The Burnaby school district is offering a new class for gifted learners next fall.
Come September, students considered “high ability learners” can attend a multi-age cluster class program at Capitol Hill Elementary.
The idea is to provide a more intellectually stimulating environment for students whose intellectual, personal and social skills may be developing at varying rates.
“I think it’s fantastic that the district is doing this. This is something parents in Burnaby have been advocating for for a number of years now,” said Burnaby resident Peter Cech, father of two children, both considered gifted. Cech is part of a group of local parents who have been calling on the district to provide more options for gifted learners.
“This is yet another positive step forward, so we’re grateful,” he added.
According to Cech, kids that are gifted sometimes come with unique challenges including over-sensitivities.
“A kid that’s gifted needs to be shown something once, and then they need to apply it, while the typical teaching model involves a lot of repetition,” Cech said. “In a perfect world every student should be taught to where they’re at.”
The multi-age cluster class program will include a grade 4/5 and a grade 6/7 class.
There are also plans for a second program is the South Burnaby area for September 2015.
The school district is hosting an information session about the program on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at Burnaby Central Secondary, 6011 Deer Lake Parkway.
