If it were not for GCISD’s ASPIRE GT program, I would not have moved my two children out of private school. As we have made the transition, I am finding this program is a much better fit for my children’s needs. It’s not about a more challenging academic environment, it’s about an environment that cares for their social-emotional needs and ensures that they are well-adjusted. My sense is my kids are finally in a school environment that understands who they are, how their minds work, and how to engage them; one that makes them feel valued instead of feeling like a misfit. They are finally thriving!
“Having your child identified as “gifted” at school is no better or worse than having them qualify for any other academic support service.”
— The Truth About ‘Gifted’ Versus High-Achieving Students
(See full article originally published in LoudounNow, March 23, 2017, at https://loudounnow.com/2017/03/23/the-truth-about-gifted-versus-high-achieving-students)
Opinion Column / Chris Croll
I don’t remember too much of kindergarten, but first grade was like yesterday. My classmates were fun, I loved my teacher, but it was just getting old. For example, I aced every spelling test. Not that it’s a bad thing, but, like I said, it was getting old. PAT for an hour on Thursdays was just not quite enough. Same old routine for week after week. In the middle of April, I took an interview. This was nothing like I had ever experienced before. After about a month, my entire life, in school and out, did a quite exquisite backflip. I was admitted to the highly gifted program. The first semester at Glenhope was pure bliss. I was challenged, and I made new friends, and ASPIRE is the most wonderful thing to me. Years passed. I still aced every spelling test, except with much more challenging words. I have had wonderful teachers and made lifelong friends.