Boulder Valley School District

Gifted Education

BVSD gifted education services strive to develop our student's greatest abilities and make possible the discovery and pursuit of their dreams which, when fulfilled, will benefit us all. We provide a comprehensive and innovative approach to education and graduate successful, curious, lifelong learners who confidently confront the great challenges of their time.

 

NOW REGISTERING!! BVSD Gifted Ed Online Courses for Anyone!

Boulder Valley School District Gifted Education department’s

fall online asynchronous courses: 

The Gifted Learner  and  Creativity for Gifted Learners

Courses run September 25th through November 17th

 

This fall, we are offering two courses to help you learn about and how to support gifted student needs. Our multi-week fall courses are entirely online and asynchronous (basic computer/online skills are required). Anyone is welcome to join; you do not have to be an educator nor do you have to be in the Boulder area. We welcome everyone from anywhere. Act fast, though, as space is limited!

Colorado educators may earn instructional seat time that count toward recertification requirements. Alternatively, Adams State University (ASU) is offering graduate credit; if you want ASU’s graduate credit, then email Doug.Alexander@bvsd.org before registering. NOTE: You may sign up for instructional seat time credit --OR-- ASU graduate credit, BUT NOT BOTH. Our courses also count toward Metro-area gifted education endorsement credit.

New (and new-to) BVSD educators, we have a special offer for you! Do not register before you contact Doug.Alexander@bvsd.org for details about the special offer.

 

The Gifted Learner is a six-week course about the basics of gifted education.
Registration fees:
  • BVSD employees: $15 for instructional seat time credit; $55 for ASU graduation credit  -  BVSD employees register through MyPassport, course #27705
    • New (and new-to-BVSD) employees receive induction professional development credit for taking this course, but do NOT register in MyPassport; instead email Doug.Alexander@bvsd.org for a special offer).
  • All others: $40 BVSD fee; $55 for ASU graduation credit

 

Creativity for Gifted Learners is an eight-week course about how to engage gifted students by developing their creativity.
Registration fees:
  • BVSD employees: $20 for instructional seat time credit; $55 for ASU graduation credit  -  BVSD employees register through MyPassport, course #27692
    • New (and new-to-BVSD) employees receive induction professional development credit for taking this course, but do NOT register in MyPassport; instead email Doug.Alexander@bvsd.org for a special offer).
  • All others: $60 BVSD fee; $55 for ASU graduation credit

 

Registration for both courses is open until Sunday, October 8th 11:55pm.  
Questions? Contact Doug.Alexander@bvsd.org.

 

Other opportunites for students, families, and parents/caregivers

 

GT Game Night for Middle Schoolers and Presentation for Families

Friday, Sep. 29th,  5:00-6:45pm,  BVSD Education Center (6500 Arapahoe Rd. in Boulder)

Our hit event for gifted 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and their families is coming back for another round! This time, we’ll be playing some card games while thinking about the benefits and challenges of being advanced learners. While the middle schoolers are playing and making connections in one room, their parents/caregivers will attend a concurrent presentation in another room about how to support their adolescents’ needs at home, led by gifted expert counselor, Catherine Zakoian.

Space is limited. Each student who wants to play the card games MUST have their own ticket. 

Get their FREE ticket by clicking here. Please reserve only one ticket per student. A student must show their a ticket - either a physical printed copy or a digital copy (screenshot, confirmation notice, etc) - to be admitted into the game room.

The card games are designed for gifted middle schoolers (grades 6-8) only. Anyone, however, is welcome and encouraged to attend the concurrent presentation. Light snacks will be provided.


 

BVSD Gifted Education Advisory Council (GEAC) 2023-24

The purpose of GEAC is for families of Gifted and Talented (GT) students to provide input to the BVSD Gifted Education department regarding gifted practices in BVSD. We are now accepting applications for the 22-23 GEAC. Click here for application guidelines and more details.

Deadline is Friday, September 29, 2023 by 4:30pm.


 

 

Familias Latinas de Estudiantes Dotados de BVSD - GT Latinx Families

Primera Reunión del Año Escolar 23-24. 

Sábado 30 de Septiembre, 10-11:30am

Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer (Por confirmar)

Invitamos a las familias Latinas de Estudiantes dotados cursando la escuela primaria e intermedia en BVSD a conocer otras familias latinas y aprender sobre la competencia Destino Imaginación. Tendremos una breve presentación y las familias podrán resolver juntas retos instantáneos. ¡Los esperamos! 

