District offers also offers online talent development resources
Bulloch County Schools’ next nomination window for Gifted Services will open on Thursday, January 2, and remain open through Wednesday, January 22.
This spring nomination window and review is for children in first through eighth grades. It provides a time for teachers, parents, guardians, students, or peers to nominate any student who meets the specifications for this window of consideration.
All nominations must be submitted to the gifted services facilitator at each elementary or middle school by January 22. For your convenience, an online nomination form is available for each elementary and middle school on the school district’s Gifted Education Services website at bullochschools.org/gifted.
After January 22, nominations are closed and each school’s eligibility team will review student data to determine if a formal evaluation for gifted services is required. A nomination does not guarantee a formal evaluation. Gifted Services are based on need. The review team must establish whether the evidence confirms the need for a formal evaluation.
If a student is to be evaluated, the child’s parents or guardians will receive a Permission to Test Form to sign and return to the school. This form is required before testing can begin.
Testing will begin after school eligibility teams have taken time to review the data and sufficient time has been provided for gifted services facilitators at each school to receive any Permission to Test forms, The school district will conduct testing March 5 through April 4.
Online Talent Development Resources
The school district offers parents an online resource to help develop the talent and skills of children. Primary Talent Development is an instructional model that provides all students opportunities to develop their talents and achieve their fullest potential. Parents and guardians have the opportunity to enrich their child’s higher order thinking skills through attribute, questioning, and creative problem solving experiences that will nurture and challenge children. Thinking skills such as problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, and spatial reasoning are extremely important. Through introduction and practice of these skills, children will be better prepared for all academic content areas as well as testing and assessments. Proficiency of these skills also builds confidence and benefits students socially and emotionally.
On the Gifted Services website there is a Talent Development section with seven lessons families may utilize. The Alike and Different lesson should be divided into two sessions, as stated. These talent development lessons will definitely challenge children to think outside of the box and build higher order thinking skills. Tangram manipulatives for the Musician Tangram Creations have been ordered by the school district and will be available at the Central Office for families to check out upon request by the end of January if you choose to use them. If you would like to order these manipulatives to check out, please notify Julie Wilson, Ed.D, by email at jhwilson@bullochschools.org.
