The Gifted Opportunities program (GO) is for students who qualify in grades 4-8. Students qualify by scoring in the top percentages on the ISTEP, having an exemplary report card, and having positive teacher recommendations. All criteria is needed to be included in the GO program. If students are not chosen in the 4th grade, they are given the opportunity to join after taking the ISTEP each year it is given.
We currently have around 30 students in GO. The number of students participating depends on the number of students who qualify. It varies from class to class.
Students meet for GO once a week for 45 minutes. Fourth grade students learn the 4 Thinking Skills (Fluency, Flexibility, Originality, and Elaboration). They also learn how to Creative Problem Solve. All of these skills prepare the 4th graders for Future Problem Solving in the 5th grade.
Students in grades 5-8 spend a great deal of time participating in Future Problem Solving. This is a 6 step process the students learn in order to compete at the state and national level. Students also work on group projects that is of interest to that particular class. In the past we have made board games, created presidential vignettes, and studied all about Asia.
In 7th and 8th grade, students participate in Quiz Bowl. Quiz Bowl is played on Wednesdays in the second semester. There are currently 11 Catholic schools participating in Quiz Bowl. Matches are played at St. Jude and at other schools in the area.
St. Jude is currently the only school in the area with a Gifted and Talented Program.
