The Gifted & Talented (GT) program at Blevins is thriving! We offer a range of enrichment opportunities, community partnerships, and student connections so that GT students have a variety of ways they can get involved, feel challenged and supported, and learn more about their own interests and passions.
We're proud to say that our GT program seeks to support the needs of every student — Blevins is the only middle school in PSD to screen all of sixth grade for possible identification of GT.
Blevins Gifted & Talented Program Highlights
Universal Screening for Sixth Graders
Sixth graders not already identified as GT take the Fall Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) both to identify gifted students who have previously gone unnoticed, and to inform teachers and parents/guardians about each student's individual learning style.
ALP Goals
Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) are individualized and student-created, with one-on-one guidance and support from the GT site coordinator. GT Homeroom teachers and other staff members provide additional support.
GT Enrichments
Monthly enrichments with the GT site coordinator:
Once a month during the school day, students can choose to attend an activity tailored to their academic, service learning, or social-emotional needs and interests. These enrichments offer a range of hands-on activities or presentations that spark GT students’ curiosity and love of learning.
Field Trips:
We offer two field trips each year: one for all GT students and another just for eighth grade GT students.
Manic Mondays:
Every other Monday starting in October, students can come hang with their GT peers and GT site coordinator. During these Manic Mondays, GT students can play board/card games, work on ALP goals, or just socialize with other GT students and the GT site coordinator.
Grade-Level GT Homeroom:
We have grade-level GT Homerooms where students not only take part in the usual Homeroom lessons, but also have time to check in on all things GT-related (ALP goals, enrichments, other announcements, etc.).
Bruin Club:
The Blevins after-school program, Bruin Club, is an excellent opportunity for GT students to explore their passions and interests. From gaming club to chess club, skateboarding club to improv club and beyond, there’s something for everyone!
Course Offerings
Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Electives
With a wide range of courses, GT students are sure to be engaged and challenged in a number of ways and in an area of interest during Project-Based Learning and Electives.
Accelerated Math
Students are placed into advanced math classes based on previous year's performance in math and teacher recommendation. A student does not need to be identified as Gifted and Talented in math to be placed in an accelerated math course. Click here for more information on math pathways at Blevins.
Differentiated Instruction
All students will notice in all of their content-area classes that whether they are identified as GT or not, they have a variety of differentiated options to extend and advance their learning. We believe this provides a rigorous, equitable learning experience for all students.
Parent/Guardian Partnership
Parents and guardians work alongside the GT site coordinator to best support students and are seen as valuable members and friends of the GT team at Blevins. They are kept up to date with an informative quarterly newsletter as well as other communication as needed. Additionally, there are multiple ways that parents/guardians can volunteer based on their availability, from chaperoning field trips to helping purchase GT supplies to sharing their job and/or passion with students during a monthly enrichment.
Questions?
- For further about GT at Blevins, contact Monica Jankow, Blevins GT Site Coordinator: mojankow@psdschools.org.
- For questions about GT in Poudre School District, click here.
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For specific information regarding GT identification in the Poudre School District, click here.