HCOS Individualized Gifted Program
Enabling students with outstanding ability to reach their God-given potential.
Purpose
HCOS recognizes that God uniquely and specifically equips some students to have unique callings for His glory. HCOS is dedicated to supporting students with outstanding abilities to reach their God-given potential. The Individualized Gifted Program is designed to enhance, develop, and encourage gifted students through a personalized approach. The program would allow students to exceed and go beyond the expected learning outcomes for their age.
Gifted Support Team Model
Each gifted student would be supported by a team available to direct, council and monitor the student’s individual needs. The team would consist of member of the Gifted Program Committee, the student’s support teacher, the student’s guardian(s), and a mentor, where applicable.
Support Resources and Strategies
Under the team’s guidence the gifted student’s needs will be assessed and an individualized program, designed to meet these needs, will be written in a Adapted Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP would allow the student to specialize in their gifting(s). Where applicable, and possible, a mentor possessing the needed expertise would be assigned. Specialized programs assessed to meet the student’s needs would also be consided and approved where applicable. Curriculum designed to challenge and develop the student’s potential will be assessed and allocated. A gifted students forum called, WhatchaThink, will provide a space for students to share ideas, experiences, and struggles in their journeys as young disciples who have been called to glorify God through the special gifts He has chosen for them. The medium is intended encourage, inspire, and challenge their thinking and vision in reflection to the glorious Big Picture of God’s Kingdom work.
Gifted Support Team's Conference Time Table
In addition to weekly correspondence between the student and his/her support teacher, four Gifted Support Team conferences would be arranged. This would occur during the initial IEP drafting and during each portfolio review period. The Gifted Support Team would also be available upon request.
Guidelines for Assessing Gifted Students
“Giftedness” may include a wide range of attributes, from “intellectual measures to interpersonal abilities.“ HCOS recognizes that different intelligences develop at different rates. Gifted students often exceed in one or more intelligences. Through an application process, HCOS will venture to identify the ‘gifted’ students within its body. Teachers and parents will be asked to prayerfully consider the gifts and needs of their student(s). Are students with exceptional qualities being served in the regular program? If not, are additional support, mentorship, and resources needed to release and encourage their outstanding abilities? Jo Renzulli, Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness, has helped shape the definition of giftedness. Parents and teachers may use the below summary as a guide when considering whether their student is gifted.
The Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness (Renzulli, 1986)
Renzulli believes that giftedness is characterized by “above average intellectual ability, creativity, and task commitment.”
Treffinger (1986, p.40) defined the characteristics as follows:
Above Average Intelligence |
Creativity |
Task Commitment |
Advanced vocabulary |
Questioning; very curious about many topics |
Sets own goals, standards |
How to Apply for the Individualized Gifted Program
If you feel your student or child might be a candidate for the “Individualized Gifted Program” please complete the HCOS Individualized Gifted Program Application and submit it to the Gifted Program Committee via Janet Rainbow [jrainbow@onlineschool.ca]. Further inquiries and questions may also be submitted to the committee through Janet Rainbow.