Para mayor información puede escribir a Rosa.Medina@bvsd.org

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BVSD Gifted and Talented (GT) Latinx Families 

First Meeting of the 23-24 School Year.

Saturday, September 30th, 10-11:30am

Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer (to be confirmed)

Families of BVSD Latinx students in Elementary and Middle School are invited to meet other Latinx families and learn about Destination Imagination. We will have a brief presentation in Spanish and families will solve Instant Challenges together. For more information please contact Rosa.Medina@bvsd.org

 

 

 

Click the resource image below to access valuable tips and information about how educators provide gifted education services in BVSD.

Resource

BVSDGiftedEducationflyerforeducators.pdf
First page of the PDF file: BVSDGiftedEducationflyerforeducators

BVSD Gifted Education dept. 22-23 events and opportunities recap...

 

Project Talent Student Showcase!

On May the 4th, many BVSD students who worked on portfolios this school year showcased their talents! Examples included but were not limited to: artwork, videos, live demonstrations of talent (such as playing a music instrument, dance, karate, etc.). Additionally, students and other attendees got to enjoy taking part in spontaneous art creation in our creativity room, watching student films while enjoy lots of yummy treats in our film and food room, and moving and grooving in our silent disco dance room! It was a fun celebration of BVSD student talent! We look forward to doing it again next school year.

Click here to see pictures and videos of the event.

 

Celebrating other gifted-focused events and learning opportunities from the 2022-23 year:

  • In April, we gathered nearly 40 middle-school age students and their families for "Gifted & Talented (GT) Game Time!" This fun, informative event had students who are gifted working in teams to play through the board game Forbidden Island while reflecting on their gifted traits; meanwhile, in the next room over, local gifted child expert counselor Catherine Zakoian presented to families about supporting gifted student social-emotional needs during middle school years.

  • Also in April, BVSD gifted education dept. partnered with Boulder Valley Gifted & Talented (BVGT) to present "Still Gifted After All These Years with Dr. Linda Silverman!" In this fantastic presentation, world-renown gifted expert Dr. Silverman talked about the gifted experience throughout the lifespan. Check out the video, which is posted on BVGT's website.

  • Throughout the school year, we got some great suggestions for improvement from gifted middle and high school students through our Gifted & Talented (GT) Youth Council. If your gifted middle schooler or high schooler is interested in joining the GT Youth Council, then please fill out this brief interest survey (this is not an application - we will contact you and your student in the fall with more details).

  • We also heard valuable feedback from parents/caregivers through our Gifted Education Advisory Committee (GEAC), which met four times this school year. We will be sharing information in the fall if you would like to join GEAC for the 23-24 school year. 

  • We held several educational community-building opportunities for our BVSD GT Latinx Families (bilingual events).

  • We also offered several online asynchronous multi-week courses about meeting the needs of students who are gifted (open to anyone who was interested).

  • We provided "Advanced Differentiation Strategies" for BVSD teachers at every monthly Late Start Wednesday district professional development.

  • And we have provided numerous new gifted education resources on this website, such as our "Summer Camp and Opportunities" list, seasonal issues of our "In the Know" newsletter, "Let's Talk 2e" information videos, and our updated Family Handbook (see below).

If you are interested in joining the BVSD gifted education department email listserv, then email Doug.Alexander@bvsd.org to request to join. We send out occasional emails promoting our events and sharing relevant information. 

 

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In the Know  is an e-newsletter sent out via the opt-in BVSD gifted education department listserv for anyone who wants to up-to-date announcements about gifted education in BVSD. To receive the newsletter, request to join the BVSD gifted education listserv by emailing doug.alexander@bvsd.org.

In case you missed it, here are some recent gifted education department newsletters:

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"Let's Talk 2e"  - This is a series of information sessions about how to support twice exceptional (or 2e) learners (students who receive both special education and gifted education services).

Additional resource for twice exceptionality:   BVSD's 2e resource website

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Printable resource: Gifted Education flyers (general information) 

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If you are looking for specific information about a school's gifted education services or if you are interested in referring a student for gifted identification evaluation, then please contact the Gifted & Talented Advisor / GT Teacher at your school.

 

Contact Us

Dr. Michelle DuBois
Gifted Education Coordinator
720-561-5067

Doug Alexander
Gifted Education Instructional Specialist
720-561-5178

Dr. Della Remack
Gifted Education Instructional Specialist
720-561-2636