• Dear Parents and Students,

    Welcome to William Finch Elementary School’s Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) for the 2024-2025 school year! We are excited to welcome our returning and new students back for another wonderful year of teaching and learning in EXCELLENCE! Our theme for this year is “Gifted: A Rainbow of Opportunities.”

    The Georgia State Board of Education defines a gifted student as “...a student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual, and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve levels commensurate with his or her abilities.” We have innumerable lessons and activities planned for this school term that will incorporate cross disciplines in all areas of studies as mandated by the Georgia Standards of Excellence and APS GATE Program Instructional Standards. In addition, we will focus and include assignments and activities that follow the eight APS Gifted and Talented Standards: Advanced Communication Skills, Creativity, Creative Problem Solving, Global Citizenship, Higher Order Thinking Skills, Leadership, Advanced Research Skills, and Social Emotional Learning.

    This year at Finch, the students are served using a Resource Gifted Delivery Model. We will focus on personalized learning to ensure students have opportunities to apply their learning across new, complex, and authentic experiences. Students will engage in work and learning experiences that are tailored to develop their potential in the academic and life competencies included but not limited to communication, innovation, self-direction, collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, global citizenship, creative problem solving, and digital literacy.

    Atlanta Public Schools continue to move forward with the implementation of the STEM/STEAM initiative. Our goal at Finch Elementary is to continue to infuse our GATE program with mini lessons that include discussions of current events happening in our community and around the world. Students have opportunities to learn, practice, and transfer their learning across disciplines over time. Our approach allows for a greater focus on the development of emerging talent and potential. To achieve this, we encourage student participation in offered contests and district learning activities that include the Science, Engineering and Technology Fairs, Art and Writing Contests, Spelling Bee, Debate Team and the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl for our fourth and fifth graders and for our younger students in grades K-3, the Picture Bowl.

    If you have any questions or concerns, please email Mrs. Roni Bolden, your school-based GATE Lead Teacher at rbolden@atlanta.k12.ga.us or via phone at (404) 802-4000. Please leave a message and allow up to 24 hours for a response. Additional information regarding testing is located on the Atlanta Public School’s website, https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/page/21037). FAQ’s are located under the side tab entitled Serving Gifted Students. You are encouraged to view the Gifted Testing Eligibility Overview video and handouts prior to joining Finch’s Gifted Testing Interest Information Session on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm.

    We look forward to an awesome learning experience! Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support this school year!

    Sincerely,

    Mrs. Roni Bolden, GATE Lead Teacher

    ZOOM MEETING ID: 850 7110 4559

    Password: Eagles 2024

    "Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel” Socrates
  • GATE Gifted and Talented Education