Rockford Public Schools to host gifted open houses

Staff Report

Parents and students are invited to one of two informational sessions designed to help them learn more about the Gifted Program in Rockford Public Schools.

The district provides accelerated and enriched learning opportunities for students through its gifted program, which emphasizes independent thought, academic scholarship, and critical and creative thinking. Teachers are trained to understand and adapt to the academic and social-emotional needs of gifted students, and those students are challenged to inquire, explore, create and stretch their talents.

Students in the gifted program perform exceptionally well. In 2011, 100 percent of Washington Gifted Academy students met or exceeded proficiency levels on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Students enrolled in the gifted program at Auburn High School scored in the 95th percentile nationwide on the ACT, and six seniors were named National Merit semifinalists this year.

Open houses will be held from: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, at Auburn High School, 5110 Auburn St. and 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Washington Gifted Academy, 1421 West St.

Gifted testing dates have been scheduled on the following dates for students currently enrolled in the grades listed below:

• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 19 — Grades 5 to 9

• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 21 — Kindergarten

• 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 21 — Grades 1 to 4

All testing will take place at Washington, 1421 West St.

Students must complete a registration form prior to testing for admission into the program for the 2012-2013 school year. For more information, call (815) 966-3182 or visit the Gifted Program webpage: http://www2.rps205.com/Parents/Academics/Learning/Gifted/Pages/testing.aspx.

From the Nov. 16-22, 2011, issue