Mrs. Dasti

What’s GRO?

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Schools gifted program is called Gifted Reach Out, known as GRO.  It serves the identified population of gifted students in grades one through five.  This enrichment pullout program offers students the chance to interact with peers of similar ability, while remaining a part of the regular classroom setting. Once admitted into the program, the students meet with the GRO teacher for small group instruction.  These groups provide the opportunity for the gifted child to interact with, stimulate and be stimulated by his/her peers, while enjoying individual or small group attention. 

GRO encourages independent learning, research, and individual product development.  Creative problem solving and critical thinking skills are stressed.  Students are challenged to become consumers and producers of knowledge. Students are exposed to new subjects with the intent to broaden their interests and enhance their present grade level core curriculum based upon student interest. The GRO program provides enrichment for students who have demonstrated high academic abilities. The work is above grade level and is rigorous. Children are expected to fulfill their regular classroom and GRO proficiencies during the year.

Program Features

• Differentiated Instruction
• Accelerated or advanced content
• More complex understandings of generalizations, principles, theories, and the structure of the content area
• Abstract concepts and thought processes or skills
• Appropriation of longer/shorter time span for learning
• Generating new information and/or products
• Transfer of learning to new/different disciplines, situations
• Development of personal growth and sophistication in attitudes, appreciations, feeling, and intuition
• Independence of thought and study

Parental Role

The parents' role is to model the importance of education. At home, parents should continue to encourage the love of reading, develop an acceptance of responsibilities and the enjoyment of accomplishments. Teaching respect and self-worth are the keys to successful life-long experiences.

Parents of the Gifted & Talented: The PGT is a parent volunteer organization that meets bi-monthly to:

• PROMOTE the pursuit of excellence by children and youth in educational and social environments.
• FACILITATE exchange of information and ideas among parents, teachers and administrators.
• ACT as an advocate for the special needs of the Gifted and Talented Students before the Board of Education and other relevant groups.

For more information about the PGT please click this 

https://pgtparsippany.wixsite.com/home

This year the membership registration will only be done electronically through this sign-up.  The registration fee ($25 per family) helps pay for PGT programming and supplies.  It is also used towards the scholarships that we give out every year to two HS graduating GRO students in the spring.  

Membership Signup Link-  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B094CA9A922A2F85-pgt20222023

Questions about the PGT? 

Please Email at: [email protected]

Testing for the Gifted Reach Out Program

Parents of 1st-4th graders interested in having their child tested for the district’s gifted program (GRO) should send a written request no later than March 31, 2023 to their child’s classroom teacher. Testing for those eligible will take place in May/June for entrance into the program beginning September 2023. In conjunction with GRO testing, multiple measures will be considered. Central office will provide the results during the summer break.

Parents of new students to the district can have their child tested for GRO in December 2022.  Please send a request by November 4, 2022 if you feel your child is a potential candidate.  If you start school after testing has started, testing will take place in May/June.

Parents of new students to the district AND were previously in a gifted and talented program in another school district are tested throughout the year based upon confirmation of prior enrollment in a gifted program from the student’s former school.

The GRO program provides enrichment for students who have demonstrated high capabilities. The work presented is above grade level and is rigorous. Children are expected to fulfill their regular classroom and GRO proficiencies during the year.

Mrs. Dasti