Field experiences give students opportunities to explore new interests, create meaningful products, and connect with experts . In addition, a primary goal is to produce a product or deliver a service for a real world audience. For example, our Bookworm Bunch chose picture books to read and record for preschoolers who are learning English in the Philippines. Students interested in exploring theatre arts performed Romeo & Juliet for the rest of the GT Academy. Students who studied horticulture traveled to Maas Nursery in Kemah to learn about caring for plants native to our area. They purchased plants and then added a few to our patio garden. Take a look at the other places we visited and connections that were made!

Summer is just around the corner, and we know students are looking forward to taking some time to relax and perhaps enjoy a family vacation. It is also a good time to try something new and keep the brain engaged. Incoming GTA fifth graders and sixth graders are invited to attend the GTA Boot Camp July 25-29th. This camp will offer courses taught by our incredible GTA teachers and Smart Core Labs instructors. If you are interested, do not delay. This camp is limited to 45 students. Sign up using the link below.

Other camps you might also enjoy are the Pearland ISD Advanced Academics Pear Camp, Smart Core Labs Camps, or Kids Backporch Productions drama camps. See below for the links to more information about those.

Students who may need financial support to attend a summer camp are encouraged to check out the opportunity to apply for a summer camp scholarship through the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented. Mrs. Mueller is happy to answer any questions you have about applying. Apply here: TAGT Summer Enrichment Scholarships

Let the quilting begin! Fifth grade students returned from Spring Break with fabric, ready to start cutting squares for their quilts. They will work together to plan, cut, pin, sew, then present their finished quilts at the GT Academy Student Showcase on May 5th. Parents and grandparents interested in helping with this project are invited to sign up using this link: Sign Up Genius Link

Sixth grade students are using skills learned in Group Dynamics rotations to work together to create scrapbooks and maps, write scripts for vlogs and interviews, design websites for blogs, and develop artifacts to represent their travels. Time management skills are being put to the test. All sixth grade TPSP products are due April 14th and will be ready to share at the showcase on May 5th. Parents interested in helping groups record vlogs and interviews can sign up using this link: Sign up Genius Link

Mrs. Needler and Mrs. Williams did a great job coordinating every detail of the TMSCA qualifier held at PJHW again this year. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who helped to make the event a success. Our hospitality crew, graders, NHS proctors, concession stand team, score room experts, and bag stuffers all worked together for a successful event. A big thank you also to Central Texas BBQ for donating the delicious chopped beef and chicken for our volunteers. We can always count on them to support the GT Academy.

Thank you to Mrs. Briggs and Ms. Maldonado for keeping our teams on track as team managers, and thank you to Dr. Manning for your support as a competition appraiser.

We are looking forward to starting more teams next year. Parents interested in joining us as team managers are encouraged to contact Mrs. Mueller. For more information about this creative problem solving competition, click here or here.

On April 21st, Sab Robotics will be traveling to the George R. Brown Convention Center to cheer on our Pearadox team and take part in the FIRST Innovation Faire.

If you are interested in learning how to program Lego Mindstorm EV3 robots, you are invited to join us as Smart Core Labs presents at Weekend Workshop on Saturday, April 30th at Sablatura 9:00 a.m.-12:00.

FPS asks students to cooperatively and creatively develop solutions to problems that may occur thirty to fifty years in the future. Sablatura had three FPS teams qualify to compete at the Texas state level! Students will attend the competition April 8-10 in Waco.

If you are thinking about ways to extend your learning and you enjoy problem solving, writing, and working as a team, consider joining Sablatura's FPS team next year. For more information check out the official website: https://www.txfpsp.org/

We are fortunate to have such an active and supportive booster club to support the GT Academy. Here's what they have been up to lately:

• The hospitality crew treated teachers to a "souper" lunch featuring several delicious homemade soups and salads.
• The Winter Hoopla was a success thanks to members who organized the student talent, donated baked goods, solicited donations, created the baskets, provided decorations, and more.
• Many volunteers are helping with TPSP quilting and recording.
• Funding for sharks, materials for the genetics and horticulture courses, student scholarships, teacher training, sewing supplies, sheep brains and dissection equipment, lamps for the classroom, RC trucks for Mars Rover, and a Sundance Yoga class, to name a few.
• The nominating committee is looking for executive board members for next year. Our incoming fifth grade parents are encouraged to get involved. For more information, visit the GTAB website.

Join us as we celebrate GT Awareness week April 4-8!

GT Awareness Week was created to increase awareness and encourage support of gifted education in Texas. Through online community discussions and social media posts, parents, educators, and advocates come together to celebrate giftedness. All throughout the week, TAGT will push out information and create conversations to dispel myths and provide a deeper understanding of the purpose of gifted education.

This April, we ask you to share #whyGT matters to you, your family, and your school. Share your story here!

Join TAGT for this year's free parent webinar Navigating An Uncertain Future: Applying The New Science of Purpose In School & Life on April 5, 2022. Learn more and register for this free webinar here.

**Information taken from the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (TAGT) website: www.txgifted.org

April 4-8 GT Awareness Week

April 8-10 FPS State Competition in Waco

April 14 Team TCU TPSP Products Due

April 15-18 Easter Holiday

April 21 Sab Robotics Attends First World Competition @ GRB

April 30 EV3 Weekend Workshop @ Sab 9:00 a.m.-12:00

May 5 Sab GTA Student Showcase @ ESC 6:00 p.m.

May 10 STAAR Math

May 11 STAAR Reading

May 12 STAAR Science (5th Only)

May 13 GTA Game Night

May 26 Last Day of School