SECOND NINE WEEKS
2025 - 2026
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 is distributed quarterly to QUEST families to provide a bit of information regarding what is going on in HEB ISD QUEST!
Please note: Check out the Family Resources tab on this page! Past issues of this newsletter are located on the Archives tab.
What a great first nine weeks we had in QUEST classes in HEB ISD!
This is our second 25 - 26 issue of QUEST Family News, our quarterly newsletter for families of QUEST students. We will keep you informed about what's going on in QUEST as well as QUEST Family Engagement opportunities in this newsletter, so you will want to check out each issue!
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 in this newsletter. There you will also find contact information for our Advanced Academics Coordinator, Cheryl Harris, and Advanced Academics District Facilitator - Elementary, Emily Biggers.
Scroll down to learn more about QUEST and see what will be happening during the second nine-weeks!
We can't wait to see all of our QUEST students and their families at QUEST Family Museum Night on Thursday, October 23rd from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History!
This is our first QUEST family engagement event of the 25 -26 school year and admission is FREE for all QUEST students (all grade levels, 1st - 6th) and their entire families. The only cost will be parking fees. Important: Please note that you need to park in the Western Heritage Garage (1400 Lansford, directly adjacent to the museum) in order to get the standard parking rates rather than inflated concert parking rates that the other lots will have that evening. PARKING MAP
No RSVP is necessary, but you may print and complete the second page of this FLYER which is the museum's FAST PASS to bring with you to the museum. We are told this will cut down your wait time in line when you arrive!
See the flyer linked above for all the details and to print and complete your fast pass to save time in line!
Check out QUEST on social media!
Be sure to follow QUEST on Facebook and Instagram. We regularly post photos and share what's going on in QUEST at our elementary campuses! Click on the symbols to the right to follow us!
Independence
Critical Thinking
Creative Thinking
Communication
Research
Collaboration
Leadership
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.
2025 - 2026 QUEST universal themes:
Grades 1, 2, and 3: SYSTEMS
Grade 4: POWER
Grade 5: CHANGE
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
2025 - 2026
Week of October 15 - 17
Week of January 5 - 9
Week of March 23 - 27
Week of May 18 - 21
Scroll down to learn more about QUEST!
Second Nine Weeks in QUEST
Kindergarten
Kindergartners are engaging in a learning experience that ignites their mathematical-logical thinking.
Grades 1, 2, and 3
During the second nine weeks, QUEST students in first through third grades are thinking and tinkering their way through a study of Inventions and Inventors! These grade levels will continue with their year-long universal theme of Systems. Students will keep inventor's notebooks, participate in scientific and engineering challenges, learn and apply a creative thinking strategy known as SCAMPER, and more. Reading selections will include fiction and nonfiction books on Leonardo da Vinci!
Grade 4
Fourth grade QUEST students will use critical thinking skills in mathematical activities and extend the science from their regular classrooms as they conduct hands-on investigations centered around topics such as the hydrosphere and water distribution in the world, surface tension, and ground water as a natural resource.
Some awesome math learning experiences from Byrdseed are on the agenda as well. Check out Byrdseed's parent resources here! Ian Byrd has a wealth of knowledge and expertise related to giftedness. He also knows how to make learning super engaging for gifted students! We use many of his resources in QUEST.
Reading-writing connections in fourth grade QUEST this nine weeks are centered around short stories, relating the reading to the universal theme of Power and applying the elements of Depth and Complexity.
This group will spend some time on social-emotional topics such as understanding emotions and strategies to help them with focus.
As the second nine weeks closes, fourth grade QUEST students will take first steps towards Purposeful Passion Projects in which they will have the opportunity to explore an area of personal interest.
Grade 5
Fifth grade QUEST students are applying the elements of Depth and Complexity and examining all of their learning through the lens of their universal theme of Change.
This group will take part in reading-writing connections with short stories.
Fifth grade QUEST students will take on an engineering challenge called "Protect Your Egg" after learning about energy transfer in athletic gear. This is an extension of the science from their regular classroom.
They will work through a real-world math project known as "Scaling Skyscrapers," generating a mathematical scale which compares their paper tower models to the much larger real skyscrapers.
An engineering career connection includes a tower-building challenge that will have QUEST students acting as engineers themselves and then analyzing their processes.
Social-emotional explorations center around the topic of stress.
It is sure to be a fun and engaging nine weeks in fifth grade QUEST classes, ending with first steps on Purposeful Passion Projects which will give each student the chance to explore an area of personal interest.
Grade 6
While gifted students are served through AdvAc classes in sixth grade, our QUEST service model includes designated time with the campus Advanced Academics Specialist for this group.
Sixth grade QUEST students will continue with their year-long focus on leadership and service.
This nine weeks, they will take part in lessons focused on balance and support systems as well as a related engineering challenge!
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.
Below find highlights, news, and events of state and national organizations related to giftedness.
Check out the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented here: https://www.txgifted.org/
Check out the National Association for Gifted Children here: https://www.nagc.org/
