Gifted
At BCA you’ll find a unique enrichment program designed specifically to provide advanced students with the challenges that they need to stay engaged in their schoolwork, and to fully develop their exceptional abilities.
Purpose
The LEAP program at BCA is dedicated to supporting students with outstanding abilities to reach their God-given potential. The LEAP Program is a coordinated and comprehensive structure of informal and formal experiences provided on a weekly basis.
Program
The program is designed to enhance, develop, and encourage students through a personalized approach. The program will allow students to exceed and go beyond the normal learning expectations for their age. This program gives the student the chance to learn at their true level of ability.
Support Teachers
The teachers of the LEAP Program have experience teaching advanced students and they also receive training at professional development events focusing on the specific needs of high-ability learners. The Support Teachers work closely with the classroom teachers and consult with the Administrative Team when planning the Gifted Programs.
Guidelines for Assessment of Gifted Students:
Through an application process, BCA will venture to identify the students who need enrichment within its body. Teachers and parents will be asked to prayerfully consider the gifts and needs of their student(s).
Jo Renzulli, author of “The Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness”, has helped shape the definition of giftedness. Parents and teachers may use the summary below as a guide when considering whether their student is gifted or would benefit from an enrichment program.
The Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness (Renzulli, 1986)
Renzulli believes that giftedness is characterized by “above average intellectual ability, creativity, and task commitment.”
Support Strategies
Under the Administration’s guidance the student’s needs will be assessed and an individualized program, designed to meet these needs, will be written in an Adapted Individual Education Plan (IEP). Specialized programs assessed to meet the student’s needs would also be considered and approved where applicable. Curriculum designed to challenge and develop the student’s potential will be assessed and allocated.
How to Apply
If you feel your student or child might be a candidate for the LEAP Program please complete the BCA LEAP Program Application and submit it to the LEAP Program Committee via Jessica Purdy. Further inquiries and questions can be submitted to the committee through Jessica Purdy, the Director of the Discovery Program.
Purpose
The LEAP program at BCA is dedicated to supporting students with outstanding abilities to reach their God-given potential. The LEAP Program is a coordinated and comprehensive structure of informal and formal experiences provided on a weekly basis.
Program
The program is designed to enhance, develop, and encourage students through a personalized approach. The program will allow students to exceed and go beyond the normal learning expectations for their age. This program gives the student the chance to learn at their true level of ability.
Support Teachers
The teachers of the LEAP Program have experience teaching advanced students and they also receive training at professional development events focusing on the specific needs of high-ability learners. The Support Teachers work closely with the classroom teachers and consult with the Administrative Team when planning the Gifted Programs.
Guidelines for Assessment of Gifted Students:
Through an application process, BCA will venture to identify the students who need enrichment within its body. Teachers and parents will be asked to prayerfully consider the gifts and needs of their student(s).
Jo Renzulli, author of “The Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness”, has helped shape the definition of giftedness. Parents and teachers may use the summary below as a guide when considering whether their student is gifted or would benefit from an enrichment program.
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 Good memory Learns very quickly and easily Large fund of information Generalizes skillfully Comprehends new ideas easily Makes abstractions easily Perceives similarities, differences, relationships Makes judgments and decisions |
Questioning; very curious about many topics Has many ideas (fluent) Sees things in varied ways (flexible) Offers unique or unusual ideas (original) Adds details; makes ideas more interesting (elaborates) Transforms or combines ideas Sees implications or consequences easily Risk-taker; speculates Finds subtle humour, paradox or discrepancies |
Sets own goals, standards Intense involvement in preferred problems and tasks Enthusiastic about interests and activities Needs little external motivation when pursuing tasks Prefers to concentrate on own interest and projects High level of energy Perseveres; does not give up easily when working Completes, shares products Eager for new projects and challenges Assumes responsibility |
Support Strategies
Under the Administration’s guidance the student’s needs will be assessed and an individualized program, designed to meet these needs, will be written in an Adapted Individual Education Plan (IEP). Specialized programs assessed to meet the student’s needs would also be considered and approved where applicable. Curriculum designed to challenge and develop the student’s potential will be assessed and allocated.
How to Apply
If you feel your student or child might be a candidate for the LEAP Program please complete the BCA LEAP Program Application and submit it to the LEAP Program Committee via Jessica Purdy. Further inquiries and questions can be submitted to the committee through Jessica Purdy, the Director of the Discovery Program.