The History of Northern’s Gifted Program

• Northern’s program of Gifted Education is one of the oldest and largest in Ontario

• During the 1970s Northern teachers focused on a holistic definition of giftedness which involved the interaction of above average intellectual abilities, a high level of task commitment, and curiosity

• This definition encouraged a program of study that included wide parameters of thinking, feeling, and exploring which has continued to guide program development

Present Status

• Currently, Northern offers a gifted program under the TDSB Special Education ISP

• The core subject areas use a wide variety of presentation styles and methods of organization

• The type of material covered, the pace, the use of technology, and assessment and evaluation strategies are geared towards gifted students

• Students study in many specialized facilities such as a computer assisted design lab, photography, art, and drama studios, and technological shops

• There is a diverse pool of staff and resources available to provide educational programming for gifted students

Essential Features of the Gifted Program

•  Core academic subjects required for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma are offered at the gifted level

• Facilitators are available to support student needs and assist with tailoring the program

• Northern offers a wide range of courses, optional subjects, educational and leadership opportunities, and extra-curricular activities