chance to connect directly with our counselors and CTE administrators, gaining valuable insights on upcoming course selection and more tools to support your student’s educational and career goals.

RSVP Here: STEM Fest and CTE Expo Webpage

Join ECHO for its very first family concert for all on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.! This event will be a 1- hour concert with audience participation and engagement for all ages at Strake Jesuit's Parsley Center. This is a great way to experience the orchestra with your children! Tickets are $10 each, and kids 12 and under are FREE!

Come early and enjoy coffee and donuts in the lobby as well as a fun musical craft for the kids.

Brookdale Galleria's "Off Your Rockers" Kazoo Ensemble will also be joining us for a special presentation before the concert.

Eventbrite Ticket Link

The Gifted & Talented Academy at Quail Valley Middle School is excited to announce the annual opening of the GTA Application on February 1st. The GTA serves middle school students who are GT-identified and is the only school-of-choice middle school program in FBISD. It offers specialized opportunities and learning experiences for the students who are accepted into the program. Students in the GTA take their core classes—ELA, Math, Science, Spanish, and Social Studies—in sections where every student is GT-identified, creating an environment conducive to compacted, accelerated instruction; opportunities for student choice and student-directed learning; and an emotionally supportive setting. In addition, the GTA features instructional and conceptual field experiences multiple times a year in each grade level—sixth, seventh, and eighth. Students from all over the District attend the GTA to access this unique academy experience tailored for gifted learners - transportation to the GTA is provided by FBISD. Current 5th grade students who are GT-identified are encouraged to apply. For more information about the program and application process, consult the GTA website @ https://www.fortbendisd.com/gtacademy.

The GT Department has been supporting Innovation Hour campuses by providing professional development for teachers and conducting instructional walks. As we move into the spring semester, the GT Department will continue offering tailored support to enhance the Innovation Hour program.

We have witnessed firsthand how eager students are to showcase their projects and share their learning. We look forward to supporting campuses and engaging with students to learn more about their passions.

Innovation Hour Web Page

With January approaching, students will be finalizing their research and work on their advanced products. Each campus should have determined the date and time for its GT Showcase. Keep an eye out for information from your child’s campus.

For more details, visit the Gifted and Talented website for campus-specific updates and spring showcase dates.

To navigate to your campus GT web page, please go to the campus home page, click the "Students and Parents" tab, and select "Gifted and Talented."

District TPSP Web Page

During January, students in our GT program will be reviewing their personalized learning goals. This process allows them to reflect on their progress, celebrate achievements, and set fresh objectives for continued growth.

To ensure your involvement in this meaningful process, we encourage you to:

• Discuss their goals at home: Ask your child about their reflections and accomplishments so far.
• Share feedback: Feel free to provide insights or suggestions that could help refine their learning path.
• Celebrate their progress: Recognize their hard work and dedication to achieving their goals.

Thank you for partnering with us to nurture your child’s unique talents and abilities!

GT Learning Plan Web Page

Please click below to read letter from PACE. This local organization is looking for a new board of directors and other parent volunteers who believe in and support Gifted and Talented Educational Programming.

We are very pleased to share three new mentorships with our community partners Bellaire Dermatology, My Houston Surgeons, and Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services! As each new cohort of seniors come in, they bring with them new career interests, so we are happy to be in these new career fields!

GT Mentorship Web Page

All GT-identified juniors will be invited to an on-campus GT Mentorship Information session during the month of January. Students will learn about the components and requirements of the GT Mentorship Program, as well as the application and interview process. Two virtual parent information sessions are scheduled as well. We looking forward to meeting our juniors!

Please visit the GT Mentorship Program web page for the dates and times for all of these sessions.

GT Mentorship Web Page