QUEST
Question. Unite. Explore. Strive. Think.
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Back to School
2024 - 25
Please note:
Family Resources are available on the tab at the top right.
Past editions of this newsletter may be located by clicking the Archives tab at the top of this page.
Welcome to QUEST!
Welcome to QUEST!
We want to welcome our QUEST families back and extend a warm welcome to all of our new QUEST families! We are excited about the 2024 - 25 school year!
QUEST stands for Question, Unite, Explore, Strive, and Think. These active verbs describe what you will see happening in our pull-out classes with gifted and highly capable students. This newsletter will be emailed to you quarterly to provide a bit of information regarding what is going on in QUEST!
Our partnership with you in the education of your children is of the utmost importance. Please reach out to your campus Advanced Academics Specialist with any questions or concerns. You can find his/her name and contact information by clicking the QUEST Staff tab at the top of this page. Included there you will also find contact information for our Advanced Academics Coordinator, Cheryl Harris, and Advanced Academics District Facilitator (Elementary), Emily Biggers.
Remember to also check out the Family Resources tab at the top of this page! This tab is updated with each edition of QUEST Family News.
Scroll down to learn more about QUEST!
QUEST Standards
QUEST Standards
Independence
Critical Thinking
Creative Thinking
Communication
Research
Collaboration
Leadership
QUEST Curriculum
QUEST Curriculum
QUEST curriculum is centered around year-long universal themes and generalizations. It is made up of student learning experiences that integrate STEAMSS (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Math, and Social Studies) and Reading. Creative and critical thinking skills are woven throughout with focused attention on developing both independent and collaborative learning skills. The elements of Depth and Complexity as well as Content Imperatives help students reach those highest levels of thinking as they tackle QUEST challenges.
2024 - 2025 QUEST universal themes:
Grades 1, 2, and 3: EXPLORATION
Grade 4: POWER
Grade 5: CHANGE
QUEST Progress
QUEST Progress
Assessment in QUEST classes is aligned with our program standards. At the end of each nine weeks, you will receive your child's QUEST progress report so that you may track his/her growth. Below you will see a list of dates you can expect a QUEST progress report to be sent home with your student.
QUEST Progress Report Schedule
2024 - 25
Week of October 14
Week of January 6
Week of March 10
Week of May 19
First Nine Weeks in QUEST
Kindergarten
Kindergartners are engaging in a learning experience that ignites their creative thinking.
Grades 1, 2, and 3
Our QUEST unit of study for grades 1, 2, and 3 for the first nine weeks is Exploration Investigation. This unit helps students dive into our year-long universal theme of Exploration. QUEST students will study the lives and contributions of famous explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Sacagawea, Leif Erikson, Ferdinand Magellan, and Ibn Battuta. We have exciting activities planned for our first, second, and third grade classes! They will dig into researching an explorer of their own choosing as well!
Grade 4
The year-long universal them for fourth grade QUEST is Power. Students will read Catching a Storyfish by Janice N. Harrington this nine weeks. It is a book written entirely in verse. Students will explore the theme of power as it relates to family, friendship, storytelling, loyalty, perseverance, change, words, and more in this powerful read!
Fourth graders are tackling science and engineering challenges, diving into multiplication, and putting their problem solving skills to work! They are also examining their personal strengths.
This year, they will continue to apply the elements of Depth and Complexity which elicit high level thinking.
Grade 5
Fifth graders are taking off with their year-long QUEST universal theme of Change. Our fifth graders will read either Crossover by Kwame Alexander or Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. Both of these are books written in verse. Both books open readers' eyes to the impact of change as they follow the characters through changes in life's circumstances and relationships. Fifth graders are utilizing drafting tools, logical thinking, business sense, and geometric formulas to design and "market" their own desk nametags. They are exploring the art of decision making, working with heat energy, and more! Fifth grade QUEST students continue to apply the elements of Depth and Complexity to increase the level of thinking.
Grade 6
While gifted students are served through AdvAc classes in sixth grade, our service model includes designated time with the campus Advanced Academics Specialist for this group.
Sixth grade QUEST students are taking part in an engineering challenge. The topic of responsibility is also on the agenda!
We are eager to explore leadership with these students as well.
QUEST Schedule
QUEST Schedule
QUEST Classes with the Campus Advanced Academics Specialist:
Grades 1 - 3 4x per week 45 minutes per session
Grades 4 - 5 4x per week 60 minutes per session
Grade 6 2x per month 60 minutes per session
The Advanced Academics Specialist visits kindergarten classes on a periodic basis in the fall to teach whole-class lessons and will begin serving QUEST kindergarten students in the spring when the kindergarten GT identification process is complete.
This schedule may need to be modified during certain weeks due to circumstances such as school holidays and STAAR testing.
If you would like more information regarding the QUEST schedule on your campus, please check with the Advanced Academics Specialist.
TAGT Parent Webinar
Dr. Erika Lucas
September 10, 2024
6:30pm CST
Being the parent of a gifted child comes with its own set of unique challenges. Gifted children often possess incredible intellect and potential, but sometimes struggle with their executive function skills - the ability to plan, organize, manage time, and complete tasks effectively. Understanding and nurturing these essential skills is crucial not only for unlocking their full potential and setting them up for success, but also for ensuring mental health and well-being. This transformative hour-long webinar is specifically designed to empower parents with the knowledge and skills needed to better understand and help their gifted children develop and enhance their executive function abilities. Led by Dr. Erika Lucas and supported by current research, this webinar is a valuable resource for any parent seeking to navigate the intricacies of their gifted child's executive function.
Registration opens soon!
Share your GT Story!
If you'd like, take a few moments to share with the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) how gifted education has impacted your student and/or your family in a positive way! With permission (on the last page of the survey), your story may be shared with others around the state of Texas. Make sure to mention HEB ISD and QUEST in your story!
Share your Why GT story here: #whyGT
Camp Invention
We enjoyed the opportunity to work with many QUEST students over the summer at Camp Invention! Campers had a blast using their inventive thinking! Remember to watch for this camp again in the summer of 2025 in HEB ISD!
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